fbpx
Wikipedia

Don't Let Go the Coat

"Don't Let Go the Coat" is a song written by Pete Townshend and first released on The Who's 1981 album Face Dances.

"Don't Let Go the Coat"
Single by the Who
from the album Face Dances
B-side"You"
Released5 May 1981
Recorded1980
GenreCountry rock[1]
Length3:44
LabelWarner Bros. (US)/Polydor (UK)
Songwriter(s)Pete Townshend
Producer(s)Bill Szymczyk
The Who singles chronology
"You Better You Bet"
(1981)
"Don't Let Go the Coat"
(1981)
"Athena"
(1982)

It was released as a single following up on the first single from Face Dances, "You Better You Bet", but did not achieve the same success, reaching number 47 in the UK and number 84 in the US.[2][3][4] It has also been released on several compilation albums, and Pete Townshend himself released an alternate version of the song on his album Another Scoop.[5][6]

Music and lyrics edit

Several authors, including Stephen Thomas Erlewine, regard the lyrics of "Don't Let Go the Coat" as an ode to spiritual guru Meher Baba.[4][7][8][1] The title then refers to Meher Baba's charge that his disciples "hang fast to the hem of my robe," where the robe is a metaphor for his teachings.[8][9] Alternatively, the song could refer to Pete Townshend's parents, who were the ones who would pick him up when Pete Townshend descended into drugs and alcohol.[1] But regardless, the song strikes themes of spiritual torment, fear of abandonment and the need to keep faith, beginning with the lines:[1]

"I can't be held responsible for blown behavior
I've lost all contact with my only saviour"

Musically, "Don't Let Go the Coat" has a country rock flavor.[1] Authors Steve Grantley and Alan Parker describe the guitar sound as being similar to that of The Pretenders, and note that the Pete Townshend's acoustic guitar solo has Spanish inflections.[1]

Reception edit

Record World described the chorus as "nifty", Townsend's guitar solo as "tasteful" and Roger Daltrey's lead vocal as "gentle."[10]

John Atkins acknowledges that the song is melodic, but claims that it is bland and notes that it has less energy than "You Better You Bet".[4] Grantley and Parker, while praising the "pristine production" by Bill Szymczyk, note that the song "never really gets out of first gear."[1] Chris Charlesworth asserts that lead singer Roger Daltrey's bravado is ill-suited to the song's confession of inadequacy and unworthiness.[8] Erlewine, however, claims that "Don't Let Go the Coat" is "one of [Townshend's] better odes to Meher Baba."[7]

Other releases edit

"Don't Let Go the Coat" was included on The Ultimate Collection compilation album in some countries in 2002.[11] A promotional video of the song appeared on Who's Better, Who's Best: The Videos in 1988.[12] A live video performance from 1981 was included on the DVD set Thirty Years of Maximum R&B Live.[13] Townshend released a version of "Don't Let Go the Coat," with himself on lead vocal, on his 1987 album Another Scoop. SPIN Magazine favorably contrasted this version with that of The Who, noting in particular Townshend's "newfound rock exuberance."[14]

Charts edit

Chart (1981) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[2] 47
US Billboard Hot 100[3] 84

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Grantley, S.; Parker, A.G. (2010). The Who by Numbers. Helter Skelter Publishing. p. 193. ISBN 978-1-905139-26-2.
  2. ^ a b "Official Charts: The Who". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Face Dances Charts and Awards". Allmusic. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  4. ^ a b c Atkins, J. (2000). The Who on record: a critical history, 1963-1998. McFarland. pp. 255, 259. ISBN 978-0-7864-0609-8.
  5. ^ "Don't Let Go the Coat". Allmusic. Retrieved 27 November 2011.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Erlewine, S.T. "Another Scoop". Allmusic. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  7. ^ a b Erlewine, S.T. "Face Dances". Allmusic. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  8. ^ a b c Charlesworth, C. (1995). The Complete Guide to the Music of The Who. Omnibus Press. p. 87. ISBN 0-7119-4306-0.
  9. ^ Smith, L.D. (2010). Pete Townshend: the minstrel's dilemma. University of California. p. 152. ISBN 978-0-275-96472-6.
  10. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 13 June 1981. p. 1. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  11. ^ "Ultimate Collection [Australia Bonus Tracks]". Allmusic. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  12. ^ Eder, B. "Who's Better, Who's Best: The Videos". Allmusic. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  13. ^ "Thirty Years of Maximum R&B Live". Allmusic. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  14. ^ Burr, T. (July 1987). "Pete Townshend: Another Scoop". SPIN Magazine. Retrieved 27 November 2011.

