Initially released in December 1967 and described latterly by Rolling Stone as ‘The Who’s finest album’ The Who Sell Out reflected a remarkable year in popular culture. As well as being forever immortalised as the moment when the counterculture and the ‘Love Generation’ became a global phenomenon and ‘pop’ began metamorphosing into ‘rock’.
The new Super Deluxe Edition of The Who Sell Out features 112 tracks, 46 of which are unreleased, an 80-page, hard-back full-colour book, including rare period photos, memorabilia, track by track annotation and new sleeve notes by Pete Townshend with comments from the likes of Pete Drummond (Radio Caroline DJ), Richard Evans (designer) & Roy Flynn (the Speakeasy Club manager)
The Super Deluxe package also includes nine posters & inserts, including replicas of
20” x 30” original Adrian George album poster, a gig poster from The City Hall, Newcastle, a Saville Theatre show 8-page programme, a business card for the Bag o’ Nails club, Kingly Street, a Who fan club photo of group, a flyer for Bath Pavilion concerts including The Who, a crack-back bumper sticker for Wonderful Radio London, Keith Moon’s Speakeasy Club membership card and a Who Fan Club newsletter.
As a taster for the set an EP of Pete Townshend’s previously unreleased demos has today been released on all streaming services including ‘Pictures Of Lily’ (New remix, previously unreleased)’ Kids! Do You Want Kids?’ (AKA Do You Want Kids, Kids?) (Previously unreleased) & ‘Odorono’ (Previously unreleased).
The Who Sell Out was originally planned by Pete Townshend and the band’s managers Kit Lambert & Chris Stamp, as a loose concept album including jingles and commercials linking the songs stylised as a pirate radio broadcast. This concept was born out of necessity as their label and management wanted a new album and Townshend felt that he didn’t have enough songs.
The ground-breaking original plan for Sell Out was to sell advertising space on the album but instead the band opted for writing their own jingles paying tribute to pirate radio stations and to parody an increasingly consumerist society.
The homage to pop-art is evident in both the advertising jingles and the iconic sleeve design created by David King who was the art director at the Sunday Times, and Roger Law who invented the Spitting Image TV show. The sleeve features four advertising images, taken by the renowned photographer David Montgomery, of each band member Odorono deodorant (Pete Townshend), Medac spot cream (Keith Moon), Charles Atlas (John Entwistle) and Roger Daltrey & Heinz baked beans. The story goes that Roger Daltrey caught pneumonia from sitting in the cold beans for too long.
The Who Sell Out is a bold depiction of the period in which it was made, the tail-end of the ‘swinging-60s’ meets pop-art mixed with psychedelia and straight-ahead pop. It’s a glorious blend of classic powerful Who instrumentation, melodic harmonies, satirical lyrical imagery crystallised for what was only the group’s third album. The album’s ambition and scope is unrivalled by the Who, or any other act from that period.
Within the bold concept, were a batch of fabulous and diverse songs. I Can See for Miles, a top ten hit at the time, is a Who classic. Rael, a Townshend ‘mini-opera’ with musical motifs that reappeared in Tommy and the psychedelic blast of Armenia City In The Sky and Relax are among the very best material Townshend or anyone else wrote during the 1960s.
One of the most extraordinary albums of any era, The Who Sell Out is The Who’s last ‘pop’ album. Two years later came ‘Tommy’ – a double concept album about a deaf, dumb and blind kid.
THE WHO SELL OUT SUPER DELUXE EDITION
Disc 1 – Original mono mix, mono As & Bs and unreleased mono mixes
Disc 2 – Original stereo mix and stereo bonus tracks
Disc 3 – Studio out-takes, ‘fly-on-the-wall’ versions of early takes of songs from the album sessions, ‘studio chat’ etc.
