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Disguises (The Who song)

December 07, 2023

"Disguises" is a song by English band, The Who, written by guitarist Pete Townshend. It was first released on the group's 1966 extended play Ready Steady Who.[4] It, along with "I'm a Boy" are of the earliest compositions in which Townshend questions gender identity and identity crisis', a prevalent aspect found later in his songwriting.[5][6] "Disguises" and "I'm a Boy" also marks the first time Kit Lambert received credit as a record producer for the Who, something that had previously been credited to Shel Talmy and Townshend.[7]

"Disguises"
Song by The Who
from the EP Ready Steady Who
Released11 November 1966
Recorded31 July – 1 August 1966[1]
StudioIBC Studios, London
Genre
Length3:11 (mono)
3:20 (stereo)
LabelReaction
Songwriter(s)Pete Townshend
Producer(s)Kit Lambert

The thematic concept for the song proved successful and Townshend was subsequently praised by critics.[8] It has since been covered by The Jam as the B-Side for their top-five single "Funeral Pyre" in 1981[9] and Of Montreal for their 1997 EP The Bird Who Ate the Rabbit's Flower.

Recording edit

Both "Disguises" and "I'm A Boy" were written to be parts of a concept album titled Quads, in which parents would be able to choose the gender of their children. However, this idea was later discarded and the pair of songs are the only ones that survived.[10] They were first attempted on 14 June 1966 as demos,[4] And were worked on for some months, before being recorded on 31 July to 1 August of the same year.[7][11] Paul Clay was the studio engineer for the recording.[12] The previously mentioned backing track would later go on to be mimed by the band the following day, on 15 June for their final appearance on the television show A Whole Scene Going, in which Townshend appears with a false handlebar moustache.[13] Following this performance, rumours started circulating that this would become their next single, as the band then also played it on their next appearance on Ready Steady Go.[14]

It is one of the earliest songs recorded by them that features claves, played by drummer Keith Moon, who would also later use them on "Magic Bus" in 1968. French horn is featured in a distinct solo played by bass guitarist John Entwistle. "Disguises" was never performed live by the band. The only live recording of the song originates from a session the Who recorded on 13 September, which was later broadcast on 17 September for an episode of Saturday Club. This version, apparently recorded as a joke, ends with Moon smashing his drums, interrupting presenter Brian Matthew, much to the bands' approval, with Matthew exclaiming "I see".[15] This version can be found on their 2000 compilation album BBC Sessions.[16]

Release and reception edit

"Disguises" remained unreleased for about three months, following a failure in securing the rights for a live EP recorded live from the Who's Ready Steady Go! TV-Special entitled Ready Steady Who![17] Reaction Records would then compile some previously unissued tracks and released them on Ready Steady Who. Although a nod to the TV-Special, it was completely unaffiliated with the show. In the US, it remained unissued for well over two years, before finally getting its first official release in the September 1968 compilation album Magic Bus: The Who on Tour, where the mono version was used.[18] The songs was mixed in stereo, but never released in this format, which remained unreleased for about thirty years, before getting its first official release on Thirty Years of Maximum R&B in 1994.[19] The stereo version is nine seconds longer than the mono version, since the fade out in the latter comes in quicker.

It was heavily praised for its innovative and original concept, most notably its use of reverb and feedback, which the group was well known for. John Atkins writes in his Biography of the group The Who on Record: A Critical History, 1963-1998, that "Disguises" was an inventive track based on a droning guitar figure drenched in reverb. He also mentions the influences of raga rock found in the track, possibly inspired by "See My Friends" by the Kinks. Mentions of the departure of rhythm and blues and venture into Psychedelia in the group's sound is also evident in "Disguises".[20] In the AllMusic review of Ready Steady Who, Richie Unterberger states that "Rounding things off was a quite good Townshend original, "Disguises," that played around his early themes of identity confusion. It was too good to be a cast-off on an EP".[8] It is also highlighted in the review of Magic Bus: The Who On Tour.[21]

