The Who - QUADROPHENIA ---- Cut My Hair (Check out The Info)

Cut My Hair (3'46) News read by John Curle Pete Townshend: "A domestic interlude. The boy recalls a row with his folks that culminated in his leaving home. We also hear a news broadcast mentioning riots in Brighton between Mods and Rockers, events at which he was present the previous week." This song quotes from The High Numbers' single "Zoot Suit." "Cut My Hair" was only played live during the British leg of the 1973 tour and was not revived until 1996.

By 1973 Pete Townshend was courting disaster, fighting demons both interior and exterior. In 1971 the writer and guitarist had dealt with the blow of his second full rock opera, Lifehouse, being sunk by a falling out with friend and manager, Kit Lambert. An intense work schedule, combined with an inability to turn his ideas into reality (plus a hefty drink intake), drove him to a breakdown. Added to this was the constant battling between certain fellow band members. So in retrospect it looks like nothing short of a miracle that he not only salvaged the Lifehouse prime cuts to make the mighty Who's Next album, but that he then went on to channel all that sturm und drang into his greatest work: Quadrophenia.

Drawing on his experiences as a young mod-about-town as well as the spiritual quest that had lead him to the feet of his guru, Meher Baba, Townshend created the tale of Jimmy The Mod. A dispossessed youth whose psychological problems were rooted in home life, teenage relationship angst and plain old peer pressure; the anti-hero goes on a metaphorical journey from urban London to the rainswept beaches of Brighton in search of meaning. The concept was also shoe-horned into the group dynamic by using each member of the band as a signifier for the four personalities that inhabit Jimmy's double schizophrenia, with a recurring theme to match.

While the concept may be unwieldy, as a musical statement it's fabulous. The band could rock harder and looser than most others by this point. Moon's drums, always on the verge of chaos, drive the hit, 5'15 like a wild beast through the very heart of the double album. Entwistle's bass bubbles and restlessly explores all the empty corners of the arrangements while his french horn injects the 'is it me for a moment?' theme seamlessly. And Daltry's voice, having proven its maturity on Who's Next was here allowed to roar as Townshend could now write songs to fit his range. The closing, triumphant Love Reign O'er Me or the opening The Real Me remain amongst his finest moments. Meanwhile Pete's guitar work is at its most expressive and his use of early synths withstands the usual cheese-factor that blights so much music from this period.

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[bnbfalcon]

fucken unbelievable! someone hit the dislike button.

[lounatic64]

favourite band and album of all time

[ellakirbytv]

And 1:35...and I own that pink stripey blazer being worn by the girl in the studio!

[ellakirbytv]

My dad is in the image at 00:57!

[markusa]

BRILLIANT THANK YOU

[twistedskinfx]

43 years old and still relate.... when i was at the head of the ride out at the isle of white scooter rally on my sportique with lights n mirrors this was the tune going thru my head,,,,, one of those magical times you get once in a lifetime,,,

[TheQuadrophenic]

@Teflon65 I always wondered what i could hear it's at 1.26 i thought i could hear someone say 'grant'.I love this album check out the winning video for the 5.15 competition it's very good.Saw the who perform this album last year for the tct it was amazing

[steakandsid]

Even 36+ years after first hearing it - this track and album still sends a tingle down the spine - continues to stand the test of time tells you everything you need to know about British working class kids growing up over the last 45 years

[TheWolfmoon21]

One of the few rare albums that actually help you in life

[LostInTransition13]

Zoot suit, white jacket, with side vents five inches long.

[stephensingleton]

this album is coming out on a deluxe version . how fab . what an album ! i have played it to death for years . it's also my mum's fave album of all time ..

[123GoShop]

The piece transcends generations; definitely not stuck in time. Pete's writing was bloody brilliant!