The Who Released “You Better You Bet” 40 Years Ago This Week

Singer Roger Daltrey (left) and guitarist Pete Townshend, of English rock group The Who, performing at the Manchester Apollo, 1st March 1981. (Photo by Kevin Cummins/Getty Images)

40 years ago, Feb. 27, 1981, The Who released, what would become their final Top 20 Billboard Hot 100 hit, “You Better You Bet”. Pete Townshend told Rolling Stone “A surprise hit single for us,”...“We even went back on Top of the Pops.”

It was the first single after the death of legendary drummer Keith Moon. Kenny Jones sat in for the album “Face Dances” and one more album before leaving. According to Roger Daltrey, “I just felt that Keith was such an extraordinary drummer, to try and replace him was just ridiculous,”

Roger Daltrey told Rolling Stone that ‘You Better You Bet” “is still one of my favorite songs of all.”

-- Doug O’Brien