“I Was Born With A Plastic Spoon In My Mouth…”
Of all my favorite bands, the one I’ve probably mentioned the least here is The Who. I really don’t know why that is, but I’m going to rectify that by devoting today’s Song I Never Get Tired Of to “Substitute,” from 1966. Here they are one after its release later performing it at the Monterey Pop Festival, being introduced by Eric Burdon of The Animals.
Loading...Yeah, they’re ragged (and Pete’s solo is pretty bad – see below for a tighter, but less volatile, performance), but you can’t deny their power. So much is written about The Who for their concept albums and innovations, what often gets lost is that they were also a phenomenal singles band in the early days. And no song of theirs, not even “I Can See For Miles,” shows that as well as “Substitute.”
The Who subverted the formula for rock by having the guitar keep the rhythm steady while the bass and drums flail away. Pete Townshend’s opening riff is practically baroque, stacatto and right up against the beat with that drone on the D-string. Keith Moon and John Entwistle come crashing in, and it’s all over from there.
The lyric was inspired by Smokey Robinson’s “Tracks Of My Tears.” Townshend loved the way Robinson used the word “substitute” that he had to put it in a song of his own. And when you factor in Townshend’s need to write macho lyrics for Roger Daltrey, it becomes a song about a guy confessing the truth to his girl, but rather than ask for forgiveness, he breaks up with her before she can do it. It’s very Dylanesque in that respect (see “All I Really Want To Do”), but much more singable.
Here’s another live version, from 1974’s famous gig at Charlton Athletic Football Ground.
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I too am a big early Who fan – Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy is one of the greatest albums ever. Screw Tommy, I could listen to “Kids are Alright” all night long. And while in a Townshend mode, did Kim show you the picture of Rowen I sent?
Yes, she did. Very cute, as was the picture of Graham. She also had a, um, present from you when she walked in today.
A present from me? Dare I ask?
It was a middle finger right in my face. She had another one just like it from her, too.
My response was that the place was a mess and that she should sweep up.
Ah, well thats really more of a gift from the both of us. Glad it fit. Here’s the real groin punch for ya – I was offered tickets on the 50 for the Giants – Pats tonight, but I had a dinner date with G & R. I know you probably could have scrambled up here, but its just pre-season.
You had dinner with Axl and Tommy Stinson? I’d rather have that than deal with Foxboro traffic to watch a bunch of third-stringers anyday…
Another epic podcast: Kim, Dave and Kevin. Make this happen Dave!
Kevin, Kim mentioned you may come down for MLS Cup. I hope you can make it.
Yeah, Kev would be a good guest. He pretends to know his stuff almost as well as I do.
I am figuring out my childcare schedule this weekend, so I’ll know tomorrow if I can make the MLS cup.
If I can, I’ll bring down the remnants of Kim’s record collection and we could discuss relative merits of the Osmands’ “Around the World Live in Concert”. I believe that album is being used at Guantanamo to force confessions.
Either that or Dave and I could do 40 minutes on Velvet Crush.
(visions of Ric Menck drum fills going through my head…)
I just googled Ric – he has a myspace page (can’t open at work). He would actually be a fun interview – really nice guy. Ask him about the time he met Michael Jackson.
Bring your two kids over to our house. What’s another two kids here at Casa Benjamin for a couple days.
Bill, ducks as a plate thrown by Weena goes whizzing by my head….
Seriously, I hope you can make it down Kevin.
That could be a possibility for Menck, Kevin. I’ll see what I can come up with. I’ve got his solo album, too.