Demographics. Folks that liked the Who have had access to retirement money for 15 years. Look for an 80;'s band next. Not that I don't adore the Who. Who's Next is just worth a whole turntable in ones cabin. But, I'd remix the tracks. I think tha story would be why are the lesser tracks so shoddily mixed?
@@linjicakonikon7666Neil Young looks like a lot of things but a "joke" is NOT one of those things. Do you know anything about Farm Aid for example? Andi don't feel the need to justify myself or Neil Young to anyone but it's a matter of principle. Neil Young has more Integrity in his pinky finger than most people have in their whole body. ☮️
Went to a Stone Temple Pilots show and overheard a young lady saying she didn't know the opening act Cheap Trick. When they took stage she looked amazed and started to sing along. Between songs she said she used to hear them in the car when she was little. Sometimes we just need reminded.
I saw the Who's debut at the Fillmore in 1967. It was also the first time I took LSD. That show is permanently impressed on my memory. They did both their albums that were so far released, and they did all their singles, a couple of unexpected covers ("Everybody," by Tommy Roe), and they introduced their brand-new single "Happy Jack". Pete smashed two sonic blue Stratocasters (one at the end of each set), and ended the second set also using a Telecaster in front of his amp just for a feedback drone, while playing the Strat. The opening band was the rather incongruous Loading Zone, and the whole evening was started out with a set by The Cleanliness And Godliness Skiffle Band.
Who's Next was next level for me, as were so many albums released in 1971-72. Tommy was also a fav, but the tightness and every aspect of Who's Next was superlative (accident of conciseness, too, because it was meant to be a rock opera, but the only thing I wish is that Pure and Easy had been on it in its entirety (a little is on the end of Song is Over), as it's so joyous and musically fits. The Who saved me from my first and only iconic Orange Sunshine trip (not my first or last LSD trip!)... And my 1st time with a psychedelic Pink Floyd (Ummagumma's weird "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered... "). Things were getting very weird, then someone put on The Who's Live at Leeds, and the familiar world came back! In the most pleasurably musical way possible. That's an iconic Who album, showing them at their amazing performance peak. At 70, that's a great memory of my 18yr old life. It was an amazing trip, on amazing LSD, that you can't take anymore, because Sunshine wasn't distributed much past then, thanks to the DEA. So pure and easy, but crazy potent and wondrous. I fear Live at Leeds isn't the same anymore, remixed and auto tuned, as the original sounded like a well worn record, or bootleg, and they packaged it as such. They really were the first punks! But it didn't matter, even on audiophile equipment. Also watch Monterey Pop, a 1968 festival film where they blew every West Coast band completely off the stage, including Janis Joplin, and held their own against Hendrix, who was Pete's, and every other guitar player's, main concern.
and i saw them in same building but it was the Village theater---the first rock show i ever went to---never did a ballad or slow blues, they sang like angels and then they smashed everything----incredible
“Can’t Explain” is the greatest two-minute power pop song ever written, and I’ll defend that all day long. Not only a great tune but the lyrics even have meaning (in 1964 when it was written!)
The Who used it as an opening song for their shows for years. Pete said he knew how the show would go based on how that song went. I love watching their performances, because the second it starts, Keith Moon instantly looks like a fanboy, going "THIS IS MY FAVORITE SONG!"
being a WHO fanatic, I love 'I can't explain' as a single. but when they became an arena band, it just was forever played too loudly. great pop song, but MOD/arena just don't go together. at Woodstock and before that massive event, they opened w/ 'Heaven and Hell', which was more suitable for massive volume and crowds. BTW, TheCLASH sort of lifted the basic riff/idea from that beloved single, when they recorded 'Guns on the Roof'. and I love that tune, too. I think they gladly sounded like The'Oo, in tribute.
@@tonym994 yeah but I can’t pass judgement on what a song became years later. My comment above is strictly talking about the Shel Talmy produced 7” single released in January 1965, not it’s performance as a bloated arena rock song later. I agree that none of the Who’s earlier material (pre-68) lends itself to being played in a stadium.
Yes, I remember the Who opening with that song. Funny, even after all the brilliant songs Pete has written over all these years, (It's presently, Christmas Day 2023), I still love "I Can't Explain" the most. Cheers all!
3:44 - Goin' Mobile - hands down. Pete's acoustic riff accompanied by Keith Moon's BALLISTIC drums and then the outro electric guitar solo and MOOG while Keith and John lay down what sounds like a musical thunderstorm. It stands the hair up on my neck every time I hear it. Maybe the fact that Roger sat this tune out was a plus? The whole song sounds like Pete and Keith got together by themselves and said - "Let's write one tune together for just us."
I love Pete's guitar on "Eminence Front", but I think his magnus opus is Love Reign Over Me. That composition has some amazing producing, arranging, and my vote for greatest Rock vocal performance by Roger Daltry.
Pete Townsend definitely a force in Rock music. Who's Next is the still a favorite collection of fine songs 50 years later, and I still am in awe of the Woodstock 69 performance. Love the story of him clobbering Abbie Hoffman. Live at Leeds is a fantastic live album and showcases his talent on guitar, balancing the riffs with the rhythm, and command of the amplifier. one of the finest artists of rock music
Townsend ranks with Lennon, McCartney, Brian Wilson, or any great rock songwriter you can name. The Who is on the classic rock Mount Rushmore. Pete's only negative, to me, was his guitar smashing phase.
This made me think about the times I used to lay awake in my room in 1971 when I was a senior in high school, with a little radio to my ear, waiting for the station to play Won't Get Fooled Again which they did at midnight, every night, for a month or so. That Who's Next album is an absolute ripper. Still love it to this day.
Same here, but I was a year or two younger. Loved every sound, every idea on that record. ‘Black ash from the foundry, hangs like a hood, but the air is perfumed, by the burning firewood’ - the lyric combined with the vocal and guitar created an instant world that’s still with me more than 50 years later. And that’s just one example, I could name 20 more.
That was me in the mid 90's. I was listening to current stuff, like Green Day, but more than anything I listened to the oldies stations. The music wasn't new, but it was new to me, and I learned so much about music from the 50's through the 80's by listening to the radio. I wonder if kids still listen to the radio like that still... probably not. They probably prefer Spotify and TH-cam these days. But I'll always have a special place in my heart for music on the radio that was written and produced to be played over the radio. A bygone era, I guess.
Pete's right. "Who who, whooo are you" from the CSI opening made my wife and my daughter both ask me who's singing this fantastic song - both excited from the moment it came on.
The Who is unique in so many ways. Two rock operas. Two movies made based on their albums. From the High Numbers to Moon checking out, there will never be another band that helped pave the way like they did.
Otis, I just watched your Pete Townsend interview piece. Something you might find significant is that my cultural awakening took place when I subscribed to the brand new news-mag Rolling Stone in its first year-They sent me as a bonus the interview issue with Pete Townsend. That interview pushed me toward becoming a philosopher/musician. Now in 2024, retired, I am trying to invigorate my music playing. What I have to do, because of my age, is to rely on music I know best, the music of the 60s-80s Folk/Rock era. It has been embarrassing to prepare the old workhorses, in my mind. But now I see that “no one” knows the old songs-Bob Dylan’s first 8 albums, or the sixties Folk Revival , Tom Paxton, etc. Your podcast confirms my intuition that I can bring the best of Classic 1960s rock and the folk world, and know that I am bringing wonderful songs, new to them, to my audiences. Thank you!
@@MsTdougherty yes I know that is what was so sad about it , he betrayed what he wrote about his songs by doing that , I had alot of time for him previously to that , I sincerely hope a manager made that decision with out his properly thought out approval...it was all over c19 info ...which is so stupid . I saw his charity gig in san Jose 3 times ,
I love Pete’s songwriting and guitar work. I was in Golden Gate Park a few years ago when the Who were playing the Outside Lands festival at the nearby Polo Grounds. I could hear them as clearly as the crowds could inside! They were great. My favorite Who song is A Quick One from the Stones’ Rock and Roll Circus.
YES - Agreed! I was in High School when The Kids Are Alright came out, I just couldn't understand why that version was kept hidden for all of those years.
@@meanmud1 Legend has it the Who were too good and Mick felt the Stones we under par (the Stones went on last, at 3AM (?) and everyone was toast by then).
