After the US world tour supporting Herman Hermits the Who started working on a new album of which the first single "I Can See For Miles" reached #28 in the Netherlands,  #10 in the UK and #9 in the US.

I Can See For Miles - single cover

For the third album by The Who a new approach was used inspired by Sgt. Pepper from the Beatles. At first they wanted to title the album Who's Lilly after the succes of the single "Pictures Of Lilly". Like the previous album some comical songs were introduced. They even made their version of the theme song from batman.

The Who in 1967

The songs were preceded by fake commercials and announcements pretending to be a broadcast from Radio London. Around this time they The Who was making real commercials for canned milkshakes and the American Cancer Society, in defiance of the rising anti-consumerist ethos of the hippies. The Who were declaring that their music was popart at that time. By the time the album was released they faced lawsuits by radio London and brands of the products they mentioned on the album cover or songs. Rock music was hardly broadcasted on official radio stations except for Radio Luxemburg and pirate stations at the time like: Radio Caroline, Radio Scotland and Wonderful Radio London.

Album cover outtake with Roger Daltrey

The album starts with the psychedelic rocker "Armenia City in the Sky" in which we are transported to a sci-fi world in which the sky is glass, the sea is brown, and everyone is upside-down. It was written by a friend of the band named Speedy Keen. Second is John Entwistle's "Heinz Baked Beans" which is a filler. The songs penned by Pete Townsend are the best and are the next ones on the album: "Marry Anne With The Shaky Hand", "Odorono" (a tale about a young female singer who met a handsome man backstage after her performance but her deodorant let her down which the man clearly showed), "Tattoo", "Our Love Was", "I Can See For Miles" and "I Can't Reach You" (inspired by the Beach Boys). "Medac" and "Silas Stingy" are two other songs by John Entwistle which are comical. The album ends with two other songs by Pete: "Sunrise" and his rock opera "Rael (1 & 2)"

Keith Moon's picture for the album

In 1968 they started touring Australia and New Zealand with the Small Faces. After an incident on a plane to Sydney they were forced to leave Australia. Prime Minister John Gorton sent a telegram to the Who telling them never to return to Australia. And they did until 2004.

Pete Townsend's picture for the album

The album cover represents the album in a excelent way by showing the band members promoting products. Deodorant, pimple cream, baked beans and the Charles Atlas course.

Album back cover

This album is their best of the 60's. I like it better than the rock opera of Tommy. The album reached #13 in the UK and #48 in the US.

Original album cover

The Who Sell Out (1967)
Armenia City in the Sky / Heinz Baked Beans / Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand / Odorono / Tattoo / Our Love Was / I Can See for Miles / Can't Reach You / Medac / Relax / Silas Stingy / Sunrise / Rael (1 and 2)


I Can See For Miles

Sunrise

Tattoo