This writer’s first introduction to the album was by default, listening to a single track from it, Squeeze Box, at a two-hour concert titled ‘The Evolution of Mr. Rock’ featuring Madhukar Dhas at Mumbai’s Sophia Bhabha Auditorium in 1976. It was among the first live performances to incorporate graphics by featuring slides of Dhas’ cartoons based on the song lyrics projected behind the musicians on stage, which did cause much embarrassment as an adolescent then. Nevertheless, it also led to the introduction of The Who and, with it, the ‘By Numbers’ album, the band’s seventh.

Functioning as chief songwriter Pete Townshend's confessional album wherein he introspects about himself, it chronicles his problems with alcohol (However Much I Booze) and, as the lead vocalist on this song, admits that “there ain't no way out”; women (Dreaming From The Waist and They Are All In Love); whereas, Slip Kid, a song about the music business (No easy way to be free/It's a hard, hard world),the ukelele-driven Blue Red And Grey, again containing lead vocals by Townshendwith bassist John Entwistle doubling on French flugel horn and trumpet, and the Entwistle - composed Success Story containing a three-chord rock riff from Townshend with humorous lyrics about the lifestyle of musicians (There's a rock and roll singer on the television/Giving up his music, gonna take up religion/To try to save his soul”).

This ten - track album really does not have any track that truly appeals in the first listening, except for that pop sounding Squeeze Box containing inane lyrics with instrumentation encompassing banjo and accordion, courtesy Townshend. Nevertheless, several listenings later, it is obvious that the album has held itself well through the decades with its excellent arrangements, first - rate production by Glyn Johns who as always preferred a live, natural approach in the recording studio (and it shows), unique instrumentation supported by the distinctive drumming of Keith Moon, and strong vocals by Roger Daltrey, eventually leading to a thoroughly enjoyable listening experience.

While ‘By Numbers’ deservedly peaked in the ‘Top 10’ album chart on both sides of the Atlantic, for reasons best known to The Who, the band opted to play little material from this album during their live performances.

Nevertheless, for the trivia-minded, the album cover depicts band members' bodies that can actually be connected through dots (and, hence, the title of the album: ‘The Who By Numbers’), drawn by multi-talented bassist John Entwistle, but this writer has still managed to keep the cover art intact.

Released on: 3^rd October, 1975

Recorded: April - June 1975

Duration: 37.19 minutes

Rating: ***

Reviewed by Parag Kamani

Parag Kamani has been part of the media and entertainment industry across 35 years, having worked for licensors such as Warner Music and EMI/Virgin in music, as well as Warner Bros, Universal Pictures, and Paramount Pictures in the field of films. Parag continues pursuing his passion as a profession.