It sounded pretty lame when heard through those tinny little transistor speakers - nearly all John's thunderous bass was lost, and much of the drumming as well. Listening to it on a proper stereo system for the first time was a revelation!
When I bought my first real stereo equipment, one of the first albums I bought was Meaty Beaty Big And Bouncy and was amazed how much better it sounded.
This track was way before Baba O'Reilly, written in 1965 and released as a single in March 1966 reaching No5 in the UK charts. Pete Townshend was becoming an accomplished songwriter by this time and it showed with this track that they werre going to be a force to be reckoned with for years to come. Check out I Can See For Miles from only a year later and you'll see the progress they were making to establish themselves as a much harder sounding unit. Loving your reactions as usual guys, great to see you're still getting turned on to what we oldies were listening to in the sixties, loving every minute..
The Who formed in London in 1962. This was their 5th single, released in 1966. the previous 4 were Zoot Suit, 1964- I Can't Explain, 1964- Anyway Anyhow Anywhere, 1965 & My Generation, 1965. They had 4 Album releases in the 60's as well as 2 compilation albums, one in north America and one in the UK. Who's next was their 2nd album of the 70's after Live At Leeds.
This song was released in 1966. I enjoy their entire catalogue but most of what they did from "Tommy" til Keith Moon died was amazing next level music!
Baba Orielly, Bargain, Behind Blue Eyes, Going Mobile, My Wife (hilarious song about John Entwistle's wife that kind of came true), Won't get fooled again and other songs are from Who's Next album. I think their biggest Albums are (Tommy Rock Opera Double album 1969 - Pinball Wizard from this), Who's Next (1971) and Quadrophenia (Rock Opera sort of - double album with The Real Me, 5:15, Lover reign Over Me 1973). Substitute, from 1966 I think. Tommy actually got them invited to classical music venues. Here is one for my age. In 1969 my music teacher in Junior High (middle school) had us listen to the entire Tommy album over 2 classes. Yes, I am old.
The basis of the Who sound was the manic drumming of Keith Moon and the driving bass of Jon Entwhistle - just brilliant. I was lucky enough to see this number performed live as part of the Live at Leeds set. I think you can just hear me clapping on the record.
FYI Bassist, John Entwistle was actually the “Lead Guitarist” of the band. Just listen to the bass throughout “Substitute”. “Substitute” was released in 1966.
Substitute was recorded in Feb 1966, years before Baba O’Riley. Musically, ahead of it’s time, especially the drumming of Keith Moon which is absolutely stunning.
If you enjoy their early humor, give "Boris The Spider" a try - written by bass player John Entwistle. Their best live performance (of a great song) is probably "Young Man Blues" at the Isle of Wight from 1970 - Entwistle's in his skeleton suit, and Keith and Pete have such great interaction during the song.
This is one of my favorite early Who songs!! The song is pretty progressive for 1966. Entwistle on the bass is just ripping the strings apart. Go back and give it another listen and focus on the bass, "Thunderfingers" is killing it!!! Great reaction guys!!! May I suggest a live Who reaction to 'A Quick One' from the Rolling Stones concert show "Rock and Roll Circus" where the Who are at full energy!! They steal the show!!! Mind blowing performance!!!
Thank you for doing one of my Dad’s favourites. I can still remember this blasting on the cd player as he sang the “substitute” part when I was a little girl. He passed away 2 years ago this June ❤
One of their first hits that they always played when I saw them, usually right after Can't Explain that often opened their live shows. Nice tune and a sample of what's to come. What you guys REALLY need to hear next from them is Live at Leeds, their great live album, do the My Generation jam off it for some of their very best live work, it is goosebump inducing for sure! Enjoy. 🎵🎸🎤🎸🎹🎶
The Who’s catalog really splits between pre Tommy and post Tommy, this song is a real highlight of their earlier product, really aimed at the young “Mods”, who were changing fashion and music tastes and trends. ✌️
Keith Moon was into amphetamines at this time and was so pilled up on the session he couldn't remember doing it and accused the band of hiring another drummer behind his back. They pointed out that it had to be him because there was no other drummer in the world that screamed in the middle of a take.
The line Amber mentioned was removed and replaced from the 45 single shortly after it was originally released because of the concern it was too controversial.
In the US, the line "I look all white but my dad was black" was re-recorded as "I try walking forward but my feet walk back." Their record company feared any reference to race would keep it off US radio.
