Songs from the Lifehouse Project

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These tracks were at various times, part of the Lifehouse Project written by Pete Townshend for the Who.

All songs by Pete Townshend (except "Baby, Don't You Do It," by Holland/Dozier/Holland)

Contents

[edit] One Note

  • Background: "One Note" is the prologue of the "Lifehouse" project. It is not known to have been made until the project was revived in the late 1990s. It refers to World War II.
  • Demo: none known to exist
  • 1970s: "One Note" was not part of the original "Lifehouse" concept.
  • Released Version: A recording from the 2000 was made when Townshend finally finished Lifehouse. This can be found on the complete Lifehouse Chronicles set, available only at his site, or in stores on the Lifehouse Elements single disc.
  • Live: Townshend performed this solo on his Live: Sadler's Wells 2000, available at his website.

[edit] Teenage Wasteland

  • Background: One of the most important "Lifehouse" songs, and it was eventually altered into "Baba O'Riley."
  • Demo: Among the original 1970-1971 demos. Available on Lifehouse Chronicles.
  • 1970s: No known version was recorded by the Who, although some of the lyrics were incorporated into "Baba O'Riley."
  • Released Version: The only released versions are the 1971 demo on Lifehouse Chronicles and the live performance at Sadler's Wells.
  • Live: A live version is on Live: Sadler's Wells 2000.

[edit] Time Is Passing

  • Background: For many years, "Time Is Passing" was known only from the demo's appearance on the Meher Baba tribute LP Who Came First. The Who recorded the song, but it was never released. Live versions dating from as early as 1970 can be found on bootlegs.
  • Demo: Can be found on Lifehouse Chronicles.
  • 1970s: It was recorded during the original 1971 "Lifehouse" sessions. This recording was found in the 90's in the vaults, but there was some serious tape drop-out damage. One channel of the track was released (in mono) on the 1998 Odds & Sods remaster. The other track can be found on the bootleg "Exciting The Who", and a clever net user put them both together, very well at that: [1]
  • Live: It was performed at the Young Vic concerts, and a live version by The Who is one Disc 2 of the Who's Next Deluxe Edition (2003). A live version by Pete is on the Sadler's Wells album.

[edit] Love Ain't For Keeping

  • Background: The song is about the lost love between the old couple in the story. It was originally a hard rocker, but the final version was an acoustic take.
  • Demo: On Lifehouse Chronicles.
  • 1970s: The electric version was recorded on March 17, 1971, and included some synthesizer (or possibly organ played through a synth). It featured Pete Townshend on lead vocals, as opposed to Roger Daltrey on the acoustic version. The acoustic version was completed in May 1971 and released on the original Who's Next album (1971). One of the electric takes ended up on the 1998 Odds & Sods remaster, and then again on the 2003 Deluxe Edition of Who's Next.
  • Live: Featured in the Who's live set over the years. A Young Vic performance from 1971 in the style of the electric version appeared on Disc 2 of the Who's Next Deluxe Edition. A 1982 performance arranged more like the acoustic version is on the Who Rocks America VHS and its CD counterpart, Live In Toronto. Pete plays it in the Sadler's Wells concert.

[edit] Goin' Mobile

  • Background: Probably the lightest "Lifehouse" song, this was part of the original sessions and, perhaps unexpectedly, ended up on Who's Next.
  • Demo: On Lifehouse Chronicles.
  • 1970s: Recorded April (?) and May of 1971. Pete plays synthesizer and sings lead.
  • Released Version: The Who's studio version on Who's Next (1971), Pete's demo on Lifehouse Chronicles, and a live version performed by Pete on Sadler's Wells.
  • Live: "Goin Mobile" was never played live by the Who. In 2000, Pete included it in the Sadler's Wells performances.

[edit] I Don't Even Know Myself

  • Background: This was written during the earliest stages of Lifehouse, and whether it was intended to be part of the finished product is uncertain. It became a live favorite in 1970. Curiously, it was revived for Pete's Sadler's Wells performances, so it may hold more importance in "Lifehouse" than previously thought. The line "And no one will ever throw it" was originally "And no nigger will ever throw it." Daltrey sang the original line at the Isle of Wright Festival.
  • Demo: On Lifehouse Chronicles.
  • 1970s: The studio version was recorded in spring-summer of 1970 for an unreleased EP. The song was eventually released as the b-side to "Won't Get Fooled Again" in 1971.
  • Released Versions: Other than the b-side appearance, "I Don't Know Myself" remained elusive until it was released on 1985's rarities compilation, "Who's Missing". The demo appeared on bootlegs, such as "Higher Education", before legitimate release on Lifehouse Chronicles.
  • Live: The song was played live by the Who throughout 1970-1971, and thereafter dropped until the late 1990s. Live versions can be found on Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970, Disc 2 of Who's Next Deluxe Edition, and solo Pete from Sadler's Wells. A live version dating from February 2002 can be found on Disc 3 of Live At The Royal Albert Hall.

[edit] Bargain

  • Background: Pete wrote "Bargain" after being tempted by a groupie. He wrote the song praying for strength to Meher Baba. The studio version's lead guitar was played on a vintage Gretsch given to Pete by Joe Walsh.
  • Demo: On Lifehouse Chronicles.
  • 1970s: The song was played at sessions from April 12, June 5, 18, and 19, 1971. It was released on Who's Next (1971). Pete plays synthesizer.
  • Released Versions: Appears on Who's Next.
  • Live: Played at the Young Vic and occasionally thereafter. A live version from 1972 is on the 30 Years Of Maximum R&B box set, another on Disc 2 of the Who's Next deluxe edition, and yet another is featured on Live At The Royal Albert Hall, recorded in 2000. Pete played it at Sadler's Wells.

[edit] Getting In Tune

  • Background: Another important Lifehouse track played at Young Vic.
  • Demo: On Lifehouse Chronicles and Lifehouse Elements.
  • 1970s: Originally recorded March 18, 1971 as "I'm In Tune." The album version was recorded June 7, 1971.
  • Released Versions: On the original Who's Next album. The demo has also be released.
  • Live: The Who played this live at the Young Vic, and at several other 1971 shows. The only officially-released live version dating from the 1970s is on Disc 2 of the Who's Next deluxe edition. A version recorded in 2000, and featuring lead vocals by Eddie Vedder can be found on Live At The Royal Albert Hall.

[edit] Pure And Easy

  • Background: "Pure And Easy" is one of the single most important LIfehouse tracks, as it includes a very important story elements: the meaning of life is one musical note, echoed in "One Note" years later. The song's original title was "The Note". This was one of the early Lifehouse songs, the first song Pete specifically wrote for the project.
  • Demo: Originally on Who Came First, now on The Lifehouse Chronicles or Lifehouse Elements.
  • 1970s: First recorded at Record Plant, March 17-18, 1971, it was recorded again later in the month. Played live at the Young Vic, this was one of the curiously missing tracks from Who's Next.
  • Released Versions: The demo, featured on Who Came First, was the first released version. A take from the later March 1971 sessions ended up on Odds & Sods, and became considerably popular. A different studio version appears as a bonus track on expanded CD editions of Who's Next.
  • Live: Played at the Young Vic (a version can be found on Disc 2 of Who's Next Deluxe Edition), and by the Who in December 1999 at Shepherd's Bush. Pete played it at Sadler's Wells.

[edit] Too Much Of Anything

  • Background: Another obscure Lifehouse song, originally titled "Too Much". Its place in the story is uncertain.
  • Demo:
  • 1970s: A version was recorded April 12, 1971 with Nicky Hopkins on piano.
  • Released Versions: The April 1971 recording ended up on Odds & Sods in 1974. The same song with a different mix and alternate vocal was released on the 1995 reissue of Who's Next.
  • Live: Played at the Young Vic (Disc 2 of Who's Next Deluxe Edition).

[edit] Baba O'Riley

  • Background: This rewrite of "Teenage Wasteland" is one of the best known Lifehouse tracks. Townshend's original concept was to create a synth that would, when given autobiographical information on a version, provide a musical pattern of that person. The technology seemed far-fetched at the time, but the synthesizer on "Baba O'Riley" is made to simulate the possible effect. Pete has recently launched a website to simulate the synthesizer technology.
  • Demo: The extensive 9-minute demo is on Lifehouse Chronicles.
  • 1970s: Recorded May 1971, the sessions for the song were constructed around the demo. Pete's piano and appreggiated synthesizer are both from the demo. Dave Arbus plays violin, a suggestion made by Keith Moon. Not played live during the Young Vic concerts, it later became a concert favorite.
  • Released Versions: Appeared on Who's Next (1971).
  • Live: A live version from 1978 (Keith Moon's last who concert) is in The Kids Are Alright movie and soundtrack. Another live version from 1982 is on the VHS Who Rocks America and it s CD counterpart, Live In Toronto. A live version can be found on Live At The Royal Albert Hall, and features live violin played by Nigel Kennedy. Pete played it at Sadler's Wells.

[edit] Behind Blue Eyes

  • Background: The song is from the villain's point of view. In Pete's story, even the villain has sympathetic characteristics. When Pete wrote it, it was a song of love, but Roger's delivery gave it a more forceful tone.
  • Demo: Curiously, the demo was first found on one of the Scoop collections, a compilation of Pete's various demos over the years, besides Lifehouse songs. Now on Lifehouse Chronicles.
  • 1970s: The song was first recorded on March 17-18 1971, with Al Kooper on organ. Subsequent takes in May of 1971 yielded the final version (these were recorded without Kooper).
  • Released Versions: It is featured on the original Who's Next, and then as a single (with John Entwistle's "My Wife" as the b-side). Pete later recorded the song in 1999 with an orchestra, which is on both Lifehouse Chronicles and Lifehouse Elements.
  • Live: Played at the Young Vic and often thereafter. Live versions can be found on the 1997 reissue of The Who By Numbers, the 30 Years Of Maximum R&B Live VHS and DVD, and Disc 2 of Who's Next Deluxe Edition as well as Live At The Royal Albert Hall.

[edit] Won't Get Fooled Again

  • Background: A song about disillusioned revolutionaries. In the original story it was about the villain Jumbo's followers going against him (a topic similar to that of "We're Not Gonna Take It" from Tommy).
  • Demo: Pete's demo was released on Lifehouse Chronicles.
  • 1970s:The song was recorded on March 16, 1971 by The Who. This version was scrapped and the song was re-recorded at Mick Jagger's studio in April. It was edited and released as a single where it charted in the UK and US. It has been played at every Who concert since the Young Vic in 1971.
  • Released Versions: "Won't Get Fooled Again" was the final song on Who's Next. The song was edited and released as a single in 1971. The original version was released on the 2003 Who's Next Deluxe Edition, and features an alternate sythesizer track. Numerous live versions have also been released.
  • Live:The song has been played at almost every (if not all) Who concerts since 1971. Notable live version can be found on Disc 2 of the Who's Next Deluxe Edition, The Kids Are Alright movie and soundtrack, as well as Live At The Royal Albert Hall (with Noel Gallagher on guitar).

[edit] The Seeker

  • Bakground: In the works in early 1970, "The Seeker" ended up as the first Who single of the 1970s. Its place in the Lifehouse canon in uncertain. It is doubtful that it was considered part of the final project, but was one of the early songs written by Pete as the idea progressed.
  • Demo: On Who Came First.
  • 1970s: Recorded January 19, 1970. Released as a single with the very obscure, Daltrey-composed "Here For More" as the b-side on July 13, 1970, peaking at #19. A promo film also exists, and can be found on the Who's Better, Who's Best DVD.
  • Released Versions: The single version has been released on various compilations since 1971's Meaty Beaty Big And Bouncy. It was remixed for the 30 Years Of Maximum R&B box set, and at least one best-of compendium includes this version (My Generation-The Very Best of The Who, 1996)
  • Live: No official live versions exist, and very few bootlegs. It was revived by Pete and Roger during The Who's 2006 world tour.

[edit] The Song Is Over

  • Bakground: A song recorded in May of 1971 and released on Who's Next. It features Pete and Roger sharing lead vocals and quotes from "Pure And Easy" at the end. It was intended to be the final song on the Lifehouse movie. Nicky Hopkins guested on piano.
  • Demo: Released on Lifehouse Chronicles.
  • 1970s: Released on Who's Next.
  • Released Version: Released on Who's Next in 1971.
  • Live: "The Song Is Over" was never performed live by The Who, although Daltrey did sing it in his tribute to Townshend at Carnegie Hall in 1994.

[edit] Let's See Action

  • Background: One of the 1971 songs.
  • Demo: On Lifehouse Chronicles and Lifehouse Elements.
  • 1970s: Recored May 1971. It was the first of the Lifehouse singles, released November 1971, with John Entwistle's rare "When I Was A Boy" as the b-side.
  • Released Version: The single has appeared on various compilations. A remixed version was considered for the 1995 Who's Next reissue, but left off. (included on My Generation-The Very Best of The Who, 1996)
  • Live: Footage of a strange, slow version dating from a 1974 concert jam can be found on bootleg Who DVDs. A live version, recorded in 2000, and featuring Eddie Vedder sharing lead vocals with Roger and Pete can be found on Live At The Royal Albert Hall. Pete performed it at Sadler's Wells.

[edit] Baby Don't You Do It*

  • Background: This Marvin Gaye hit was frequently played by the Who in their early days (a demo from late 1964 exists of them playing it). As far as the Lifehouse concept, this song had to do with Mary leaving her home.
  • Demo: none (unless you count the demo the band did of this track in 1964)
  • 1970s: Recorded March 16, 1971, with Leslie West on lead guitar.
  • Released: The Lifehouse version of "Baby Don't You Do" was not released until the 1995 Who's Next reissue. This version was shortened; the full version is on the 2003 Who's Next Deluxe Edition. The 1964 demo appears on the 1998 Odds & Sods reissue.
  • Live: The song was played at the Young Vic, and throghout the rest of 1971. A live version from the Young Vic is on the 30 Years Of Maximum R&B box set.

[edit] Put The Money Down

  • Background: The song's place in the Lifehouse story seems to refer to the sixties, with references to drugs, heroes, and even Alice Cooper ("There are bands killing chickens"). It probably recorded for The Who's unreleased 1972 follow-up to Who's Next that eventually morphed into Quadrophenia.
  • Demo: On Lifehouse Chronicles.
  • 1970s: Recorded June 6, 1972. After appearing on several bootlegs, it appeared on Odds & Sods in 1974. It was released as the album's single, with Entwistle's "Postcard" as the b-side, completing the Lifehouse singles series.
  • Released Version: On Odds & Sods, plus demo on Lifehouse Chronicles.
  • Live: No known live version exist.

[edit] Join Together

  • Background: Although not recorded in 1971, "Join Together" is one of the most important songs of the entire Lifehouse concept. The song is the point in the story where the audience and the band playing strike the "universal chord" and are purified by the music, joining together as one. It may have been intended for the Who's scrapped 1972 album "Rock is Dead, Long Live Rock" (that would also have featured such songs as "Put The Money Down", "Long Live Rock", and "Love Reign O'er Me"). That project formed into Quadrophenia. The song's original title was "Join Together With The Band".
  • Demo: On Lifehouse Chronicles.
  • 1970s: Recorded May 22, 1972, with Pete on synthesizer, plus fife, Jew's harp, and two harmonicas. Released as a single June 1972. A promotional film also exists of the band miming to the song and playing ridiculously large harmonicas.
  • Released Version: The single, which has appeared on various compilations. A remixed version is on 30 Years Of Maximum R&B.
  • Live: Can be found on the Kids are Alright Soundtrack. Pete played it at Sadler's Wells.

[edit] (The) Relay

  • Background:This song was about "the Grid", an idea of Pete's and component of the Lifehouse story that was strikingly similar to the internet (which would not become popular until the mid-1990s). It may have been intended for The Who's unreleased 1972 album that eventually became Quadrophenia.
  • Demo: Appears on Lifehouse Chronicles.
  • 1970s: Recorded in 1972 and released as a single, with Keith Moon's humorous "Waspman" as the b-side.
  • Released: Single included of various compilations.
  • Live: The only "live" version from the '70's is from BBC Sessions, which includes a the original backing track, but with new vocals. It was revived by the band in the late 1990s, and a version can be found at Live At The Royal Albert Hall. Pete played it at Sadler's Wells.

[edit] Water

  • Background: "Water" is one of the more enigmatic Lifehouse songs. It was said to have been written in 1968 and on early track listings for Tommy. It was also considered for an unissued 1970 EP (that also would have included "I Don't Even Know Myself"). It was played live throughout 1970-1971.
  • Demo: Never released.
  • 1970s: After being used in concert frequently, a studio version was released as the b-side of "5:15" from Quadrophenia.
  • Released Version: The studio version was the b-side to "5:15." The only CD appearance of this version is the 1998 reissue of Odds & Sods.
  • Live: Two live versions exist on official releases; one on Live At The Isle Of Wright and one on Disc Two of the 2003 Who's Next Deluxe Edition. Concert footage of a live version from 1970 can be found on 30 Years Of Maximum R&B Live as well as Live At The Isle Of Wright.

[edit] Slip Kid

  • Background: One of the earliest songs constructed for the second version of the Lifehouse story. It was written during a trying time in Pete's own life, when he was somewhat depressed, looking back on his youth.
  • Demo: On Lifehouse Chronicles.
  • 1970s: Recorded in 1975 and released on The Who By Numbers.
  • Released Versions: Only on The Who By Numbers.
  • Live: Tried onstage, it was quickly dropped from The Who's live act, it has not been played by the band since 1976.

[edit] Mary

  • Background: A song about Ray and Sally's daughter, Mary, who runs away to the Lifehouse.
  • Demo: Pete's demo was released on "Scoop".
  • 1970s: Apparently recorded by The Who in early 1971, but not released due to a damaged tape (the same damaged tape also had "Time Is Passing").
  • Released Versions: The Who's version has never been released (and amazingly has not found its way onto any bootlegs). The only released version is on Pete Townshend's demo on Scoop.
  • Live: This song was never played live, but featured on The Lifehouse Chronicles.

[edit] Naked Eye

  • Background: Another early Lifehouse song. A song written out of late 1969 early 1970 live jams (an example can be heard on "My Generation" on Live At Leeds). A studio version was recorded in 1970 and intended for an unreleased EP (that would also have featured "I Don't Even Know Myself", "Water", "Postcard", and "Now I'm A Farmer"). It is not known if this was intended for the final release of Lifehouse.
  • Demo: No known Pete Townshend demo exist, but elements of the song frequently appeared in concerts in 1969 and 1970.
  • 1970s: "Naked Eye" was recorded by The Who in the summer of 1970 and often played in concert.
  • Released Versions: The 1970 studio version can be found on the 1998 reissue of Odds & Sods. A live version from the Young Vic can be found on Disc 2 of the "Who's Next" Deluxe Edition. Early versions of the song, both dating from 1970, can be heard on "Live At Leeds" and "Live At The Isle Of Wright Festival".
  • Live: The song was frequently played live by The Who in the 1970s. It was often incorporated into jams. It was played by The Who in 1989 and revived once again in the 21st century. Official live versions can be found on Disc 2 of the Deluxe Edition of"Who's Next" as well as "Live At The Isle Of Wright Festival".

[edit] New Song

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[edit] Music Must Change

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[edit] Sister Disco

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[edit] Who Are You

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[edit] Long Live Rock

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[edit] Can You Help The One You Really Love?

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