The Who Sell Out

33⅓ Main Series #37

by John Dougan

Released in the U.S. in January 1968, The Who Sell Out was, according to critic Dave Marsh, a complete backfire--the album sold well, but not spectacularly [and was] ultimately a nostalgic Who but a pop intellectual could appreciate such a thing? Further rarifying its in-joke status was its unapologetic Englishness; 13 tracks stitched together in a mock pirate radio broadcast, without a DJ, with cool, anglocentric commercials to boot. In the 36 years since its release, Sell Out , though still not the best selling release in The Who's catalog, has been embraced by a growing number of fans who regard it as the band's best work, one of the few recordings of the late 1960s that best represents the ambitious aesthetic possibilities of the concept album without becoming mired in a bog of smug, self-aggrandizing, high art aspirations. Sell Out , powerfully and ecstatically, articulates the nexus of pop music and pop culture. As much as it is an expression of the band's expanding sonic palette, Sell Out also functions as a critique of the rock and roll lifestyle. Not the clichéd mantra of sex, drugs, and rock and roll but in the ways that commercial advertising fabricates a youth-oriented cultural reality by hawking pimple cream, deodorant, food, musical equipment, etc., and linking it with rock and roll. In this sense Sell Out is a reflective work, one that struggles with rock and roll as a cultural expression that aspires to aesthetic permanence while marketed as ephemera. From this conflict emerges a pop art masterpiece.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

131 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2006

About the author

John Dougan received a Ph.D. in American Studies from the College of William & Mary and is an associate professor in the Department of Recording Industry at Middle Tennessee State University.

Source: Bloomsbury.

Reviews

[Paul Bryant · Rating 3 out of 5]

In case any fans of The Who Sell Out haven't heard of Petra Haden, check out her album called The Who Sell Out. She does the whole entire Who album note for note using just her voice. It's gob smacking stuff.

[Liam Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have to admit, I was highly disappointed in this book. It reads like a first draft, right down to the innumerable typos in the text.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the tangential history of the British pirate radio phenomenon. It’s a pretty wild story, even involving Texas tycoons. It makes me excited to read the two John Peel biographies on my list. As I was nearing the end of the book and there’s finally some discussion of the individual cuts on the album, I at first was disappointed by how brief the actual music criticism of the songs was. But then I thought that maybe it was enough. That the songs were pretty self-evident and not in need of any deeper analysis. Just some British cultural history to throw them into relief.

[Joe Faust · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing – reads more like a college term paper about the cultural shift in Swinging London than about the landmark Who album – which only shows up in the last third of the book.

[Pascal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read some reviews by people who were complaining about the book not providing enough information on how the album was recorded and stuff like that. Fair enough, that's a valid complaint. But I think the author does an absolutely marvellous job in painting a picture of the whole cultural (and pop-cultural) aspects that surrounded the album's production and reception. Shining a light on the era of pirate radio stations, the stubborn conservatism of the BBC (and why things were like they were) as well as examining the state of British 60s pop art are far more interesing and relevant than which guitar and amp Pete Townshend used on which song. That doesn't mean that the book didn't provide sufficient information about the individual songs. By focusing on the exterior of the album more than the interior, however, the book becomes more than just a simple "making of"-documentary for die-hard-fans only.

[Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Dougan is quite a fan of this album and never fails to tell the reader so. I've always liked the early Who pre-Tommy and this is a good, short study of The Who Sell Out: the concept behind it, Swingin' London, and the pirate radio scene in Britain. As an album Sell Out is hilarious with fake commercials as they would've played on radio but the satire on pop art era consumer culture is incomplete and doesn't go the full album. But what an odd album this is, yielding a genuine 60's rock classic - I Can See For Miles - that stands out from the album's other pointed songs. This is a good read for the fan who is into the early Who.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of all The Who albums to write a book about, this is probably the last that I'd think deserves it, however, the author feels very much differently proclaiming it to be "a masterpiece." Then again, he loves Tommy and I'm very much not a fan of Tommy. To my mind Quadrophenia is leaps and bounds better than Tommy. And he doesn't like Boris the Spider!!!

The only thing he got right is that The Who are great. :-)

All that said, I'm intrigued enough to try listening to this particular album (which I've passed up in the used album bin many many times) again with Mr. Dougan's enthusiasm.

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know what people who are disappointed were talking about! This is one of the finest in the series, giving an intense history of pirate radio in the UK, the mod era, and yeah, how the Who and this album fit into that. Since I first heard this album (through hearing Petra Haden do her fantastic version of the entire album a capella), I've found it magnificently interesting to listen to, with all it's art school weirdness. This book does that weirdness justice. I like it more for having read this.

[Gary Ellenberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

So absurdly overwritten. The book is supposed to be about an album, set ion a time and a place in history. In this book, the writer’s main theme is to show off how many big words he knows and then paint the background in grand flourishes. The album is mere afterthought. The worst in the series if 33 1/3 books I have read. Makes me seriously reconsider delving further into this series of books. Some Agee solid and some are weak. This author is a pompous polemic.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you find the London pirate radio scene interesting and want to learn more, this is a pretty good book.

If you just want to learn more about the making of the album, this isn't what you're looking for.