Disc 4 – ‘The Road to Tommy’ will contain stereo mixes of the studio tracks recorded in 1968 – some previously unreleased – plus 1968 As and Bs mono mixes (all tracks remixed from original 4 and 8-track session tapes in The Who vault)
Disc 5 – 14 of Pete Townshend’s original demos, previously unreleased & exclusive to this set
BONUS 7” DISCS:
1. Track UK 45 repro I Can See for Miles (early mono mix with single-tracked vocal) & Someone’s Coming (original UK Track single mix with single-tracked vocal)
2. Decca USA 45 repro Magic Bus (US/UK mono) & Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde (original US Decca single mix)
80-page, hard-back full-colour book, including rare period photos, memorabilia &
Track annotation and new liner notes by Pete Townshend with comments from from Pete Drummond (Radio Caroline DJ), Chris Huston (Talentmasters Studio), Richard Evans (designer), Roy Flynn (Speakeasy Club manager), Arnold Schwartzman (designer) & Andy Neill (Who biographer)
MEMORABILIA:
Nine posters & inserts, including replicas of;
20” x 30” original Adrian George poster
Gig poster – City Hall, Newcastle: The Who, Traffic & The Tremeloes
Saville Theatre 8-page programme.
Business card for the Bag o’ Nails club, Kingly Street.
Fan Club photo of group.
Flyer for Bath Pavilion concerts including The Who.
Crack-back bumper sticker for Wonderful Radio London.
Keith Moon’s Speakeasy Club membership card
Who Fan Club newsletter.
OTHER THE WHO SELL OUT FORMATS;
2 LP deluxe (stereo) vinyl version, featuring the original album and extras highlights from box set.
D2C 2LP deluxe (mono) vinyl version featuring the original album and extras highlights from box set pressed on coloured vinyl; disc 1 ‘Odorono’ red / disc 2 ‘Baked Bean’ orange.
2-CD edition 6-panel digi-pak with a 16-page booklet.
Also available in a variety of Digital formats
THE WHO SELL OUT TRACK LISTINGS
SUPER DELUXE BOX SET
CD ONE: THE WHO SELL OUT – MONO ALBUM
1. Armenia City in The Sky
2. Heinz Baked Beans
3. Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand
4. Odorono
5. Tattoo
6. Our Love Was
7. I Can See for Miles
8. I Can’t Reach You
9. Medac
10. Relax
11. Silas Stingy
12. Sunrise
13. Rael / Track Records run-off groove
BONUS TRACKS – MONO
14. Pictures of Lily
15. Doctor, Doctor
16. The Last Time
17. Under My Thumb
18. I Can See for Miles
19. Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand
20. Someone’s Coming
21. Unused Radio London ad / Early Morning…
22. Unused Radio London bulletin link /Jaguar
23. Unused Radio London ad /Tattoo
24. Rael
25. Sunn Amps promo spots
26. Great Shakes ad
Tracks 21, 24 & 25 previously unreleased
CD TWO: THE WHO SELL OUT – STEREO ALBUM
1. Armenia City in The Sky
2. Heinz Baked Beans
3. Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand
4. Odorono
5. Tattoo
6. Our Love Was
7. I Can See for Miles
8. I Can’t Reach You
9. Medac
10. Relax
11. Silas Stingy
12. Sunrise
13. Rael
BONUS TRACKS – STEREO
14. Rael Naïve (complete with organ coda ending)
15. Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand (US single version)
16. Someone’s Coming
17. Summertime Blues
18. Glittering Girl
19. Early Morning Cold Taxi
20. Girl’s Eyes
21. Coke After Coke
22. Sodding About
23. Things Go Better with Coke
24. Hall of The Mountain King
25. Jaguar
26. Rael (remake; IBC version) / Track Records outro \
Track 14 previously unreleased
THE WHO SELL OUT TRACK LISTINGS – SUPER DELUXE BOX SET
CD ONE: THE WHO SELL OUT – MONO ALBUM
1. Armenia City in The Sky
2. Heinz Baked Beans
3. Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand
4. Odorono
5. Tattoo
6. Our Love Was
7. I Can See for Miles
8. I Can’t Reach You
9. Medac
10. Relax
11. Silas Stingy
12. Sunrise
13. Rael / Track Records run-off groove
BONUS TRACKS – MONO
14. Pictures of Lily
15. Doctor, Doctor
16. The Last Time
17. Under My Thumb
18. I Can See for Miles
19. Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand
20. Someone’s Coming
21. Unused Radio London ad / Early Morning…
22. Unused Radio London bulletin link /Jaguar
23. Unused Radio London ad /Tattoo
24. Rael
25. Sunn Amps promo spots
26. Great Shakes ad
*Tracks 21, 24 & 25 previously unreleased
CD TWO: THE WHO SELL OUT – STEREO ALBUM
1. Armenia City in The Sky
2. Heinz Baked Beans
3. Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand
4. Odorono
5. Tattoo
6. Our Love Was
7. I Can See for Miles
8. I Can’t Reach You
9. Medac
10. Relax
11. Silas Stingy
12. Sunrise
13. Rael
BONUS TRACKS – STEREO
14. Rael Naïve (complete with organ coda ending)
15. Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand (US single version)
16. Someone’s Coming
17. Summertime Blues
18. Glittering Girl
19. Early Morning Cold Taxi
20. Girl’s Eyes
21. Coke After Coke
22. Sodding About
23. Things Go Better with Coke
24. Hall of The Mountain King
25. Jaguar
26. Rael (remake; IBC version) / Track Records outro
*Track 14 previously unreleased
CD THREE: STUDIO SESSIONS 1967 / 68
1. Glittering Girl
2. Girl’s Eye
3. The Last Time (Take 8)
4. Under My Thumb (Take 3)
5. Our Love Was (Take 2)
6. Relax (4-track to 4-track mix with Pete vocal)
7. Relax (Takes 1 and 2)
8. Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand (Takes 1 & 9)
9. Relax (Remake Take 4)
10. I Can See for Miles (full version)
11. Medac (Take 11)
12. Odorono (Take 3) (2018 remix)
13. Heinz Baked Beans (Takes 1 & 3) (2018 remix)
14. Top Gear (Takes 1 & 2) (2018 remix)
15. Premier Drums (Takes 1 & 3) (2018 remix)
16. Charles Atlas (Take 1)
17. Rotosound Strings (Take 1) (2018 remix)
18. Track Records (2018 remix)
19. John Mason Cars (Takes 1 – 3) / Speakeasy / Rotosound Strings / Bag O’ Nails (2018 remixes)
20. It’s A Girl (aka ‘Glow Girl’) (Takes 1 & 3)
21. Mr Hyde (1st stage mix Take 1)
22. Little Billy (Takes 1 & 3)
23. Mrs Walker (aka ‘Glow Girl’) (4-track to 4-track mix, take 7)
24. Call Me Lightning (Take 1 backing track, stereo mix & jam)
25. Dogs (Take 3)
26. Melancholia (Take 1)
27. Shakin’ All Over (Take 3)
28. Magic Bus (Take 6)
*Most tracks on CD 3 include studio chat, all tracks previously unreleased in this form.
CD FOUR: THE 1968 RECORDINGS (‘THE ROAD TO TOMMY’)
1. Glow Girl
2. Faith in Something Bigger
3. Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde
4. Call Me Lightning
5. Little Billy’s Doing Fine
6. Dogs
7. Melancholia
8. Fortune Teller
9. Facts Of Life (aka ‘Birds And Bees’, backing track)
10. Magic Bus (single version)
11. Call Me Lightning (US/UK mono single mix)
12. Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde (UK mono single mix)
13. Dogs (UK mono single mix)
14. Magic Bus (mono, longer version)
*Track 9 previously unreleased
CD FIVE: PETE TOWNSHEND ORIGINAL DEMOS
1. Kids? Do You Want Kids
2. Relax
3. Glow Girl
4. Glow Girl (Version 2)
5. Inside Outside USA
6. Jaguar
7. Little Billy
8. Odorono
9. Pictures of Lily
10. Relax (Version 2)
11. Melancholia (2018 remix)
12. Thinking of You All the While (‘Sunrise’ Version 2)
13. Mary Anne With the Shaky Hands
14. I Can See for Miles
*All previously unreleased and exclusive to the Super Deluxe Edition.
