Face Dances

THE WHO Released Their 9th LP ‘FACE DANCES’ This Day 45 Years Ago

Posted on by JL

Back in time

15 March 2026

British rock heroes THE WHO released their
9th LP FACE DANCES on 16 March 1981, today
45 years ago.

Despite mixed reviews, the record peaked at #4 on the
US Billboard Charts and #2 on the UK Albums Chart.

The album was originally to be titled simply The Who, but the name Face Dances
replaced it just before release. The phrase was inspired by a friend of Pete Townshend‘s who was rhythmically moving a match between her teeth, an action that Townshend jokingly termed “face dances.”

The album cover features 16 paintings of the band members by 16 British painters,
who were commissioned by Peter Blake, designer of the cover of the Beatles‘ album
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in 1967.

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THE WHO Released Their Single ‘YOU BETTER YOU BET’ The First Without KEITH MOON’ 40 Years Ago Today

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

27 February 2026

British rock kingpins THE WHO released their single YOU BETTER YOU BET this day
40 years ago, on 27 February 1981. It was the first one without their manic drummer and party animal Keith Moon (1946-1978) who passed away nearly 3 years before. Kenny Jones took his seat.

The song featured on their Face Dances album.

It was written by Pete Townshend as a love song for his girlfriend at the time:
“I developed ‘You Better You Bet’ over several weeks of clubbing and partying. I had gone through a lean period in my marriage and was seeing the daughter of a friend of mine. I wanted it to be a good song because the girl I wrote it for is one of the best people on the planet.”

It went to #9 in the UK, #18 in the US and #4 in Canada.

Place your bets here.

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