[Dennis Seese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done.
I really like how the author integrated concise discussions of pop art and pirate radio into the album's creation. He was able to demonstrate how important those two things were contextually as Pete Townsend was shaping the album/concept
I didn't want it to end.

[Len or Len · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last third of the book makes it worth a read. Dougan goes in depth into the album and reveals why he thinks it is so great.

[Sonic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book about an Amazing album.
As an (N.)American I really appreciated understanding the story behind this concept piece.

[Steve Klemz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good background on pop art, pirate radio and london. Not enough details on the actual music making.

[Sal · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better entries in this series. Lots of insight into the history and aesthetics associated with Pirate Radio and Pop Art in London (and how they informed the record).

[Brad · Rating 3 out of 5]

More about Swingin' London and pirate radio than the album, but the incorporation of these other subjects does make me appreciate the album more.

[Tosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest I only like albums by the Who before their 'masterpiece' "Tommy." And on top of that I am a huge Kinks fan. But saying that I really have a deep appreciation for the early Who recordings, plus I have an incredible respect for their managers Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp. Those two guys were great.

"The Who Sell Out" is a great concept of an album. It was made out to be a pirate radio show with fake ads done by the band. It's borderline kooky or eccentric and it was the last work by them that didn't have that heavy Pete Townsend message or spiritual journey thing. Hmm, well, maybe a couple of songs on that album leaned in that direction, but nevertheless with Keith Moon bashing away it is a lot of fun.

This book gives a clear picture of the surroundings that this album was written, produced and recorded. So one gets a good idea about London early '67. Really enjoyable piece of history -- and it's great to revisit the album again.

[Jon]

Dougan does excellent work explaining the history of Pop Art in England in the 60s and how that influenced Pete Townshend's work on the Who's finest album. Trivia: Keith Moon wanted the near-instrumental "Jaguar" (a bonus track on the CD re-issue) to appear on the LP in place of Townshend's solo-acoustic ballad "Sunrise", I agree. More trivia: the title "Our Love Was, Is" on the US version was a mistake by someone at Decca Records, the correct title is "Our Love Was." I prefer the "wrong" title. Still more trivia: Townshend had planned on singing "Tattoo" because he didn't think Daltrey would be able to deal with the song's theme of wondering "what makes a man a man." Daltrey proved him wrong, delivering perhaps his finest vocal ever ("Relax" from the same album is a strong contender too.) And yet more trivia: "Silas Stingy" was inspired by Entwistle's experience as a newly rich rock star and new homeowner.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this one given to me


by vaughan at my in-laws as a wedding present. I read it on the flight back home to texas. this is the only one of this series that i have read."sell out" is one of my favorite who records. it didn't really get into to much detail about the stuff i really wanted to know about like the recording of it and trivial anecdotes like fighting in the studio etc,etc. It does however give a great history on pirate radio in england at that time. to me it seems like the meat is more about pirate radio history and the who's "sell out " is kind of a subtopic.
the guy is very much the who fan and talks about how much he loves it and them but the only new stuff i got was from the pirate radio history which again is very interesting but over all a little bit of a let down.

[Mike Van Campen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the 33 1/3 series of books from Continuum. They are perfect for music geeks. This volume provides excellent background information on an album that has always perplexed me. I loved the songs but never really got the point of the jingles and advertising or the bizarre cover. (I remember dismissing it as a 12 year old based on the cover in spite of enthusiastically embracing the band after my dad first played me some tracks from _Tommy_ some time in the '80s.) This slim volume did a great job filling in holes in my knowledge and explaining the concept behind the album. Most of the book is devoted to background info but the final chapters on the songs and the memorable cover art homage to advertising and pop art are very insightful--if too brief.

[Burton]

An insight into the cultural context of this seminal album by The Who, often overlooked due to the success and breadth of TOMMY. Litle known fact: BBC would not play pop music - including The Beatles. Pirate radio stations - ships with radio antenna - anchored of the British coast became THE commercial outlet for early rock. These ships were financed by Texas entrepreneurs.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent essays and background information about one of the greatest records of all time by the greatest band of all time. Fascinating reading about British pirate radio and the times of early rock and roll. You can hear the songs in your head, too, which is always a treat.

[Nathan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book to be really boring. It focused more on the evolution of pop art than on the actual album, and while I understand it in context, it sort of didn't really hit home with me. Not to mention that the writing style was not the sort that I have come to enjoy.

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Way too much focus on British pop radio in the 60s as opposed to the Who album the book was supposed to be focusing on. Still some interesting stuff can be found throughout.

[Gaelen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but a bit too heavy on background (eg pirate radio) and light on discussion of the actual songs.

[Derklbot Rosenstrauch · Rating 4 out of 5]

i was more interested in the overview of 60's english/european pirate radio which i didn't know much about. that's important history to properly understand this album's context.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I read this book, I never bothered to listen to The Who Sell Out but Dougan's writing is so packed with trivia I had to listen to the record. I guess that's how good this book is.

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

1/6 of the book is dedicated to the actual album, the rest is historical context that really could have been pared down.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

From the music section of a London bookstore. Have enjoyed others in this series much more. Learned a little bit about the pop art movement, but very little about the band or the music.