coat, song, written, pete, townshend, first, released, 1981, album, face, dances, single, whofrom, album, face, dancesb, side, released5, 1981recorded1980genrecountry, rock, length3, 44labelwarner, bros, polydor, songwriter, pete, townshendproducer, bill, szym. Don t Let Go the Coat is a song written by Pete Townshend and first released on The Who s 1981 album Face Dances Don t Let Go the Coat Single by the Whofrom the album Face DancesB side You Released5 May 1981Recorded1980GenreCountry rock 1 Length3 44LabelWarner Bros US Polydor UK Songwriter s Pete TownshendProducer s Bill SzymczykThe Who singles chronology You Better You Bet 1981 Don t Let Go the Coat 1981 Athena 1982 It was released as a single following up on the first single from Face Dances You Better You Bet but did not achieve the same success reaching number 47 in the UK and number 84 in the US 2 3 4 It has also been released on several compilation albums and Pete Townshend himself released an alternate version of the song on his album Another Scoop 5 6 Contents 1 Music and lyrics 2 Reception 3 Other releases 4 Charts 5 ReferencesMusic and lyrics editSeveral authors including Stephen Thomas Erlewine regard the lyrics of Don t Let Go the Coat as an ode to spiritual guru Meher Baba 4 7 8 1 The title then refers to Meher Baba s charge that his disciples hang fast to the hem of my robe where the robe is a metaphor for his teachings 8 9 Alternatively the song could refer to Pete Townshend s parents who were the ones who would pick him up when Pete Townshend descended into drugs and alcohol 1 But regardless the song strikes themes of spiritual torment fear of abandonment and the need to keep faith beginning with the lines 1 I can t be held responsible for blown behavior I ve lost all contact with my only saviour Musically Don t Let Go the Coat has a country rock flavor 1 Authors Steve Grantley and Alan Parker describe the guitar sound as being similar to that of The Pretenders and note that the Pete Townshend s acoustic guitar solo has Spanish inflections 1 Reception editRecord World described the chorus as nifty Townsend s guitar solo as tasteful and Roger Daltrey s lead vocal as gentle 10 John Atkins acknowledges that the song is melodic but claims that it is bland and notes that it has less energy than You Better You Bet 4 Grantley and Parker while praising the pristine production by Bill Szymczyk note that the song never really gets out of first gear 1 Chris Charlesworth asserts that lead singer Roger Daltrey s bravado is ill suited to the song s confession of inadequacy and unworthiness 8 Erlewine however claims that Don t Let Go the Coat is one of Townshend s better odes to Meher Baba 7 Other releases edit Don t Let Go the Coat was included on The Ultimate Collection compilation album in some countries in 2002 11 A promotional video of the song appeared on Who s Better Who s Best The Videos in 1988 12 A live video performance from 1981 was included on the DVD set Thirty Years of Maximum R amp B Live 13 Townshend released a version of Don t Let Go the Coat with himself on lead vocal on his 1987 album Another Scoop SPIN Magazine favorably contrasted this version with that of The Who noting in particular Townshend s newfound rock exuberance 14 Charts editChart 1981 Peakposition UK Singles Chart 2 47 US Billboard Hot 100 3 84References edit a b c d e f g Grantley S Parker A G 2010 The Who by Numbers Helter Skelter Publishing p 193 ISBN 978 1 905139 26 2 a b Official Charts The Who The Official UK Charts Company Retrieved 27 November 2011 a b Face Dances Charts and Awards Allmusic Retrieved 27 November 2011 a b c Atkins J 2000 The Who on record a critical history 1963 1998 McFarland pp 255 259 ISBN 978 0 7864 0609 8 Don t Let Go the Coat Allmusic Retrieved 27 November 2011 permanent dead link Erlewine S T Another Scoop Allmusic Retrieved 27 November 2011 a b Erlewine S T Face Dances Allmusic Retrieved 27 November 2011 a b c Charlesworth C 1995 The Complete Guide to the Music of The Who Omnibus Press p 87 ISBN 0 7119 4306 0 Smith L D 2010 Pete Townshend the minstrel s dilemma University of California p 152 ISBN 978 0 275 96472 6 Hits of the Week PDF Record World 13 June 1981 p 1 Retrieved 27 February 2023 Ultimate Collection Australia Bonus Tracks Allmusic Retrieved 28 November 2011 Eder B Who s Better Who s Best The Videos Allmusic Retrieved 28 November 2011 Thirty Years of Maximum R amp B Live Allmusic Retrieved 28 November 2011 Burr T July 1987 Pete Townshend Another Scoop SPIN Magazine Retrieved 27 November 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Don 27t Let Go the Coat amp oldid 1204795914, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.