BY NUMBERS

First of all, let me say how much I CANNOT stand "Squeeze Box". From the time I first heard it to now, it has never ceased to annoy me. Probably my least favorite Who song. However, the album it is taken from, BY NUMBERS, is an interesting piece of work. It is far from being the concept greatness of QUADROPHENIA or TOMMY, but it is better than such albums as ODDS AND SODS or their later work without Keith Moon like IT'S HARD. A much subdued and acoustical effort is presented here. While there are not bad tracks except for "Squeeze Box", there are also no memorable tracks that have stuck in my memory. "Imagine a Man", and "Blue, Red, and Grey" are my favorite tunes here. In sum total, a standard and average Who outing deserving of 3 stars.