After the 1971 album Who’s Next, Pete Townshend returned to the rock-opera genre, so dramatically realised through Tommy, with another ambitious double-album masterpiece. Based around the story of Jimmy – Quadrophenia tells the tale of a young mod and his struggle to come of age in the mid-1960s.The story also takes its influence from the band’s early fans from the original mod era, and its themes of teenage angst and disaffection still resonate strongly today.
The project was intended to reflect the four characters of The Who and features some of Townshend’s most inspired, personal song-writing – way ahead of its time in scope and purpose.
Quadrophenia is one of the most recognised albums by The Who and is hugely significant in popular culture, influencing many other artists, musicians and film-makers – inspiring the classic 1979 British film by Franc Roddam and the UK mod revival of the 1970s.
“This 2011 revisit to The Who’s 1973 Quadrophenia recording is inspired by current and continuing interest in the project,” explains Townshend. “The Who performed a concert version of the piece at the Royal Albert Hall in 2010 for the Teenage Cancer Trust with excellent reviews, and the success of that event led to the prospect of a Who tour in 2012 based on the album. The last such tour was between 1996-1997.”
Quadrophenia: The Director’s Cut is the definitive version of the album and a must for any self-respecting fan of The Who and beyond.
Click on the headings below to see the full contents of each available format:
SUPER DELUXE EDITION BOX SET
The super-deluxe limited edition box set will feature the following exclusive content:
- Discs one and two – the original double album – 2011 remaster
- Discs three and four – 25 unreleased demo tracks from Pete Townshend’s studio archive giving a unique insight into the original vision for this remarkable body of work. Includes songs that were not included on the original album.
- Disc five – The Quadrophenia 5.1 EP – eight track DVD-A re-mixed for surround sound.
- Deluxe 100-page, hard-back book featuring a brand new 13,000 word essay by Pete Townshend, shedding exclusive light on the period before and during the creation of the album, explaining some of the technical processes – the startling and progressive use of synthesisers as well as a revealing insight into the story of the album’s central character – the mod Jimmy.
- Also features Pete’s in depth, track-by-track guide to the demos and a revealing studio diary.
- The stunning book also includes a treasure trove of previously unseen personal notes, photographs, handwritten lyrics and memorabilia from the period, all recently uncovered in Pete’s archive.
- The package also replicates the striking black and white imagery from the original vinyl LP photography and adds never-seen colour out-takes of the famous cover shot.
- A replica 7″ vinyl single featuring hit single 5.15 b/w Water in a picture sleeve.
- Set of six facsimile memorabilia inserts housed in a card envelope.
- 20″ x 30″ poster.
- Limited edition, housed in a hard-back deluxe slip-case.
DELUXE EDITION
DISC ONE:
- I Am The Sea – The Who
- The Real Me – The Who
- Quadrophenia – The Who
- Cut My Hair – The Who
- The Punk And The Godfather – The Who
- I’m One – The Who
- The Dirty Jobs – The Who
- Helpless Dancer – The Who
- Is It In My Head? – The Who
- I’ve Had Enough – The Who
- 5:15 – The Who
- Sea And Sand – The Who
- Drowned – The Who
DISC TWO:
- Bell Boy – The Who
- Doctor Jimmy – The Who
- The Rock – The Who
- Love Reign O’er Me – The Who
- The Real Me – Pete Townshend (Demo)
- Cut My Hair – Pete Townshend (Demo)
- Punk – Pete Townshend (Demo)
- Dirty Jobs – Pete Townshend (Demo)
- Is It In My Head? – Pete Townshend (Demo)
- Any More – Pete Townshend (Demo)
- I’ve Had Enough – Pete Townshend (Demo)
- Drowned – Pete Townshend (Demo)
- Is It Me? – Pete Townshend (Demo)
- Doctor Jimmy – Pete Townshend (Demo)
- Love Reign O’er Me – Pete Townshend (Demo)
2-DISC VINYL LP
DISC ONE SIDE 1:
- I Am The Sea – The Who
- The Real Me – The Who
- Quadrophenia – The Who
- Cut My Hair – The Who
- The Punk And The Godfather – The Who
DISC ONE SIDE 2:
- I’m One – The Who
- The Dirty Jobs – The Who
- Helpless Dancer – The Who
- Is It In My Head? – The Who
- I’ve Had Enough – The Who
DISC TWO SIDE 1:
- 5:15 – The Who
- Sea And Sand – The Who
- Drowned – The Who
- Bell Boy – The Who
DISC TWO SIDE 2:
- Doctor Jimmy – The Who
- The Rock – The Who
- Love Reign O’er Me – The Who
ITUNES LP
Beautifully designed digital version of The Director’s Cut, offering the full remastered original album, demos, a stunning range of rare photos, scans of unseen handwritten lyrics and illustrations, the full lyrics to read as you listen and Pete Townshend’s extensive essay detailing the story of the Quadrophenia project.