Ultimate Classic Rock ranked "Disguises" number 63 on their list of All 245 Who Songs Ranked Worst To Best, citing that "Waves of audio interference dovetail with Townshend’s lyrics about a girl who camouflages herself to get away from a suitor. “Disguises” is both a refreshing take on an unrequited love song and a strange way to record a plucky pop song. The whooshing sheets of noise bring a surreal quality that remains unsettling."[22] ULR also ranked it as number ten on their list of Top 10 Underrated Who Songs.[23]

Personnel edit

The Who edit

Technical edit

References edit

  1. ^ Neill, Andrew; Kent, Matthew (2009). Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere: The Complete Chronicle Of The Who, 1958-1978 (Rev. ed.). Sterling Publishing Company. p. 86. ISBN 978-0-7535-1217-3. OCLC 122283647.
  2. ^ Atkins, John (2000). The Who On Record: A Critical History, 1963-1998. McFarland. p. 69. ISBN 0-7864-0609-7. OCLC 43060511.
  3. ^ "Disguises - The Who | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  4. ^ a b Parker, Alan G.; Grantley, Steve; Body, Sean (2010). The Who by Numbers. Helter Skelter Publishing. p. 35. ISBN 978-1-905139-26-2.
  5. ^ Kelts, Roland (2012-10-09). "Pete Townshend's War". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  6. ^ Perone, James E. (2008). Mods, Rockers, And The Music Of The British Invasion. Praeger Publishers. p. 113. ISBN 978-0-275-99861-5. OCLC 428195032.
  7. ^ a b Neill, Andrew; Kent, Matthew (2009). Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere: The Complete Chronicle Of The Who, 1958-1978 (Rev. ed.). Sterling Publishing Company. p. 89. ISBN 978-0-7535-1217-3. OCLC 122283647.
  8. ^ a b "Ready Steady Who EP - The Who | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  9. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 277. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  10. ^ "I'm a Boy - The Who | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  11. ^ . www.thewho.net. Archived from the original on 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  12. ^ . 2011-06-06. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  13. ^ Neill, Andrew; Kent, Matthew (2009). Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere: The Complete Chronicle Of The Who, 1958-1978 (Rev. ed.). Sterling Publishing Company. p. 87. ISBN 978-0-7535-1217-3. OCLC 122283647.
  14. ^ Atkins, John (2000). The Who On Record: A Critical History, 1963-1998. McFarland. p. 69. ISBN 0-7864-0609-7. OCLC 43060511.
  15. ^ Neill, Andrew; Kent, Matthew (2009). Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere: The Complete Chronicle Of The Who, 1958-1978 (Rev. ed.). Sterling Publishing Company. p. 90. ISBN 978-0-7535-1217-3. OCLC 122283647.
  16. ^ "The Who BBC Sessions". The Who. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  17. ^ Atkins, John (2000). The Who On Record: A Critical History, 1963-1998. McFarland. p. 74. ISBN 0-7864-0609-7. OCLC 43060511.
  18. ^ Atkins, John (2000). The Who On Record: A Critical History, 1963-1998. McFarland. p. 126. ISBN 0-7864-0609-7. OCLC 43060511.
  19. ^ Neill, Andrew; Kent, Matthew (2009). Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere: The Complete Chronicle Of The Who, 1958-1978 (Rev. ed.). Sterling Publishing Company. p. 298. ISBN 978-0-7535-1217-3. OCLC 122283647.
  20. ^ Atkins, John (2000). The Who On Record: A Critical History, 1963-1998. McFarland. p. 69. ISBN 0-7864-0609-7. OCLC 43060511.
  21. ^ "Magic Bus - The Who | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  22. ^ Wawzenek, Bryan (10 October 2018). "All 245 Who Songs Ranked Worst to Best". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  23. ^ Wawzenek, Bryan (26 May 2014). "Top 10 Underrated Who Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2019-11-29.

