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“I Can’t Explain” is a song by English rock band The Who, written by Pete Townshend, and produced by Shel Talmy. The song was issued as a single via Brunswick Records on 15 January 1965 in the United Kingdom, and on 13 February 1965 in the United States.
“I Can’t Explain” was the A-side of the group’s first single released under the name The Who—their previous single, “I’m the Face”/”Zoot Suit,” was released as the High Numbers. The track also features on The Who’s 1971 compilation album Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy. In the album’s liner notes, Townshend noted the song’s similarity to the contemporaneous hit single “All Day and All of the Night” by The Kinks: “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.” In a 1994 issue of Q magazine, Roger Daltrey echoed Townshend’s comments regarding The Kinks’ influence on the writing of the song;
“We already knew Pete (Townshend) could write songs, but it never seemed a necessity in those days to have your own stuff because there was this wealth of untapped music that we could get hold of from America. But then bands like The Kinks started to make it, and they were probably the biggest influence on us – they were certainly a huge influence on Pete, and he wrote I Can’t Explain, not as a direct copy, but certainly it’s very derivative of Kinks music.”
The Who have used “I Can’t Explain” throughout many of their live performances, often as the opener, and it continues to be a staple today.
“I Can’t Explain” was the A-side of the group’s first single released under the name The Who—their previous single, “I’m the Face”/”Zoot Suit,” was released as the High Numbers. The track also features on The Who’s 1971 compilation album Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy. In the album’s liner notes, Townshend noted the song’s similarity to the contemporaneous hit single “All Day and All of the Night” by The Kinks: “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.” In a 1994 issue of Q magazine, Roger Daltrey echoed Townshend’s comments regarding The Kinks’ influence on the writing of the song;
“We already knew Pete (Townshend) could write songs, but it never seemed a necessity in those days to have your own stuff because there was this wealth of untapped music that we could get hold of from America. But then bands like The Kinks started to make it, and they were probably the biggest influence on us – they were certainly a huge influence on Pete, and he wrote I Can’t Explain, not as a direct copy, but certainly it’s very derivative of Kinks music.”
The Who have used “I Can’t Explain” throughout many of their live performances, often as the opener, and it continues to be a staple today.
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Shouts
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NOHIDDENPATH wrote:
where's the track?? :( www.myspace.com/foxyladydee
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Davpronk wrote:
This song makes me happy!!!
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Moyjgc wrote:
i got a feeling inside(i love this song)
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DzikaWisnia wrote:
yeah, down in my soul!
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spacefaceinfurs wrote:
very cool!
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Oklahoma_Phil wrote:
I think you could make the case that they were one of the originators of Punk Rock...
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josh2353 wrote:
The Who shaped rock and roll. Anyone who tells you otherwise is a fool.
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madafaka1 wrote:
how on earth this still isn't my loved track?! well, it sure is now...
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xxbrooke16xx wrote:
one of my favorites.. probably my favorite early song along with substitute.
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GucciPiggy90 wrote:
Hello, punk rock.
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MrMojoRisin74 wrote:
Such a hook to this song, love it
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wolfgangchinner wrote:
I must say,, i really do like The Who,,,,i mean ,,,,,they are such smashing boys arent they ? Marvellous !
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meddelhed wrote:
fuckin live version -.-
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Stjaernstoft wrote:
Perhaps the greatest song of the 1960's.
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algernoncroke wrote:
sometimes got same problem-just can't explain...
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CESACDC wrote:
WHO MADE WHO EEEEHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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vampireboy182 wrote:
bloody amazing song!amazing band like a super band!
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Starless_night wrote:
They were ahead of their time
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FootToFace wrote:
in my head all day
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JamesKmccann wrote:
WHO
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Recent Activity
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dmason and faramuszka loved The Who – I Can't Explain. yesterday evening
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robis29 tagged I Can't Explain with ‘classic rock’. yesterday afternoon
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Bub_Clifton and nowherecat77 loved The Who – I Can't Explain. yesterday morning
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Mod7Psyche tagged I Can't Explain with ‘mod’. Monday evening
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Mod7Psyche and straywebsurfer loved The Who – I Can't Explain. Monday evening
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mirkocorli added I Can't Explain to the playlist Dancefloor. Monday afternoon
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mirkocorli added I Can't Explain to mirkocorli’s library. Monday afternoon
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Radiotsar added I Can't Explain to Radiotsar’s library. Monday afternoon
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Radiotsar tagged The Who – I Can't Explain with rock, british and 60s. Monday afternoon
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Sergeant_E-Flat, Un_Rockanrolero and h3ath3r88 loved The Who – I Can't Explain. Monday morning
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