The Who's proto rock opera that gave its parent album its title, and without which there would probably be no Tommy or Quadrophenia. Note that this linking of songs pre-dates Sgt Pepper by a year too - Townshend, ahead of the curve! So what's it all about (to paraphrase Alyson)? Well, our protagonist heroine pines for her absent love, selects Ivor the engine driver as a substitute, regrets this when her fella returns, confesses her dalliance and is forgiven: the end.
In the words of bassist John Entwistle, "We wanted to put cellos on the track but [producer] Kit Lambert said we couldn't afford it. That's why we sing 'cello, cello, cello, cello' where we thought they should be." Brilliant. The cello comes in at 6m58 ish.
I do like finding out 'what it's all about', so thanks for the explanation. This one was new to me but as you say without it there would have been no Tommy or Quadrophenia. Love the cello, cello, cello part - Others should have done the same. Would have saved a lot of production costs.
ReplyDeleteYes, the "cello" is inspired.
DeleteTheir performance of this was the highlight of the Stones' Rock & Roll Circus.
ReplyDeleteI must find that on YouTube.
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