The Who’s Who Are You — originally released decades ago — becomes a top 10 bestseller on multiple charts in the U.K. thanks to a super deluxe edition reissue. The Who pose for a group portrait, London, 1965. L-R Pete Townshend, Keith Moon, Roger Daltrey and John Entwistle. (Photo by The Visualeyes Archive/Redferns)
Redferns
The Who is remembered as one of the most important rock bands ever. The group enjoyed great commercial success during its breakout period, the outfit is often regarded as a pioneering force in the genre of rock. Technically still together, The Who last released an album — the simply-titled Who — more than half a decade ago.
Like so many other groups from the ’60s and ’70s, the musicians largely focus on mining their back catalog to return to the charts. In the United Kingdom this week, The Who reappears with Who Are You, one of the band’s most commercially popular efforts, which manages to simultaneously return and debut at the same time.
The Who’s Who Are You Lives on Five Charts This Week
In the U.K., Who Are You lives on five different albums rankings. The project debuts on all but one of those charts in what has turned out to be the biggest frame for the set in decades.
Who Are You Becomes a Top 10 Seller, Decades After Its Release
Band members of English rock group The Who wave to the audience after performing on stage at Wembley Empire Pool in London in October 1975. The band members are, from left, John Entwistle (1944-2002), Keith Moon (1946-1978), Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images)
Hulton Archive
Who Are You manages to launch inside the highest tier on two tallies in the U.K. The decades-old set opens at No. 8 on, coincidentally, both the Official Albums Sales and Official Physical Albums charts.
The Who Adds Another to the Band’s Chart History
The band has reached the top 10 on both of those sales-focused charts before. Who Are You marks the troupe’s sixth trip to the lofty region on the general ranking of the bestselling albums in the U.K., and its ninth placement within that space on the Official Physical Albums roster. On that latter list, Who Are You marks the legendary group’s milestone fortieth title to appear on the tally that looks only at the bestselling projects on any physical medium, be it CD, cassette, or vinyl record.
The Who Follows Live at the Oval 1971 With Another Top 10
While The Who has not released an album of original material since 2019, it has only been a little more than a month since the band last scored a new top 10 on both the Official Albums Sales and Official Physical Albums charts, where Who Are You opens this frame. Live at the Oval 1971 got its start at No. 9 back in September and spent just one frame on the two rankings.
The Who’s Who Are You Becomes a Vinyl and Downloads Bestseller
Who Are You also enters for the first time the Official Vinyl Albums and Official Album Downloads charts, though in significantly different positions. On the former, The Who’s latest focus becomes a top 40 bestseller, launching at No. 34, while on the downloads-only chart, the set narrowly manages to find space as it breaks in at No. 91.
Who Are You Returns to the U.K.’s Main Albums Chart
The only chart where Who Are You has previously found space is the Official Albums ranking, the 100-space tally that details the most consumed full-lengths and EPs in the U.K. When Who Are You was initially released, the roster was compiled using only sales data, but today, streaming activity is also a factor in where titles land. Who Are You, which has now spent 10 frames somewhere on the Official Albums chart, peaked at No. 6 and this time around reenters at No. 34.
The Who Celebrates Who Are You With a Super Deluxe Edition
On Halloween, a super deluxe edition of Who Are You was released as a box set. The updated version includes seven CDs and a Blu-ray, and fans can expect the original tracklist featuring songs like “New Song,” “Sister Disco,” and, of course, the title tune, as well as updated mixes and various rehearsal recordings.