@@Barry101er Not only that, but they went back months/years later to try to deliver a worthy performance and couldn't - thus they scrapped it for quite a while.
Not long after i got my license, and got my first car on the road, a 66, 6 cylinder Mustang, 3 friends and i piled into my car, and went to see The Kids Are Alright at what used to be called a Midnight Munchee Movie! Glorious! I taped a number 4 on my Memphis Les Paul the copy the very next day. "Pure And Easy," is great. Not many songs ABOUT music seem to be very good. "Love Reign O'er Me" is another one. Beautiful. It totally lives up to the grassndiosity of the priduction and arrangement. But it strips down to voice and guitar really well too.
Neil did compose music for a movie. Just him, old black,and a fender amp. The movie is a bit artsy but, I really like it. It's called Dead Man, starring Johnny Depp. I think that's the way to go. If you wants Neil's music for a movie, have him score it!
Glad to hear Pete mentions "Strangers", a song Dave Davies (not Ray) wrote for The Kinks and was added as a "bonus" track on the "Agravation" CD. Great song.
Hey Otis, I went to my first Who concert in 1970, at Anaheim Stadium in So Cal (home of the Angels). What an eclectic and interesting line up! John Sebastian, solo, on a stool with an acoustic guitar. Blues Image (Ride Captain Ride) and Leon Russell! Incredible show. This was just a year after Tommy came out, so their set list was heavily Tommy. Ridiculously good, not to mention Leon at the top of his game. Aside: i witnessed the worst bad trip I think I’ve ever seen…the young man was in a very scary place…he disappeared into the infield crowd and I often wonder about what happened to him.
Otis I found your vids late last year and have been privileged to enjoy them since. Your commentary is elemental and speaks from the path of true heart...thank you for sharing!
I totally get that an artist would not let their compositions be used in commercials & movies. Neil is dedicated to his vision. No one else’s. Otis - you’d have made a great English Lit major.
I have to say Eminence Front is probably my favorite Townsend tune but I'd be hard pressed to explain why. I know its not the best thing he wrote but something about it..... I reckon it brings me back that special space & time in my youth. I also feel Live at Leeds is arguably the best live recording ever!!!
I love "Eminence Front" too! The sound of it is very unique and rather hypnotic. The lyrics are very visual too... such as "the spray flies as the speed boat glides" or "the snow packs as the skier tracks." The song also holds a special place for me because some of the lyrics make me think of a birthday party for Kenny Jones that I very fortunately got to attend at the bar in the Hotel Navarro in New York City... "Come and join the party Dress to kill Won't you come and join the party Dress to kill, dress to kill Drinks flow People forget That big wheel spins, the hair thins People forget Forget they're hiding..."
Pete is a genius. I have been a Wholigan for 20 years (I'm 40) I read his autobiography and play guitar because of him. Petes style is very influence by his jazz banjo playing pre-Who. Freaks ands Geeks is by the another genius...Judd Apatow. Brilliant show that lasted only a short time but with a huge impact.
Speaking of music placement in movies, the way Cat Stevens was used in Harold and Maude is one of my favorites. Favorite Who songs- The Seeker with a nod to Boris the Spider (because Entwistle).
Harold and Maude is a true masterpiece. I’ll never forget the day my high school girlfriend dragged me along to see a matinee,between her and the movie I felt like my whole world view was transformed in a moment.
Both Pete and Neil are still getting noticed by this latest generation. There are a couple of reasons. The music that is being made today is somewhat reductive and can't easily reach wider audiences because the architecture that used to do that, record co's and radio stations, don't have as much influence. But let's face it: from the birth of R & R till the birth of on line streaming- that was the Golden age of Pop music. Younger generations are finding this music if they want to on streaming services, the world of music is so much bigger than it used to be. We are listening to music differently. Otis, your approach is like a mini musicology course. So glad I found this message in a bottle floating along in the internet. Thank you.
Baba O'Riley (Teenage Wasteland) for me is one of those songs that brings everything back in an absolute acute flashback. Memory of time, place, weather, cars, people in my life, and actual olfactory recall from the first time I heard it. Wouldn't it something to see Pete and Neil chopping together. Thanks Otis, good one.
I always think about Baba O'Riley when I hear, "In the future you will own nothing, eat bugs, and be happy." 🎶Out here in the fields, I fight for my meals🎶
My brother and I covered a lot of who songs in our three piece band back in the early 80’s. I still come back to I’m One as a personal fave. Pete’s solo stuff is also in my top songs list. I am an Animal is a masterpiece for me. Another great video. Thanks.
When talking about classics like The Graduate, not only did the music elevate that movie but when you look back on it, the movie elevated that song into the pop culture consciousness. Mrs. Robinson will forever be tied with that movie and vice versa.
I remember the Who on the radio as a kid in the early 70's. Then later I remember sitting and to listening to all of "Tommy" in front of a Sear's bought Lloyd's stereo (8 track and record stacking turntable - ya buddy!), with my Koss headphones on and being blown away with the power of the band, the songs, Pete's incredible guitar work and can't forget Moon's drums playing - wow! the man's rhythm was on the edge of chaos ~ like nobody else. I saw two of their "final concerts" over a period of 10 years ... LOL I wonder - how many of us ended up with bleeding & torn finger nails trying to imitate Pete's windmill guitar strums on an old acoustic guitar?
Baba O'Reiley remains my fave Who track (What can I say I am neither original nor pretend to be) it was used as the theme for CSI: NY (2004-13) a formulaic police show which was hugely successful and did introduce this magnificent song to a new generation. Big Neil Young fan too and I appreciate Pete Townsend joking tribute. He loves the guy too. Really nice video thank you
Can't resist mentioning that a close friend of mine, Dewar McLeod, recently published a detailed account of the "Tommy" saga: "Tommy, Trauma, and Postwar Youth Culture." Dewar's a history prof who's written a lot on popular culture, but this book also has a strong personal thread -- Tommy was the first album he ever bought and it changed his life.
Pete Townsend’s”WON’T GET FOOLED AGAIN “ a ROCK Masterpiece ! I must say one of the best ever written.TheWhoRocks!!!Thank You Otis! You’re The Man brother!
That’s a great video! The clerk’s reaction when Neil tells him he’s gonna take the record without paying for it because “it’s MY music..” and the ensuing call to the record store owner are priceless.
The Who is my favorite band. It’s so hard to pick a favorite. I seem to love them all. But it’s interesting how different time periods sound great in their own way. Like the Pictures of Lily era or the Who’s Next era or the Kenny Jones era. All great music to me. Thanks for posting this video.
I can understand many artists/musicians being wary of their work becoming "product" to hawk some one else's wares. But there are some films where a cleverly curated list of songs both serves the film and reaches a newer audience, eg. Goodfellas, Apocalypse Now. Even the Marvel films have been astute in finding great songs for some of the more memorable moments. Watching the film "Arkansas" turned me onto The Flaming Lips. "Behind Blue Eyes" is a big fave.
It's very hard for me to just make a short list of favourite Who songs but basically mono mixes of the early singles, the 1968 Who outtake Melancholia, live Who recordings from '68 - '78, all of Quadrophenia, Imagine a Man and the early 80's outtake It's In You. I also listen to Pete's Who demos on a regular basis. The early 70's Who's Next/ Lifehouse demos are especially phenomenal and in a lot of cases his demos for Face Dances are better or at least rawer than their Who versions.
Fave Townshend/ Who song: Bargain. It hits like a desperate plea for redemption from a lost soul. It also has one of the most beautiful bridges ever put on record. Yes, it is my desert island Who song!
'Bargain' is my favorite, too. I loved 'Who's Next' immediately when I heard it in 1971. I didn't have a record player back then, but two years later I got my driver's license and my dad gave me a van. I put an 8-track player in the van and 'Who's Next' was the first recording that I ever bought. In another couple of years, I went to college and got introduced to good stereo systems and weed. I transcended to another plane of consciousness during the first time that I listened to Bargain through a good stereo and Sennheiser headphones while high on good reef. I've never come back to the previous level. Every time I listen to 'Bargain', I can get right back into that moment. In all music of all ages and all genres, my favorite passage is the coda of 'Bargain', starting at about 4:00. Crank it up!
