DM's Beatles forums
Other music forums => Various Artists, Lyrics, Discographies => Topic started by: Hombre_de_ningun_lugar on March 11, 2017, 01:53:14 PM
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"I Can See For Miles" was the greatest triumph from the Who's psychedelic stage. The song was released as a single in October 1967, becoming the biggest hit the band had in US, where the record reached #9. Meanwhile, the single peaked at #10 in UK; but Pete Townshend, the author of the song, was disappointed because he had higher expectations. Anyway, the song shines by its own merits: far-out vocals, furious guitars, and especially the wild drumming by Keith Moon. The lyrics describe the capability of the singer to see further than what his girlfriend thinks. This is certainly an acid rock masterpiece.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62ZJn0cTASo# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62ZJn0cTASo#)
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http://dai.ly/x2zfdpn (http://dai.ly/x2zfdpn)
(http://www.morethings.com/music/who-pete_townshend/smothers_brothers_images/who-my_generation-1967-smothers_brothers056.jpg)
(http://www.todayifoundout.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/the-who-explosion.jpg)
(http://www.morethings.com/music/who-pete_townshend/smothers_brothers_images/who-my_generation-1967-smothers_brothers083.jpg)
(http://www.morethings.com/music/who-pete_townshend/smothers_brothers_images/who-my_generation-1967-smothers_brothers088.jpg)
;D
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It seems that "I Can See For Miles" was not performed live while Keith Moon was alive, due to the complexity of the track. Curiously, the song started to be played regularly in live shows in 1979, soon after Moon's death.
This is a live version with Kenney Jones on drums, performed in 1979:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyBdNWrjFWw# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyBdNWrjFWw#)
It's a shame the Who didn't try to do a live version with Moon, since the studio version has some of my favorite drumming ever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys2SMk_ZWO4# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys2SMk_ZWO4#)
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That's interesting. I didn't realise they took so long to play it live. Is it that complex to play live? I hadn't thought of that.
In any case I like the song. Seems to have all the ingredients that make a good Who song. Lots of power chord strumming, thundering drums, soft to hard dynamics. People who don't like this probably just don't like The Who.
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That's interesting. I didn't realise they took so long to play it live. Is it that complex to play live? I hadn't thought of that.
I believe the vocals were quite complicated to replicate on stage. For instance, the live version from 1979 is not so good in my opinion.
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Another song I usually turn. Its alright, but its never done much for me.
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Another song I usually turn. Its alright, but its never done much for me.
What do you think about the drumming? I'd like to know your opinion as a drummer. Perhaps is another performance that we the non-drummers enjoy despite eventual technical issues.
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I've always seen "I Can See For Miles" as a wilder variation of "Eight Miles High". It seems that the word "mile" was suitable for acid rockers. Here's a third example by Jefferson Airplane:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylLdszMHkLo# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylLdszMHkLo#)
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What do you think about the drumming? I'd like to know your opinion as a drummer. Perhaps is another performance that we the non-drummers enjoy despite eventual technical issues.
In all honesty its one of Moonies easiest songs to play. Its mostly all single stroke rolls and cymbal crashes that gets boring really quick. I would pretty much take any other song from the Who over this one concerning Moons drums.
Its all personal opinion though. I'm a fan of Pauls drumming on Dear Prudence, but most drummers I talk to dont see it.
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In all honesty its one of Moonies easiest songs to play. Its mostly all single stroke rolls and cymbal crashes that gets boring really quick. I would pretty much take any other song from the Who over this one concerning Moons drums.
Its all personal opinion though. I'm a fan of Pauls drumming on Dear Prudence, but most drummers I talk to dont see it.
I understand. I still love Moon's drumming in "I Can See For Miles", not because of its complexity but because I think it works very well in the song. But again, I'm not a drummer, that's why I just analyze the sound and not the technical performance.
By the way, I also believe "Dear Prudence" has superb drumming by Paul. I once showed the track to a brother-in-law who is a drummer but he's not too much into Beatles music; I told him that was McCartney, and he said that Paul was better than Ringo!
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I understand. I still love Moon's drumming in "I Can See For Miles", not because of its complexity but because I think it works very well in the song. But again, I'm not a drummer, that's why I just analyze the sound and not the technical performance.
By the way, I also believe "Dear Prudence" has superb drumming by Paul. I once showed the track to a brother-in-law who is a drummer but he's not too much into Beatles music; I told him that was McCartney, and he said that Paul was better than Ringo!
I've heard some interesting stuff on various shows that suggest that the drumming at the end of Dear Prudence is actually a later overdub and is more likely Ringo than Paul. Undoubtedly Paul did the basic backing track but the sound and playing on the end drums is very different and more in keeping with Ringo's style on things like Strawberry Fields and a Day in the Life than anything we ever heard from Paul before or since.
