August 14, 1971, The Who released their fifth studio album Who’s Next which featured the classic song ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’. They view the album by critics as the Who’s best record and one of the greatest rock albums of all time.
The cover artwork shows a photo of the band apparently having just urinated on a large concrete piling, but according to photographer Ethan Russell, most of the band members could not urinate, so they tipped rainwater from an empty film canister to achieve the desired effect.
The Who’s album had its roots in the futuristic rock opera Lifehouse project, which composer/guitarist/singer Pete Townshend has said it was to be both recorded live and as the music for a scripted film project.
The album was planned as a follow up to Tommy inspired by Townshend’s experiences on the Tommy tour. The concept album idea was eventually abandoned as a rock opera in favor of creating a more traditional rock album, which became Who’s Next.
