I Can See for Miles
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| “I Can See for Miles” | |||||
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| Single by The Who from the album The Who Sell Out |
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| B-side | Someone's Coming (UK) Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand (Electric Version) (US) |
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| Released | 14 October 1967 | ||||
| Format | vinyl record | ||||
| Recorded | CBS Studios, London, May 1967. Vocals recorded at Talentmasters, New York, Aug. 6-7, 1967. Final mix at Gold Star Studios, Los Angeles, September 10, 1967. | ||||
| Genre | Hard rock psychedelic rock |
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| Length | 4:06 | ||||
| Label | Track Records | ||||
| Producer | Kit Lambert | ||||
| The Who singles chronology | |||||
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"I Can See for Miles" is a song written by Pete Townshend of The Who, recorded for the band's 1967 album, The Who Sell Out. It was the only song from the album to be released as a single, on 14 October 1967. It remains The Who's biggest hit single in the USA.
Recorded in several separate sessions in studios across two continents, the recording of "I Can See for Miles" exemplifies the increasingly sophisticated studio techniques of rock bands in the late 1960s. The backing tracks were recorded in London, the vocals and overdubbing were performed in New York at Talentmasters Studios, and the album was mastered in Los Angeles at the Gold Star Studios.
It reached #10 in the U.K. and #9 in the U.S. Though these figures would seem successful to most bands, Townshend was disappointed. He is quoted as saying, "To me it was the ultimate Who record, yet it didn't sell. I spat on the British record buyer." The song also appears at #258 on the List of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
The song may have inspired The Beatles' "Helter Skelter". Paul McCartney recalls writing "Helter Skelter" after reading a review of The Who Sell Out in which the critic claimed that "I Can See for Miles" was the "heaviest" song he'd ever heard. McCartney -- without having ever actually heard "I Can See for Miles" -- wrote "Helter Skelter" in an attempt to make an even "heavier" song than the one praised in the review.
"I Can See for Miles" was rarely performed live by The Who; the complex vocal harmonies were difficult to replicate on stage. The song was performed on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, but it was mimed.
The opening segment combined with the chorus part at 1:03 was used for an automobile headlights advertisement, by Sylvania.
This song is included in the Apollo 13 soundtrack.
In 2005, "I Can See for Miles" was covered by Styx for the album Big Bang Theory.
Also in 2005, Petra Haden covered "I Can See for Miles" on Petra Haden Sings: The Who Sell Out, an album which reinterpreted The Who Sell Out in its entirety.
In 2007, Country music star Marty Stuart teamed up with Bluegrass quintet Old Crow Medicine Show to cover the song on the album "Compadres," which consists of Stuart's covers of famous songs with other guest musicians.
"I Can See for Miles" also appeared in Rhino Records' 1995 compilation "Golden Throats: the Great Celebrity Sing Off." The cover was sung by actor Frankie Randall.
"I Can See for Miles" was also included in a commercial for American Honda Motors in September and October of 2007.
[edit] References
- Kent, Matt and Andy Neill. The Who: The Ultimate Collection (liner notes). MCA Records, 2002.
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