"Eminence Front" by The Who

Song#:  1294
Date:  12/25/1982
Debut:  80
Peak:  68
Weeks:  6
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  The Who's LP "It's Hard" started off with the #28 single "Athena." It would end up being their last Top 40 entry. This second single would then prove to be their final pop chart entry. The band would break up and a week before this single was released, they finished their "farewell" tour. The three remaining original members would reunite a couple of times for one-off appearances before committing to full tours in 1989 and 1996. Bassist John Entwistle would die in 2002 leaving Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend the last remaining original members. The pair would issue a Who album in 2006 called "Endless Wire." It reached #7 and thus far has become the last official Who studio album.

ReduxReview:  "It's Hard" was pretty much a forced effort for the band and it seems they don't really look back on it fondly. Even at the time on their farewell tour, the only song they played from the album in concert was this tune. It seemed to be the only real "keeper" out of the bunch for them. And I get that. Although I did like "Athena," this song was probably the best from a pretty lackluster album. The swirling synth sets up a nice groove that keeps this jam going. It's a moody piece that is one of their best latter-day singles.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) In 1993, Townshend revisited The Who's classic rock opera album "Tommy" and adopted it into a Broadway musical. It was a successful venture that would end up winning five Tony awards including one for Townsend for Best Original Score. The show was nominated for Best Musial but lost out to "Kiss of the Spider Woman."  2) If the opening of this song sounds familiar, it may be due its use on TV, in radio spots, at sporting events and in film. It has recently been used in the TV shows "Entourage," "The Americans," and "Person of Interest," in addition to commercials for GMC trucks. It was even used as background music for The Weather Channel's "Local on the 8's" weather spots.

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