6. A Quick One (1966)

“Boris The Spider” is one of John Entwistle’s trademarks. On the second track from A Quick One, bass rings out and comes to the fore, a follow-up to his showcase from “My Generation.” It can’t be underestimated how important the Who and Entwistle have been to the bass guitar. Outside of jazz, the bass was often relegated to the background, but the Ox went a long way to put it on the same level as the guitar, drums and keys in rock ‘n’ roll. At a Denver Who show in 2000, I was absolutely transfixed by the instrument in a way I hadn’t been before.

Elsewhere on A Quick One, the Who delves into terrain that might later have been called punk or garage. As per its moniker, the songs are all relatively short. The exception is the epic closer, “A Quick One, While He’s Away,” which features an a cappella intro, many time changes and the introduction of the parents from Tommy. It’s a rock opera in one song, a pioneering sign of what was to come.