# Quadrophenia: Possibly the best album ever

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quadrophenia-possibly-the-best-album-ever/713371>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [February 22, 2015, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quadrophenia-possibly-the-best-album-ever/713371 "2015-02-22T23:31:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quadrophenia-possibly-the-best-album-ever/713371/41 "2015-03-19T06:35:13Z")

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Ok ok 1973 (and '72) were very fine years. 😃

I’m a Who fan and simply want to join the love for Quadraphenia.

'nuf said.

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**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quadrophenia-possibly-the-best-album-ever/713371/42 "2015-03-19T08:12:25Z")

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> [@The\_Winkler](#):
>
> So was Brain Salad Surgery, Larks’ Tongues In Aspic, and Houses of the Holy. And Thick As a Brick and Close To the Edge were both released in '72.

Indeed, and fine works all (and “Dark side of the Moon”) but I’d suggest that Quadraphenia was a more coherent “whole” album than any other contemporary work.  
It was truly epic and operatic in structure and theme and consistent in quality throughout. That Townsend was able to knock out both “Tommy” and “Quadraphenia” in those few years is a wonder indeed. No wonder it nearly killed him.

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**Author:** ![mo50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@mo50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mo50)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quadrophenia-possibly-the-best-album-ever/713371/43 "2015-03-19T13:58:37Z")

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> [@Bijou\_Drains](#):
>
> Yes, best ever. Got to hear the whole thing live 4 times as well. And met the band backstage in 97.
> 
> “My Baby Gives it Away” from Rough Mix by Townshend/Lane is another song with a drum style Moon would not play.

If I’m remembering right, they used Charlie Watts on that. Great song & album!

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