Let's See Action
| "Let's See Action" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Singlebythe Who | ||||
| B-side | "When I Was a Boy" (John Entwistle) | |||
| Released | 15 October 1971 | |||
| Recorded | 1971 | |||
| Genre | Folk rock,power pop | |||
| Length | 3:57 | |||
| Label | Track | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Pete Townshend | |||
| Producer(s) | The Who | |||
| The Whosingles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Let's See Action"is asongwritten and composed byPete Townshendand recorded bythe Who.It was released as asinglein theUKin 1971 and reached #16 in the charts.
Song notes[edit]
The song is the first of three non-album singles by the Who,[1]that were intended for the abortedLifehouseproject.[2]Pete Townshend's demo version, which appears on his first major label soloalbumWho Came Firstas "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'sbassist,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 ofMeher Baba,encompassing "Soul searching and the utilization of positive impulses from within."[4]
B-side[edit]
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[edit]
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 theHooliganscompilationalbumin 1981.[6] "Let's See Action" was also remixed byJon Astleyand Andy Macpherson for the30 Years of Maximum R&Bbox set in 1994.[4]"When I Was a Boy" was released on CD on Polydor'sRarities 1966–1972 Vol. 1 & 2,and MCA'sWho's Missing.[7]"Let's See Action" has since been included on thecompilationsMy Generation: The Very Best of The WhoandThe Who Hits 50!.A 5:11-length "unedited original mix" appears on the fifth disc of theWho's Next: Life House Super Deluxeedition released in 2023.
Live performances[edit]
"Let's See Action" was performed at theRoyal Albert Hallin 2000 withEddie Veddersharinglead vocalswithRoger Daltrey.This performance later appeared on the live albumLive at the Royal Albert Hall.[8]
Personnel[edit]
- Roger Daltrey– lead vocals (verses)
- Pete Townshend–guitar,synthesizer,lead vocals (bridge)
- John Entwistle–bass,horn
- Keith Moon–drums
- Nicky Hopkins–piano
References[edit]
- ^abHeylin, Clinton (16 February 2012).All the Mad Men.Constable & Robinson Ltd. p. 1975.ISBN9781780330785.
- ^Smith, Larry (1999).Pete Townshend: the minstrel's dilemma.Praeger Frederick A. p. 171.ISBN9780275964726.
- ^"Let's See Action (Nothing Is Everything)".Allmusic.Retrieved11 September2013.
- ^abcdAtkins, John (2000).The Who on Record: A Critical History, 1963–1998.McFarland. p. 169.ISBN9780786406098.
- ^Neill, Andy; Kent, Matt (2011).Anyway Anyhow Anywhere: The Complete Chronicle of the Who 1958–1978.Random House. p. 292.ISBN9780753547977.
- ^Erlewine, Stephen Thomas."Hooligans – The Who".Allmusic.Retrieved11 September2013.
- ^Unterberger, Ritchie."Who's Missing – The Who".Allmusic.Retrieved11 September2013.
- ^"Let's See Action (Nothing is Everything) – Releases".AllMusic.Retrieved11 September2013.
