Going Mobile
| "Going Mobile" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Song by The Who from the album Who's Next | ||||
| Released | 14 August 1971 | |||
| Recorded | May 1971, Olympic Studios, London | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 3:43 | |||
| Label | Decca (US) Polydor (UK) |
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| Writer | Pete Townshend | |||
| Producer | The Who, Glyn Johns | |||
| Who's Next track listing | ||||
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"Going Mobile" is a song written by Pete Townshend and originally released by The Who on their 1971 album Who's Next. It is one of the lighter songs on the album. It was originally written for Townshend's abandoned Lifehouse project, with lyrics celebrating the joy of having a mobile home and being able to travel the open road. The Who's normal lead singer Roger Daltrey did not take part in the recording of the song; Townshend handles the lead vocals, guitars and synthesizers, with Keith Moon on drums and John Entwhistle on bass. The song has attracted mixed reviews from music critics. The Who never played the song live.
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[edit] Lyrics and music
"Going Mobile" is one of the lighter songs on the album.[1] It was originally conceived as part of Townshend's abandoned Lifehouse project.[1][2] Townshend described the use of the song in the proposed project as follows: "As the story unfolded, because of the vagaries of the modern world, because of pollution being caused mainly by people's need to travel, to be somewhere else. (People) had been told, 'You can't do that anymore. You have to stay where you are.' But people have got this lust for life, and adventure, and a bit of color."[1] It celebrates the joys of having a mobile home and being able to travel the highways at will – Townshend himself had acquired a mobile home about a year before the song was recorded.[2] An example of the theme is illustrated by such lyrics as:[1][3][4]
- I don't care about pollution
- I'm an air-conditioned gypsy
- That's my solution
- Watch the police and the taxman miss me
- I'm mobile
"Going Mobile" was recorded without Who lead singer Roger Daltrey.[1][2] Rather, guitarist and songwriter Townshend handled the vocals on the song.[1][2][5] Instrumentation includes acoustic guitar, bass guitar and drums.[1] A VCS 3 synthesizer is also overdubbed on part of the song.[1][2] Further, on his guitar solo, Townshend plays the instrument through an envelope follower, a type of ARP synthesizer that produces what Townshend describes as a "fuzzy wah-wah sound."[2][4][6] Author Chris Charlesworth describes the effect as being as if Townshend is playing underwater. Allmusic critic Tom Maginnis describes Entwhistle's bass playing on the song as "ultra-fluid" and Moon's drumming as "exuberant."[1]
[edit] Critical reception
Sputnik Music described "Going Mobile" as "another cool, diverse song."[5] Rolling Stone Magazine's John Mendelsohn described the song as "inane."[3] However, in The Rolling Stone Record Guide, John Swenson described "Going Mobile" as one of "Townshend's most beautiful songs."[7]Allmusic's Tom Maginnis states that "Going Mobile" "shows the tremendous energy of the band without the support of powerful guitar amplification."[1] Charlesworth states that "Going Mobile" "lacks the grandeur" of some other Who's Next songs, but nonetheless considers it "a witty and worthy contender."[4]
[edit] Other appearances
The Who never played "Going Mobile" live in concert.[1][2] Townshend included a version of "Going Mobile" on his solo album The Lifehouse Chronicles.[8]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Maginnis, T.. "Going Mobile". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/song/going-mobile-t3567165. Retrieved 2011-12-01.
- ^ a b c d e f g Grantley, S. & Parker, A.G. (2010). The Who by Numbers. Helter Skelter Publishing. pp. 94–95. ISBN 9781905139262.
- ^ a b Mendelsohn, J. (January 22, 1997). "Who's Next". Rolling Stone Magazine. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/whos-next-19970122. Retrieved 2011-12-01.
- ^ a b c Charlesworth, C. (1995). The Complete Guide to the Music of The Who. Omnibus Press. p. 44-45. ISBN 0711943060.
- ^ a b "Who's Next". sputnikmusic.com. http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/3241/The-Who-Whos-Next/. Retrieved 2011-12-01.
- ^ Atkins, J. (2000). The Who on record: a critical history, 1963–1998. McFarland. pp. 154. ISBN 9780786406098.
- ^ Swenson, J. (1983). Marsh, D. & Swenson, J.. ed. The New Rolling Stone Record Guide. Rolling Stone Press. p. 544. ISBN 0394721071.
- ^ Jurek, T.. "The Lifehouse Chronicles". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/scoop-r20359. Retrieved 2011-11-30.
