It's Hard

"It's Hard" is the tenth studio album by the English rock band The Who, released in September 1982. It was the final album featuring bassist John Entwistle, who passed away in 2002, and the second and last album with drummer Kenney Jones. It was also the last album released on Warner Bros. Records in the US, where it peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart, and on Polydor Records in the UK, where it reached No. 11. The album achieved gold status in the US in November 1982. After this release, The Who did not produce another studio album until Endless Wire in 2006.

The cover of It's Hard, designed and photographed by Graham Hughes, features a young boy playing an Atari Space Duel arcade game. This imagery serves as a modern update to the song "Pinball Wizard" from The Who's album Tommy.

The first track on It's Hard, "Athena," reached No. 28 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart. Three songs—"Dangerous," "It's Your Turn," and "One at a Time"—were written by John Entwistle, who sang lead on "One at a Time," while Roger Daltrey performed lead vocals on the other two.

In 1997, MCA Records re-released the album with new mixes to address issues with the original versions of "Athena" and "Eminence Front."

Roger Daltrey criticized the album in 1994, saying it should never have been released and citing conflicts with Pete Townshend and the record company's pressure. Townshend also expressed doubts about the band's commitment during the recording of Face Dances and It's Hard.

Alternate versions of "Eminence Front" with Daltrey on lead vocals and "One Life's Enough" with Townshend on lead vocals exist. Additionally, "I've Known No War" features an orchestral arrangement from the 1979 film version of "I've Had Enough" from Quadrophenia.