"I'm a Boy" is a 1966 rock song written by Pete Townshend for the Who.[3] The song was originally intended to be a part of a rock opera called Quads, which was to be set in a future in which parents can choose the sex of their children. The idea was later scrapped, but this song survived and was later released as a single.[3]
The song is about a family who "order" four girls, but a mistake is made and three girls and one boy are delivered instead. The boy dreams of partaking in sports and other boy-type activities, but his mother forces him to act like his sisters and refuses to believe the truth ("I'm a boy, I'm a boy, but my Ma won't admit it").[3] The track was produced by Kit Lambert at IBC Studios around 31 July–1 August 1966 and released just over three weeks later on 26 August 1966, with "In the City" as the B-side. The single was successful in the British Isles, reaching number 2 in the UK Singles Chart and Number 7 in Ireland. It failed to repeat that success in the US.[3]
The original recording (released as a single), which features John Entwistle's French horn arrangement prominently in the mix, is available on the album Who's Missing.[4] The version included on most compilations, between the original 1966 release and The Who Hits 50!, is exactly the same recording, with French horns removed.[citation needed]
A different, slower version was recorded in London in the week of 3 October 1966 and was intended for an early version of A Quick One titled Jigsaw Puzzle, but was later released on Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy in 1971. Another similar version was released on a bonus disc of The Ultimate Collection in 2002 and is unique to that album.
The song was performed at the Who's concert at Leeds, released in album format as Live at Leeds. On the Live at Leeds album, Pete Townshend comments on the song by saying:[5]
We'd like to play three selected hit singles--three easiest...and "I'm a Boy" which according to the, (crowd cheers) thank you, according to the Melody Maker was our first number one in England I think for about a half an hour (crowd laughs).
"In the City"
Released as the B-side of the single was "In the City", the only song credited to the songwriting collaboration of John Entwistle and Keith Moon.[6] Entwistle referred to it as rip-off of Jan and Dean, a group that was a favorite of Moon's.[7] The track was later included on the 1995 reissue of A Quick One.
^"The Who - Who's Missing (Vinyl, LP)". Discogs. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
^"The Who's Live at Leeds Remains a Peerless Document of Rock and Roll Power". Consequence of Sound. 16 May 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
^Atkins, John (14 June 2015). The Who on Record: A Critical History, 1963-1998. McFarland. ISBN978-1-4766-0657-6.
^Moore, Mark A. (18 February 2016). The Jan & Dean Record: A Chronology of Studio Sessions, Live Performances and Chart Positions. McFarland. ISBN978-0-7864-9812-3.
Sources
Neill, Andrew (2007). Anyway Anyhow Anywhere: The Complete Chronicle of the Who 1958–1978. London: Virgin Books. ISBN978-0-7535-1217-3.
January 20, 2023
unrelated, song, song, 1966, rock, song, written, pete, townshend, song, originally, intended, part, rock, opera, called, quads, which, future, which, parents, choose, their, children, idea, later, scrapped, this, song, survived, later, released, single, swedi. For the unrelated song by the Who see It s a Boy The Who song I m a Boy is a 1966 rock song written by Pete Townshend for the Who 3 The song was originally intended to be a part of a rock opera called Quads which was to be set in a future in which parents can choose the sex of their children The idea was later scrapped but this song survived and was later released as a single 3 I m a Boy Swedish picture sleeveSingle by the WhoB side In the City Released26 August 1966 1966 08 26 1 Recorded14 19 June amp 31 July 1966 2 StudioIBC LondonLength2 34LabelReaction UK Decca US Songwriter s Pete TownshendProducer s Kit LambertThe Who singles chronology The Kids Are Alright 1966 I m a Boy 1966 La La La Lies 1966 Contents 1 Overview 2 In the City 3 References 3 1 SourcesOverview EditThe song is about a family who order four girls but a mistake is made and three girls and one boy are delivered instead The boy dreams of partaking in sports and other boy type activities but his mother forces him to act like his sisters and refuses to believe the truth I m a boy I m a boy but my Ma won t admit it 3 The track was produced by Kit Lambert at IBC Studios around 31 July 1 August 1966 and released just over three weeks later on 26 August 1966 with In the City as the B side The single was successful in the British Isles reaching number 2 in the UK Singles Chart and Number 7 in Ireland It failed to repeat that success in the US 3 The original recording released as a single which features John Entwistle s French horn arrangement prominently in the mix is available on the album Who s Missing 4 The version included on most compilations between the original 1966 release and The Who Hits 50 is exactly the same recording with French horns removed citation needed A different slower version was recorded in London in the week of 3 October 1966 and was intended for an early version of A Quick One titled Jigsaw Puzzle but was later released on Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy in 1971 Another similar version was released on a bonus disc of The Ultimate Collection in 2002 and is unique to that album The song was performed at the Who s concert at Leeds released in album format as Live at Leeds On the Live at Leeds album Pete Townshend comments on the song by saying 5 We d like to play three selected hit singles three easiest and I m a Boy which according to the crowd cheers thank you according to the Melody Maker was our first number one in England I think for about a half an hour crowd laughs In the City EditReleased as the B side of the single was In the City the only song credited to the songwriting collaboration of John Entwistle and Keith Moon 6 Entwistle referred to it as rip off of Jan and Dean a group that was a favorite of Moon s 7 The track was later included on the 1995 reissue of A Quick One References Edit Neill 2007 p 107 Neill 2007 pp 127 131 a b c d Richie Unterberger I m a Boy The Who Song Info AllMusic Retrieved 29 September 2016 The Who Who s Missing Vinyl LP Discogs 15 January 2015 Retrieved 29 September 2016 The Who s Live at Leeds Remains a Peerless Document of Rock and Roll Power Consequence of Sound 16 May 2020 Retrieved 13 December 2020 Atkins John 14 June 2015 The Who on Record A Critical History 1963 1998 McFarland ISBN 978 1 4766 0657 6 Moore Mark A 18 February 2016 The Jan amp Dean Record A Chronology of Studio Sessions Live Performances and Chart Positions McFarland ISBN 978 0 7864 9812 3 Sources Edit Neill Andrew 2007 Anyway Anyhow Anywhere The Complete Chronicle of the Who 1958 1978 London Virgin Books ISBN 978 0 7535 1217 3 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title I 27m a Boy amp oldid 1099374626, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
