“Quadrophenia”, like schizophrenia but twice as bad. Pete Townshend’s 2nd rock opera was his attempt to tell the story of The Who via the character of Jimmy, a Mod who didn’t fit in anywhere, who felt like his personality was split into 4 pieces, with each of those 4 personalities represented by a member of The Who.
As the sound of crashing waves leads us into “I Am The Sea” we begin to hear snippets of songs from this album like they are being blown past us on the wind. “Helpless Dancer” Daltrey’s theme, “Is It Me” (from “Doctor Jimmy”) Entwistle’s theme, “Bell Boy” Moon’s theme (of course!) and “Love Reign O’er Me” as Townsend’s theme. Townsend saw himself as the Good character in The Who, Daltrey as the Bad, Entwistle as the Romantic and Moon as the Lunatic. The four facets of Jimmy’s quadrophenic personality. Just like every good opera Townshend uses those recurring themes to set scenes and tie different parts of the story together. There’s some heavy stuff going on in here but the music is majestic. The Who’s best album to my mind.
After all those waves and snippets of songs on the wind “Quadrophenia” suddenly bursts into life as “The Real Me” comes leaping from your speakers and Jimmy lays out his problems to us. He’s been to see a shrink, he’s talked to his Mother, he tells us about the girl who doesn’t even see him and then ends up talking to a Preacher who’s no help either. All the time he just wants to know who the real Jimmy is. Townshend’s guitar crashes throughout, Moon’s maniacal drumming drives things along but the truly astonishing thing about “The Real Me” is John Entwistle’s bass playing. Next time you’re anywhere near this tune concentrate on that, or click the link below and zone in on The Ox, it’s a quite remarkable performance. Pete Townsend has said about Moon and Entwistle that they did all the fancy stuff guitarists usually do, he just had to keep time !
“Quadrophenia is at its heart a story of confused teenagers and navigating your way through those hormonally charged years. Jimmy’s problems aren’t any different to those experienced by many of us growing up and Townshend managed to set it all to music brilliantly. The screenwriters for the movie version of “Quadrophenia” wouldn’t have had to work too hard to formulate their story. That movie, it also has to be noted, was every bit as important to the late 70’s Mod Revival as the rise of The Jam and the bands that were forming and playing in their wake. The opening scene of the film, Jimmy riding his scooter through the darkened streets of London looking cocky as hell until he’s surrounded by a bunch of rockers on motorbikes had a huge effect on many of us the first time we saw it.
There are some very suspect lyrics included in places, particularly on “Helpless Dancer” and “Doctor Jimmy”, things you wouldn’t get away with now. But I’m not going to dismiss an entire album over a few lines in two songs, I’ll acknowledge the fact they are there, that it would be better if they weren’t and move on.
Townshends artistic vision to write such a huge piece and The Who’s skill as musicians to bring this vision to life should not be underestimated. Songs like "The Real Me”, "5:15" and "Love, Reign o'er Me" sit very well as individual songs but tell a vital part of a bigger story. The fact that it took them decades to do it justice live speaks to its emotional intensity and musical complexity. “Quadrophenia” is a freaking masterpiece.
The Real Me - https://youtu.be/MuFQ--RYUxU?si=go6DcD_DXqSuhh1X
BBC “Quadrophenia” Documentary - https://youtu.be/-B6iJPOI0b8