Volkswagen tv advert where the main memorable component is Nick Drake’s song Pink Moon exposed his unique creative vision to many millions of listeners who never would have enjoyed his music otherwise. P.S. Thanks for your vid’s; they’re great!✌🏽
My favorite is the album Pete made with Ronnie Lane called Rough Mix. Out of all the record releases of the 70's Rough Mix is still in my top 10. It has always been the best sounding record to this day. Glyn Johns (the producer of Zep,Stones, Eagles ect..) says in his book, it remains to this day, the production he's most proud of.
Run run run is another great song on that album……so many great Who songs some of my favourites “bargain” “I’m one” “the seeker” ” “the real me” but if I could only pick one it has to be “won’t get fooled again”
I saw the Who four times, including last year. Still put on a great show. It will probably be my final concert since it's just too much of a hassle to go to shows anymore.
Otis, I loved this. So much of it hit me right where I live. There was no one to turn me on to the Who. I discovered them in junior high via the Who's Greatest Hits, the one with the Union Jack on the cover. The perfect album for teen angst, plus it was my secret. Won't Get Fooled Again still sticks with me. Thanks for the message in a bottle.
Love both Neil and Pete. If you wrote the song and still own it do whatever you want with it. Thanks for the very good content. New subscriber here. Thanks
One of the highlights of my life was hearing Pete Townshend talk in admiring terms about a song I wrote that was used in a fan tribute about his novella “The Boy Who Heard Music.” It happened during an episode of the web chat show “In The Attic” on my birthday around 2006. He and I met a few times after that and he even did business with the company I worked for. He’s a wonderful man. He is so great with fans of his music.
Hi OTIS, I look at it both ways and love that Neil Young keeps his music out of movies , how ever he has done sound tracks to some like western with Johnny Depp and Dylan movie also the whole after the gold rush was a sound track music for a movie that never made it for the public, he also used his music in his own movies. Young said he will never use his music in commercials. I respect his right to not let just anyone use his stuff , unless he gives folks the ok.
Harold and Maude is a great example of an artist's body of work playing a crucial role in the film. Cat Stevens music reverberated with the soul of the film in a way that elevated both. peace
I was in college when Tommy came out and really got into it - would listen to it on headphones at the student center. I was so great to see them do it at Woodstock. Also, I saw them a couple of years ago and they had some orchestration with them - the Tommy parts were very much like the album. ❤
I heard Pinball Wizard when I was 8 years old and loved the sound. Inspired me to learn to play. Got to stand in front of him a few years ago and tell him what an inspiration he has been in my life.
Otis, it was a good thing you said there about making key changes not noticeable in a song, where you're just along for the ride. Good idea and good example of that idea.
I saw The Clash open 'Combat Rock' for The Who at Candlestick Park in 1980. Their first encore brought the house down when Roger Daltry and Pete Townshend blasted into "Well shake it up, baby ... Twist and Shout" - needless to say, the crowd went wild.
I started with a Sony reel-to-reel that was capable of sound-on-sound recording. It was a real hoot. I graduated to a Tascam 244 Portastudio, then many moons later I entered the world of Pro Tools. There are few things (if any) that are more fun than building a musical idea with access to almost unlimited tracks. I won’t waste time arguing about analog versus digital. The fact that I actually finish something that sounds pretty good is all that matters to me. Thanks, Otis, for the look back at where we start.
Martin Scorcese made a lot of movies with music he chose personoally and was hearing when he imagined the scene. (He was once roomates with Robbie Robertson so that's likely to change your worldview about music.) Music can be a character in a film as you said about the Graduate, Scorcese used it effectively in that way. There are also very shallow uses of music, naturally, but that doesn't detract from the really great applications.
Neil Youngs Harvest Moon is played in A Quiet Place, so he must have aloud that one I guess. Perfect too. It absolutely just breaks the tension of the movie at the right time. It made me recall what a beautiful song it is and rediscover the album...Beautiful . Thanks for the great post too thanks
I would think that the TV show that had the biggest impact on The Who revival was the CSI series of programs. There may be other shows, but those ones are still widely watched, enough so during the shutdowns that it led to a revival of the original series.
Eminence front is my favorite. Love the build up of each musical instrument adding color or weight to each section. It’s so mesmerizing. I like working to this piece ; creates a deep focus zone. So enjoyed this reading of yours. Just found you! Reading other comments and I totally forgot Magic Bus! Had started art school and met a nice guy on the bus. Wow, forgot about those days!
How cool to hear that Pete appreciates “Freaks and Geeks”, in my mind maybe the best network TV comedy ever! It managed to avoid all the stupid cliches common in all movies and series involving high school kids. Singer Maria McKee, a big fan of the show, credits it with changing her negative opinion about the Dead that she shared with most musicians in the LA punk scene, thanks to the last couple episodes where Lindsay tires of her dead-end friends, and impulsively jumps in the bus with her new Dead-head friends.
I started with a kmart cassette recorder in 1970. By 1974 me and some buddies went in together and got a used Dokorder 4-track reel to reel. We loved that thing.
My 2 fave Who LPs: Live at Leeds and Who by Numbers. Solo Pete: the 4 LPS between 1977 and 1985 are so good- Simon Phillips on drums; the studio bands always great (Pino, Tony Butler, Phil Chen, Chucho Merchan, Mark Brzezicki, Jody Linscott- even Gilmour!)
"Sleeping Dog", "Jools & Jim", "Empty Glass" ... his demos of "Cache Cache" etc. - anytime you have just Pete & a guitar it is magic. And agreed "Strangers" may be the best Kinks song, period.
The talk about Otis helping a friend with a commercial jingle reminded me of a great song and subsequent movie. I brought the kiddo there recently and got a few pictures in front of the cafe that stands there today.
Otis have you heard Bowie's cover of 'Pictures of Lily'? I think it's worth a listen. My favorite Who album is Who's Next, favorite song is 'Won't Get Fooled Again'. But there are so many! 'My Wife' from John Entwhistle is some superb dark humor too. I often thought of it with a couple of the guys I was with, maybe following in her footsteps lol. That was around the time I quit dating musicians. I should have known better, being one myself. But no... I saw The Who in Memphis at the Mid-South Coliseum, early 70s. Pete was wearing the white jumpsuit, playing the red SG, bouncing all over the place until he collapsed the front of the stage and came within a whisker of falling on top of me. He settled down a bit after that. A bit.
My group of friends felt we hit a high note with release of the Who’s, Who’s Next. I also enjoyed Squeeze Box, Magic Bus, and Eminence Front. I was always listening for the sound of Keith Moon when I listened to the Who. John Entwistle’s contribution to bass playing should never be forgotten.
Bob, l sat a few feet from them when they played at a small venue in Liverpool 1971 . They were trying out most of the tracks from ‘Who’s Next’ before going on a major tour. The album hadn’t even been released. Ears were totally blasted , but probably the best concert that l ever attended ..
@@wittry2 It gets more memorable Bob. Near the end of the concert the crowd were shouting out for them to play a popular Who live song at the time, ‘ Water’. Keith Moon had a bucket of water near his drum kit. He picked it up and threw it over all of us sitting on the floor near the stage! Claim to fame, Keith Moon drenched me😃
I saw the WHO live in 1982 and Roger Daltrey and band about 4 years ago. Both fantastic shows! Love Pete's solo stuff too! My baby gives it away a fave
@@mattrogers1946 It didn't sell that well, so many people didn't hear it at all. With all the choices to listen to, I still endorse it. Not good enough? Write a review.
Pete Townshend was my entry into listening to music and I am still in love with his songs, playing, and The Who. He is the real deal and works hard. I love that Pete has always wanted the listener to find their own meaning in the music so that it something dear to the listener. Neil Young sold his catalog to BlackRock; that's his value system.
You offer lots of wonderful insights here Otis. Thanks. Enriched my day. BTW, my favorite who era is slightly later than yours. Think, “your guitar and your pen.“
Talking about Pete Townsend and The Who I'd have to mention Live At Leeds! Absolutely perfect live rock album played with gusto and love in front of an appreciative audience. What more can you ask for?
I remember a friend of mine invited me to listen to "Who's Next? in his brothers fiat on cassette. First time I heard it. I think it was 1973. What a classic!
