Call_Me_Lightning_(song)

Call Me Lightning (song)

Call Me Lightning (song)

1968 song by The Who

"Call Me Lightning" is a song written by Pete Townshend, guitarist of the British rock band The Who. Townshend first recorded a home demo of the song in 1964. The Who's recording was a single released in March 1968 and it later appeared on the Who's fourth American album Magic Bus: The Who on Tour.

Quick Facts Single by The Who, from the album Magic Bus: The Who on Tour ...

In the United States "Call Me Lightning" was the follow-up single to the Top 10 hit "I Can See for Miles" and reached No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 4 May 1968,[3] their 16th most successful single on the Hot 100.[4]

Billboard described the single as a "pulsating rocker with a happy beat."[5] Cash Box called it "an imaginative blend of rock-blues and rag" and praised "the potent group performance."[6] Record World said it "should turn into sales lightning as The Who do it. Hard, driving beat at its best from the group."[7]

The song features a prominent bass solo by John Entwistle. A promo film was made, and this later was included in the 1979 documentary The Kids Are Alright. "Call Me Lightning" was released in the United Kingdom as the B-side of the single "Dogs".

The US B-side, "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", had been considered as a possible A-side single release, along with "Call Me Lightning," as the B-side.[1] "Call Me Lightning" received a mediocre reception from Who fans, and biographer John Atkins feels that "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" was a better song, even though its horror film imagery was unsuitable for a single.[1][8] Cash Box called "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" a "psychedelified throbber on the lid that could attract added attention."[6]

The song was behind the naming of the rock group Call Me Lightning.

Chart performance

More information Chart (1968), Peak position ...

References

Citations

  1. [1]
    Atkins 2000, p. 103
  2. [2]
    "Call Me Lightning - The Who". Thewho.com. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  3. [3]
    "The Who Call Me Lightning Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  4. [4]
    "The Who Chart History | Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  5. [5]
    "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. March 16, 1968. p. 78. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
  6. [6]
    "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. March 16, 1968. p. 16. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  7. [7]
    "Single Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. March 16, 1968. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  8. [8]
    Atkins 2000, p. 104
  9. [9]
    "RPM Top 100 Singles - May 4, 1968" (PDF).
  10. [10]
    Hoffmann 1983, p. 639

Bibliography
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