Ringo Starr - Live in New Jersey 7/18/1995 - 8. Boris the Spider (John Entwistle)

Garden State Arts Center -
Holmdel, NJ

"Boris the Spider" is a song written by The Who's bassist, John Entwistle. It appears as the second track of their 1966 album, A Quick One. This song is claimed to be John's first composition, but "Whiskey Man" was written first. Pete Townshend had told John that he needed to write one more song for the album. So, he quickly ran home and wrote this song about a spider. The song was a live staple. This song, "My Wife" and "The Quiet One" were John's biggest songs to perform live (in fact, "The Quiet One" was written to replace this song and "My Wife", which John had become tired of singing). Though this song was popular, it was never released as a single in the USA and the UK . In Japan, Boris the Spider was released as the b-side to "Whiskey Man" in 1967.

"Boris the Spider" was written after Entwistle had been out drinking with Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman. They were making up funny names for animals when Entwistle came up with "Boris the Spider". The chorus utilizes vocals that influenced the vocal style of death metal singers.

This song is one of the three childish songs by Entwistle. The other two are "Silas Stingy" from The Who Sell Out and "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (UK B-side of "Magic Bus" and B-side to the US-only "Call Me Lightning" .

According to Pete Townshend in his song-by-song review of Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy for Rolling Stone, it was Jimi Hendrix's favourite Who song.

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Music

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