Music from the 60's and 70's, that rocked our world!: The Who on the Smothers Brothers Show 1967

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

The Who on the Smothers Brothers Show 1967

"I Can See for Miles" is a song written by Pete Townshend of The Who, recorded for the band's 1967 album, The Who Sell Out. Pete Townshend considers this the best song he ever wrote. Townshend wrote this shortly after meeting his future wife Karen. It was a reminder that even though he was on the road, he could still keep an eye on her from miles away.

"My Generation", Roger Daltrey sang the lead vocals with a stutter, which was very unusual. After recording two takes of the song normally, their manager Kit Lambert suggested to Daltrey that he stutter to sound like a British kid on speed.

Pete Townshend said "'My Generation' was very much about trying to find a place in society. I was very, very lost. The band was young then. It was believed that its career would be incredibly brief."

Townshend wrote this for rebellious British youths known as "Mods." It expressed their feeling that older people just don't get it.

This contains the famous line, "I hope I die before I get old." Who drummer Keith Moon did, dying of a drug overdose in 1978.

This featured one of the first bass solos in Rock history.

In September 1967, The Who performed this on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Moon set his drums to explode after the performance, but the technical crew had already done so. The resulting explosion burned Townshend's hair and permanently damaged his hearing.

Studio album by The Who
Released:15 December 1967
Recorded: May – November 1967, Talentmasters Studios, New York City, New York
IBC Studios, Pye Studios, De Lane Lea Studios, CBS Studios, and Kingsway Studios, London, England: Gold Star Studios, Los Angeles, California
Genre: Rock, psychedelic rock, art rock
Length: 37:23
Label: Track
Producer: Kit Lambert

5 comments:

Paul 2 said...: Dawn, what you can't see is off stage is Bette Davis fainting, and Mickey Rooney jumping up and down with glee. This sure freaked people out, and BTW that's not Tommy's real Guild guitar that Pete smashed. Thanks for posting this, it's epic; February 1, 2012 at 10:38 AM
Dawn said...: Say what...Bette Davis fainting, and Mickey Rooney jumping up and down with glee!!

Your welcome, I enjoyed it very much. :); February 1, 2012 at 5:13 PM
Paul 2 said...: Thats right, according to the "liner notes" from the Smothers Bros DVD set. Remember I used this a question at Trivia Time.; February 1, 2012 at 7:44 PM
Dawn said...: Ooooh yeah.. I do remember. I also remember that I did not get that one right.
:(; February 2, 2012 at 10:34 AM
Paul 2 said...: I think I gave you half credit.; February 2, 2012 at 10:42 AM

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