Ok, now that you are on early Who - one of my favorites - you've got I Can See for Miles, Boris the Spider, Pictures of Lily, The Kids are Alright, I Can't Explain, and Happy Jack. Can't go wrong.
60s Who is the absolute best of The Who. I suggest when you do their early stuff, if available do their videos because part of the Who magic is also visuals..especially 60s Who.
I totally agree, the 60’s stuff is my favourite too and watching them perform (even when miming on Ready, Steady, Go) takes the performance to another level. My Uncle saw them live in a relatively small venue in the West of Scotland in the late 60’s or early 70’s. He said it seemed as though one minute Roger Daltry was next him at the bar then just a few minutes later, he was walking on the stage swinging his mic in great loops before throwing it into the air, catching it and going straight into the first song…by the time I heard this story around twenty years later, the venue was a snooker hall and unimaginable as a music venue.
I love everything by The Who but it’s great starting with the early years and tracing their growth. I would follow this with I Can’t Explain and then the song that made them legends & defined a generation, My Generation.
I'll try you. I'm waiting towards the country CO UN TRY I grew up with the 1 on 1 and a 1/2. I was German encounter but I've listened opposition to lots of rock and roll. And I do like to ride on the magic bro sometimes. Magic bus by the who I lock it
My four all-time favorite bands are the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, the Who and the Jimi Hendrix Experience. From pre British Invasion it was the Coasters and the Drifters
Substitute, I'm thinking that this is AKIR and my kick. Kaya seek question, kicker or something like that. In a remember substitute, take you used to give a bad way to go question Markand then what happened? A little bit later in love. You met some girl woman, whatever I nitraded you like a substitute. Why are you traded that sudden? To take a picture, everything stop and think. Maybe i've got a carma k a r m I kick k I c k question mark
I've been listening to Eminem country all my life, but I've been burning it out here lately. I've been getting Archer ma HAL LB. I. L l y my hillbilly i've been getting it out
Blake shelton bay l a I k e blake shelton I'm terry sidkins together they did a video with the hell belly bob Mike shelton tree adkins I do that he'll meet little get your helmet going
I forgot that brother has Blue Bird. What's tlet's see, that's hillbilly? Let's bike Shelton and try Simpkins together. But it's a helmet HR L LLB ILLY hillbilly bone BIYNA. Get the hill billy bone brother
Didn't mean to leave out the girls. The Ronettes, Martha and the Vandellas. To this day Ronnie Spector ( Veronica Bennett) is my favorite female voice, 2nd favorite, Amy Winehouse
The lyrics are pretty deep, especially for the time - they deal quite a bit with surface status (a British lower middle-class Eminence Front, if you will), and what we would now refer to as Imposter Syndrome: feeling like a phony. Townshend always had his finger on the pulse of the insecure teen audience throughout so much of The Who's early days, in particular.
Keith was always fabulous, John drove the songs for sure. The two leaders were just figuring it out at this time. Roger grew amazingly over the next few years. Pete's songwriting and was just at the start of the journey as was his playing. Already stars though!
An absolute classic from the band's early days! (1966, an entire career before "Baba O'Reilly"/"Behind Blue Eyes"/"Won't Get Fooled Again" and the rest of the 1971 album "Who's Next") Often used as a concert-opener, along with "I Can't Explain", from the same era. (I knew you'd like the line about how he's "passing", as they said back then.) "I Can't Explain" would make a fine reaction, as would "The Real Me" from "Quadrophrenia". (I know you're scared to tackle the "rock opera" albums, "Tommy" and "Quadrophrenia" because you think the songs are too connected to the overall narrative, but they work on their own, honestly. "The Real Me" is the opener, so that would show you what you're in for.) Or you could do more of the key pieces from the "Who's Next" era, such as "Pure and Easy" or "Naked Eye" (especially live for that one). Or, since you dug the Dirty Mac at that "Rolling Stones Rock & Roll Circus" TV show, why not watch the Who blow everyone off the stage at that show with their AMAZING performance of "A Quick One (While He's Away)"? And, as I haven't made enough suggestions yet (sorry!), how about two bands you haven't hit yet? Try some Quicksilver Messenger Service with "What About Me?" or "The Truth". Or go wild with Pavlov's Dog doing "Natchez Trace" or "Did You See Him Cry?". (Some nice connections to bands you already know, but I will save those for when you do QMS or the Dog. [/tease].)
