Pete Townshend on the classic rock song that “says everything” about life
All the greatest rock songs can reflect life’s realities or offer some escapism. A very select few, however, are capable of doing both, which is perhaps why The Who are afforded such a legendary reputation within the history of the genre. Not only could the songwriting of Pete Townshend offer a form of rock art escapism for listeners, but records like ‘My Generation’ and albums like Quadrophenia were also adept in reflecting everyday life for thousands of kids across the globe.
From the very early days of The Who, Townshend set out with a staunch artistic manifesto for the group, which certainly aided them in becoming one of England’s defining rock bands during the 1960s and 1970s. Pioneering a variety of recording, production and performance techniques that would become standard within the industry, the landscape of rock would look very different without the colossal impact of The Who. Throughout it all, though, Townshend and company found inspiration in the rock ‘n’ roll stars of the past.
As a child of the 1950s, the incredible influence that the early days of rock had on Townshend should come as no real surprise. Seeing the emergence of figures like Little Richard, Elvis Presley, and even Bill Haley was enough to get Townshend hooked on the rebellious nature of rock music. Although, during the 1960s, he and The Who were endlessly dedicated to modernism and inventing new sounds, the influence of those early rock stars never really left the songwriter.
A particular favourite of Townshend’s came in the form of Minnesota songwriter Eddie Cochran. Much like The Who, Cochran was an expert in capturing the frustration and angst of adolescence in his music. As opposed to the glitz and glamour of stars like Elvis, Cochran offered something that was relatable to audiences, notably on tracks like ‘C’mon Everybody’ and, of course, ‘Summertime Blues’.
The latter of those tracks was a particular favourite of The Who, so much so that the band performed cover versions of the song at many of their live concerts. Perhaps the most famous of those performances came with the recording of their Live at Leeds album, which features a blistering version of Cochran’s classic rockabilly tune. The fact that the band were able to breathe new life into a decade-old single is a testament both to the timeless nature of Cochran’s songwriting and the endless reliability of the song.
Speaking to Rolling Stone back in 1968, Townshend heaped praise onto Cochran’s track, sharing, “The rock ‘n’ roll songs I like, of course, are songs like ‘Summertime Blues,’ man that’s beautiful.”
Telling the tale of a young man who is forced to work throughout the summertime, the song is an ode to youthful angst as well as the excitement of the summer months. “It says everything,” Townshend continued, “don’t have the blues, it’s summertime; summertime, you don’t get the blues in summertime! There is no such thing. That’s why there’s no cure for them.”
‘Summertime Blues’ was not the only cover version The Who slipped into their setlists, but it was probably the most fitting. Although paying homage to the old-school stars of the 1950s might have been at odds with The Who’s dedication to the mod subculture, the message of many of their early songs took a great deal of inspiration and influence from Cochran’s work. This is probably the reason why ‘Summertime Blues’ fit so seamlessly into The Who’s live shows; it wasn’t all that different from some of their other songs.