External links edit

  • Ready Steady Who at The Who's official website

December 07, 2023
disguises, song, disguises, song, english, band, written, guitarist, pete, townshend, first, released, group, 1966, extended, play, ready, steady, along, with, earliest, compositions, which, townshend, questions, gender, identity, identity, crisis, prevalent, . Disguises is a song by English band The Who written by guitarist Pete Townshend It was first released on the group s 1966 extended play Ready Steady Who 4 It along with I m a Boy are of the earliest compositions in which Townshend questions gender identity and identity crisis a prevalent aspect found later in his songwriting 5 6 Disguises and I m a Boy also marks the first time Kit Lambert received credit as a record producer for the Who something that had previously been credited to Shel Talmy and Townshend 7 Disguises Song by The Whofrom the EP Ready Steady WhoReleased11 November 1966Recorded31 July 1 August 1966 1 StudioIBC Studios LondonGenreRaga rock 2 hard rock 3 Length3 11 mono 3 20 stereo LabelReactionSongwriter s Pete TownshendProducer s Kit LambertThe thematic concept for the song proved successful and Townshend was subsequently praised by critics 8 It has since been covered by The Jam as the B Side for their top five single Funeral Pyre in 1981 9 and Of Montreal for their 1997 EP The Bird Who Ate the Rabbit s Flower Contents 1 Recording 2 Release and reception 3 Personnel 3 1 The Who 3 2 Technical 4 References 5 External linksRecording editBoth Disguises and I m A Boy were written to be parts of a concept album titled Quads in which parents would be able to choose the gender of their children However this idea was later discarded and the pair of songs are the only ones that survived 10 They were first attempted on 14 June 1966 as demos 4 And were worked on for some months before being recorded on 31 July to 1 August of the same year 7 11 Paul Clay was the studio engineer for the recording 12 The previously mentioned backing track would later go on to be mimed by the band the following day on 15 June for their final appearance on the television show A Whole Scene Going in which Townshend appears with a false handlebar moustache 13 Following this performance rumours started circulating that this would become their next single as the band then also played it on their next appearance on Ready Steady Go 14 It is one of the earliest songs recorded by them that features claves played by drummer Keith Moon who would also later use them on Magic Bus in 1968 French horn is featured in a distinct solo played by bass guitarist John Entwistle Disguises was never performed live by the band The only live recording of the song originates from a session the Who recorded on 13 September which was later broadcast on 17 September for an episode of Saturday Club This version apparently recorded as a joke ends with Moon smashing his drums interrupting presenter Brian Matthew much to the bands approval with Matthew exclaiming I see 15 This version can be found on their 2000 compilation album BBC Sessions 16 Release and reception edit Disguises remained unreleased for about three months following a failure in securing the rights for a live EP recorded live from the Who s Ready Steady Go TV Special entitled Ready Steady Who 17 Reaction Records would then compile some previously unissued tracks and released them on Ready Steady Who Although a nod to the TV Special it was completely unaffiliated with the show In the US it remained unissued for well over two years before finally getting its first official release in the September 1968 compilation album Magic Bus The Who on Tour where the mono version was used 18 The songs was mixed in stereo but never released in this format which remained unreleased for about thirty years before getting its first official release on Thirty Years of Maximum R amp B in 1994 19 The stereo version is nine seconds longer than the mono version since the fade out in the latter comes in quicker It was heavily praised for its innovative and original concept most notably its use of reverb and feedback which the group was well known for John Atkins writes in his Biography of the group The Who on Record A Critical History 1963 1998 that Disguises was an inventive track