Mojo has updated its list of the “50 best Who songs”, published a decade ago. A “chilling countdown” (as the British magazine defines it) that traces the entire career of the formidable kids Londoners from when they “started out as mods playing R&B” to when they “rapidly transformed into rock pioneers who broke its dogmas”. An alchemy made possible by the close comparison between the rhythm section, made up of John Entwistle's bass and Keith Moon's drums, with Pete Townshend's guitar, which “beat and destroyed to create a wall of noise, citing self-destructive art of Gustav Metzger as inspiration”, while the virile and vibrant singing of frontman Roger Daltrey “kept the ship from capsizing”.
Here is the updated list of “The Who's 50 Greatest Songs” according to Mojo, from n.50 to n.1, which alternates singles, gems and classics taken from immortal albums such as “Who's Next”, “Tommy” and “Quadrophenia” (in this page, however, the complete report of the British magazine, with comments for each song).
50. Zoot Suit (High Numbers single, 1964)
49. Jaguar (Outtake from The Who Sell Out, 1967)
48. Going Mobile (from Who's Next, 1971)
47. Eminence Front (from It's Hard, 1982)
46. Amazing Journey (from Tommy, 1969)
45. Tea & Theater (from Endless Wire, 2006)
44. The Good's Gone (from My Generation, 1965)
43. I've Known No War (from It's Hard, 1982)
42. Dogs (single, 1968)
41. Rael Pts 1 & 2 (from The Who Sell Out, 1967)
40. Heaven & Hell (from Live At Leeds, 1995 CD reissue)
39. You Better You Bet (single, 1981)
38. Run Run Run (from A Quick One, 1966)
37. Endless Wire (Extended) (from Endless Wire, 2006)
36. Naked Eye (from Odds & Sods. 1974)
35. Dreaming Da The Waist (from The Who By Numbers, 1976)
34. Disguises (from Ready Steady Who EP, 1966)
33. Our Love Was (from The Who Sell Out, 1967)
32. Happy Jack (single, 1966)
31. A Quick One (While He's Away) (from A Quick One, 1966)
30. Heat Wave (from A Quick One, 1966)
29. Magic Bus (single, 1968)
28. Tattoo (from The Who Sell Out, 1967)
27. A Legal Matter (from My Generation, 1965)
26. So Sad About Us (from A Quick One, 1966)
25. Bargain (from Who's Next, 1971)
24. Circles (Substitute B-side, 1966)
23. I'm Free (from Tommy, 1969)
22. Boris The Spider (from A Quick One, 1966)
21. I'm One (from Quadrophenia, 1973)
20. The Seeker (single, 1970)
19. Who Are You (single, 1978)
18. Armenia (City In The Sky)
17. Love, Reign O'er Me (from Quadrophenia, 1973)
16. Pictures Of Lily (single, 1967)
15. The Kids Are Alright (from My Generation, 1965)
14. See Me, Feel Me (single, 1970)
13. I'm A Boy (single, 1966)
12. Pinball Wizard (single, 1969)
11. Young Man Blues (from Live At Leeds, 1970)
10. Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere (single, 1965)
9. 5.15 (single, 1973)
8. I Can See For Miles (single, 1967)
7. The Real Me (from Quadrophenia, 1973)
6. I Can't Explain (single, 1965)
5. Behind Blue Eyes (from Who's Next, 1971)
4. Substitute (single, 1966)
3. Won't Get Fooled Again (from Who's Next, 1971)
2. My Generation (single, 1964)
1. Baba O' Riley (from Who's Next, 1971)
Antonio Santini for SANREMO.FM