So I'm a huge Townshend fan , pound for pound my favorite acoustic guitar player . His rythym hand and chord vocabulary is second to none.. Now Neil Young grew up ten miles up the road I'm sittin on. I happen to revere the man and so does anybody that lives here
"Won't Get Fooled Again" is the greatest rock song in history on the greatest rock album in history form the greatest Rock Group in history. (in my HUMBLE opinion).
Loved this. Big Who fan and fan of Pete. Could, and have .. literally could listen to Pete just talk about music in interviews all day.. Have his biography in audiobook form, and love to hear him read it. So interesting to hear him talk, and talk about how his and other’s music is used in film and tv. Freaks and Geeks is a great example of some of the best uses of Pete’s songs in media. Perfectly used. But i do also respect Neil Young’s decision to not let his songs be used in other media.
My favorite song by the The Who is Substitute without a doubt. I especially like the Live At Leeds version. "The north side of my town faced east, and the east was facing south."
I also love the song Substitute. The lyrics are so clever! A very young Pete Townshend writing lyrics like "Substitute you for my mum... At least I'll get my washing done!" Ha ha. Good one Pete! One of the things that made me a lifelong Who fan is that a lot of their songs have a good dose of humour in them. I love to laugh and I love intense music - so The Who are at the top of the tops for me! I can remember my dad walking around singing "creepy crawley, creepy, creepy, crawley, crawley, creepy, creepy, crawley, crawley" and that memory still to this day warms my heart! Another wonderful memory is of my little 12-year old brother playing Tommy - all the way through - on the piano - very impressive I can tell you!
I respect Neil Youngs decisions. I think we all should. Since "This notes for you"..he does NOT want his art used by others for applications he does have some control over it. I can respect that. If we loose our best achievements to commecial use..what is left? I really want to know a solid answer.
Thanks for your show that’s always enlightening! I love The Who and Pete and I love Neil Young’s choices. Also, there’s something wonderful I heard in the sea recently about just plain and simple. He doesn’t have to do anything anymore that he doesn’t want to do in essence he said I’ve bought my freedom which is a wonderful place to be, and I imagine as an artist, of course, either way I’m glad I was alive during both of those guys arc of work because some of the crap that is called music today. I just can’t tap my foot or rock my soul with so thanks for my time and thanks for all guys still putting it out .
Cohen Bros. "Raising Arizona" soundtrack was cool as hell. I forget who the artist was. Of course the soundtrack for the ground breaking film "American Graffiti was epic! Great video!
Picking a favorite song by The Who is vitually impossible; I can not do it. "Who Came First" is my favorite Pete Townshend album. "Who's Next" was my favorite album by The Who for many years, but I think "Quadrophenia" was The Who at the peak of their prowess, and it has proved to be my favorite over the long haul.
TV show CSI: Miami intro theme is “Won’t get fooled again” every week in the Eighties. Now in syndication the song lives on. One of my favorite Who songs.
Quadrophenia has been one of my favorite Who records since I was a kid. Back then I did a lot of drawing in my room and always had music playing. One day I put that that record on and went on a journey with John Entwhislte and Keith Moon for about two months that took me to the depths those instruments can reach and made me fully understand why bass and drums are so important to rock music and in particular to Pete’s incredible songwriting and storytelling. To really listen to that one you need to listen front to back with headphones. It’s a double album that begins with various melodic themes and faint voices from the record fading in and out with the wind and the sea and the seagulls all competing for your ear… and then suddenly it explodes into The Real Me and off you go into post-war Britian, the heyday of the mods and the rockers and artists like the Who inventing the sound of rock and roll.
White jumpsuit, Gibson SG, the best! Naked Eye is one of my favorites. The Seeker is another. All of Quadrophenia. Also, A Quick One from Rolling Stone rock and roll circus shows a band at the top of their game. Live at Leeds, Live at the Isle of Wight, Who's Next! Saw Pete solo twice, and lost count at around 24 times for The Who. My favorite Band.
You’re are talking about the tune from Odds and Sods, unless it’s on another lp somewhere. Love that lp and I can hear the refrain ‘But it doesn’t really happen that way at all…’. That tune and Golden Girl which evolved into Tommy. Great rock and roll airplane crash song.
Check out this video I made at a famous location used by The Who.
th-cam.com/video/zTr8j8BizRk/w-d-xo.html
Let my love open the door. Classic.
Demographics. Folks that liked the Who have had access to retirement money for 15 years. Look for an 80;'s band next. Not that I don't adore the Who. Who's Next is just worth a whole turntable in ones cabin. But, I'd remix the tracks. I think tha story would be why are the lesser tracks so shoddily mixed?
I am in Selvin, IN. Where you at Otis?
Can imagine hearing "Bargain" as a theme for a television series
I'm One and Naked Eye
I just listened to Rough Mix today. Pete and Ronnie Lane's 1977 album. Fantastic !
My favorite solo album.
@@mattrogers1946 It's being released as a 1/2 speed master LP, along with Empty Glass.
@custom55 I saw that, already in my wishlist.
That is a great album. Ronnie Lane was a special one. Cheers
Yes! A timeless classic. Very underrated.
'Ain't singin' for Pepsi
Ain't singin' for Coke
I don't sing for nobody
Makes me look like a joke
This note's for you'. - Neil Young
Neil Young has made himself look like a joke so many times, I'm surprised it still bothers him.🤡
@@linjicakonikon7666 How do you say you are insecure without saying you are insecure.
@@linjicakonikon7666Neil Young looks like a lot of things but a "joke" is NOT one of those things. Do you know anything about Farm Aid for example? Andi don't feel the need to justify myself or Neil Young to anyone but it's a matter of principle. Neil Young has more Integrity in his pinky finger than most people have in their whole body. ☮️
everybody sings for somebody
@@paulgentile1024& we all have egos that take over from time to time & muck up even a good thing..🤷🏼
Went to a Stone Temple Pilots show and overheard a young lady saying she didn't know the opening act Cheap Trick. When they took stage she looked amazed and started to sing along. Between songs she said she used to hear them in the car when she was little. Sometimes we just need reminded.
They live inside of my head!
I think I got hooked on the Who with Magic Bus on Live at Leeds....I also loved the whole Who's Next album...one of the great rock albums in my view.
Yes!!! 5 /17/23
I saw the Who's debut at the Fillmore in 1967. It was also the first time I took LSD. That show is permanently impressed on my memory. They did both their albums that were so far released, and they did all their singles, a couple of unexpected covers ("Everybody," by Tommy Roe), and they introduced their brand-new single "Happy Jack". Pete smashed two sonic blue Stratocasters (one at the end of each set), and ended the second set also using a Telecaster in front of his amp just for a feedback drone, while playing the Strat. The opening band was the rather incongruous Loading Zone, and the whole evening was started out with a set by The Cleanliness And Godliness Skiffle Band.
Who's Next was next level for me, as were so many albums released in 1971-72. Tommy was also a fav, but the tightness and every aspect of Who's Next was superlative (accident of conciseness, too, because it was meant to be a rock opera, but the only thing I wish is that Pure and Easy had been on it in its entirety (a little is on the end of Song is Over), as it's so joyous and musically fits.
The Who saved me from my first and only iconic Orange Sunshine trip (not my first or last LSD trip!)... And my 1st time with a psychedelic Pink Floyd (Ummagumma's weird "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered... "). Things were getting very weird, then someone put on The Who's Live at Leeds, and the familiar world came back! In the most pleasurably musical way possible. That's an iconic Who album, showing them at their amazing performance peak. At 70, that's a great memory of my 18yr old life. It was an amazing trip, on amazing LSD, that you can't take anymore, because Sunshine wasn't distributed much past then, thanks to the DEA. So pure and easy, but crazy potent and wondrous. I fear Live at Leeds isn't the same anymore, remixed and auto tuned, as the original sounded like a well worn record, or bootleg, and they packaged it as such. They really were the first punks! But it didn't matter, even on audiophile equipment. Also watch Monterey Pop, a 1968 festival film where they blew every West Coast band completely off the stage, including Janis Joplin, and held their own against Hendrix, who was Pete's, and every other guitar player's, main concern.
I was six in 1967. I saw the Who in Seattle in 1982 with Clash opening. In the Kingdome.
and i saw them in same building but it was the Village theater---the first rock show i ever went to---never did a ballad or slow blues, they sang like angels and then they smashed everything----incredible
@@richierugs6544 Different building- It was the "old" Fillmore in San Francisco.
