The Who Land Highest UK Album Chart Ranking For 38 Years With ‘WHO’
The No. 3 debut is the band’s best since 1981’s ‘Face Dances.’
The Who’s WHO has become their highest-charting U.K. album for 38 years. Their 12th studio release enters today’s (13) Official Charts Company survey at No. 3, the band’s best ranking since 1981’s Face Dances, which also entered at No. 3, peaked at No. 2.
The Who’s last studio release, 2006’s Endless Wire, debuted at No. 9 in November of that year, spending just one further week in the top 40. The new release stood at No. 1 in “midweek” data published by the OCC on Monday, but it narrowly missed out on the final honours. Rod Stewart’s You’re In My Heart climbed 2-1 to become his tenth U.K. chart-topper, with last week’s No. 1, Robbie Williams’ The Christmas Present down to No. 2. Only 750 combined units separated the three tiles.
The Who have only once led the U.K. album chart, when Who’s Next climbed 2-1 in September 1971. Tommy and Quadrophenia also peaked at No. 2, as did 1976’s The Story Of The Who compilation. The 1970 live classic Live At Leeds got to No. 3.
In other Who news, the band have announced that they will play their smallest shows for 40 years early next tear. They’ll be at Pryzm in Kingston, south London for a total of three intimate, acoustic shows, two of them on 14 February, chosen as it’s the 50th anniversary of Live At Leeds.
The shows are presented by independent Kingston record shop Banquet Records, and the second show of the evening was announced after the first sold out in five seconds, according to the store. The second show also sold out immediately, after which a third performance was added on 12 February, with the same result. The dates come before The Who and their full band start the 2020 dates on their Moving On! tour, which opens on 16 March at Manchester Arena.
Listen to the best of The Who on Apple Music and Spotify.
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p47paul
December 13, 2019 at 5:48 pm
This new Who album is really, really, really, GOOD! Shocking impressed with the quality of strong & diverse songs (even a jazz tune!), brilliant vocals by Roger, and fantastic guitar playing by Pete. Outstanding boys….. You will be number 1 next week. No doubt about it!
John P
December 13, 2019 at 5:51 pm
I am not surprised at this album charting at #3 and being only a few short of #1. This is a great output from The Who. I put this album up against Who’s Next, Quadrophenia, etc. It’s that great!
Donal BHS
December 13, 2019 at 7:42 pm
Actually this is The Who’s best effort in UK for 46 years! Who Are You (1978) was a number 6 and Who By Numbers (1975) was a number 7 UK. Making the real result even more impressive. Quadrophenia (1973) peaked at #2
Joe Smith
December 13, 2019 at 7:44 pm
Its actually the best since 1973 …46 years!