"My Wife" is a song by the British
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
band
the Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist and singer John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered ...
, written and sung by bass guitarist
John Entwistle
John Alec Entwistle (9 October 194427 June 2002) was an English musician who was the bassist for the rock band The Who. Entwistle's music career spanned over four decades. Nicknamed "The Ox" and "Thunderfingers", he was the band's only member ...
. It was originally released in 1971
on ''
Who's Next
''Who's Next'' is the fifth studio album by English rock band the Who. It developed from the aborted '' Lifehouse'' project, a multi-media rock opera conceived by the group's guitarist Pete Townshend as a follow-up to the band's 1969 album ''T ...
'' and later as the
B-side
The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...
of the single "
Baba O'Riley
"Baba O'Riley" is a song by the English rock band the Who, and the opening track to their fifth album ''Who's Next'' (1971). It was issued in Europe as a single on 23 October 1971, coupled with "My Wife".
Roger Daltrey sings most of the song, ...
" on 6 November 1971 in Europe by
Polydor Records
Polydor Records Ltd. is a German-British record label that operates as part of Universal Music Group. It has a close relationship with Universal's Interscope Geffen A&M Records label, which distributes Polydor's releases in the United States. ...
.
Background
"My Wife" was the fourth track on ''Who's Next'' and was recorded at Olympic Studios sometime in May 1971.
While it did appear on ''Who's Next'' it was thought that it was not a part of the ''
Lifehouse'' project
which was confirmed in 2000, when it was not included in Pete Townshend's ''
Lifehouse Chronicles
''Lifehouse Chronicles'' is a box set released in 2000 by Pete Townshend with the focus of the box being the formerly "abandoned" '' Lifehouse'' rock opera. The set contains song demos by Pete Townshend; including solo versions of "Baba O'Ril ...
'' box set.
Song structure
"My Wife" is arguably John Entwistle's highlight on ''Who's Next'' being that he takes on the lead vocals, bass guitar, piano, and horn section. Unusually, this song does not feature a guitar solo, which is most likely because Entwistle could only "write on bass guitar or in my head, just transfer it to manuscript paper, or piano,"
and did not play the guitar. Instead of a guitar solo, in the longer breaks between verses there is a horn part by Entwistle. This song is in the key of B major.
Personnel
The Who
*
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend (; born 19 May 1945) is an English musician. He is co-founder, leader, guitarist, second lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the Who, one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s.
Townsh ...
– guitar
*
John Entwistle
John Alec Entwistle (9 October 194427 June 2002) was an English musician who was the bassist for the rock band The Who. Entwistle's music career spanned over four decades. Nicknamed "The Ox" and "Thunderfingers", he was the band's only member ...
– lead vocals, bass guitar, piano, brass
*
Keith Moon
Keith John Moon (23 August 19467 September 1978) was an English drummer for the rock band the Who. He was noted for his unique style of playing and his eccentric, often self-destructive behaviour and addiction to drugs and alcohol.
Moon grew ...
– drums
''The Kids Are Alright'' soundtrack version
In 1979 "My Wife" was again released as a B-side single, this time to "
Long Live Rock
"Long Live Rock" is a 1972 single by The Who, written by Pete Townshend. A different version of the song was performed by Billy Fury's character in the film ''That'll Be the Day'' (a film which featured Who drummer Keith Moon).
The original Who ...
". This version was recorded live and released on ''The Kids Are Alright''. What is rare about this version is that it was the only song released from The Who's 1977 concert at the Kilburn State Theatre in London.
The rest of the songs were not released until 2008 on the DVD ''
The Who at Kilburn: 1977''. The song is unlike the studio version as it has a guitar solo by Townshend but no piano or horns.
Live and compilation appearances
The song was performed first on the Who's Next Tour and quickly became a live staple until Entwistle's death in 2002. It is featured on the following live and compilation albums by the Who:
*''
Two's Missing
''Two's Missing'' is a compilation album by English rock band The Who.
