It was 40 years ago today (March 16th, 1981) that the Who released Face Dances — the group's first studio album since the 1978 death of drummer Keith Moon and first of two with Kenney Jones behind the kit. The collection, which was part of the band's new multimillion dollar deal with Warner Bros., was instantly compared poorly to Pete Townshend's 1980 solo set Empty Glass, which was deemed both a critical and commercial triumph.
The album peaked at Number Four on the Billboard 200 — spending eight weeks in the Top 10. The album's lead single, “You Better You Bet,” hit Number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the magazine's Mainstream Rock list. “You Better You Bet” was the fourth video played on MTV the day the newtork was launched on August 1st, 1981. In Britain, Face Dances peaked at Number Two.
The album is best remembered for the success of “You Better You Bet” and the two other tracks — “Don't Let Go The Coat” and “Another Tricky Day” — which became MTV mainstays that earned the band a whole new generation of fans.