On Jan. 6, 1968, legendary British Rock group The Who released its third album in the U.S., The Who Sell Out, a collection of songs interlaced with commercial jingle parodies that would go on to become a favorite among Who fans and music critics. Though not held together by any particular narrative thread, its “concept album” format — recreating the flow of a radio broadcast — set the stage for the band’s more grandiose (and famous) conceptual projects like Quadrophenia and Tommy.
But Sell Out is beloved the way it captured the band members’ sense of humor better than any other Who album, both in the jingles (many of which were solid tunes at their core) and the cover art, which depicted the musicians in print ads for things like Heinz Baked Beans and Odorono (two real products sent up in song on the album). Sell Out wasn’t all winks and nods though — it also featured some of the best early-period Who songs (including “I Can See for Miles,” “Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand” and “Tattoo,” as well as "Armenia City in the Sky," written by Pete Townshend's friend/chauffeur and Thunderclap Newman member John "Speedy" Keen), when the band was a firecracker of energetic (and brilliantly constructed and performed) Pop Rock .
This Saturday, four of Cincinnati’s finest musicians and songwriters (who are also known to exhibit sharp witticisms on stage from time to time) are teaming up to celebrate The Who Sell Out’s 50th anniversary. Power Pop singer/songwriter/guitarist Roger Klug is joined by his Power Trio bassist Greg Tudor, as well as multi-instrumentalist Chris Arduser and bassist Bob Nyswonger, whose numerous projects (apart and together) include The Graveblankets, psychodots and The Bears. The talented ensemble will play Sell Out in its entirety — the songs, the jingles, bonus tracks and “a few surprises” — during a free performance at The Pub at Rookwood Mews (across from Rookwood Commons). Should be a blast. The show starts at 8 p.m. and there is no cover charge.
Klug, Tudor, Nyswonger and Arduser also recreated some of Sell Out's famous album art for the occasion: