The Who – The Who Sell Out (1967) [Japanese Limited SHM-SACD 2012 # UIGY-9092] {SACD ISO + FLAC 24bit/88,2kHz}

Pete Townshend originally planned The Who Sell Out as a concept album of sorts that would simultaneously mock and pay tribute to pirate radio stations, complete with fake jingles and commercials linking the tracks. For reasons that remain somewhat ill defined, the concept wasn’t quite driven to completion, breaking down around the middle of side two (on the original vinyl configuration). Nonetheless, on strictly musical merits, it’s a terrific set of songs that ultimately stands as one of the group’s greatest achievements. “I Can See for Miles” (a Top Ten hit) is the Who at their most thunderous; tinges of psychedelia add a rush to “Armenia City in the Sky” and “Relax”; “I Can’t Reach You” finds Townshend beginning to stretch himself into quasi-spiritual territory; and “Tattoo” and the acoustic “Sunrise” show introspective, vulnerable sides to the singer/songwriter that had previously been hidden. “Rael” was another mini-opera, with musical motifs that reappeared in Tommy. The album is as perfect a balance between melodic mod pop and powerful instrumentation as the Who (or any other group) would achieve; psychedelic pop was never as jubilant, not to say funny (the fake commercials and jingles interspersed between the songs are a hoot). [Subsequent reissues added over half a dozen interesting outtakes from the time of the sessions, as well as unused commercials, the B-side “Someone’s Coming,” and an alternate version of “Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand.”

Tracklist:
01 – Armenia City In The Sky (Mono Version)
02 – Heinz Baked Beans (Mono Version)
03 – Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand (Mono Version)
04 – Odorono (Mono Version)
05 – Tattoo (Mono Version)
06 – Our Love Was (Mono Version)
07 – I Can See For Miles (Mono Version)
08 – I Can’t Reach You (Mono Version)
09 – Medac (Mono Version)
10 – Relax (Mono Version)
11 – Silas Stingy (Mono Version)
12 – Sunrise (Mono Version)
13 – Rael (1 & 2) (Mono Version)
14 – Armenia City In The Sky – Stereo Version
15 – Heinz Baked Beans – Stereo Version
16 – Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand – Stereo Version
17 – Odorono – Stereo Version
18 – Tattoo – Stereo Version
19 – Our Love Was – Stereo Version
20 – I Can See For Miles – Stereo Version
21 – I Can’t Reach You – Stereo Version
22 – Medac – Stereo Version
23 – Relax – Stereo Version
24 – Silas Stingy – Stereo Version
25 – Sunrise – Stereo Version
26 – Rael (1 & 2) – Stereo Version