Real Good Looking Boy
"Real Good Looking Boy" | ||||
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Single by The Who | ||||
from the album Then and Now | ||||
B-side | "Old Red Wine" | |||
Released | 2 May 2004 | |||
Recorded | 2003–2004 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 5:42 | |||
Label | Polydor (UK) MCA (US) | |||
Songwriter(s) | Pete Townshend Luigi Creatore Hugo Peretti George David Weiss | |||
Producer(s) | Simon Townshend | |||
The Who singles chronology | ||||
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"Real Good Looking Boy" is a song written by the guitarist of the British rock band The Who, Pete Townshend. It was originally released in 2004 on the compilation album Then and Now, and was one of two new songs on that album, the other being "Old Red Wine". Together, they were the first new songs released by the Who for 15 years. It was later released as an edited single backed with the aforementioned song. "Real Good Looking Boy" was later performed in the 2007 rock musical The Boy Who Heard Music.[1] The song peaked at #28 on the Heritage rock chart.[2] Bassist Greg Lake and drummer Zak Starkey, as well as keyboardist John "Rabbit" Bundrick played on this song.
Lyrical meaning
The song was a tribute to Elvis Presley. During live performances, Roger Daltrey gives a short introduction to the song, describing it as a song about "a man that changed my life at the age of 11. I saw Elvis Presley live at 11. Thank God I did, I loved him because everybody under the age of 20 thought they were Elvis and dressed like him. Everybody over 20 hated him and that was good enough for me."[3] The piano intro borrows from the Elvis song "Can't Help Falling in Love", and one of the later verses in "Real Good Looking Boy" uses lyrics from the first verse of the Elvis song.
The first part of the song is about Pete Townshend growing up and realizing that he was not a good looking boy, that he was not part of the cool good-looking group of boys his age and the trials, tribulations that everyone goes through in life. The second part is where the Elvis tribute comes into play and also where the song speaks of falling in love. The third part is where Townshend pays homage to finding true love and being made to feel like a "real good looking boy".
Personnel
- Guitars, backing vocals: Pete Townshend
- Lead vocals: Roger Daltrey
- Bass guitar: Greg Lake
- Drums: Zak Starkey
- Piano: John "Rabbit" Bundrick
- Additional guitars and keyboards: Simon Townshend
- Producer: Simon Townshend at Eel Pie Oceanic Studios, London c. Nov. 2003
- Engineers: Bob Pridden and Myles Clarke
"Old Red Wine"
"Old Red Wine" was written for The Who's former bassist John Entwistle, who died two years prior to the release of "Then and Now".
The riff at the end of the song predated the actual song by a few years, being played at the end of some versions of "My Generation" from the 2000 tour. The riff was also played in a performance of the same song during Entwistle's last show, at the Royal Albert Hall on 8 February 2002. Portions of the song were also played sometimes after "My Generation" on the band's 2002 (after Entwistle's death), 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008 tours.
Personnel
- Guitars, piano, backing vocals: Pete Townshend
- Lead vocals: Roger Daltrey
- Bass guitar: Pino Palladino
- Drums: Zak Starkey
- Hammond organ and additional piano: John Bundrick
- Producer: Simon Townshend at Eel Pie Oceanic Studios, London c. Early 2004
- Engineers: Bob Pridden and Myles Clarke
References
- v
- t
- e
- "Zoot Suit" / "I'm the Face"
- "I Can't Explain" / "Bald Headed Woman"
- "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" / "Daddy Rolling Stone"
- "My Generation" / "Shout and Shimmy"
- "Substitute" / "Circles"
- "A Legal Matter" / "Instant Party"
- "The Kids Are Alright" / "The Ox"
- "I'm a Boy" / "In the City"
- "La-La-La-Lies" / "The Good's Gone"
- "Happy Jack" / "I've Been Away"
- "Pictures of Lily" / "Doctor, Doctor"
- "The Last Time" / "Under My Thumb"
- "I Can See for Miles" / "Someone's Coming"
- "Dogs" / "Call Me Lightning"
- "Magic Bus" / "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"
- "Pinball Wizard" / "Dogs Part Two"
- "I Can't Explain" / "Bald Headed Woman"
- "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" / "Anytime You Want Me"
- "My Generation" / "Out in the Street"
- "Substitute" / "Waltz For a Pig"
- "The Kids Are Alright" / "A Legal Matter"
- "I'm a Boy" / "In the City"
- "Happy Jack" / "Whiskey Man"
- "Pictures of Lily" / "Doctor, Doctor"
- "I Can See for Miles" / "Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand"
- "Call Me Lightning" / "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"
- "Magic Bus" / "Someone's Coming"
- "Pinball Wizard" / "Dogs Part Two"
- "I'm Free" / "We're Not Gonna Take It"
- "The Seeker" / "Here For More"
- "Summertime Blues" / "Heaven and Hell"
- "See Me, Feel Me" / "Overture from Tommy"
- "Won't Get Fooled Again" / "I Don't Even Know Myself"
- "Let's See Action" / "When I Was A Boy"
- "Baba O'Riley"
- "Join Together" / "Baby Don't You Do It"
- "Relay" / "Waspman"
- "5:15" / "Water"
- "Squeeze Box" / "Success Story"
- "Who Are You" / "Had Enough"
- " Trick of the Light" / "905"
- "Long Live Rock" / "I'm the Face"/"My Wife (Live)"
- "I'm One" / "5:15 (Soundtrack Version)"
- "The Seeker" / "Here For More"
- "Summertime Blues" / "Heaven and Hell"
- "See Me, Feel Me" / "Overture from Tommy"
- "Won't Get Fooled Again" / "I Don't Even Know Myself"
- "Behind Blue Eyes" / "My Wife"
- "Join Together" / "Baby Don't You Do It"
- "The Relay" / "Wasp Man"
- "Love, Reign o'er Me" / "Water"
- "The Real Me" / "I'm One"
- "Postcard" / "Put the Money Down"
- "Squeeze Box" / "Success Story"
- "Slip Kid" / "Dreaming from the Waist"
- "Substitute (Reissue)" / "I'm a Boy (Alternate Version)"
- "Who Are You" / "Had Enough"
- "Trick of the Light" / "905"
- "Long Live Rock" / "My Wife (Live)"
- "You Better You Bet" / "The Quiet One"
- "Don't Let Go the Coat" / "You"
- "Athena" / "A Man Is a Man"
- "Twist and Shout (live)" / "I Can't Explain (live)"
- "Won't Get Fooled Again (EP)" ( "Won't Get Fooled Again (live)" / "Bony Moronie (live)" / "Dancing in the Street (live)" / "Dance it Away (live)" )
- "You Better You Bet" / "The Quiet One"
- "Don't Let Go the Coat" / "You"
- "Athena" / "It's Your Turn"
- "Eminence Front" / "One At A Time"
- "It's Hard" / "Dangerous"
- "Real Good Looking Boy" / "Old Red Wine"
- "Be Lucky"
- "Ball and Chain"