"The Who by Numbers" is the seventh studio album by the English rock band The Who, released on October 3, 1975, in the UK and October 6, 1975, in the US. It received critical acclaim, being named the tenth-best album of the year in The Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics poll.
The album was born out of a period of writer's block for Pete Townshend, who recorded nearly all of his written songs for the band. The lyrics reflect a more introspective and personal tone, influenced by Townshend's feelings of aging and disillusionment with the music industry around his 30th birthday. After a lengthy hiatus following the Quadrophenia tour, The Who reconvened to record with producer Glyn Johns, who had previously worked with them on Who's Next.
Recording began in April 1975 and extended over three months due to the band's growing boredom and lack of focus. The resulting music included some of their darkest songs, with only the first side performed live, and "Squeeze Box" becoming a concert staple.
The album cover, designed by John Entwistle, features the band members depicted as connect-the-dots puzzles. Entwistle humorously noted in a 1996 interview that he never got paid for the artwork, highlighting the contrasting costs of their previous and current album covers.
Overall, The Who by Numbers showcases a complex blend of personal struggle and musical creativity, cementing its place in The Who's discography.
