Let's See Action
"Let's See Action" | ||||
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Single by the Who | ||||
B-side | "When I Was a Boy" (John Entwistle) | |||
Released | 15 October 1971 (UK) | |||
Recorded | 1971 | |||
Genre | Folk rock, power pop | |||
Length | 3:57 | |||
Label | Track/Polydor | |||
Songwriter(s) | Pete Townshend | |||
Producer(s) | The Who | |||
The Who singles chronology | ||||
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"Let's See Action" is a song written and composed by Pete Townshend and recorded by the Who. It was released as a single in the UK in 1971 and reached #16 in the charts.
Song notes
The song is the first of three non-album singles by the Who,[1] that were intended for the aborted Lifehouse project.[2] Pete Townshend's demo version, which appears on his first major label solo album Who Came First as "Nothing Is Everything (Let's See Action)", is longer than the version on the single and contains the additional lines, "Rumor has it minds are open. Then rumors fill them up with lies."[3] The band's bassist, John Entwistle, said that the track was Pete Townshend "Trying to talk to the kids in general."[1] According to The Who's biographer John Atkins, the song takes ideas from the teachings of Meher Baba, encompassing "Soul searching and the utilization of positive impulses from within."[4]
B-side
The B-side of the single was "When I Was a Boy", which was written and sung by John Entwistle. According to John Atkins, this song is a lament about lost childhood and coping with adulthood that follows.[4]
Charts and releases
The single was released in the UK on 15 October 1971.[5] It reached #16 in the charts.[4] "Let's See Action" was also released as a single in several other countries, but not in the U.S., where it remained unreleased until its inclusion on the Hooligans compilation album in 1981.[6] "Let's See Action" was also remixed by Jon Astley and Andy Macpherson for the 30 Years of Maximum R&B box set in 1994.[4] "When I Was a Boy" was released on CD on Polydor's Rarities 1966–1972 Vol. 1 & 2, and MCA's Who's Missing.[7] "Let's See Action" has since been included on the compilations My Generation: The Very Best of The Who and The Who Hits 50!. A 5:11-length "unedited original mix" appears on the fifth disc of the Who's Next: Life House Super Deluxe edition released in 2023.
Live performances
"Let's See Action" was performed at the Royal Albert Hall in 2000 with Eddie Vedder sharing lead vocals with Roger Daltrey. This performance later appeared on the live album Live at the Royal Albert Hall.[8]
Personnel
- Roger Daltrey – lead vocals (verses)
- Pete Townshend – guitar, synthesizer, lead vocals (bridge)
- John Entwistle – bass, horn
- Keith Moon – drums
- Nicky Hopkins – piano
References
- ^ a b Heylin, Clinton (16 February 2012). All the Mad Men. Constable & Robinson Ltd. p. 1975. ISBN 9781780330785.
- ^ Smith, Larry (1999). Pete Townshend: the minstrel's dilemma. Praeger Frederick A. p. 171. ISBN 9780275964726.
- ^ "Let's See Action (Nothing Is Everything)". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
- ^ a b c d Atkins, John (2000). The Who on Record: A Critical History, 1963–1998. McFarland. p. 169. ISBN 9780786406098.
- ^ Neill, Andy; Kent, Matt (2011). Anyway Anyhow Anywhere: The Complete Chronicle of the Who 1958–1978. Random House. p. 292. ISBN 9780753547977.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Hooligans – The Who". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
- ^ Unterberger, Ritchie. "Who's Missing – The Who". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
- ^ "Let's See Action (Nothing is Everything) – Releases". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
- 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"
- "Be Lucky"
- "Ball and Chain"