"My Generation" is the debut studio album by the English rock band The Who, released in the United Kingdom by Brunswick Records in December 1965. In the United States, the album was released by Decca Records as "The Who Sings My Generation" in April 1966, with a slightly altered tracklist. Besides the members of the band, it featured Nicky Hopkins on piano.
The renowned album was influential in the development of hard rock and punk rock. Primarily commissioned by Pete Townshend, the band's primary songwriter, it established the group's blend of rhythm and blues, rock, and early pop art. The title track "My Generation," which became a hit for The Who, is considered one of the greatest rock songs ever recorded.
The album has been widely acclaimed by music critics and remains a landmark album of the British Invasion era. It was reissued several times and in various formats, and it was finally inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for "historical, artistic and significant value" in 1999.
The main themes of the album include youthful rebellion and frustration, something that would become quintessential in The Who's later works. Behind the bold, amplified sound and aggressive performance style found on the album, the band was also known for destroying their instruments on stage, as a form of anti-art.