BONUS 7” DISCS:
Track UK 45:
- I Can See for Miles
- Someone’s Coming
Decca USA 45:
- Magic Bus
- Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde
THE WHO SELL OUT TWO CD EDITION
CD ONE THE WHO SELL OUT – MONO ALBUM
1. Armenia City in The Sky
2. Heinz Baked Beans
3. Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand
4. Odorono
5. Tattoo
6. Our Love Was
7. I Can See for Miles
8. I Can’t Reach You
9. Medac
10. Relax
11. Silas Stingy
12. Sunrise
13. Rael
THE WHO SELL OUT TWO CD EDITION
CD ONE THE WHO SELL OUT – MONO ALBUM
1. Armenia City in The Sky
2. Heinz Baked Beans
3. Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand
4. Odorono
5. Tattoo
6. Our Love Was
7. I Can See for Miles
8. I Can’t Reach You
9. Medac
10. Relax
11. Silas Stingy
12. Sunrise
13. Rael (+ Track Records run-off groove)
BONUS TRACKS – MONO
14. Pictures of Lily
15. Doctor, Doctor
16. The Last Time
17. Under My Thumb
18. I Can See for Miles
19. Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand
20. Someone’s Coming
21. Unused Radio London ad / Early Morning Cold Taxi
22. Unused Radio London bulletin link /Jaguar
23. Unused Radio London ad /Tattoo
24. Rael
25. Sunn Amps promo spots
26. Great Shakes ad
*Tracks 21, 24 & 25 previously unreleased
CD TWO THE WHO SELL OUT – STEREO ALBUM
1. Armenia City in The Sky
2. Heinz Baked Beans
3. Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand
4. Odorono
5. Tattoo
6. Our Love Was
7. I Can See for Miles
8. I Can’t Reach You
9. Medac
10. Relax
11. Silas Stingy
12. Sunrise
13. Rael
BONUS TRACKS – STEREO
1. Rael Naïve
2. Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand
3. Someone’s Coming
4. Summertime Blues
5. Glittering Girl
6. Early Morning Cold Taxi
7. Girl’s Eyes
8. Coke After Coke
9. Sodding About
10. Things Go Better with Coke
11. Hall of The Mountain King
12. Jaguar
13. Rael (remake; IBC version)
2LP STEREO VINYL EDITION
DISC ONE (ORIGINAL LP – STEREO)
Side 1
1. Armenia City in The Sky
2. Heinz Baked Beans
3. Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand
4. Odorono
5. Tattoo
6. Our Love Was
7. I Can See for Miles
Side 2
1. I Can’t Reach You
2. Medac
3. Relax
4. Silas Stingy
5. Sunrise
6. Rael
Track Records run-off groove
DISC TWO (BONUS TRACKS – STEREO)
Side 1
1. Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand (US single version)
2. Someone’s Coming
3. Summertime Blues
4. Glittering Girl
5. Early Morning Cold Taxi
6. Girl’s Eyes
Side 2
1. Coke After Coke
2. Sodding About
3. Things Go Better with Coke
4. Hall of The Mountain King
5. Jaguar
6. Rael (remake; IBC version)
2LP MONO VINYL EDITION D2C EXCLUSIVE
DISC 1 ‘ODORONO’ RED / DISC 2 ‘BAKED BEAN’ ORANGE
DISC ONE – ORIGINAL LP – MONO
Side 1
1. Armenia City in The Sky
2. Heinz Baked Beans
3. Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand
4. Odorono
5. Tattoo
6. Our Love Was
7. I Can See for Miles
Side 2
1. I Can’t Reach You
2. Medac
3. Relax
4. Silas Stingy
5. Sunrise
6. Rael
DISC TWO – MONO BONUS TRACKS
Side 1
1. Pictures of Lily
2. Doctor, Doctor
3. The Last Time
4. Under My Thumb
5. I Can See for Miles (
6. Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand
7. Someone’s Coming
Side 2
1. Unused Radio London ad / Early Morning Cold Taxi
2. Unused Radio London bulletin link /Jaguar
3. Unused Radio London ad /Tattoo
4. Rael
5. Sunn promo spots
6. Great Shakes ad