Can't judge myself not being a drumming connoisseur
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I've heard some interesting stuff on various shows that suggest that the drumming at the end of Dear Prudence is actually a later overdub and is more likely Ringo than Paul. Undoubtedly Paul did the basic backing track but the sound and playing on the end drums is very different and more in keeping with Ringo's style on things like Strawberry Fields and a Day in the Life than anything we ever heard from Paul before or since.
Can't judge myself not being a drumming connoisseur
Whether the drummer of the last part of "Dear Prudence" was Paul or Ringo, we may never know; all I know is that it is great to my ears.
With regard to "Strawberry Fields Forever", it also has some of my favorite drumming ever. But I believe that performance couldn't have been done in just one take, since that sounds as multiple drums!
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Whether the drummer of the last part of "Dear Prudence" was Paul or Ringo, we may never know; all I know is that it is great to my ears.
With regard to "Strawberry Fields Forever", it also has some of my favorite drumming ever. But I believe that performance couldn't have been done in just one take, since that sounds as multiple drums!
Certainly sounds great regardless.
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"I Can See For Miles" was the greatest triumph from the Who's psychedelic stage. The song was released as a single in October 1967, becoming the biggest hit the band had in US, where the record reached #9. Meanwhile, the single peaked at #10 in UK; but Pete Townshend, the author of the song, was disappointed because he had higher expectations.
Damn Beatles are probably to blame... ;D
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With regard to "Strawberry Fields Forever", it also has some of my favorite drumming ever. But I believe that performance couldn't have been done in just one take, since that sounds as multiple drums!
It is multiple drums. They were overdubbed.
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I've heard some interesting stuff on various shows that suggest that the drumming at the end of Dear Prudence is actually a later overdub and is more likely Ringo than Paul. Undoubtedly Paul did the basic backing track but the sound and playing on the end drums is very different and more in keeping with Ringo's style on things like Strawberry Fields and a Day in the Life than anything we ever heard from Paul before or since.
Can't judge myself not being a drumming connoisseur
The bass sound on Dear Prudence changes big time near the end too - it goes from being very loud and prominent to sounding almost muffled so maybe it was an edit too.
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Talking about "Dear Prudence" and the Who, I once read a music critic claiming that the Beatles song (recorded in 1968) has a similar guitar line to "Our Love Was", from the album The Who Sell Out (recorded in 1967). What do you think?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS5spuKkvW4# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS5spuKkvW4#)
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^
Sounds a bit like Susan by The Buckinghams, especially that middle part...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAHlAnAXDJI# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAHlAnAXDJI#)
But both songs were released around the same time.
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Dragging this thread up 4 years later. . . I've never understood the relationship between "I Can See For Miles" and "Helter Skelter." I've read in several books now how Paul was prompted to compose the latter after Pete Townshend told him The Who had just recorded—and I'm paraphrasing here—the "most raucous, raunchiest song ever." Huh. I've been a devoted Who fan for 40 years, and I would not characterize ICSFM as raucous or raunchy. Yeah, sure, the lyrics are about a distant partner keeping an eye, literally or not, on a potentially cheating mate, but I'd never choose "raucous" or "raunchy" to describe the song. Was Pete just blowing smoke? He tends to do that. "Helter Skelter" is much creepier in my opinon. The two songs seem nothing alike to me.
In regard to the more professional comments already posted regarding Keith Moon, I can't speak to the technical aspects of drumming, not being a musician, but—just as a quick FYI, he was in such bad shape during the recording of "Music Must Change" (on the Who Are You LP) that Pete had to substitute a recording of his footsteps as he walked around his new flat. If you listen carefully at the very beginning of the song you can hear his shoes squeaking.
Talking about "Dear Prudence" and the Who, I once read a music critic claiming that the Beatles song (recorded in 1968) has a similar guitar line to "Our Love Was", from the album The Who Sell Out (recorded in 1967). What do you think?
"Our Love Was" is so beautiful. That whole LP is fantastic, one of my all-time favorites. I'll have to listen to "Dear Prudence" to see if I can discern the similarities Andrés mentioned.
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I can see the connection between I Can See For Miles and Helter Skelter in that both songs rely heavily on their instrumentation, mainly guitar and drums.
Pete overstated slightly the wildness of the Who's recording, and Paul and the Beatles decided that they'd try to do what they'd expected to hear.
Incidentally, I've just noticed that 'miles' also feature in Helter Skelter:
"I'm coming down fast but I'm miles above you."
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I can see the connection between I Can See For Miles and Helter Skelter in that both songs rely heavily on their instrumentation, mainly guitar and drums.
