Confronted With Prejudice

(My journey with The Who)

My most recent musical journey had many walls in its way, thousands of little mental obstacles which any semi-intelligent person could easily label: prejudice. The p-word, uttered these days with a slight whisper followed by soliloquy's justifying some previous statement as "not-prejudiced." Well, I have no qualms admitting it, in this case, I was definitely prejudiced. Despite the predominant liberal politically correct atmosphere within which my brain, emotions, intellect, soul, heart…(whatever your choice) lives, I can admit to this one fact: I am a prejudiced person…when it comes to music. However, and with pride, this is one excuse I always utter, "I have an open mind." Is it possible to combine prejudice with an open mind or am I just another classic case of denial in its purest form? I will leave this question for the truly wise.

For the moment, let's focus on the immediate subject at hand: the British Invasion.

I didn't grow up in any great musical environment, my parents were not converted hippies, or old school jazz enthusiasts. My father had the occasional classic record (yes vinyl) playing on the family stereo, and I can distinctly remember my mom playing Burl Ives for me in or old red carpeted living room. That's about it. So, I grew up like any other current 20 something, living on the words of Kasey Kassum on America's top 40 with a tape deck ready to capture the current favorite of the country. The moral: I never, ever, listened to the Beatles, the Who, the Kinks…I assume the list can go on but for me, it almost stops there, my knowledge definitively lacking.

Then there was college and my descent into the late 90's hippie scene of Phish, my obsession with grunge, indie, anything out there I could find…I expended into new age, jazz, classical, played on the classic rock station when I was bored…but there was one place I never went, the 60-70's British invasion, those guys with crazy bangs that just wouldn't quit...

I had friends in college who listened to the Beatles, but they were all short haired goody goodies who didn't party with the interesting crowd (too often), and just seemed to fit into some sort of normalcy that I was never comfortable with so…I hated their music. What can I say? It's the same response to many people's response to N'SYNC or Brittany Spears…the current fad, the latest body the teens are screaming at…the newest hot bod, the latest phrase to utter in the hallway at high school derived from some bopper, the latest eye makeup - apply darkly around the pupils - to wear as an expression… The only response to these fads I have: derision.

Until today. I decided to break down a racist wall in my intellect. The British Invasion. I don't know what it means, do you? As far as I am concerned it's the Beatles becoming popular along with the likes of The Who and The Kinks. Thus, I picked the steady middle ground and bought my first 'The Who' album of my life. I say middle ground because Pearl Jam covers them so it was a safe bet for the racist music listener that I am.

Unfortunately, I bumped into another music prejudice along the way. Beating one was a war, beating the other was a five minute battle with my current credit card debt and echoes of music mag's ricocheting through my mind….'greatest hit albums always suck, or are cheesy or depend on the label producing them…'

Oh well, I went into the store with the purpose of buying the Who's first album, "My Generation," but it wasn't there so I bought the next best thing: 'My Generation, the very best of the Who.' Can you blame me? Any way, the long and the short of it is, it rocks.

If you occasionally like the classic rock station, this album covers in my opinion, 50% of that. I know, its an exaggeration, simply because of those damn Beatles tunes (I still hate 'em, yet am open minded). However, the combination of the song you've heard and love to the song you never heard by them could make you go and buy another album of theirs…maybe even a real one. Mental note: Why do people frown on greatest hits anyway?

So, The Who, they rock, the songs kick, its British but its OK, I'm kicking my prejudice at slow rate, no wonder Pearl Jam covers them, pick up a history book about them and you're bound to find a great story. Not to mention the current fact: the original masters of that first album are up for bid on EBAY. I've found they are good to cook a chicken stir fry to when you girlfirend walks in the door and you can bust out in a old school rock chorus to..."creepy crawly...!"

Band members include: Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, Keith Moon, Pete Townshend.

Some links to The Who:

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Who (good info on the Mod scene and etc...if you want to go there)
Quadrophenia.net (the story of)
Official Tour Site (some cool Who graphics)
Who in review (fan's reviews...)