It's Hard

Infobox Album
Name = It's Hard
Type = studio
Artist = The Who


Released = 4 September 1982
Recorded = June 1982
Genre = Rock, hard rock
Length = 46:29
Label = Polydor (UK)
Warner Bros. (U.S.)
Producer = Glyn Johns
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|2|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:2su67ue0h0jg link]
*Robert Christgau (C) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=the+who link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/_/id/259022 link]
Last album = "Hooligans"
(1981)
This album = "It's Hard"
(1982)
Next album = "Join Together"
(1982)

"It's Hard" is the tenth studio album by the English rock band The Who, the second to be released after the death of drummer Keith Moon and also the last of bassist John Entwistle. It was released in 1982 on Polydor in the UK, peaking at number 11, and released on Warner Bros. in the US where it peaked at number 8 on the "Billboard" Pop Albums charts. Their eleventh studio album, "Endless Wire", wasn't released for another 24 years. The US rights to both this album and "Face Dances" would later revert to MCA Records.

History

There are two schools of thought with consideration to "It's Hard". Some view it as an album inspired by the tense political climate of the early 1980s, as Pete Townshend did. Others see it merely as The Who fulfilling the contract to their American record label, as Roger Daltrey thought. The split in opinion is evident in reviews of the time - praised by some critics and panned by many others. Most notably, the album received a five-star review in Rolling Stone.

The first track, "Athena," is one of the few songs that was well received on "It's Hard". The demo version was called "Theresa," named after actress Theresa Russell, but was then disguised. "Athena" peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Pop Singles charts.

In the years since its release, "Eminence Front" has become one of the mostFact|date=November 2007 critically acclaimed songs from the band's catalogue.

The album cover, designed by Graham Hughes, depicts a young boy playing the "Space Duel" arcade game. It is a reference to "Tommy", with the pinball table that the main character played updated to the times. It was not popular with Townshend, who criticized it shortly after the album's release because of the lack of the band's input.

Track listing

All songs written by Pete Townshend except where noted.

#"Athena" – 3:46
#"It's Your Turn" (John Entwistle) – 3:39
#"Cooks County" – 3:35
#"It's Hard" – 3:47
#"Dangerous" (Entwistle) – 3:15
#"Eminence Front" – 5:39
#"I've Known No War" – 5:46
#"One Life's Enough" – 2:22
#"One at a Time" (Entwistle) – 2:55
#"Why Did I Fall for That" – 3:18
#"A Man Is a Man" – 3:49
#"Cry If You Want" – 4:35

Bonus tracks on 1997 remastered edition

The 1997 digitally remastered reissue of "It's Hard" added four live tracks:

#

"It's Hard" – 4:56
#"Eminence Front" – 5:37
#"Dangerous" (Entwistle) – 3:48
#"Cry If You Want" – 7:12
#*All tracks were recorded on the last show of The Who's tour, 17 December 1982 in Toronto.

ingles

*"Athena" (UK 40, U.S. 28)
*"Eminence Front" (U.S. 68)

Personnel

*Roger Daltrey – vocals, guitar
*Pete Townshend – guitars, keyboards, synthesizer, vocals
*John Entwistle – bass guitar, French horn, synthesizer, vocals
*Kenney Jones – drums
*Andy Fairweather-Low – additional guitar and vocals
*Tim Gorman – additional keyboards

Production

*Jon Astley – executive producer
*Chris Charlesworth – executive producer
*Bill Curbishley – executive producer
*Richard Evans – album art design, album art direction
*Graham Hughes – photography
*Glyn Johns – producer, engineer
*Robert Rosenberg – executive producer
*Greg Fulginiti – mastering
*Bob Ludwig – remastering

Charts

Album

ingles

References

*www.thewho.net. [http://www.thewho.net/linernotes/It'sHard.htm "It's Hard Liner Notes] . Accessed on February 18, 2005.
*www.allmusic.com. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:en2uak5k5m3x~T2 "It's Hard Album Credits] . Accessed on February 18, 2005.