Album content
Released in 1987 on vinyl, cassette and CD, ''Two's Missing'' gathered singles and EP tracks that hadn't appeared on album or CD. The album cover design is b ...
''
*''
Blues to the Bush
''Blues to the Bush'' is a live album by The Who recorded at the House of Blues in Chicago on 12 and 13 November 1999, and at the Empire Theatre, Shepherd's Bush on 22 and 23 December 1999. It was sold exclusively from the now defunct MusicMaker ...
''
*''
The Who Live at the Royal Albert Hall
''Live at the Royal Albert Hall'' is a three-CD live album set by The Who, released in 2003.
Discs one and two were recorded on 27 November 2000 and consist of John Entwistle, Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, Zak Starkey, and John "Rabbit" Bund ...
''
*''
View from a Backstage Pass
''View from a Backstage Pass'' is a live compilation by The Who. This double album was released on 5 November 2007.
Track listing
All songs written by Pete Townshend except where noted.
Disc one
#"Fortune Teller" (Allen Toussaint) – Recorded ...
''
*''
Who's Greatest Hits
''Who's Greatest Hits'' is a 1983 greatest hits compilation album from the Who released in the US. It includes the rare track "Relay", presented here in its original full length. An earlier appearance on ''Hooligans'' has shortened it by almos ...
''
*''
Thirty Years of Maximum R&B
''Thirty Years of Maximum R&B'' is a box set by British rock band, The Who released by Polydor Records internationally and by MCA Records in the U.S.; since 2003, it has been issued in America by Geffen Records. The set consists of four CDs that ...
''
*''
The Ultimate Collection''
John Entwistle solo versions
In November 1972, Entwistle re-recorded the song and released it on his third solo album ''
Rigor Mortis Sets In
''Rigor Mortis Sets In'' is the third solo studio album by English rock musician John Entwistle, who was the bassist for the Who at that time. Distributed by Track Records, the album was named ''John Entwistle's Rigor Mortis Sets In'' in the US ...
''. A live version of the song was featured on the two-disc compilation album ''
So Who's the Bass Player? The Ox Anthology
''So Who's the Bass Player? The Ox Anthology'' is a two-CD collection of the work of the late bassist for The Who, John Entwistle. It features rare recordings, spanning from the mid-1960s until his death in 2002. Included are songs written by En ...
'' which was released on 22 March 2005.
Reception
During an interview
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend (; born 19 May 1945) is an English musician. He is co-founder, leader, guitarist, second lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the Who, one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s.
Townsh ...
described "My Wife" as "the best new rock number on the album
ho's Next"
Critic Mark Deming called "My Wife" the "comic relief" on "Who's Next". Rob Mitchum of ''
Pitchfork Media
''Pitchfork'' (formerly ''Pitchfork Media'') is an American online music publication (currently owned by Condé Nast) that was launched in 1995 by writer Ryan Schreiber as an independent music blog.
Schreiber started Pitchfork while working ...
'' called it "the only listenable song of
ntwistle'swriting career."
Because of excessive live performances John Entwistle wrote "
The Quiet One" to replace this song, although he would still perform the song for his solo career and his later performances with The Who.
In 2016, ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'' ranked the song number 21 on its list of the 50 greatest songs by The Who.
See also
*"
Heaven and Hell"
*"
Boris the Spider
"Boris the Spider" is a song written by the Who's bass guitarist, John Entwistle. It appears as the second track of their 1966 album ''A Quick One''. This song is claimed to be Entwistle's first composition, and became a staple of live shows. T ...
"
*"
The Ox"
References
{{authority control
The Who songs
Songs written by John Entwistle
1971 singles
1979 singles
Black comedy music
Decca Records singles
Songs about alcohol
Songs about marriage
Song recordings produced by Glyn Johns
Song recordings produced by Pete Townshend
1971 songs