The Cleanliness and Godliness Skiffle Band?
Please elaborate on every and anything you can recall about this interesting act!!!
Thank you!!!
Pete is a total genius, and he’s written songs and developed themes no one else can even imitate. I love that he’s still working
I would say the same about his guitar playing. Unique and pure genius.
and thinks to freaks and geeks you know who he is
“Can’t Explain” is the greatest two-minute power pop song ever written, and I’ll defend that all day long. Not only a great tune but the lyrics even have meaning (in 1964 when it was written!)
The Who used it as an opening song for their shows for years. Pete said he knew how the show would go based on how that song went. I love watching their performances, because the second it starts, Keith Moon instantly looks like a fanboy, going "THIS IS MY FAVORITE SONG!"
being a WHO fanatic, I love 'I can't explain' as a single. but when they became an arena band, it just was forever played too loudly. great pop song, but MOD/arena just don't go together. at Woodstock and before that massive event, they opened w/ 'Heaven and Hell', which was more suitable for massive volume and crowds. BTW, TheCLASH sort of lifted the basic riff/idea from that beloved single, when they recorded 'Guns on the Roof'. and I love that tune, too. I think they gladly sounded like The'Oo, in tribute.
@@tonym994 yeah but I can’t pass judgement on what a song became years later. My comment above is strictly talking about the Shel Talmy produced 7” single released in January 1965, not it’s performance as a bloated arena rock song later. I agree that none of the Who’s earlier material (pre-68) lends itself to being played in a stadium.
Yes, I remember the Who opening with that song. Funny, even after all the brilliant songs Pete has written over all these years, (It's presently, Christmas Day 2023), I still love "I Can't Explain" the most. Cheers all!
agree 100% I get chills every time, it's powerful.
Neil is one of my favorite musical poets.
3:44 - Goin' Mobile - hands down. Pete's acoustic riff accompanied by Keith Moon's BALLISTIC drums and then the outro electric guitar solo and MOOG while Keith and John lay down what sounds like a musical thunderstorm. It stands the hair up on my neck every time I hear it. Maybe the fact that Roger sat this tune out was a plus? The whole song sounds like Pete and Keith got together by themselves and said - "Let's write one tune together for just us."
I love Pete's guitar on "Eminence Front", but I think his magnus opus is Love Reign Over Me. That composition has some amazing producing, arranging, and my vote for greatest Rock vocal performance by Roger Daltry.
"People Forget"
The pearl jam cover at the who tribute is an amazing cover. Gave ne a whole new respect for Eddie's vocals
Pete Townsend definitely a force in Rock music. Who's Next is the still a favorite collection of fine songs 50 years later, and I still am in awe of the Woodstock 69 performance. Love the story of him clobbering Abbie Hoffman. Live at Leeds is a fantastic live album and showcases his talent on guitar, balancing the riffs with the rhythm, and command of the amplifier. one of the finest artists of rock music
he actually slammed Abbie in the waist right off the stage, we were really close to see it
Townsend ranks with Lennon, McCartney, Brian Wilson, or any great rock songwriter you can name. The Who is on the classic rock Mount Rushmore. Pete's only negative, to me, was his guitar smashing phase.
'I am an Animal' from "Empty Glass' is my favorite song by Pete Townshend.
One of my favorites too and Exquisitely Bored is more relevant than ever.
It’s a masterpiece. My favorite also. That and I’m One
This made me think about the times I used to lay awake in my room in 1971 when I was a senior in high school, with a little radio to my ear, waiting for the station to play Won't Get Fooled Again which they did at midnight, every night, for a month or so. That Who's Next album is an absolute ripper. Still love it to this day.
Same here, but I was a year or two younger. Loved every sound, every idea on that record. ‘Black ash from the foundry, hangs like a hood, but the air is perfumed, by the burning firewood’ - the lyric combined with the vocal and guitar created an instant world that’s still with me more than 50 years later. And that’s just one example, I could name 20 more.
I'm still laying awake in my room. I always will
That was me in the mid 90's. I was listening to current stuff, like Green Day, but more than anything I listened to the oldies stations. The music wasn't new, but it was new to me, and I learned so much about music from the 50's through the 80's by listening to the radio. I wonder if kids still listen to the radio like that still... probably not. They probably prefer Spotify and TH-cam these days. But I'll always have a special place in my heart for music on the radio that was written and produced to be played over the radio. A bygone era, I guess.
I enjoy a lot of the earlier Who tracks. “I Can See For Miles” is one of my faves.
In 1967, I blew out the speakers in my new Mustang when I Can See For Miles came on the radio, and I cranked the volume to eleven.
Pete's right. "Who who, whooo are you" from the CSI opening made my wife and my daughter both ask me who's singing this fantastic song - both excited from the moment it came on.
The Who is unique in so many ways. Two rock operas. Two movies made based on their albums. From the High Numbers to Moon checking out, there will never be another band that helped pave the way like they did.
indeed. An absolute cornerstone of rock music.
Otis, I just watched your Pete Townsend interview piece. Something you might find significant is that my cultural awakening took place when I subscribed to the brand new news-mag Rolling Stone in its first year-They sent me as a bonus the interview issue with Pete Townsend. That interview pushed me toward becoming a philosopher/musician.
Now in 2024, retired, I am trying to invigorate my music playing. What I have to do, because of my age, is to rely on music I know best, the music of the 60s-80s Folk/Rock era. It has been embarrassing to prepare the old workhorses, in my mind. But now I see that “no one” knows the old songs-Bob Dylan’s first 8 albums, or the sixties Folk Revival , Tom Paxton, etc. Your podcast confirms my intuition that I can bring the best of Classic 1960s rock and the folk world, and know that I am bringing wonderful songs, new to them, to my audiences. Thank you!
Freaks and Geeks was a brilliant short-lived show.
What I love about Neil Young is he’s a great singer songwriter and he doesn’t care what anyone thinks?
Remind me again why his music was removed from Spotify.?
@@paddyt4043 Neil Young pulled his music from Spotify. It was not removed.
@@paddyt4043 Neil Young was not removed from Spotify. He removed his songs from Spotify as a matter of principle.
@@MsTdougherty yes I know that is what was so sad about it , he betrayed what he wrote about his songs by doing that , I had alot of time for him previously to that , I sincerely hope a manager made that decision with out his properly thought out approval...it was all over c19 info ...which is so stupid . I saw his charity gig in san Jose 3 times ,
@@paddyt4043 Paddy you said he was removed from Spotify. You are wrong. He chose to no longer be on Spotify. Paddy Neil Young does not need Spotify.
I love Pete’s songwriting and guitar work. I was in Golden Gate Park a few years ago when the Who were playing the Outside Lands festival at the nearby Polo Grounds. I could hear them as clearly as the crowds could inside! They were great. My favorite Who song is A Quick One from the Stones’ Rock and Roll Circus.
YES - Agreed! I was in High School when The Kids Are Alright came out, I just couldn't understand why that version was kept hidden for all of those years.
@@meanmud1 Legend has it the Who were too good and Mick felt the Stones we under par (the Stones went on last, at 3AM (?) and everyone was toast by then).
@@Barry101er Not only that, but they went back months/years later to try to deliver a worthy performance and couldn't - thus they scrapped it for quite a while.
@@meanmud1 Midnight Movie favorite!
I love Young Man Blues from Charlton 1974.
Not long after i got my license, and got my first car on the road, a 66, 6 cylinder Mustang, 3 friends and i piled into my car, and went to see The Kids Are Alright at what used to be called a Midnight Munchee Movie!
Glorious! I taped a number 4 on my Memphis Les Paul the copy the very next day.
"Pure And Easy," is great. Not many songs ABOUT music seem to be very good.
"Love Reign O'er Me" is another one. Beautiful. It totally lives up to the grassndiosity of the priduction and arrangement. But it strips down to voice and guitar really well too.
Neil did compose music for a movie. Just him, old black,and a fender amp. The movie is a bit artsy but, I really like it. It's called Dead Man, starring Johnny Depp. I think that's the way to go. If you wants Neil's music for a movie, have him score it!
Dead Man is an awesome soundtrack by Neil Young… Johnny Depp is cool in the movie…
Journey Through the Past...
