Boris the Spider
Encyclopedia
"Boris the Spider" is a song written by The Who's
bassist
, John Entwistle
. It appears as the second track of their 1966 album, A Quick One
. This song is claimed to be John's first composition. The song was a live staple. This song, "My Wife
" and "The Quiet One
" were John's biggest songs to perform live (in fact, "The Quiet One" was written to replace this song and "My Wife", which John had become tired of singing). Though this song was popular, it was never released as a single
in the USA and the UK
. In Japan, Boris the Spider was released as the b-side to "Whiskey Man" in 1967.
"Boris the Spider" was written after Entwistle had been out drinking with Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman
. They were making up funny names for animals when Entwistle came up with "Boris the Spider". The song was written by John in 6 minutes and is considered a horror song.
The chorus of "Boris the spider" was sung in basso profundo by John Entwistle (which possibly helped give birth to the "Death growl
"), with a middle eight of "creepy crawly" sung in falsetto
. These discordant passages and the black comedy
of the theme made the song a stage favourite and it was the only song from that album which lasted throughout the Who's live career.
According to Pete Townshend in his song-by-song review of Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy
for Rolling Stone, it was Jimi Hendrix
's favourite Who song.
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
bassist
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, John Entwistle
John Entwistle
John Alec Entwistle was an English bass guitarist, songwriter, singer, horn player, and film and record producer who was best known as the bass player for the rock band The Who. His aggressive lead sound influenced many rock bass players...
. It appears as the second track of their 1966 album, A Quick One
A Quick One
A Quick One is the second album by English rock band The Who, released in 1966. The American record company executives at Decca Records released the album under the title Happy Jack, rather than the sexually suggestive title of the original UK release, and due to "Happy Jack" being a top 40 hit in...
. This song is claimed to be John's first composition. The song was a live staple. This song, "My Wife
My Wife
"My Wife" is a song by British rock band The Who, written by bassist John Entwistle. It was originally released in 1971 on Who's Next, and later as the b-side of the popular single "Baba O'Riley" on November 6, 1971 in the United States by Decca Records....
" and "The Quiet One
Face Dances
Face Dances is the ninth album by English rock band The Who. It was originally released in 1981 in the US on Warner Bros. Records and in the UK on Polydor Records...
" were John's biggest songs to perform live (in fact, "The Quiet One" was written to replace this song and "My Wife", which John had become tired of singing). Though this song was popular, it was never released as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in the USA and the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. In Japan, Boris the Spider was released as the b-side to "Whiskey Man" in 1967.
"Boris the Spider" was written after Entwistle had been out drinking with Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman
Bill Wyman
Bill Wyman is an English musician best known as the bass guitarist for the English rock and roll band the Rolling Stones from 1962 until 1992. Since 1997, he has recorded and toured with his own band, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings...
. They were making up funny names for animals when Entwistle came up with "Boris the Spider". The song was written by John in 6 minutes and is considered a horror song.
The chorus of "Boris the spider" was sung in basso profundo by John Entwistle (which possibly helped give birth to the "Death growl
Death growl
A death growl, also known as death metal vocals, guttural vocals, death grunts, and harsh vocals among other names, is a vocalisation style usually employed by vocalists of the death metal and black metal music genre, but also used in a variety of heavy metal and hardcore punk subgenres.Death...
"), with a middle eight of "creepy crawly" sung in falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
. These discordant passages and the black comedy
Black comedy
A black comedy, or dark comedy, is a comic work that employs black humor or gallows humor. The definition of black humor is problematic; it has been argued that it corresponds to the earlier concept of gallows humor; and that, as humor has been defined since Freud as a comedic act that anesthetizes...
of the theme made the song a stage favourite and it was the only song from that album which lasted throughout the Who's live career.
According to Pete Townshend in his song-by-song review of Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy
Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy
Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy is a compilation album of singles by British rock band The Who, released in 1971 as Track 2406 006 in the UK and as Decca DL 79184 in the US. It entered the US Billboard 200 chart on 20 November 1971, peaking at #11, and the UK chart on 3 December 1971, peaking at #9...
for Rolling Stone, it was Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
's favourite Who song.