Re: Bleedin' Quadrophenic

["Schrade, Scott" <sschrade@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Early QUAD memories:

I remember, having just started getting into The Who around '82-'83, I
was hanging out with my girlfriend who was babysitting at someone else's
house.  The parents were away (obviously) so, after a passionate make-out
session (!), I decided to check out the couple's record collection.

They had about 50 albums & QUAD was one of 'em.  I had only been into The
Who for a few months & hadn't purchased QUAD yet.  I remember reading the
little story on the inside.  It must've been a reissue because I don't
remember looking through the booklet.

Those were exciting times, my early Who days, before I had completely
explored the band's entire output.  Knowing that there were whole albums
I had yet to hear was thrilling to me.  I remember hearing "Pure & Easy"
on the radio & thinking, "Hey, that's like the line from "Song Is Over!
I gotta get that album called ODDS & SODS!"

Anyway, I don't think I listened to any of QUAD that night while my girl-
friend was babysitting.  I was probably afraid to mess with those people's
stereo system.

I must've purchased QUAD in the Spring of '83 because I have definite 
springtime memories surrounding my first few listens.  It was like a huge
four-course meal.  So deep.  So complex.  So satisfying.

I immediately thought it was the best-recorded Who album I had heard up to
that point.  The drums were nice & loud.  Entwistle's bass playing was 
just amazing.  I loved the synthesizers.  I loved the subject matter.  The
melodies were so beautiful & right.  It was like a missing piece of my
"life puzzle" had been found; and when I listened to QUAD, that puzzle
piece just fell into place.

Back then, I always made compilation cassettes from my records so I could
blast my tunes on my bitchin', silver, Panasonic boombox, which unlike
today's "boomboxes" was actually square & shaped like a box.  Man, that 
thing cranked.  I still have it.  It doesn't play cassettes anymore & the
speakers are all crackly, but I just couldn't throw it out.  We had gone
through too much together.

I still have the tape which I put QUAD onto.  But I must've been somewhat
unimpressed with the songs "Sea & Sand" & "I'm One" because I left those
two off!  (I often only recorded songs I liked from an album instead of the
entire album.)

I sort of understand why I left off "Sea & Sand;" it must not have done
anything for me at the time.  I learned to appreciate it later on, even
though it's still not one of my "faves" from the album.

But why I left off "I'm One," I can't figure out.  That song is so central
to the album & it's a song I adore today.

I also remember first seeing the movie, probably around '85-'86.  And that
really blew me away.  I remember renting it & watching it twice in one day.

I've always found it interesting that most Who freaks choose QUAD as their
favorite album.  I mean, I understand the choice; I'm just amazed that it
seems like almost 9 out of 10 Who freaks who are asked will say QUAD is 
their favorite.  I figured there would be a greater representation of their
catalogue, but QUAD seems to dominate.

I remember going to Cleveland in '88 to see Entwistle play a solo show, &
while waiting to get into the club, we Who freaks who had gathered took a
survey as to everyone's favorite album.  The same answer went around the 
circle:  "QUAD."  "QUAD."  "QUAD."  "QUAD."  Etc., etc.

I know QUAD is great, but I wonder why most WHO freaks consider it their
favorite.


- SCHRADE in Akron

I believe in God, only I spell it Nature.
     - Frank Lloyd Wright