I remember there was some great behind the scenes of Sampedro tearing into Jarmusch calling him a dilettante
@@dahlbaker Human Highway....
Glad to hear Pete mentions "Strangers", a song Dave Davies (not Ray) wrote for The Kinks and was added as a "bonus" track on the "Agravation" CD. Great song.
My favorite Kinks song
Hey Otis,
I went to my first Who concert in 1970, at Anaheim Stadium in So Cal (home of the Angels). What an eclectic and interesting line up! John Sebastian, solo, on a stool with an acoustic guitar. Blues Image (Ride Captain Ride) and Leon Russell! Incredible show. This was just a year after Tommy came out, so their set list was heavily Tommy. Ridiculously good, not to mention Leon at the top of his game. Aside: i witnessed the worst bad trip I think I’ve ever seen…the young man was in a very scary place…he disappeared into the infield crowd and I often wonder about what happened to him.
John Sebastian!!!! he's the one who tie dyed Roger's cowboy outfit from that tour.
Otis I found your vids late last year and have been privileged to enjoy them since. Your commentary is elemental and speaks from the path of true heart...thank you for sharing!
Wow.....excellent, poignant commentary on 2 of the most interesting souls in the music industry! Well done, mate! 👍👏
I totally get that an artist would not let their compositions be used in commercials & movies. Neil is dedicated to his vision. No one else’s. Otis - you’d have made a great English Lit major.
Always do…what you can, with what you’ve got. Always! It’ll go a long way! Never wait for the perfect situation…it’ll never show up! Thanks Otis!
I have to say Eminence Front is probably my favorite Townsend tune but I'd be hard pressed to explain why. I know its not the best thing he wrote but something about it..... I reckon it brings me back that special space & time in my youth. I also feel Live at Leeds is arguably the best live recording ever!!!
I love "Eminence Front" too! The sound of it is very unique and rather hypnotic. The lyrics are very visual too... such as "the spray flies as the speed boat glides" or "the snow packs as the skier tracks." The song also holds a special place for me because some of the lyrics make me think of a birthday party for Kenny Jones that I very fortunately got to attend at the bar in the Hotel Navarro in New York City...
"Come and join the party
Dress to kill
Won't you come and join the party
Dress to kill, dress to kill
Drinks flow
People forget
That big wheel spins, the hair thins
People forget
Forget they're hiding..."
Because Townshend sings it!
One of the “toughest “ riffs ever , sets a mood like no other
Favorite Who song: So sad about us.
Haven’t seen any of these movies or TV shows.
I saw The Who for the 1st time in 1967 when they opened for Herman’s Hermits at Philadelphia Convention Hall
Pete is a genius. I have been a Wholigan for 20 years (I'm 40) I read his autobiography and play guitar because of him. Petes style is very influence by his jazz banjo playing pre-Who. Freaks ands Geeks is by the another genius...Judd Apatow. Brilliant show that lasted only a short time but with a huge impact.
Same here!
Speaking of music placement in movies, the way Cat Stevens was used in Harold and Maude is one of my favorites. Favorite Who songs- The Seeker with a nod to Boris the Spider (because Entwistle).
Harold and Maude is a true masterpiece.
I’ll never forget the day my high school girlfriend dragged me along to see a matinee,between her and the movie I felt like my whole world view was transformed in a moment.
Pete Townsend
“Brooklyn kids” would be my favorite.
Saw them in Philly
You are awesome Otis. Don't forget it!
Both Pete and Neil are still getting noticed by this latest generation. There are a couple of reasons. The music that is being made today is somewhat reductive and can't easily reach wider audiences because the architecture that used to do that, record co's and radio stations, don't have as much influence. But let's face it: from the birth of R & R till the birth of on line streaming- that was the Golden age of Pop music. Younger generations are finding this music if they want to on streaming services, the world of music is so much bigger than it used to be. We are listening to music differently. Otis, your approach is like a mini musicology course. So glad I found this message in a bottle floating along in the internet. Thank you.
Baba O'Riley (Teenage Wasteland) for me is one of those songs that brings everything back in an absolute acute flashback. Memory of time, place, weather, cars, people in my life, and actual olfactory recall from the first time I heard it. Wouldn't it something to see Pete and Neil chopping together. Thanks Otis, good one.
I remember buying Quad. Every day for months I’d come home from school and play Quadrophinia. He made something that really got to me.
I had Quadradphenia in quadraphonic
I always think about Baba O'Riley when I hear, "In the future you will own nothing, eat bugs, and be happy."
🎶Out here in the fields, I fight for my meals🎶
@@websurfer5772 the quote 'in the future you will own nothing etc.' was not serious, you do know that?
My brother and I covered a lot of who songs in our three piece band back in the early 80’s. I still come back to I’m One as a personal fave. Pete’s solo stuff is also in my top songs list. I am an Animal is a masterpiece for me. Another great video. Thanks.
When talking about classics like The Graduate, not only did the music elevate that movie but when you look back on it, the movie elevated that song into the pop culture consciousness. Mrs. Robinson will forever be tied with that movie and vice versa.
Live at Leeds and Quadriphenia (never saw the film) - also love Niel Young- Zuma and Tonight's the Night
I remember the Who on the radio as a kid in the early 70's. Then later I remember sitting and to listening to all of "Tommy" in front of a Sear's bought Lloyd's stereo (8 track and record stacking turntable - ya buddy!), with my Koss headphones on and being blown away with the power of the band, the songs, Pete's incredible guitar work and can't forget Moon's drums playing - wow! the man's rhythm was on the edge of chaos ~ like nobody else. I saw two of their "final concerts" over a period of 10 years ... LOL
I wonder - how many of us ended up with bleeding & torn finger nails trying to imitate Pete's windmill guitar strums on an old acoustic guitar?
Baba O'Reiley remains my fave Who track (What can I say I am neither original nor pretend to be) it was used as the theme for CSI: NY (2004-13) a formulaic police show which was hugely successful and did introduce this magnificent song to a new generation. Big Neil Young fan too and I appreciate Pete Townsend joking tribute. He loves the guy too. Really nice video thank you
Can't resist mentioning that a close friend of mine, Dewar McLeod, recently published a detailed account of the "Tommy" saga: "Tommy, Trauma, and Postwar Youth Culture." Dewar's a history prof who's written a lot on popular culture, but this book also has a strong personal thread -- Tommy was the first album he ever bought and it changed his life.
Sounds like a good book. Wish it was on Audible or Kindle. I'm disabled and can't read a handheld book very easily.
Pete Townsend’s”WON’T GET FOOLED AGAIN “ a ROCK Masterpiece ! I must say one of the best ever written.TheWhoRocks!!!Thank You Otis! You’re The Man brother!
There is a great video on TH-cam called Neil Young goes record shopping, finds his own bootlegs (1972). It’s worth the watch.
That’s a great video! The clerk’s reaction when Neil tells him he’s gonna take the record without paying for it because “it’s MY music..” and the ensuing call to the record store owner are priceless.
The Who is my favorite band. It’s so hard to pick a favorite. I seem to love them all. But it’s interesting how different time periods sound great in their own way. Like the Pictures of Lily era or the Who’s Next era or the Kenny Jones era. All great music to me. Thanks for posting this video.
I can understand many artists/musicians being wary of their work becoming "product" to hawk some one else's wares. But there are some films where a cleverly curated list of songs both serves the film and reaches a newer audience, eg. Goodfellas, Apocalypse Now. Even the Marvel films have been astute in finding great songs for some of the more memorable moments. Watching the film "Arkansas" turned me onto The Flaming Lips.
"Behind Blue Eyes" is a big fave.
It's very hard for me to just make a short list of favourite Who songs but basically mono mixes of the early singles, the 1968 Who outtake Melancholia, live Who recordings from '68 - '78, all of Quadrophenia, Imagine a Man and the early 80's outtake It's In You. I also listen to Pete's Who demos on a regular basis. The early 70's Who's Next/ Lifehouse demos are especially phenomenal and in a lot of cases his demos for Face Dances are better or at least rawer than their Who versions.
Fave Townshend/ Who song: Bargain. It hits like a desperate plea for redemption from a lost soul. It also has one of the most beautiful bridges ever put on record. Yes, it is my desert island Who song!
