QUADROPHENIA

It didn't hit you as quickly as "Who's Next", "Leeds" or even "Tommy".But eventually, if you were a Who acolyte you got it. And make no mistake, this was a record meant for the true believers.Hardcore Who fans stood apart as torch bearers for a shared promise that took on an almost missionary zeal. There was a bond between The Who and their audience that was never equalled by any other top ranked group of that era. Back then two years between studio albums was an eternity, so when "Quad" finally arrived it was an event.

At least it was an event for Who fans. The casual Who fan would never really warm to this one, and even many older followers dismissed it as being impenetrable and overcooked. It wasn't radio friendly, the short US tour was poorly recieved, so why did this eventually succeed in scaling the heights?

It happened because their audience was willing to take the time required to fully understand this epic. I don't know if "Quad'" can still mean the same to fresh ears as it would have 35 years ago. Mods were a distant social movement even in 1973. But even in the parochial "Englishness" of it all there was still a spot on understanding what it was to be young, confused, angry and ectastic. Actually, the entire Mod backstory somehow made it more plausible because of its exotic nature.

Don't pick this one up first if you're new to The Who with fresh ears. But whenever you do encounter "Quad", you'll soon find it to be indispensable. 5.0 one of my favorites.

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