Who Are You, The Who’s eighth studio album, is to be released in a suite of formats including a super deluxe edition this October featuring over 70 unreleased tracks including never-before-heard versions of the title track “Who Are You,” newly mixed live tracks from their first tour without original drummer Keith Moon and candid recordings of the band rehearsing in 1977 and 1978. Also included in the 7CD/1 Blu-ray set are brand-new Atmos & Stereo mixes by Steven Wilson. The album will also be released as a deluxe 4LP box set, a 2CD deluxe edition, and limited-edition coloured and half-speed master vinyl editions.
Available on October 31, you can pre-order/pre-save the configurations of your choice here. Watch a video trailer below.
The album saw the band pushing boundaries once more, with the songs referencing the incoming influence of British Punk. Most notably, the title track was written after a night out with Steve Jones and Paul Cook of The Sex Pistols, and it reflected the sentiments of Music Must Change and Sister Disco. Pete Townshend also delivered some of his most ambitious and intricate arrangements, incorporating layers of synthesisers and strings into The Who’s powerful backing tracks.
The title track “Who Are You” preceded the album in early July 78 and became an instant anthem and has remained in the band’s set list to this day. Aided by its appearance in the CSI TV franchise in the early 2000s, it is one of the band’s most-streamed tracks.
The initial sessions for the album took place at the band’s Ramport Studios, produced by Glyn Johns and Jon Astley. However, the recording process was fraught with challenges and creative tensions. The Who Are You Super Deluxe Edition finally tells the whole story, featuring, for the first time, the rejected original Glyn Johns mix of the album, a newly remastered version of the released Jon Astley mix and fly on the wall rehearsal sessions from Shepperton Studios, which the band owned at the time, and a wealth of unreleased material including demos, alternate takes and in the case of standout track Sister Disco, a previously ‘lost’ guitar solo rescued from the multi-track tapes by Steven Wilson.
In 1978, the album was seen as a return to form for The Who, and anticipation for a tour to support the album was high. Sadly, the death of Keith Moon on the 23rd August put paid to any such plans. The band introduced their new drummer, Kenney Jones, formerly of the Faces and The Small Faces, in May 1979, along with new keyboard player John’ Rabbit’ Bundrick. One of the many highlights of the super deluxe edition is the newly mixed live tapes from the US leg of the 1979 tour, capturing The Who’s explosive new lineup in full flight with tracks from the album coming to life onstage with a renewed energy.
The band sustained that momentum into the new decade with the epic film project The Kids Are Alright, the Quadrophenia movie, and the multi-platinum Face Dances album in 1981.
The Who – Who Are You Super Deluxe Edition, 7 Audio CDs:
CD 1: The original album newly remastered by Jon Astley at Close to the Edge.
CD 2: The Who Are You album, first mixed by Glyn Johns, rejected by the band, plus new mixes created by Steven Wilson
CD3: Early run-throughs, sessions and out-takes plus several demos by John Entwistle.
CD4: Previously unreleased tracks from the 1977 Shepperton studios rehearsals, including Keith Moon singing I Saw Her Standing There and Barbara Ann Plus a very early live version of Who Are You from Toronto, 1976.
CD5: Includes six tracks from the live concert at Shepperton for the filming of The Kids Are Alright documentary. Plus rehearsals with new drummer Kenney Jones for The Who’s 1979 US tour.
CDs 6 & 7: Live recordings from the 1979 US tour, including tracks recorded at the Pontiac Silverdome, the Spectrum in Philadelphia and the Masonic Temple, Detroit, including a rare live version of John Entwistle’s Trick of the Light,
Blu-Ray: Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, and PCM Stereo mixes created by Steven Wilson
Super Deluxe Edition Book:
A 100-page hardback book with extensive sleeve notes by Matt Kent covering the period before and after the album’s release, plus track-by-track details, and session notes, as well as sleeve notes by Steven Wilson on his remixes for Dolby Atmos. The book is lavishly illustrated with previously unpublished photographs, memorabilia, tape boxes and original print ads.
The Who – Who Are You Deluxe Edition, 4LP set:
This limited-edition deluxe vinyl box set features a four-LP set on 180-gram vinyl, including the original album newly remastered, plus live recordings from the 1979 US tour. The lift-top box includes 1 LP in a single sleeve and 3 LPs in a triple gatefold sleeve, together with a 28-page soft cover book.
2CD Set:
The Deluxe 2CD set pairs the original album newly remastered with a CD of tracks taken from the studio sessions, demo recordings and live material.
The two discs are presented in an 8-panel digipak with a 16-page booklet.
Who Are You 1LP Limited Edition D2C Only Vinyl:
This limited edition 180-gram yellow-coloured vinyl 1-LP of Who Are You Features the newly remastered album in a replica single sleeve.
Who Are You 1 LP Limited Edition Half Speed Master Vinyl:
This limited edition 180-gram 1/2 speed master 1LP of Who Are You features the newly remastered album in a replica single sleeve.
Ahead of The Who’s final shows in Toronto, an official pop-up store featuring exclusive limited edition merch is open September 2-4 from 12PM – 11 PM. The band plays Toronto’s Budweiser Stage on September 2nd and 4th.
The official Toronto pop-up store is located at Left Field Brewery, 40 Hanna Avenue, Toronto.
Limited edition exclusive Toronto merch items include:
– Exclusive ‘History of The Who in Toronto’ Poster
– Exclusive Limited Edition Re-Print of 1968 The Who @ The CNE Tour Poster
– Exclusive Toronto 2025 The Song Is Over Farewell Tour T-Shirt
– Exclusive The Song Is Over Toronto Tour Dates Hoodie
The Who’s remaining North American dates are listed below.
Tour dates:
September
2 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
4 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
7 – Chicago, IL – United Center
9 – Chicago, IL – United Center
17 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
19 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
21 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
23 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
25 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
28 – Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena
