Magic Bus (song)

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“Magic Bus”

Single by The Who
from the album Magic Bus: The Who on Tour

B-side

"Someone's Coming" (US)
"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (UK)

Released

July 27, 1968 (US)
September 18, 1968 (UK)

Format

7" vinyl

Recorded

May 29, 1968 at Advision Studios, London and mixed at Gold Star Studios, Los Angeles sometime between June 30 and July 7, 1968

Genre

Rock, Psychedelia

Length

03:21

Label

Track Records 604024 (UK)
Decca Records 32362 (US)

The Who singles chronology

"Dogs"
(1968)

"Magic Bus"
(1968)

"Pinball Wizard"
(1969)

"Magic Bus" is one of The Who's most popular songs. It was released in 1968, and has been a concert staple. It reached #26 in the United Kingdom and #25 in the United States.

It was written at the time of My Generation, by Pete Townshend, but wasn't released until later.

It is usually performed as a duet, where the driver vows to drive his bus to his girlfriend every day, and the onlooker inquiring into the bus's sale. The delivery of the lyrics is not in the nature of an auctioneer's argot (because there is no intention of selling it) but a reverse auction (e.g., If you don't want fifty, how about twenty) where the buyer really doesn't want to buy it, as it is clear that the seller really doesn't want to sell it.

One of its most legendary performances can be heard on Live at Leeds. This version stretches out to nearly eight minutes, complete with Daltrey playing harmonica, Townshend performing a funky Bo Diddley riff, and Moon playing whirlwind breaks that suggest an octopus behind the drums. The song has appeared on The Simpsons, A Tale of Two Springfields where the Who perform to both sides of a divided Springfield. The crowd requests "Magic Bus" and Roger Daltrey punches out the first two words when the audience yells for "Pinball Wizard". The Who then proceed to play The Seeker instead.

In summer 2006, the song was featured on television commercials for Nissan's Quest minivans.

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v • d • e The Who's singles discography

UK Singles	1964: "Zoot Suit" • 1965: "I Can't Explain", "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere", "My Generation" • 1966: "Substitute", "A Legal Matter", "The Kids Are Alright", "I'm a Boy", "La-La-La-Lies", "Happy Jack" • 1967: "Pictures of Lily", "The Last Time", "I Can See for Miles" • 1968: "Dogs", "Magic Bus" • 1969: "Pinball Wizard" • 1970: "The Seeker", "Summertime Blues", "See Me, Feel Me" • 1971: "Won't Get Fooled Again", "Let's See Action" • 1972: "Join Together", "Relay" • 1973: "5:15" • 1975: "Overture", "Squeeze Box" • 1978: "Who Are You" • 1981: "You Better You Bet", "Don't Let Go the Coat" • 1982: "Athena" • 1984: "Twist and Shout (live)" • 2004: "Real Good Looking Boy" • 2006: "Wire & Glass", "It's Not Enough", "Tea & Theatre"

Other U.S. singles	1969: "I'm Free" • 1971: "Behind Blue Eyes" • 1974: "The Real Me" • 1979: "Long Live Rock" • 1981: "Daily Records", "Did You Steal My Money", "How Can You Do It Alone" • 1982: "Eminence Front", "Cry If You Want", "Dangerous", "It's Hard"