History Music / Quadrophenia

!! Tracklist:

# "I Am The Sea"
# "The Real Me"
# "Quadrophenia"
# "Cut My Hair"
# "The Punk And The Godfather"
# "I'm One"
# "The Dirty Jobs"
# "Helpless Dancer"
# "Is It In My Head?"
# "I've Had Enough"
# "5:15"
# "Sea And Sand"
# "Drowned"
# "Bell Boy"
# "Doctor Jimmy"
# "The Rock"
# "Love, Reign O'er Me

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!!Principal Members:

* Roger Daltrey - lead vocals, percussion
* John Entwistle - bass, backing and co-lead vocals, horns
* Keith Moon - drums, percussion, co-lead vocals
* Pete Townshend - guitar, backing and lead vocals, synthesizer, piano, violin, banjo, percussion, sound effects

----

''Quadrophenia'' is a 1973 double {{concept album}}[=/=]Rock Opera by TheWho. It concerns itself with the story of Jimmy, a young Mod living in 1960s England who undergoes something of a spiritual revelation, thanks to {{the power of rock}}. Or more specifically, loud, progressive-influenced Who songs. The story, such as it is, is really an analysis of the trials and tribulations the British youth of the early 1960s had to endure: girlfriends, fighting to be popular and to fit in, being out of work, drugs, etc.

* [[AlbumCoverDesigners Album Cover Designer]]: Ethan Russell.

* CreatorBreakdown: The difficulty playing the album live with all those backing tapes and synths drove Pete Townshend to desperation, and almost led to the band splitting up.

[[quoteright:200:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Quadrophenia_7101.jpg]]

->''Why should I care if I have to cut my hair?''
->''I've got to move with the fashion or be outcast''
->''I know I should fight, but my old man is really alright''
->''And I'm still living at home, even though it won't last''
->''[[MythologyGag Zoot suit, white jacket with side vents five inches long]]''
->''I'm out on the street again, and I'm leapin' along''
->''Dressed right for a beach fight, but I just can't explain''
->''Why that uncertain feeling is still here in my brain''

->''I am not the actor / this can't be the scene''
->''But I am in the water / as far as I can see''

The album has gone on to become one of the Who's most celebrated works after ''Music/{{Tommy}}'', and was the album they chose to perform when they relaunched back in 1996-97. Considered by many to be Pete Townshend's MagnumOpus, though ''Tommy'' and ''Who's Next'' are also candidates for that title.

!!This work provides examples of the following Tropes:

* FauxSymbolism: Jimmy's relationship with drugs throughout the thing has elements of this.

* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic: Jimmy's relationship with drugs throughout the thing has elements of this.

->''My jacket's gonna be cut slim and checked''
->''Maybe a touch of seersucker with an open neck''
->''I ride a GS scooter with my hair cut neat''
->''I wear my wartime coat in the wind and sleet.''

The album was adapted into a [[Film/{{Quadrophenia}} 1979 cult film]] starring Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash, and Sting, featuring the music from the album (touched up with horns and synthesizers), along with a number of Motown tunes.

The album has gone on to become one of the Who's most celebrated works after ''{{Tommy}}'', and was the album they chose to perform when they relaunched back in 1996-97. Considered by many to be Pete Townshend's MagnumOpus, though ''Tommy'' and ''Who's Next'' are also candidates for that title.

->''Is it me, for a moment?''
->''Bellboy!''
->''Love, reign o'er me!''
->''Can you see the real me can ya? CAN YA?!''
-->-- "'''I Am The Sea'''"

* BreakawayPopHit: "Love, Reign o'er Me"

** This stanza, sung whenever Jimmy tries to reaffirm his Mod identity: ->''My jacket's gonna be cut slim and checked''

** This stanza, sung whenever Jimmy tries to reaffirm his Mod identity:
->''My jacket's gonna be cut slim and checked''

->''I ride a GS scooter with my hear cut neat''

* CreatorCameo: Jimmy visits a Who show partway into the plot, as portrayed in "The Punk and the Godfather", which consists of him telling Pete Townshend off, and Townshend replying in kind. Very self deprecating.

** Roger's theme: "Helpless Dancer"
** Pete's theme: "Love Reign o'er Me"
** John's theme: "Is It Me, for a Moment?"
** Keith's theme: "Bell Boy"

-->-"'''Cut My Hair'''"

-->-"'''Drowned'''"

[[quoteleft:200:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Quadrophenia_7101.jpg]]

* LighterAndSofter: Okay, so the identity crisis, emotional turmoil, and social trials aren't exactly "light" per se, but compared to ''{{Tommy}}'' this album has no [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel torture]] or [[CompleteMonster rape]] and an overall happy ending.
* MushroomSamba: "5:15" depicts Jimmy taking the train to Brighton while on an acid trip. IntoxicationEnsues is also implied in the movie version.

[[quoteright:200:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Quadrophenia_7101.jpg]]

* BrokenPedastel: Jimmy finds a mod he used to look up to ("Ace Face") working as a bell boy in a hotel that he'd previously smashed the windows at.