Music

The Only Record by The Who to Hit No. 1 on the Charts

While The Who's records regularly landed in the top 10 in the US and UK, only 1 album ever topped the charts in either country.

by Eric Schaal

Published on December 5, 2019

3 min read

As fans of The Who buy (or download or stream) the legendary band’s latest album (WHO), we’re more than 55 years from the recording of the group’s first single, “I Can’t Explain.” That Kinks-inspired track did quite well for the upstart band, peaking at No. 8 on the UK charts in early 1965.

Later in ’65, after scoring another top-10 hit with “Anyway Anyhow Anywhere,” the band nearly took over the UK charts with the anthemic “My Generation.” That track, one of the finest early songs by Pete Townshend, surged all the way to No. 2.

Though The Who have had a total of 14 top-10 singles in the UK, they’ve never taken the top spot. The Billboard pop charts in the U.S. also proved impossible to top over the years. “I Can See For Miles,” which reached No. 9, has been the band’s best showing in America.

But Who albums (LPs) have fared better. In the U.S., the group cracked the top 10 on 10 separate occasions (three of them after the death of Keith Moon). And out of the band’s 15 top-10 UK hits, one did reach No. 1.

‘Who’s Next’ topped the UK charts in 1971

The Who pose for a group portrait on 15 July 1971 to promote ‘Who’s Next.’ | Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns

Since the mid-’60s, The Who have invariably sold well in the UK. My Generation (1965), the group’s debut LP, hit No. 5 in their native country. The band’s followup (A Quick One, 1966) went even higher, reaching No. 4 on the charts.

In 1967, The Who ventured to America for a key gig at the Monterey Pop Festival. There, Townshend saw a chance to “leave a wound” on a California scene dominated by hippie bands. (He was right, even though Jimi Hendrix ultimately topped The Who’s violent act by setting his guitar on fire.)

After a short tour of America — which included Moon becoming fond of explosives — the band had made a name for itself in the U.S. With 1969’s Tommy, The Who had its biggest hit (and most critical acclaim) yet. It reached No. 2 in the UK and climbed to No. 4 on the Billboard charts.

In 1971, following the release of Who’s Next, The Who scored their biggest chart success. The classic album, which included “Baba O’Riley” and the acidic “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” hit No. 1 on the UK charts in November ’71.

The Who notched 2 No. 2 hits in the US later in the ’70s

The Who 1971 Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, Keith Moon, Pete Townshend (Photo by Chris Walter/WireImage)

With two songs tailor-made for The Who’s epic live performances, Who’s Next brought an even bigger audience for the band in its eighth year together. But their biggest chart successes in the U.S. were still to come.

Quadrophenia (1973), which featured “The Real Me,” “Doctor Jimmy,” and “Love, Reign O’er Me,” became the band’s biggest chart success in America, where it hit No. 2. (It also reached No. 2 in the UK.)

Though Moon’s health and playing were deteriorating by the late ’70s, the band managed to make one more successful album with their brilliant drummer. It was Who Are You (1978), which hit No. 2 in the U.S. (Bassist John Entwistle passed away in 2002.)

That brings us to the present, with WHO‘s official release date set for December 6. If you’ve heard any of the cuts, you know it has a chance to do damage on charts on both sides of the Atlantic.

Also see: Why Pete Townshend Doesn’t Care When People Say The Who Sold Out