I Can't Explain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "I Can't Explain" | ||
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| Single by The Who | ||
| Released | January 15, 1965 (UK) February 13, 1965 (US) |
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| Format | Vinyl record (7") | |
| Recorded | November 1964, at Pye Studios, London, UK | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 2:04 | |
| Label | Brunswick | |
| Writer(s) | Pete Townshend | |
| Producer(s) | Shel Talmy | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| The Who singles chronology | ||
| Zoot Suit (as "The High Numbers") 1964 |
I Can't Explain 1965 |
Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere 1965 |
"I Can't Explain" is a song released by English rock band The Who in 1965, but primarily written by Pete Townshend and produced by Shel Talmy. It was released as the A-side of the first single the band released as "The Who" (their original name being The High Numbers).
"I Can't Explain" was also released as the opening song of The Who's 1971 compilation album Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy. In the liner notes, Townshend notes the song's similarity to contemporary hit single "You Really Got Me": "It can’t be beat for straightforward Kink copying. There is little to say about how I wrote this. It came out of the top of my head when I was 18 and a half."[1] The Who used I Can't Explain throughout their live performance history. It was used in many (if not all) of their live performances and continues to be a staple today.
The Intro Guitar Riff has been covered countless times. One example of this cover can be found in The Clash's "Clash City Rockers" and "Guns on the Roof".
A snippet of the song was also performed by Elton John in his cover version of "Pinball Wizard" for the soundtrack to the 1975 film Tommy.
David Bowie recorded a version of this song for his Pin Ups album in 1973. It was also covered by heavy metal band Scorpions in 1989.
The original version by the Who is ranked #371 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Jimmy Page who later would become famous with The Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin was brought in to play guitar on this record in case Townshend couldn't handle the important guitar part, but he handled it fine.
