The Who by Numbers Trivia Quiz

Answer: 1975

It was released in late October in both the United Kingdom (18th) and the United States (25th).

Answer: Nine

Townshend wrote nine of the ten songs featured on the original album, and also wrote the three bonus tracks on the 1996 re-release of the classic album. The only song that Pete didn't write was "Success Story" (the band's other premium song writer, bassist John Entwistle, wrote it).

Answer: Slip Kid

Pete says that the song "came across as a warning to young kids getting into music that it would hurt them - it was almost parental in its assumed wisdom". "Slip Kid", on most versions, leads off the album. It's one of my favorites and many fans agree it's a great record-starter.

Answer: How Many Friends

This song laments about trust, and how people sometimes pretend to be your "friends" in order to get things. Moon said this was his favorite tune from the album and cried when Pete played it for him.

Answer: A house for Ma

The fairy manager stanza goes like this:

"A voice said, 'I'm your fairy manager
You shall play the Carnegie Hall'"

The fairy manager was a reference to the band's previous manager, Kit Lambert, and his sexual orientation.

The smashing guitar part goes like this:

"I got to give up my day job
To become a heartthrob
I may go far if I smash my guitar"

The smashing my guitar part was an undoubted reference to the early act of Townshend when he would smash his guitars at concerts.

The taking up religion stanza goes like this:

"There's a rock and roll singer on the television
Giving up his music, gonna take up religion"

Entwistle wrote this as a jab at Townshend, who wrote and worked spirituality in his songs. There was never any documented references of any of the band members buying their mothers a house.

This is the only tune written by Entwistle off the entire album, as the rest of the songs were written by Pete. It has the classic Entwistle dark humor, and is an upbeat song compared to the other songs on the album. Oddly enough, it's the perfect fit in between the dark side of the Who's work, almost a comic relief to the album (along with "Squeeze Box"). Never the less, it is an excellent tune and one of Entwistle's best works.

Answer: They Are All in Love

The song was originally titled "She Loves Everyone". Pete explains that the song was about money, lawyers, accountants, tax problems, unpaid royalties, plus more, and what they had to do to deal with it. The song laments about the youth of the world and how much Pete despises it (which makes sense with the lyrics given in the question). The rest of the lyrics are:

"Hey, goodbye all you punks
Stay young and stay high
Hand me my checkbook
And I'll crawl off to die"

It is one of my favorite lines from any Who song.

Answer: Squeeze Box

"Squeeze Box" was the biggest hit off the album, reaching number ten on the U.K. charts, and number sixteen on the U.S. charts. The song is a little ditty about mama getting a "squeeze box" that makes daddy "never sleep at night". Pete originally recorded it as a dirty track (you could guess at what it really was about). Townshend was surprised when it became a hit!

Answer: However Much I Booze

This and "Slip Kid" were played live for a little bit, but then dropped from the Who's shows. "Dreaming From the Waist", however, is a staple of the band's concerts as it showcases Entwistle's masterful bass playing.

Answer: In a Hand or a Face

"In a Hand or a Face" was originally called "Round and Round", based on the hypnotic line the band sings toward the end of the song. Legendary session man Nicky Hopkins plays piano on this track.

Answer: 1993

The RIAA gave "The Who by Numbers" gold status (500,000 sales) in the US in 1975, the year it was released. The album sold 1,000,000 eighteen years after it was released. "The Who by Numbers" explores the dark side of the Who, with a few funny songs thrown in. All together, the songs make up one of the best albums released by the Who.

It's a definite must hear and it is truly a clear cut winner. I hope you enjoyed the quiz. Rock on!