I agree Ryan, and I've always loved the way Keith Moon wouldn't let the song end, he just keeps playing!
'Bargain' is my favorite, too. I loved 'Who's Next' immediately when I heard it in 1971. I didn't have a record player back then, but two years later I got my driver's license and my dad gave me a van. I put an 8-track player in the van and 'Who's Next' was the first recording that I ever bought. In another couple of years, I went to college and got introduced to good stereo systems and weed. I transcended to another plane of consciousness during the first time that I listened to Bargain through a good stereo and Sennheiser headphones while high on good reef. I've never come back to the previous level. Every time I listen to 'Bargain', I can get right back into that moment. In all music of all ages and all genres, my favorite passage is the coda of 'Bargain', starting at about 4:00. Crank it up!
Thanks for the pointer to Rough Mix. Gorgeous album!
Volkswagen tv advert where the main memorable component is Nick Drake’s song Pink Moon exposed his unique creative vision to many millions of listeners who never would have enjoyed his music otherwise. P.S. Thanks for your vid’s; they’re great!✌🏽
What's your favorite Pete Townshend/The Who song? Did you ever get to see him live?
My favorite is the album Pete made with Ronnie Lane called Rough Mix. Out of all the record releases of the 70's Rough Mix is still in my top 10. It has always been the best sounding record to this day. Glyn Johns (the producer of Zep,Stones, Eagles ect..) says in his book, it remains to this day, the production he's most proud of.
A Quick One While He's Away. Everything great about the Who in one song.
Run run run is another great song on that album……so many great Who songs some of my favourites “bargain” “I’m one” “the seeker” ” “the real me” but if I could only pick one it has to be “won’t get fooled again”
@@dugfalsetti9448 I love the Rough Mix album. My introduction to the wonderful music of Ronnie Lane as well.
I saw the Who four times, including last year. Still put on a great show. It will probably be my final concert since it's just too much of a hassle to go to shows anymore.
Otis, I loved this. So much of it hit me right where I live. There was no one to turn me on to the Who. I discovered them in junior high via the Who's Greatest Hits, the one with the Union Jack on the cover. The perfect album for teen angst, plus it was my secret. Won't Get Fooled Again still sticks with me. Thanks for the message in a bottle.
Neil Young did allow 'Old Man' to be used in the movie 'Wonder Boys'. Great song and great movie too.
I think Dylan won an Oscar for best song in the Wonder Boys
@@davidkareus8167 yes he did for 'Things Have Changed' 🙂
Love both Neil and Pete. If you wrote the song and still own it do whatever you want with it. Thanks for the very good content. New subscriber here. Thanks
One of the highlights of my life was hearing Pete Townshend talk in admiring terms about a song I wrote that was used in a fan tribute about his novella “The Boy Who Heard Music.” It happened during an episode of the web chat show “In The Attic” on my birthday around 2006. He and I met a few times after that and he even did business with the company I worked for. He’s a wonderful man. He is so great with fans of his music.
Hi OTIS, I look at it both ways and love that Neil Young keeps his music out of movies , how ever he has done sound tracks to some like western with Johnny Depp and Dylan movie also the whole after the gold rush was a sound track music for a movie that never made it for the public, he also used his music in his own movies. Young said he will never use his music in commercials. I respect his right to not let just anyone use his stuff , unless he gives folks the ok.
Harold and Maude is a great example of an artist's body of work playing a crucial role in the film. Cat Stevens music reverberated with the soul of the film in a way that elevated both.
peace
Cat Steven's music should NEVER be played Today. He is a terrorist supporter. I used to love his stuff
I was in college when Tommy came out and really got into it - would listen to it on headphones at the student center. I was so great to see them do it at Woodstock. Also, I saw them a couple of years ago and they had some orchestration with them - the Tommy parts were very much like the album. ❤
TOMMY is still my favorite rock opera. I think it kind of started the genre of "Rock Opera."
I heard Pinball Wizard when I was 8 years old and loved the sound. Inspired me to learn to play. Got to stand in front of him a few years ago and tell him what an inspiration he has been in my life.
Otis, it was a good thing you said there about making key changes not noticeable in a song, where you're just along for the ride. Good idea and good example of that idea.
I saw The Clash open 'Combat Rock' for The Who at Candlestick Park in 1980. Their first encore brought the house down when Roger Daltry and Pete Townshend blasted into "Well shake it up, baby ... Twist and Shout" - needless to say, the crowd went wild.
1982 and they didn't play Candlestick park
Saw that tour at Shea Stadium, incredible show
Yes ‘82, I still have the Union Jack bandanna from the show
@@MikeHunt90731Oakland Colosium, I was there!
I started with a Sony reel-to-reel that was capable of sound-on-sound recording. It was a real hoot. I graduated to a Tascam 244 Portastudio, then many moons later I entered the world of Pro Tools. There are few things (if any) that are more fun than building a musical idea with access to almost unlimited tracks. I won’t waste time arguing about analog versus digital. The fact that I actually finish something that sounds pretty good is all that matters to me. Thanks, Otis, for the look back at where we start.
Martin Scorcese made a lot of movies with music he chose personoally and was hearing when he imagined the scene. (He was once roomates with Robbie Robertson so that's likely to change your worldview about music.) Music can be a character in a film as you said about the Graduate, Scorcese used it effectively in that way. There are also very shallow uses of music, naturally, but that doesn't detract from the really great applications.
I think the Scorsese->Tarantino style has become so overused it’s lost its power
Neil Youngs Harvest Moon is played in A Quiet Place, so he must have aloud that one I guess. Perfect too. It absolutely just breaks the tension of the movie at the right time. It made me recall what a beautiful song it is and rediscover the album...Beautiful . Thanks for the great post too thanks
It's also used in Eat, Pray, Love
I would think that the TV show that had the biggest impact on The Who revival was the CSI series of programs.
There may be other shows, but those ones are still widely watched, enough so during the shutdowns that it led to a revival of the original series.
Eminence front is my favorite. Love the build up of each musical instrument adding color or weight to each section. It’s so mesmerizing. I like working to this piece ; creates a deep focus zone.
So enjoyed this reading of yours. Just found you!
Reading other comments and I totally forgot Magic Bus! Had started art school and met a nice guy on the bus. Wow, forgot about those days!
Oh yeah, I haven't heard Magic Bus in so long. Gotta listen to it right now.
Reign O’er Me, and Slit Skirts are my favorite Who songs…
How cool to hear that Pete appreciates “Freaks and Geeks”, in my mind maybe the best network TV comedy ever! It managed to avoid all the stupid cliches common in all movies and series involving high school kids. Singer Maria McKee, a big fan of the show, credits it with changing her negative opinion about the Dead that she shared with most musicians in the LA punk scene, thanks to the last couple episodes where Lindsay tires of her dead-end friends, and impulsively jumps in the bus with her new Dead-head friends.
The dead suck
@@johncummins6655You might not like the Dead, but they are good musicians.
I started with a kmart cassette recorder in 1970. By 1974 me and some buddies went in together and got a used Dokorder 4-track reel to reel. We loved that thing.
My 2 fave Who LPs: Live at Leeds and Who by Numbers. Solo Pete: the 4 LPS between 1977 and 1985 are so good- Simon Phillips on drums; the studio bands always great (Pino, Tony Butler, Phil Chen, Chucho Merchan, Mark Brzezicki, Jody Linscott- even Gilmour!)
"Sleeping Dog", "Jools & Jim", "Empty Glass" ... his demos of "Cache Cache" etc. - anytime you have just Pete & a guitar it is magic. And agreed "Strangers" may be the best Kinks song, period.
The talk about Otis helping a friend with a commercial jingle reminded me of a great song and subsequent movie. I brought the kiddo there recently and got a few pictures in front of the cafe that stands there today.
neil's expecting to fly was used very appropriately in coming home 1978
Otis have you heard Bowie's cover of 'Pictures of Lily'? I think it's worth a listen.
My favorite Who album is Who's Next, favorite song is 'Won't Get Fooled Again'. But there are so many! 'My Wife' from John Entwhistle is some superb dark humor too. I often thought of it with a couple of the guys I was with, maybe following in her footsteps lol.
That was around the time I quit dating musicians. I should have known better, being one myself. But no...
