The Who - The Who Sell Out (Stereo Deluxe Version) (2014) [Hi-Res]

'Pete Townshend originally planned The Who Sell Out as a concept album of sorts that would simultaneously mock and pay tribute to pirate radio stations, complete with fake jingles and commercials linking the tracks. For reasons that remain somewhat ill defined, the concept wasn't quite driven to completion, breaking down around the middle of side two (on the original vinyl configuration). Nonetheless, on strictly musical merits, it's a terrific set of songs that ultimately stands as one of the group's greatest achievements. 'I Can See for Miles' (a Top Ten hit) is the Who at their most thunderous; tinges of psychedelia add a rush to 'Armenia City in the Sky' and 'Relax'; 'I Can't Reach You' finds Townshend beginning to stretch himself into quasi-spiritual territory; and 'Tattoo' and the acoustic 'Sunrise' show introspective, vulnerable sides to the singer/songwriter that had previously been hidden. 'Rael' was another mini-opera, with musical motifs that reappeared in Tommy. The album is as perfect a balance between melodic mod pop and powerful instrumentation as the Who (or any other group) would achieve; psychedelic pop was never as jubilant, not to say funny (the fake commercials and jingles interspersed between the songs are a hoot).' (Richie Unterberger, AMG)

Roger Daltrey, lead and backing vocals, percussion
John Entwistle, bass, vocals, horns, sound effects
Pete Townshend, guitar, vocals, keyboards, pennywhistle, banjo, sonovox
Keith Moon, drums, backing vocals, percussion, sound effects
Al Kooper, keyboards, organ

Recorded from May – November 1967 at Talentmasters Studios, New York City, New York IBC Studios, Pye Studios, De Lane Lea Studios, CBS Studios, and Kingsway Studios, London, England
Produced by Kit Lambert
Digitally remastered