based on a droning guitar figure drenched in reverb He also mentions the influences of raga rock found in the track possibly inspired by See My Friends by the Kinks Mentions of the departure of rhythm and blues and venture into Psychedelia in the group s sound is also evident in Disguises 20 In the AllMusic review of Ready Steady Who Richie Unterberger states that Rounding things off was a quite good Townshend original Disguises that played around his early themes of identity confusion It was too good to be a cast off on an EP 8 It is also highlighted in the review of Magic Bus The Who On Tour 21 Ultimate Classic Rock ranked Disguises number 63 on their list of All 245 Who Songs Ranked Worst To Best citing that Waves of audio interference dovetail with Townshend s lyrics about a girl who camouflages herself to get away from a suitor Disguises is both a refreshing take on an unrequited love song and a strange way to record a plucky pop song The whooshing sheets of noise bring a surreal quality that remains unsettling 22 ULR also ranked it as number ten on their list of Top 10 Underrated Who Songs 23 Personnel editThe Who edit Roger Daltrey lead vocals John Entwistle bass guitar french horn harmony vocals Pete Townshend lead guitar harmony vocals Keith Moon drums tambourine clavesTechnical edit Kit Lambert producer Paul Clay studio engineerReferences edit Neill Andrew Kent Matthew 2009 Anyway Anyhow Anywhere The Complete Chronicle Of The Who 1958 1978 Rev ed Sterling Publishing Company p 86 ISBN 978 0 7535 1217 3 OCLC 122283647 Atkins John 2000 The Who On Record A Critical History 1963 1998 McFarland p 69 ISBN 0 7864 0609 7 OCLC 43060511 Disguises The Who Song Info AllMusic Retrieved 2019 11 29 a b Parker Alan G Grantley Steve Body Sean 2010 The Who by Numbers Helter Skelter Publishing p 35 ISBN 978 1 905139 26 2 Kelts Roland 2012 10 09 Pete Townshend s War The New Yorker ISSN 0028 792X Retrieved 2019 11 29 Perone James E 2008 Mods Rockers And The Music Of The British Invasion Praeger Publishers p 113 ISBN 978 0 275 99861 5 OCLC 428195032 a b Neill Andrew Kent Matthew 2009 Anyway Anyhow Anywhere The Complete Chronicle Of The Who 1958 1978 Rev ed Sterling Publishing Company p 89 ISBN 978 0 7535 1217 3 OCLC 122283647 a b Ready Steady Who EP The Who Songs Reviews Credits AllMusic Retrieved 2019 11 29 Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 277 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 I m a Boy The Who Song Info AllMusic Retrieved 2019 11 29 The Hypertext Who Disguises www thewho net Archived from the original on 2020 01 30 Retrieved 2019 11 29 The Hypertext Who Liner Notes A Quick One 2011 06 06 Archived from the original on 2011 06 06 Retrieved 2020 04 19 Neill Andrew Kent Matthew 2009 Anyway Anyhow Anywhere The Complete Chronicle Of The Who 1958 1978 Rev ed Sterling Publishing Company p 87 ISBN 978 0 7535 1217 3 OCLC 122283647 Atkins John 2000 The Who On Record A Critical History 1963 1998 McFarland p 69 ISBN 0 7864 0609 7 OCLC 43060511 Neill Andrew Kent Matthew 2009 Anyway Anyhow Anywhere The Complete Chronicle Of The Who 1958 1978 Rev ed Sterling Publishing Company p 90 ISBN 978 0 7535 1217 3 OCLC 122283647 The Who BBC Sessions The Who Retrieved 2020 04 19 Atkins John 2000 The Who On Record A Critical History 1963 1998 McFarland p 74 ISBN 0 7864 0609 7 OCLC 43060511 Atkins John 2000 The Who On Record A Critical History 1963 1998 McFarland p 126 ISBN 0 7864 0609 7 OCLC 43060511 Neill Andrew Kent Matthew 2009 Anyway Anyhow Anywhere The Complete Chronicle Of The Who 1958 1978 Rev ed Sterling Publishing Company p 298 ISBN 978 0 7535 1217 3 OCLC 122283647 Atkins John 2000 The Who On Record A Critical History 1963 1998 McFarland p 69 ISBN 0 7864 0609 7 OCLC 43060511 Magic Bus The Who Songs Reviews Credits AllMusic Retrieved 2019 11 29 Wawzenek Bryan 10 October 2018 All 245 Who Songs Ranked Worst to Best Ultimate Classic Rock Retrieved 2019 11 29 Wawzenek Bryan 26 May 2014 Top 10 Underrated Who Songs Ultimate Classic Rock Retrieved 2019 11 29 External links editReady Steady Who at The Who s official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Disguises The Who song amp oldid 1162833943, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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