I saw The Who in Memphis at the Mid-South Coliseum, early 70s. Pete was wearing the white jumpsuit, playing the red SG, bouncing all over the place until he collapsed the front of the stage and came within a whisker of falling on top of me. He settled down a bit after that. A bit.
When the French horns open up on Pictures of Lilly always a fav. Thanks Otis for your 9' Problem song its great
PT has always been one of my fav guitar players/ songwriter/ performer.
Also, I liked your thoughts on songwriting and revisiting old material.
My group of friends felt we hit a high note with release of the Who’s, Who’s Next. I also enjoyed Squeeze Box, Magic Bus, and Eminence Front. I was always listening for the sound of Keith Moon when I listened to the Who. John Entwistle’s contribution to bass playing should never be forgotten.
Bob, l sat a few feet from them when they played at a small venue in Liverpool 1971 . They were trying out most of the tracks from ‘Who’s Next’ before going on a major tour. The album hadn’t even been released. Ears were totally blasted , but probably the best concert that l ever attended ..
@@lthompson7625 that sounds fantastic! Very cool memory. Thanks for sharing!
@@wittry2 It gets more memorable Bob. Near the end of the concert the crowd were shouting out for them to play a popular Who live song at the time, ‘ Water’. Keith Moon had a bucket of water near his drum kit. He picked it up and threw it over all of us sitting on the floor near the stage! Claim to fame, Keith Moon drenched me😃
@@lthompson7625 you got Mooned! Great story! Thanks!
Pictures of Lily! Too many to choose from! LOVE Pete! Thank you!❤
I saw the WHO live in 1982 and Roger Daltrey and band about 4 years ago. Both fantastic shows! Love Pete's solo stuff too! My baby gives it away a fave
That collaboration album with Ronnie Lane, "Rough Mix", has some charm.
@@Playbyplaymedia Some charm? Really? It's a great album with a stellar lineup.
@@mattrogers1946 It didn't sell that well, so many people didn't hear it at all. With all the choices to listen to, I still endorse it. Not good enough? Write a review.
Pete Townshend was my entry into listening to music and I am still in love with his songs, playing, and The Who. He is the real deal and works hard. I love that Pete has always wanted the listener to find their own meaning in the music so that it something dear to the listener. Neil Young sold his catalog to BlackRock; that's his value system.
When Quadraphenia came out, a friend bought 4 Bose speakers, each on a stand. We put that album on and cranked it
You offer lots of wonderful insights here Otis. Thanks. Enriched my day. BTW, my favorite who era is slightly later than yours. Think, “your guitar and your pen.“
My all-time favorite song is "Pure and Easy" (The Who).
Yes, for sure. What about Let’s See Action?
I love that song, too. I prefer Pete's solo version on 'Who Came First'.
Talking about Pete Townsend and The Who I'd have to mention Live At Leeds! Absolutely perfect live rock album played with gusto and love in front of an appreciative audience. What more can you ask for?
Today is the anniversary of the release of Live at Leeds! Tuesday, May 16 1970. OUCH!
Yeah, I wore that album out when I was 18, "Magic Bus"
I remember a friend of mine invited me to listen to "Who's Next? in his brothers fiat on cassette. First time I heard it. I think it was 1973. What a classic!
So I'm a huge Townshend fan , pound for pound my favorite acoustic guitar player . His rythym hand and chord vocabulary is second to none..
Now Neil Young grew up ten miles up the road I'm sittin on. I happen to revere the man and so does anybody that lives here
Otis ,the "Happy Jack" commercial you were thinking of was for the Hummer Vehicle of all things. 😂
"Won't Get Fooled Again" is the greatest rock song in history on the greatest rock album in history form the greatest Rock Group in history. (in my HUMBLE opinion).
Loved this. Big Who fan and fan of Pete. Could, and have .. literally could listen to Pete just talk about music in interviews all day.. Have his biography in audiobook form, and love to hear him read it. So interesting to hear him talk, and talk about how his and other’s music is used in film and tv. Freaks and Geeks is a great example of some of the best uses of Pete’s songs in media. Perfectly used. But i do also respect Neil Young’s decision to not let his songs be used in other media.
My favorite song by the The Who is Substitute without a doubt. I especially like the Live At Leeds version. "The north side of my town faced east, and the east was facing south."
Have you seen the video from Monterey? Keith Moon's stick trick is thrilling!
I also love the song Substitute. The lyrics are so clever! A very young Pete Townshend writing lyrics like "Substitute you for my mum... At least I'll get my washing done!" Ha ha. Good one Pete!
One of the things that made me a lifelong Who fan is that a lot of their songs have a good dose of humour in them. I love to laugh and I love intense music - so The Who are at the top of the tops for me! I can remember my dad walking around singing "creepy crawley, creepy, creepy, crawley, crawley, creepy, creepy, crawley, crawley" and that memory still to this day warms my heart! Another wonderful memory is of my little 12-year old brother playing Tommy - all the way through - on the piano - very impressive I can tell you!
I respect Neil Youngs decisions. I think we all should. Since "This notes for you"..he does NOT want his art used by others for applications he does have some control over it. I can respect that. If we loose our best achievements to commecial use..what is left? I really want to know a solid answer.
Thanks for your show that’s always enlightening! I love The Who and Pete and I love Neil Young’s choices. Also, there’s something wonderful I heard in the sea recently about just plain and simple. He doesn’t have to do anything anymore that he doesn’t want to do in essence he said I’ve bought my freedom which is a wonderful place to be, and I imagine as an artist, of course, either way I’m glad I was alive during both of those guys arc of work because some of the crap that is called music today. I just can’t tap my foot or rock my soul with so thanks for my time and thanks for all guys still putting it out .
I'm sorry, but you heard something of interest in the sea? What is meant by the sea?
Sorry again. Who or what are plain and simple. I'm having a rough day. Thank you.
I’m sorry that was a typo something of interest in the show I enjoyed the interviews I’ve seen ofNeil lately
@Scott Salter Gotcha. Thank you my friend.
Cohen Bros. "Raising Arizona" soundtrack was cool as hell. I forget who the artist was. Of course the soundtrack for the ground breaking film "American Graffiti was epic!
Great video!
Picking a favorite song by The Who is vitually impossible; I can not do it. "Who Came First" is my favorite Pete Townshend album. "Who's Next" was my favorite album by The Who for many years, but I think "Quadrophenia" was The Who at the peak of their prowess, and it has proved to be my favorite over the long haul.
I'm really fond of Rough Mix with Ronnie Lane. Quadrophenia is a masterpiece!
@mattrogers1946 Ronnie Lane joins Pete on "Who Came First." He is featured on "Evolution."
@Matt Powell I've owned that album since the 70s...
How about you?
@@mattrogers1946 Yes, same.
Avatar Meher Baba ki Jai ❤
TV show CSI: Miami intro theme is “Won’t get fooled again” every week in the Eighties. Now in syndication the song lives on. One of my favorite Who songs.
Fun to find your Melancholy album on ut music. Thanks for calling it out. The backstory adds a lot of context to the listening.
Quadrophenia has been one of my favorite Who records since I was a kid. Back then I did a lot of drawing in my room and always had music playing. One day I put that that record on and went on a journey with John Entwhislte and Keith Moon for about two months that took me to the depths those instruments can reach and made me fully understand why bass and drums are so important to rock music and in particular to Pete’s incredible songwriting and storytelling.
To really listen to that one you need to listen front to back with headphones. It’s a double album that begins with various melodic themes and faint voices from the record fading in and out with the wind and the sea and the seagulls all competing for your ear… and then suddenly it explodes into The Real Me and off you go into post-war Britian, the heyday of the mods and the rockers and artists like the Who inventing the sound of rock and roll.
White jumpsuit, Gibson SG, the best! Naked Eye is one of my favorites. The Seeker is another. All of Quadrophenia. Also, A Quick One from Rolling Stone rock and roll circus shows a band at the top of their game. Live at Leeds, Live at the Isle of Wight, Who's Next! Saw Pete solo twice, and lost count at around 24 times for The Who. My favorite Band.
You’re are talking about the tune from Odds and Sods, unless it’s on another lp somewhere. Love that lp and I can hear the refrain ‘But it doesn’t really happen that way at all…’. That tune and Golden Girl which evolved into Tommy. Great rock and roll airplane crash song.