My Generation

Sessions began in spring 1965 during the band's Maximum R&B phase with James Brown covers. Nine tracks were recorded first, and several were dropped for Townshend originals recorded from October. The band later regarded the album as rushed and not capturing their live sound.

The US edition, retitled The Who Sings My Generation and released on Decca on 25 April 1966, swapped I'm a Man for Instant Party (Circles) and edited The Kids Are Alright. The Deluxe Edition booklet attributes the omission of I'm a Man to its sexual content. The album reached number five in Britain but did not chart in the United States on release.

Robert Christgau called it the hardest rock in history in 1967, and AllMusic's Richie Unterberger wrote that it had the most ferociously powerful guitars and drums yet captured on a rock record. Elvis Costello said it was better than everything he had made. It was the first Who recording honored by the National Recording Registry, in 2008.