xp Yep, they were recording the backing vocals, but Moon kept fucking up (he sang backup on records a surprising number of times), so they made him sit out of sight in the control room. After they finally got through a take, he popped his head up, and then down again. Hence the "I saw ya!"
― And Romney doesn't know what day it is... (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 20:04 (thirteen years ago)
lol
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 20:05 (thirteen years ago)
"Happy Jack" is something that would never fly these days, sort of like the Fugs "Dirty Old Man". So odd that a song about an old pervert would be a hit single. Great melody/buildup though! Terrific drumming, this is the kind of music Moon was made to play.
― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 20:13 (thirteen years ago)
The burglars video for Happy Jack is pretty good as wellhttp://www.youtu.be/52cQeFBU2Kw
― Emeritus Professor of LOLology (snoball), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 20:17 (thirteen years ago)
Beginning to lose hope that I Don't Mind will chart. It's all about the solo and the stabbing "I know, yes I know" bit
― Dr X O'Skeleton, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 20:28 (thirteen years ago)
I kinda love the Hospitals' cover of "Happy Jack", which is the Who single with drums and distorted vocals on top of it. It's fantastic.
― Three Word Username, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 20:38 (thirteen years ago)
14. "Magic Bus" (single, 1968) 14 votes, 301 points (289 points studio, 62 points Leeds, 33 points Stockholm, 8/23/72)http://powerlinead.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/the-who-1968.jpghttp://youtu.be/UKMn3Ip4y6s
― And Romney doesn't know what day it is... (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 20:41 (thirteen years ago)
yeeeeesssss magic bus rules
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 20:44 (thirteen years ago)
xxpost Bruneau -- really? I didn't think Happy Jack was about a pervert? I don't even get a creepy vibe from that song. It's just about a weird old man who sleeps on the beach that the kids make fun of. Unless I'm totally wrong.
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 20:47 (thirteen years ago)
Yeah, that was my impression too (weird old dude, not a pervert). Townshend generally left the pervert portraiture to Entwistle.
― And Romney doesn't know what day it is... (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 20:50 (thirteen years ago)
On second thought I think you two are right. Haven't read the lyrics in a while, and it's something i apparently read too much into when that gossip about Townshend hit the news.
― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 20:53 (thirteen years ago)
it's no Aqualung, that's for sure
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 20:55 (thirteen years ago)
:)
I'm also going with the 'weird old dude' interpretation. I never got a 'pervert' vibe from the song at all.
― Emeritus Professor of LOLology (snoball), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 20:56 (thirteen years ago)
Anyways i love the orchestral drums here, and the music video is ace. Had no idea it was filmed for a Monkees-like TV show that never happened.
― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 20:57 (thirteen years ago)
xxxp never thought Aqualung was about a pervert either - the lyrics that imply the character is a pervert I thought were assumptions made by a second narrator.
― Emeritus Professor of LOLology (snoball), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 20:57 (thirteen years ago)
Glad "Happy Jack" placed high. Wasn't sure if it was considered an annoying novelty--thought it might even make the worst list.
― clemenza, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 20:58 (thirteen years ago)
The Who's novelty songs were always better than anyone else's.
― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 21:00 (thirteen years ago)
The original US cover for A Quick One highlighted the inclusion of "Happy Jack" more prominently than the album title, due to it being a top-40 hit.
Also, let's not forget about this much early "Tommy"-related pinball machine than the one pictured above, from 1975:
http://www.thewho.info/images/75Wizard-Who.jpg
http://spyhunter007.com/Images/wizard_bally_pinball_1975.jpg
― the evolution will not be televised (Lee626), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 21:05 (thirteen years ago)
early = earlier
― the evolution will not be televised (Lee626), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 21:07 (thirteen years ago)
feeling all the bumpers, indeed....
― the evolution will not be televised (Lee626), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 21:08 (thirteen years ago)
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 21:11 (thirteen years ago)
I've never gotten the love for "Magic Bus"... even as tight and awesome as it was, the original 6-song Live at Leeds had a big ol' 7:30 chunk of filler at the end.
― Irwin Dante's Towering Inferno (WmC), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 21:18 (thirteen years ago)
duuuuuuuuuuuude
seriously?
Live at Leeds Magic Bus is like my Top 3 Who tracks. That jam at the end is awesome!!!
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 21:20 (thirteen years ago)
Dudes i have that wizard pinball machine on my porch!
― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 21:23 (thirteen years ago)
I just realized....wow. It's in dreadful condition (belongs to the landlord) but i never thought it was an official Tommy machine. Oh boy that is awesome.
― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 21:24 (thirteen years ago)
can you post a pic?
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 21:30 (thirteen years ago)
magic bus is sooo dope.
