defend the indefensible: FACE DANCES by the who

I actually have a lot of affection for "You Better You Bet." The first time I saw the music video, it was on a TV behind the bar of the nearly empty Elks club in Fairbanks, where I'd been stuck for what felt like hours with my cousin and her conservative sociopath hunting guide friend. I can't remember why I was there, I think I was driving them around and the hunting guide insisted on a detour because he was trying to use the Elks to network for his career. When the video came on it felt like the Who had personally shown up to rescue me from the boredom and irritation of listening to the hunting guide trying to schmooze. I wasn't inclined to be picky about the song, and I'm still not.

insisted on releasing records saddled with unwieldy concepts and narratives, etc etc…

I mean, that's what he does, and that's what the Who did. Taking into account all completed outtakes, non-album singles, and b-sides, they could've put out two full albums between Sell Out and Tommy; there's another between Who's Next and Quadrophenia. They also chose not to release a live record in 1972 (parts did get released, scattered over a few records, and it's mindblowing), or put out the de rigueur Double Live in 1976. But no, they had these grand concepts that had to be explored, if not exactly realized, and putting out records because they had enough songs for a record just wasn't how they worked. Hell, even Daltrey said he didn't want them to just put out records for their own sake.

Since I'm not super invested in Pete's solo career, it doesn't bother me that he's not releasing anything, and in a way, I admire it: it's his work, and he can do whatever he wants with it.

ere, I think I was driving them around and the hunting guide insisted on a detour because he was trying to use the Elks to network for his career. When the video came on it felt like the Who had personally shown up to rescue me from the boredom and irritation of listening to the hunting guide trying to schmooze. I wasn't inclined to be picky about the song, and I'm still not.

you feel a little crappy sometimes!

ere, I think I was driving them around and the hunting guide insisted on a detour because he was trying to use the Elks to network for his career. When the video came on it felt like the Who had personally shown up to rescue me from the boredom and irritation of listening to the hunting guide trying to schmooze. I wasn't inclined to be picky about the song, and I'm still not.

LOL I dig it. I think everyone's had that experience where something you normally wouldn't think was that good - a song, a movie, etc. - becomes a f-ing godsend from whatever excruciating experience it's interrupting.

Contemplating a "defend the indefensible: IT'S HARD by The Who" thread, but it's a straight-up B+ album that doesn't need defending unlike this one. Jones' playing sounds strangled to me here compared with 1982.

Blame Bill Szymczyk. Entwistle hated Szymczyk’s production style/techniques, saying it made him self-conscious as a player. I assume Jones felt similarly...likely moreso, given the pressure and expectations.

Jones is definitely looser on It’s Hard, but they cut the whole thing in two weeks.

I’d forgotten about this — Jones’ recorded debut with the Who was on the 1979 Quadrophenia soundtrack (the other track he plays on, “Get Out and Stay Out,” is little more than a sketch, though it works decently in the film). This song dates from ‘67, but the Who didn’t record it then, and Pete’s demo has yet to surface.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwW_L9pb6aU