I'm saying that you know for a lot of people started out when I traded our subs to take teacher terrible, you know I had that substitute teacher and I traded there a mcdart in the I am feel like a substitute and then later on and off what I call it's AK are MI karma kick K Ic. K Somebody give them that of substitutes, I gotta call my kick. I gotta kick like a news sometimes around question mark😅😅😅😅😅😅
I'm sure others must have mentioned this, but Keith Moon was so much fun to listen to back in those days. He's killing it on this track. Such a great drummer.
I heard this song ages and ages ago on a Who greatest hits tape and didn’t think that much of it. But now I like it a lot more hearing it again after all these years. Thanks.
Well, it's cool you're reacting to earlier Who! I came to this song when I was a kid and I bought the Who's compilation album "Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy", thinking it was the follow-up to "Who's Next", my first Who album. This song was on it, and another song that should be your next early Who song to check out, and that's "My Generation". I don't think you've done that one before...
You should check out a Who live performance. Especially around 1969 to 1970, The Who were an absolutely incredible powerhouse and at the peak of their powers in those years.. Nobody else was as loud, dynamic and exciting live as The Who live. Way more dynamic than most of these studio singles. This is a good one. The Who - Young Man Blues, Isle of Wight 1970
Well, earlier today I was listening to "My Generation" by The Who and thought that you guys should listen to some of their older stuff and here you are! Peace!
Karma kicken call k IRM I remember substitute memorial in Pioneer. Eastern substict teacher so bias. You have a reminder for lot of them went on to become a substitute. You know what I talk about search where students. I start call my carcomma cake. I got a car. My kick. I kick from karma a kirmy kick k a r m I kick chai singer
This band was just the best across the board, as John is often top 3 on most best bass player list, as is Kieth in regards to the drums(both are #1 for Who fans). And while Roger never gets his due on the front men list, he is without a doubt one of the greats, and lasted longer than most. And then of course you have Pete, never the greatest lead guitarist, but his rhythm playing is 2nd to none, especially on acoustic(he's next level). And when it comes to song writing, yet again in a class all his own, as The Who wouldn't have been the band it was without his skills leading the way. If you guys ever get the chance, listen to some of his demos for Who songs, as hearing Pete sing them, they take on a different feel altogether versus how Roger often sang them. And the arrangements are very different as well.
Nice reaction, love your acknowledgement of Pete’s humour which was alway there. especially the early songs. Substitute, The Kids are Alright, A-A-A, Pictures of Lily, etc etc.. All of them maximum R&B😎
You were right about it being before "Baba O'Riley." This song is from 1966. I will always be partial to this song because it was the song playing when I first discovered a community radio show in the early eighties called "Treasures of the Sixties."
So many great songs from the early Who. Anything from "Live at Leeds" (which this track is from), such as My Generation, Magic Bus, Summertime Blues are great. Also, "I Can See For Miles" and "Won't Get Fooled Again"
GRRRREATT !!! As Are Loads Of Their Tracks... From The 60's I Can't Explain,Pictures Of Lily,I'm A Boy,"Anyway,Anyhow,Anywhere" And The Kids Are Alright. The 70's The Song Is Over,5.15,I've Had Enough,Who Are You And Dr.Jimmy TREMENDOUS ALL 🎉🎸🎤🧨
Great choice and thanks for sharing this. Yeah, this was 1966. Just on the crest of the British Invasion. “Baba O’Reilly” is 1971. As somebody else said in the comments, you can pretty much divide The Who into pre-Tommy, the ultimate rock opera, and post Tommy, which also includes their next great rock opera, QUADRAPHENIA. And much more. “Substitute”, along with “My Generation”, “Young Man Blues” (a cover), “I Can See For Miles” are all pre-Tommy. “Baba O’Reilly”, “Won’t Get Fooled Again”, “Behind Blue Eyes” (all from maybe my favorite Who album, WHO’S NEXT), and later, such as “Who Are You?”, “You Better You Bet”, “Love Reign O’er Me” are all post-Tommy.