― Hungry4Ass, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 21:30 (thirteen years ago)
I remember the arcade i went to when i was a kid had it, but can't remember if i played it
― the evolution will not be televised (Lee626), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 21:30 (thirteen years ago)
I WAAAANT ITI WAAAANT IT
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 21:31 (thirteen years ago)
lol, it takes all kinds! And I'm just one of the kinds.
― Irwin Dante's Towering Inferno (WmC), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 21:33 (thirteen years ago)
i wish i could hear magic bus (or any who song) for the first time again
― Hungry4Ass, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 21:37 (thirteen years ago)
otm, how awesome would that be
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 21:38 (thirteen years ago)
there's another, better Tommy pinball game fwiw
― stop swearing and start windmilling (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 21:44 (thirteen years ago)
Just remembered something, not sure if it's been mentioned yet or not. One of my favourite (relatively) early record reviews is the one Pete Townshend wrote in Rolling Stone for Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy. I think that's where I saw him mention that "Pinball Wizard" was written for Nik Cohn in an effort to get him to like the Who better--Cohn was a big pinball player.
― clemenza, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 21:53 (thirteen years ago)
Remember that weird backwards bit on the vinyl edition of the Live At Leeds "Magic Bus"?
― Faster than food (Myonga Vön Bontee), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 21:55 (thirteen years ago)
xp - i don't think Tommy was to even be a pinball player before Nik Cohn was critical of an early draft
― the evolution will not be televised (Lee626), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 21:58 (thirteen years ago)
Yes, just double-checked--it wasn't that he was down on the Who in general: "a ploy to get Nik Cohn...to be a little more receptive to my plans to write a Rock Opera." Pete spells it "Nick."
― clemenza, Tuesday, 11 September 2012 22:08 (thirteen years ago)
sorry for the delay...
― And Romney doesn't know what day it is... (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 22:19 (thirteen years ago)
13. "Tattoo" (The Who Sell Out, 1967) 13 votes, 312 points, two #1 voteshttp://www.rosshalfin.com/diary/february-2008/who-tattoo.jpghttp://youtu.be/XO20hw41N2Y
This was my number one. I'm pretty sure they played it in 2006(?) when i saw them, which made my effing day. A lovely, silly, dramatic, beautiful, aching, and funny song!
― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 22:23 (thirteen years ago)
I like how it could be a parody on people that think tattoos are cool, but it's also a love song to them.
― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 22:24 (thirteen years ago)
So prominently that Decca re-titled the album:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51xtlaadPnL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
― And Romney doesn't know what day it is... (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 22:25 (thirteen years ago)
My copy, still quite old, looks like this:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BvRc-bawld0/R_9aztx7GbI/AAAAAAAAAY0/IB3BKyYQSRc/s320/HPYJCK01%2B-%2BFront.jpg
― the evolution will not be televised (Lee626), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 22:28 (thirteen years ago)
I was on my phone while the results were coming out over the weekend so I couldn't check out all the youtube links til now -- Tarfumes this stuff is all gold
LOVE that Relay performance
and Weller & Pete trying to rehearse Sunrise was fking killer. It's kind of, reassuring, that the rehearsal process is pretty much the same for genius legends as it is for normies
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 22:37 (thirteen years ago)
Yeah, that "Relay" is so great. And for all the talk (usually from those drummers who value technical facility above all else) of Moon being "sloppy" or "just an apeshit drummer," HE'S the one that keeps it all together, not just keeping time with the tape, but taking far more chances than he did on the record.
― And Romney doesn't know what day it is... (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 22:51 (thirteen years ago)
And for anyone who wants to hear the live "Magic Bus" referenced in the results above, e-mail me for the s3ndsp4c3 link.
I can say without hyperbole that it's the most absurdly explosive Who performance ever in the history of everything ever.
― And Romney doesn't know what day it is... (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 22:53 (thirteen years ago)
Never knew until now that "Happy Jack" wasn't really on A Quick One. Likewise, never even knew the Who covered "Heat Wave" until recently, since that was deleted to make room for Happy Jack on the LP. Eventually both songs were included on US albums.
― the evolution will not be televised (Lee626), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 23:02 (thirteen years ago)
Yours looks like the first US CD issue...correct? I think the first time the title A Quick One was used for the US market, it was on the twofer dealie:http://www.spirit-of-rock.com/les%20goupes/T/The%20Who/A%20Quick%20One%20-%20The%20Who%20Sell%20Out/A%20Quick%20One%20-%20The%20Who%20Sell%20Out.jpg
― And Romney doesn't know what day it is... (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 23:03 (thirteen years ago)
nope, it's an LP, i thought from the '70s but maybe '80s. A single LP, not the two-fer
― the evolution will not be televised (Lee626), Tuesday, 11 September 2012 23:10 (thirteen years ago)