The Who are an English rock band that formed in 1964. The primary lineup consisted of guitarist Pete Townshend, vocalist Roger Daltrey, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. The band reached international success, became known for their energetic live performances, are regarded as one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s and ’70s, and recognized as one of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time.
The Who rose to fame in the United Kingdom with a pioneering instrument destruction stage show, as well as a series of top ten hit singles (including the celebrated “My Generation”) and top five albums, beginning in 1965 with “I Can’t Explain”. They first hit the top ten in the USA in 1967 with “I Can See for Miles”. The 1969 release of Tommy was the first in a series of top five albums for the group in the USA, followed by Live at Leeds (1970), Who’s Next (1971), Quadrophenia (1973), and Who Are You (1978) among others.
Keith Moon died in 1978, after which the band released two more studio albums, the top five Face Dances (1981) and the top ten It’s Hard (1982), with drummer Kenney Jones, before officially disbanding in 1983. They reformed on several occasions to perform at special events such as Live Aid and for reunion tours such as their 25th anniversary tour (1989) and the Quadrophenia revival tours of 1996 and 1997. In 2000, the three surviving original members began to discuss the possibility of recording an album of new material. These plans were delayed following the death of John Entwistle in 2002. Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey continue to perform as The Who. In 2006 they released the studio album Endless Wire, which reached the top ten in the USA and UK.
Summertime Blues
“Summertime Blues” is a 1958 song recorded by Eddie Cochran about the trials and tribulations of teenage life in America.
It was written in the late 1950s by Eddie Cochran and his manager Jerry Capehart. Part of its lyrics address the controversy surrounding the voting age, which at the time was 21. Such protests would lead to the 26th Amendment, lowering the age to 18. The Who played “Summertime Blues” as a staple of their concerts from 1967 up to 1976, with intermittent appearances thereafter. It has not been played since bassist John Entwistle’s death in 2002. It was performed during the 1967 U.S. tour, including a June 1967 date at the Monterey Pop Festival, where the members of Blue Cheer were in attendance. The Who’s version is done in a more aggressive style than the Eddie Cochran original.
The first version to be released by The Who appeared on the 1970 album Live at Leeds. The single peaked at number 37 in the UK and number 28 in the US. Most of the Who performances feature John Entwistle singing the vocal parts of the boss, the father, and the congressman in his trademark baritone growl, doubling Roger Daltrey’s lead vocals in his normal voice in the verses, and singing the falsetto part in the chorus.
http://djallyn.org/media/the-who-summertime-blues.flvWell, I’m a’gonna raise a fuss,
An’ I’m a’gonna raise a holler.
I’ve been working all summer
Just to try and earn a dollar.
Well I went to the boss
Said I had a date
My boss said “No dice, son, you gotta work late”Sometimes I wonder what I’m a’gonna do
There ain’t no cure for the summertime bluesWell my mom ‘n’ poppa told me
“Son you gotta earn some money,
If you want to use the car
To go riding next Sunday.”Well I didn’t go to work
I told the boss I was sick
“Now you can’t use the car
’cause you didn’t work a lick.”Sometimes I wonder what I’m a’gonna do
Cause there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues.Gonna take two weeks
Gonna have a fine vacation
Gonna take my problems
To the United NationsWell I went to my congressman
He said, quote: “I’d like to help you son,
But you’re too young to vote.”Sometimes I wonder what I’m a’gonna do
Cause there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues.
- Audio from the 1970 album, Live At Leeds:
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