The Who does not always appear on the music charts in the United Kingdom, unlike several other bands that have been around for decades. It is easy to find acts like Metallica, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, among others, on various rosters, sometimes with multiple albums and occasionally a hit song or two.
The Who returns to multiple rundowns in the band’s home country this week, with one album and perhaps its most famous track reappearing at the same time. It is somewhat odd, though, that as one single becomes a bestseller again, an album it is not featured on also returns to a sales tally, with no obvious connection fueling the two simultaneous comebacks.
The Who Brings “Baba O’Riley” Back to Multiple Charts
“Baba O’Riley” rocks back onto two U.K. rosters this frame. The Who classic reenters the Official Singles Downloads and Official Singles Sales charts at Nos. 55 and 58, respectively.
The Who’s Smash Is Rarely a Bestseller
This week marks only the third time that “Baba O’Riley” has made space on the Official Singles Sales chart. The track debuted at No. 39 in February 2023, then dropped to No. 61 before disappearing entirely.
“Baba O’Riley” has now spent five frames — just about a month — on the Official Singles Downloads roster, which focuses specifically on purchases on online stores like iTunes. The classic debuted on that roster more than a decade before it reached the broader singles sales list. “Baba O’Riley” opened at No. 54 in August 2012.
The song later returned to the downloads list and broke into the top 40 for the first time, reaching its No. 35 all-time high in the same week that it debuted on the Official Singles Sales ranking. After a two-frame turn, “Baba O’Riley” disappeared again before barely returning, in second-to-last place, at No. 99, in March 2025. It has now been nearly a year and a half since the tune was last counted among the 100 bestselling downloads in the U.K.
The Who Has Charted Two Download Hits
“Baba O’Riley” remains The Who’s only cut to land on the Official Singles Sales tally. It is one of two tracks by the band to reach the Official Singles Downloads ranking. “Who Are You” brought the rockers to that list first, launching in July 2005 – more than two decades ago. The song spent one frame (and only one frame) at No. 29, making it The Who’s highest-charting hit on the downloads roster.
The Who Returns With Who Are You
Who Are You also manages a return to the U.K. charts this week, though it barely accomplishes the feat. The set reenters the Official Physical Albums chart at No. 100, in last place. The roster ranks the bestselling albums throughout the U.K. on physical formats, including CD, vinyl and cassette.
The Who’s Who Are You Has Only Charted Twice
Who Are You debuted on the Official Physical Albums ranking last November – decades after its initial release – and immediately became another top 10 success for the band. The full-length kicked off its run at No. 8. Despite what must have been very healthy sales on physical formats during that frame, Who Are You held on for only a one period before disappearing.