I love these songs from their earlier, London mod era - so much fun! It's a shame you didn't find the video of them performing (probably lip-syncing), with their mod outfits/ vibes. I don't know if Pete experienced some sort of identity crisis in his youth, because he wrote another song on a similar theme of conflict/ confusion -- this time around gender. No doubt that theme would cause a similar political/moral meltdown in some quarters today! It's called 'I'm a Boy'. And another one dealt with a young lad enjoying looking at naughty photos: 'Pictures of Lily'! They're all fantastic songs in any case, an essential part of my early teen years in the 1960s, usually heard on the treasured tinny little transistor radio I carried everywhere with me.
as far as early who, I'd pick from these...)early who in my opinion is before Tommy) "I Can't Explain" '65 "My Generation" '65 "I Can See for Miles" '67 "Magic Bus" '68 "I'm Free" '69
Finally, some older school Who. They had so many great early stuff. Very original. Check out “Ofirono”, “Tattoo”, “I’m A Boy”, “Pictures Of Lilly” just to name a few.
Love the Who... Great song, Leo Sayers who you have heard a couple of times has written songs for Rodger Daltrey when he went solo. So maybe we could have some more Leo please (Thunder in my Heart) is a great song but he also had over 30 hits in 🇬🇧.😊❤🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
The Who is an amazing band. Roger Daltrey was great in one of my favorite 1990's sci-fi tv shows Sliders (which also featured John Rhys-Davies as the Professor that went on to play Gimli in the Lord Of The Rings!).
Since you mentions The Kinks how about checking out Celluloid Heroes, Rock N' Roll Fantasy, Dedicated Follower of Fashion, Stop Your Sobbing, Destroyer, (Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman, Low Budget, Don't Forget to Dance
ASIA - " Sole Survivor " an amazingly Rocking 80s masterpiece ✨🎸 from its Guitar transitions to some of the best Drumming ever! 40 plus years later this song sounds better and more rocking in 2024 youguys gotta get back to this amazing rock band , A S I A and this is the song perfection that youguys need to hear.
This is NOT early 70s...this was 1966-67! While American kids were fed the Monkees ( I love them!!) the Brits were creating social commentary and political biting lyrics driven by a totally new sound and style. An interesting side note for you younger people, the drummer in the Muppets, Animal, was based on Keith Moon of the Who!
The line 'I look all white, but my dad was black' was replaced with 'I try to walk forward, but my feet walk back' on the original US release; the original line was considered too controversial.
The Who are always good , this one was 1966 , another hit for them.'The sreeker' is another good one. There is a great track by their singer Roger Daltry ' I was Just a Boy''-Colin Ward
Give the people what they really want: declare a moratorium on The Who, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, KISS and AC/DC. There are literally hundreds of thousands of great artists and songs you will never hear if you just keep doing the same classic rock artists on repeat. Bring back great music!
The Who invented the "power pop" genre. This is one of the very first songs of that genre. In fact it was Pete Townsend that invented that term!! AWESOME song!!
@@brianezell5790 Some of the Who's early songs such as "Substitute", "The Kids Are Alright", "Pictures Of Lily" etc ARE power pop. If you do some research you will find Pete DID invent this term.
My Dad was 18 years old when The Who came to his neck of the woods in America. He saw them in--and I'm really not kidding-- a giant, outdoor, converted wooden Chicken Coop! This was The Majestic Hills Theatre, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin in August 1968. He stood right in front of John Entwistle, said he never heard anything so loud in his life! Some hippie got stoned and climbed up in the rafters, and Keith Moon pointed up at him and lost it laughing. There's a picture of them playing in Flushing, New York the day before my Dad saw them so we know exactly what they would have looked like.
The Who have a lot of great songs, but my favorites come from their Live at Leeds album. Recorded at the perfect ime when their youthful energy collided with musical prowess, creating a raw and powerful sound. My Generation, Young Man Blues, Amazing Journey/Sparks, Magic Bus and even Substitute are all amped up bangers.
On your movie channel I'd love to see you guys do the whole rock opera Tommy(1975) with Elton John starring as the Pinball Wizard. Tina Turner as the Acid Queen Eric Clapton as the Preacher Jack Nicholson as the Doctor/Specialist And each member of the band taking various roles.
I begged my parents to take me to see Tommy. They didn’t understand the film but I was on cloud nine. I’d love to see Jay and Amber react to Tina Turner as the Acid Queen!
Find the movie " the kids are alright".....is a great introduction to the who....from beginning of thier career to just about 1980.....was released in 79.
