A lot of the singles that were released by the band were not originally found on albums. It was only years (and sometimes decades) after their chart success that they were featured on compilations or re-issues
By November 1964, following the failure of The High Numbers single in the charts, their name had reverted back to The Who, and on the 24th, they landed a career-launching residency on Tuesday nights at the famous Marquee Club in London. Pete's friend Richard Barnes designed posters to promote the shows, jet black with the image in white of a windmilling Pete, The Who with arrows coming out of the letters, and the words "Maximum R&B." It became the band's most iconic image
Released in the UK in January 1965, the first single under the 'new' name '
I Can't Explain' was an explosive debut about the frustration of not being able to express yourself - not only to the girl of your dreams, but also to the world in general. Roger spits out the lyrics in sheer frustration while the band pound away behind him, all knowing that this is a make-or-break song. Special mention must go to Keith whose drumming here was already miles ahead of what his peers were doing. The song is still very much part of their live act, and more often than not is the set opener
About the song, Pete Said:
"It can't be beat for straightforward Kink copying. There is little to say about how I wrote this. It came out of the top of my head when I was 18 and a half. It seems to be about the frustrations of a young person who is so incoherent and uneducated that he can't state his case to the bourgeois intellectual blah blah blah. Or, of course, it might be about drugs."
Additional musicians on the song are: Jimmy Page (rhythm guitar), Perry Ford (Piano) and The Ivy League (John Carter, Perry Ford, Ken Lewis) (Backing vocals)
"Got a feeling inside (Can't explain)
It's a certain kind (Can't explain)
I feel hot and cold (Can't explain)
Yeah, down in my soul, yeah (Can't explain)
I said ... (Can't explain)
I'm feeling good now, yeah, but (Can't explain)
Dizzy in the head and I'm feeling blue
The things you've said, well, maybe they're true
I'm gettin' funny dreams again and again
I know what it means, but
Can't explain
I think it's love
Try to say it to you
When I feel blue
But I can't explain (Can't explain)
Yeah, hear what I'm saying, girl (Can't explain)
Dizzy in the head and I'm feeling bad
The things you've said have got me real mad
I'm gettin' funny dreams again and again
I know what it means but
Can't explain
I think it's love
Try to say it to you
When I feel blue
But I can't explain (Can't explain)
Forgive me one more time, now (Can't explain)
I said I can't explain, yeah
You drive me our ot my mind
Yeah, I'm the worrying kind, babe
I said I can't explain"
The 'B'-side of the song was another cover, '
Bald Headed Woman'. Although it was credited as being written by Shel Talmy, it was actually a traditional American chain-gang blues song that was in the public domain. The tune had previously been featured on the debut album by The Kinks in 1964 - another act produced by Talmy - and The Who were persuaded to record it so that Talmy could get the publishing royalties!
It's a harmonica based short and moody song. Jimmy Page appears, playing the fuzz guitar.
John says:
"The Fuzz guitar droning throughout is played by Jimmy Page; the reason being, he owned the only Fuzz Box in the country at that time. The words express my sentiments exactly - a bald headed woman would make me pretty mean, too. My favorite part of this track is the opening of the harmonica solo, where Roger puts the harmonica into his mouth the wrong way around."
"Yeah I don't want no bald headed woman,
It'll make me mean yeah lord it'll make me mean,
Yeah I don't want no bald headed woman,
It'll make me mean yeah lord it'll make me mean.
Yeah I don't want no sugar in my coffee,
It'll make me mean yeah lord it'll make me mean,
Yeah I don't want no sugar in my coffee,
It'll make me mean yeah lord it'll make me mean.
Yeah I'm traveling on a bald headed mountain,
I've done my time, I've done my time,
Yeah I've been traveling them bald headed mountains,
I've done my time, I've done my time,
I said I've done my time, I done my time.
I said I've done my time now yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah,
I've done my time yeah, I've done my time yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah.
Don't want no bald headed woman baby,
Yeah gonna make me mean, make me mean,
I don't want no bald headed woman,
That's gonna gonna make me mean make me mean now,
Don't want no sugar in my coffee,
Gonna make me mean, make me mean,
Don't want no sugar in my coffee,
Gonna make me mean, make me mean."