You make a good point, zipp. As a layperson (i.e., non-musician), I was focusing more on the vocals: To me, Roger's vocals sound almost dreamy, whereas Paul's shrieky rendition of the Beatles' song comes across as much creepier. So that muddles the connection for me.
Incidentally, I've just noticed that 'miles' also feature in Helter Skelter:
"I'm coming down fast but I'm miles above you."
Good catch. I never noticed that. :)
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Has anyone ever actually seen an original quote by Pete on whether he said that about I Can See for Miles? I’ve only ever heard Paul quoting him but is Paul verballing Pete? Did he say anything like that? The Wikipedia entry for I Can See for Miles just says Paul saw a review which said it was the heaviest song the reviewer had ever heard. At other sources it’s either Paul read an interview with Pete about the song or that Pete told him directly. Enquring minds (well at least mine) would love to know.
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Has anyone ever actually seen an original quote by Pete on whether he said that about I Can See for Miles? I’ve only ever heard Paul quoting him but is Paul verballing Pete? Did he say anything like that? The Wikipedia entry for I Can See for Miles just says Paul saw a review which said it was the heaviest song the reviewer had ever heard. At other sources it’s either Paul read an interview with Pete about the song or that Pete told him directly. Enquring minds (well at least mine) would love to know.
Apparently Paul saw a contemporary review in Melody Maker which said "This marathon epic of swearing cymbals and cursing guitars marks the return of the Who".
In later years he kind of exaggerated the story, but the motivation for Helter Skelter would definitely seem to come from this song.
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I have no doubt HS was inspired by ICSFM. But yes Macca has enhanced the story a bit.
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Yes. Paul meant it as a blues piece...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoK3HyIL0eo# (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoK3HyIL0eo#)
Then he tried it a different way...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wlCSucknn4# (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wlCSucknn4#)
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Has anyone ever actually seen an original quote by Pete on whether he said that about I Can See for Miles? I’ve only ever heard Paul quoting him . . .
I can't believe I missed this <face palm>. The quote I was referring to was, of course Paul quoting Pete. I assumed that it was a direct quote from Pete himself. I also was under the impression, from what I read, that this was part of a direct exchange between Pete and Paul. I should have followed up and checked the documentation.
The following excerpt is from https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-who-creepy-song-meaning-i-can-see-for-miles/ (https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-who-creepy-song-meaning-i-can-see-for-miles/):
Rumour has it that Macca was unimpressed after reading an interview with Townshend who described The Who’s ‘I Can See For Miles’ as “the most raucous rock ‘n’ roll”, lit a fire in him and he decided to do one better by getting even more raucous.
“Just reading those lines (of the Townshend interview) fired my imagination,” McCartney told Mojo in 2008. “I thought, Right, they’ve done what they think was the loudest and dirtiest; we’ll do what we think. I went into the studio and told the guys, ‘Look, I’ve got this song but Pete said this and I want to do it even dirtier.’ It was a great brief for the engineers, for everyone- just as fuzzy and as dirty and as loud and as filthy as you can get it is where I want to go. I was happy to have Pete’s quote to get me there.”
Later in the article, the author also adds this statement:
Whether the song’s meaning is rather creepy to read now in 2020, it is hard to deny that it is still a barnstorming anthem and the fact that it inspired Paul McCartney to better it with ‘Helter Skelter’ proves that it deserves a place in rock ‘n’ roll history.
This annoys me. ICSFM is an excellent song in its own right and thus deserves recognition for that and not only for the fact that it inspired "Helter Skelter." But then, I'm wildly defensive about the Who.
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This annoys me. ICSFM is an excellent song in its own right and thus deserves recognition for that and not only for the fact that it inspired "Helter Skelter." But then, I'm wildly defensive about the Who.
I actually prefer ICSFM. Helter Skelter is a fun wild song but it’s not in my top tier Beatle songs. ICSFM is one of my fav Who tracks.
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I actually prefer ICSFM. Helter Skelter is a fun wild song but it’s not in my top tier Beatle songs. ICSFM is one of my fav Who tracks.
Same here.
I'm still not sure if the article in question was an interview or a record review. Has anybody ever found the actual article? It may have been in Guitar Player ...
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I actually prefer ICSFM. Helter Skelter is a fun wild song but it’s not in my top tier Beatle songs. ICSFM is one of my fav Who tracks.
Same here.
icon_good It's one of my favorites, too. One of Roger Daltrey's favorites as well, he says, although that was a live interview I heard, and I can't document it.
I'm still not sure if the article in question was an interview or a record review. Has anybody ever found the actual article? It may have been in Guitar Player ...
I intend to try to track this down once my workload eases a little, unless someone else finds it first.