A Quick One Songs Ranked
A Quick One is the second studio album by the English rock band the Who, released on 9 December 1966. A version of the album with an altered track listing was released under the name Happy Jack on Decca Records in April 1967 in the United States, where the song “Happy Jack” was a top 40 hit. Unlike other albums by the Who, where guitarist Pete Townshend was the primary or sole songwriter, A Quick One features significant songwriting contributions from all band members, with singer Roger Daltrey contributing one song, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon each contributing two. The album also included a cover of the Holland–Dozier–Holland song “Heat Wave” and ends with a musical suite titled “A Quick One, While He’s Away”, which served as an inspiration for later rock operas that the Who would become known for. Here are all of A Quick One songs ranked.
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10. Heat Wave
“This one is only for Who fanatics. There are many interesting cuts for Who completists and people familiar (and interested in) the history of the band. People who only know their 70s stuff are in for a shock.”
9. See My Way
“The albums weakest track follows with Daltrey’s See My Way, proof if it was needed that he was better at interpreting other’s songs than writing his own. I don’t think he ever wrote a song for the band again.”
8. Don’t Look Away
“Don’t Look Away” is a country tinged Townsend song, pleasing enough and slightly better than the Daltrey composed “See My Way” which follows it, probably the weakest track on the album.”
See more: The Who Albums: Top 5 Ranked
7. So Sad About Us
“So Sad About Us” is quality, a great little mod tune (covered in later years by The Jam on the b-side of the “Down In The Tube Station At Midnight” single in the UK) and a forgotten Who classic.”
6. I Need You
“Keith Moons first ever contribution to The Who canon is next with “I Need You”, an excellent ‘swinging London’ contribution it is to. “I need you” obviously needed a helping hand from fellow Townshend to see the light of day; it’s a nice little song, showing its drummer-credits simply by featuring drums that have been mixed to the front.”
5. Cobwebs and Strange
“Cobwebs And Strange”; a gloriously dysfunctional cacophony which always puts me in mind of a tightrope walker performing a particularly difficult stunt whilst accompanied by a group of amphetimine fired musicians intent on creating as much havoc and bombast as Wagner in a bad mood. Moons various drum solos on this are a thing to behold.”
4. Whiskey Man
“Whiskey Man” (Entwhistle) is one of those Who tunes which when revisited reveal once again how creative, dynamic and melodic this young band really where ‘…_whiskey man’s my friend he’s with me nearly all the time, he always joins me when I drink and we get on just fine, nobody has ever seen him, I’m the only one, seemingly I must be mad, insanity is fun, if that’s the way it’s done_…’, beautifully delusional.”
See more: The Who Songs Ranked
3. Run Run Run
“The first track is “Run, Run, Run” (Townsend), a blisteringly cool pop art boogie driven by Pete Townsends guitar. Put simply, this sounds dangerous. It kicks off well with Townshend’s snarling Run Run Run, full of attitude and Mod menace, and then we’re off on a tangent.”
2. Boris the Spider
“Boris The Spider is possibly Entwistle’s greatest contribution to the band’s catalogue, it’s certainly his most famous song. I prefer the live versions to the studio, the production lets it down. It sounds like it was recorded in a garden shed. Great track nevertheless.”
1. A Quick One, While He’s Away
“A Quick One/Happy Jack sees contributions from all four band members by virtue of the fact that Stamp had negotiated a cash advance against publishing royalties. This alone gave this album an almost ‘circus-sideshow’ feel and the sense of a band having a whale of a time.”
