Wednesday, August 18, 2021

The Who's Top 100 Songs/Studio Albums Ranked

The Who

Top 100 Songs/
Studio Albums Ranked

The Who were a rock group that formed in London in 1964. In their early years, they became known for their antics of destroying their instruments on stage. They became a staple of album rock with classics such as the 1969 rock opera Tommy and 1971’s Who’s Next The original lineup of singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon lasted until 1978 when Moon died at age 32 from a drug overdose.

At their concert in Cincinnati on December 3, 1979, eleven people were trampled to death when fans tried to push their way in before the show. The band broke up in 1982, but regrouped for Live Aid in 1986 and again in 1989 for a 25th anniversary tour. They subsequently regrouped multiple times. Just before their 2002 tour, Entwistle died at age 57 from a cocaine-induced heart attack.

In 2006, they released their first studio album, Endless Wire, in 24 years. They reconvened again for the album Who in 2019.

Click here to see other best-of lists from performers and here to see other best-of lists from songwriters and/or producers.

Spotify Podcast:

Check out Dave’s Music Database podcast: The 50th Anniversary of Who’s Next which draws from this list. It premieres August 17, 2021 at 7pm CST. Tune in every Tuesday at 7pm for a new episode based on the lists at Dave’s Music Database.

Awards:

Top 100 Songs

Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists as well as chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. This list includes solo material from Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey as well as music by The Who.

DMDB Top 1%:

1. My Generation (1965)
2. Won’t Get Fooled Again (1971)
3. Baba O’Riley (1971)

DMDB Top 2%:

4. I Can See for Miles (1967)
5. I Can't Explain (1965)
6. Pinball Wizard (1969)
7. Behind Blue Eyes (1971)

DMDB Top 5%:

8. Who Are You (1978)
9. Magic Bus (1968)
10. Love Reign O’er Me (1973)
11. You Better You Bet (1981)

DMDB Top 10%:

12. Substitute (1966)
13. Happy Jack (1966)
14. Squeeze Box (1975)
15. The Kids Are Alright (1966)
16. Pictures of Lily (1967)
17. The Seeker (1970)
18. Eminence Front (1982)
19. Join Together (1972)
20. 5:15 (1973)

21. Let My Love Open the Door (Pete Townshend, 1980)
22. Summertime Blues (1970)
23. Bargain (1971)

DMDB Top 20%:

24. I’m Free (1969)
25. We’re Not Gonna Take It/See Me Feel Me (1970)
26. I’m a Boy (1966)
27. Athena (1982)
28. Relay (1972)
29. Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere (1965)
30. Long Live Rock (1974)

31. The Real Me (1973)
32. Let’s See Action (1971)
33. Rough Boys (Pete Townshend, 1980)
34. Call Me Lightning (1968)
35. Face the Face (Pete Townshend, 1985)
36. Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me (Roger Daltrey, 1987)

Beyond the DMDB Top 20%:

37. A Legal Matter (1965)
38. Don’t Let Go the Coat (1981)
39. Boris the Spider (1966)
40. Without Your Love (Roger Daltrey, 1980)

41. The Song Is Over (1971)
42. Another Tricky Day (1981)
43. Goin’ Mobile (1971)
44. After the Fire (Roger Daltrey, 1985)
45. Dogs (1968)
46. The Last Time (1967)
47. Slip Kid (1975)
48. Giving It All Away (Roger Daltrey, 1973)
49. Pure and Easy (Pete Townshend, 1972)
50. My Wife (1971)

51. Gettin’ in Tune (1971)
52. It’s Not Enough (2006)
53. Behind Blue Eyes (acoustic version by Pete Townshend, 1983)
54. Give Blood (Pete Townshend, 1985)
55. Quicksilver Lightning (Roger Daltrey, 1986)
56. A Friend Is a Friend (Pete Townshend, 1989)
57. Free Me (Roger Daltrey, 1980)
58. Slit Skirts (Pete Townshend, 1982)
59. Love Ain’t for Keepin’ (1971)
60. Real Good Looking Boy (2004)

61. Let Me Down Easy (Roger Daltrey, 1985)
62. Under a Raging Moon (Roger Daltrey, 1985)
63. Go to the Mirror Boy (1969)
64. Amazing Journey/Sparks (1969)
65. Under My Thumb (1967)
66. It’s a Boy (1969)
67. Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting (1991)
68. Postcard (1974)
69. All This Music Must Fade (2019)
70. Sister Disco (1978)

71. Take Me Home (Roger Daltrey, 1987)
72. Come and Get Your Love (Roger Daltrey, 1975)
73. The Acid Queen (1969)
74. Avenging Annie (Roger Daltrey, 1977)
75. A Little Is Enough (Pete Townshend, 1980)
76. Do You Think It’s Alright/Fiddle About (1969)
77. Cousin Kevin (1969)
78. Young Man Blues (1970)
79. Shakin’ All Over (1970)
80. Pinball Wizard (live version by Pete Townshend, 1986)

81. It’s Hard (1982)
82. Daily Records (1981)
83. How Can You Do It Alone (1981)
84. Be Lucky (2014)
85. Trick of the Light (1978)
86. Music Must Change (1978)
87. Won’t Get Fooled Again (Pete Townshend live with John Williams, 1981)
88. Naked Eye (live, 1971)
89. Sheraton Gibson (Pete Townshend, 1972)
90. English Boy (Pete Townshend, 1993)

91. Did You Steal My Money (1981)
92. Dig (1989)
93. You (1981)
94. Fire (1989)
95. Twist and Shout (live) (1980)
96. Walking in My Sleep (Roger Daltrey, 1984)
97. Heaven and Hell (1970)
98. How Many Friends (1975)
99. Had Enough (1978)
100. Fortune Teller (1968)

The Who: Studio Albums Ranked

Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by album’s appearances on best-of lists as well as chart success, sales, critics’ ratings, and awards. Also factored in are the status of each album’s songs in Dave’s Music Database for songs.

1. Who’s Next (1971)
2. Tommy (1969)
3. Quadrophenia (1973)
4. Sell Out (1967)
5. My Generation (1965)
6. A Quick One (1966)
7. By Numbers (1975)
8. Endless Wire (2006)
9. Who Are You (1978)
10. Face Dances (1981)

11. Who (2019)
12. Magic Bus * (1968)
13. Lifehouse (2000)
14. It’s Hard (1982)

* Technically not a studio album but a compilation, but included here because the songs were various singles, B-sides, and leftovers all recorded in 1967 and 1968.

Resources and Related Links:

DMDB Encyclopedia entry for The Who
Dave’s Music Database (2/8/2010). “Now Presenting the Half Time Show Starring the Theme Songs of CSI”
Dave’s Music Database: “Best-of Lists for Performers”
Dave’s Music Database: “Best-of Lists for Songwriters and/or Producers

Other Related DMDB Pages:

First posted 7/27/2012; last updated 8/18/2021.

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