Petra Haden Sings: The Who Sell Out (2005)
A Cappella Tribute To The Who
Petra Haden, daughter of jazz great Charlie Haden, spent three years offhandedly recording this a cappella version of The Who’s classic 1967 concept album, The Who Sell Out. Down to the fake adverts and jingles that peppered the original LP. It’s an utterly unique – yet somehow faithful – re-creation that makes use of elaborate harmonies and pulsating vocal rhythms to give Pete Townshend’s teen pop anthems a warm, endearing charm that’s inherent in The Who’s original work, but more often left buried behind the band’s wall of drums and guitars. Tracks like “Tattoo” and “I Can See For Miles” are so harmonious it’s immediately difficult to hear them any other way. No small feat. Petra Haden Sings: The Who Sell Out is a wicked and delicate wonder.
Armenia City In The Sky
Heinz Baked Beans
Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand
Odorono
Tattoo
Our Love Was
I Can See For Miles
I Can’t Reach You
Medac
Relax
Silas Stingy
Sunrise
Rael
Track Records
25 Comments
Grrrrrrrrrrrrreatttt stuff – absolute marv!
thanks very much!
Smooth, willard– I was just thinking about this disc the other day and wondering when the hell I'd get a chance to hear it. Thanks and all the best.
JBL
PS BTW When are you going to drop the real story on Art Jackson?
Love this record!!!Thanks a lot for your time and the postings.
Thanks to all for the comments.
Hey JBL,
Nice to hear from you again. From Julian Cope's site… http://www.headheritage.co.uk/unsung/review/1824#
Hey Willard, I checked Ms.Haden's website and she has a bonus track of sorts….check out http://petrahadenmusic.com/sounds.html
to her her take on The Beach Boys classic "God Only Knows." Well worth the listen
–>D.Moose
nice find, willard. thanks!
Hey D,
Thanks for the link. That's a pretty cool free download.
I thought I would never hear this. Glad I did. Thanks alot.
awesome, I am sure you have Petra's version of "Don't Stop Believin"- if not, here it is:
http://www.divshare.com/download/1675255-0c7
Very cool… thanks Nazz.
How come you (Bleedin' Out) weren't in our links list? Time to fix that.
Thanks!!!
Im from Chile and i love petra haden
Here's a great story on Pete's reaction to Petra's album:
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1037012,00.html
A marvelous piece of music. "Sell out" was my first LP I ever had! This is a brilliant interpretation of this masterpiece!!!
Thank you very much!
I don't usually care for a cappella but Ms. Hayden gets it right. Excellent! However, one wonders why she doesn't utter the words, "Heinz Baked Beans". Anybody else wonder?
As a sub-50 Sell Out fan, not to mention her dad with Ornette from when I was a babe, this idea was so intriguingly weird that I had to check it out. No wonder yer a dog fer the Persuasions. Thanks for a real groove from one of the ol' farts from St. Louis on the Mississippi. The lass 'as got class!!
Thanks. But, don't forget our Beach Boys Pet Sounds a cappella. That one is an ultimate instrument free release.
Amazing, man! Thanks!
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I found this disc exactly once, years ago, and stupidly opted out. It has proven impossible to find since. Many thanks for providing it here!
Cool Stuff! I was not aware of this, but thrilled to now be able to hear it. Totally unexpected surprise.
WOw. thanks
have been enjoying this album in lower quality for some time but great to upgrade. A nice way to come back to the page after a couple weeks of my internet being down… bad timing being home with a broken leg and no internet. I always thought this disc was the ultimate extension by a pro of the spirit of a zillion of us who’ve tried to imitate the sound of a guitar solo singing along in the car…
Colin H, Cambridge, ON, Canada
Many Thanks! The Who Sell Out is a longstanding favourite, I’m always interested to hear a very individual interpretation of such a masterwork …
Wow. I have never heard of Petra before. What a gorgeous singer. Thanks a million.