Naked Eye (The Who Song)
Encyclopedia
"Naked Eye" is a song by The Who
, written by Pete Townshend
. The studio version was released on the group's 1974
compilation album Odds and Sods
(reissued in 1998). Live versions appear on Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
, View from a Backstage Pass
, Greatest Hits Live
, Thirty Years of Maximum R&B
, and both reissues of Who's Next
.
" at that time, then later in expanded jams during "My Generation
", as heard in the Live at Leeds
version. Eventually Townshend composed the entire song around this progression.
, which included several numbers originally intended for Lifehouse. Evidence that the piece had been started but not completed can be heard in a BBC performance of the song from December 1970 in which the band mimed to the studio recording, which was faded out before the third verse (then likely not yet recorded) could be heard. The version on the remastered edition of Odds and Sods
is longer than the original, which had been slightly edited.
". These versions never included the third verse, which wasn’t heard until 1971. The song was a regular part of the group’s act in 1971
and 1972
, again usually following “My Generation”, then became a frequent encore in 1973
-74
. It appeared less often in the band’s 1975
-76
shows and was played for the last time with Keith Moon
during the group’s concert at Madison Square Garden
in New York
on March 11, 1976
. Since then it has been performed during each era of the band’s existence, though never regularly. The song has been played in varying arrangements through the years, but never in the exact arrangement of the original studio recording. Versions from 1996
-2000
featured Roger Daltrey
singing the first verse unaccompanied while playing
acoustic guitar.
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...
, written by Pete Townshend
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
. The studio version was released on the group's 1974
1974 in music
-January–April:*January 3 – Bob Dylan and The Band kick off their 40-date concert tour at Chicago Stadium. It's Dylan's first time on the road since 1966.*January 17...
compilation album Odds and Sods
Odds and Sods
Odds & Sods is an album that consists of studio outtakes and rarities by British rock band The Who released by Track Records in the UK and Track/MCA in the US in 1974....
(reissued in 1998). Live versions appear on Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 is a double live album by The Who, recorded at the Isle of Wight Festival on 29 August 1970, and released by Sony in 1996. A DVD of the concert was also released....
, View from a Backstage Pass
View from a Backstage Pass
View from a Backstage Pass is a live compilation by The Who. This double album was released on 5 November 2007, available only to new subscribers of ....
, Greatest Hits Live
Greatest Hits Live (The Who album)
Greatest Hits Live is a compilation of live songs recorded by the Who throughout their history. The album was released exclusively on the iTunes Music Store on 19 January 2010...
, Thirty Years of Maximum R&B
Thirty Years of Maximum R&B
Thirty Years of Maximum R&B is a box set by British rock band, The Who released by Polydor Records internationally and by MCA Records in the US; since 2003, it has been issued in America by Geffen Records...
, and both reissues of Who's Next
Who's Next
Who's Next is the fifth studio album by English rock band The Who, released in August 1971. The album has origins in a rock opera conceived by Pete Townshend called Lifehouse. The ambitious, complex project did not come to fruition at the time and instead, many of the songs written for the project...
.
Origins
One of the main chord progressions in "Naked Eye" can be traced to the spring and summer of 1969 when the band was touring in support of the Tommy album. The three-chord riff (F6/9-Cadd9-G) was sometimes played during the group’s very long and improvised versions of "Magic BusMagic Bus
- Music :* "Magic Bus" , a 1968 song by The Who* Magic Bus: The Who on Tour, a 1968 album released by The Who* "Magic Bus", a song released by the rap group Kottonmouth Kings on their Rollin' Stoned 2002 album- Literature :...
" at that time, then later in expanded jams during "My Generation
My Generation
My Generation is the debut album by the English rock band The Who, released by Brunswick Records in the United Kingdom in December 1965. In the United States it was released by Decca Records as The Who Sings My Generation in April 1966, with a different cover and a slightly altered track...
", as heard in the Live at Leeds
Live at Leeds
Live at Leeds is The Who's first live album, and is the only live album that was released while the group were still recording and performing regularly. Initially released in the United States on 16 May 1970, by Decca and MCA and the United Kingdom on 23 May 1970, by Track and Polydor, the album...
version. Eventually Townshend composed the entire song around this progression.
Studio Recording
The band likely began recording the song in 1970 during sessions for an album that was eventually aborted when Townshend began focusing on his Lifehouse rock opera (these same sessions also yielded “I Don’t Even Know Myself”, “Water”, “Postcard”, and “Now I’m a Farmer”). It was eventually completed in the spring of 1971 during sessions for Who's NextWho's Next
Who's Next is the fifth studio album by English rock band The Who, released in August 1971. The album has origins in a rock opera conceived by Pete Townshend called Lifehouse. The ambitious, complex project did not come to fruition at the time and instead, many of the songs written for the project...
, which included several numbers originally intended for Lifehouse. Evidence that the piece had been started but not completed can be heard in a BBC performance of the song from December 1970 in which the band mimed to the studio recording, which was faded out before the third verse (then likely not yet recorded) could be heard. The version on the remastered edition of Odds and Sods
Odds and Sods
Odds & Sods is an album that consists of studio outtakes and rarities by British rock band The Who released by Track Records in the UK and Track/MCA in the US in 1974....
is longer than the original, which had been slightly edited.
Live History
"Naked Eye" was debuted in live form during the band’s American tour in June-July 1970, generally as part of long medleys during "My GenerationMy Generation
My Generation is the debut album by the English rock band The Who, released by Brunswick Records in the United Kingdom in December 1965. In the United States it was released by Decca Records as The Who Sings My Generation in April 1966, with a different cover and a slightly altered track...
". These versions never included the third verse, which wasn’t heard until 1971. The song was a regular part of the group’s act in 1971
The Who Tour 1971
The Who Tour 1971 was a series of performances and tours by The Who in which they performed material from Pete Townshend’s rock opera Lifehouse, much of which would then appear on their 1971 album Who's Next.-History:...
and 1972
The Who Tour 1972
The Who Tour 1972 was The Who's second concert tour for their Who's Next album.-History:After the tours supporting Who's Next in the United States and the United Kingdom the previous year, the band did a mini-tour of Europe after recording a few tracks for an album that was ultimately not released,...
, again usually following “My Generation”, then became a frequent encore in 1973
The Who Tour 1973
The Who Tour 1973 was The Who's first concert tour supporting their Quadrophenia album.-History:The band did one tour each in England and North America supporting the Quadrophenia album, released in October of 1973, then added four additional dates in London after their November dates at the Lyceum...
-74
The Who Tour 1974
The Who Tour 1974 was The Who's second concert tour supporting their latest album, Quadrophenia.-History:After beginning work in January on the soundtrack for the Tommy film, the band played a mini-tour of France in February, continuing to feature Quadrophenia as the centerpiece of their shows as...
. It appeared less often in the band’s 1975
The Who Tour 1975
The Who Tour 1975 was The Who's first concert tour supporting The Who By Numbers.-Band members:*Roger Daltrey - lead vocals, harmonica*Pete Townshend - lead guitar, vocals*John Entwistle - bass guitar, vocals...
-76
The Who Tour 1976
The Who Tour 1976 was The Who's second concert tour for their The Who By Numbers album.-History:After spending most of the last three months of 1975 supporting The Who By Numbers, the group again embarked on a series of tours in 1976, with two stints in North America and several shows in the United...
shows and was played for the last time with Keith Moon
Keith Moon
Keith John Moon was an English musician, best known for being the drummer of the English rock group The Who. He gained acclaim for his exuberant and innovative drumming style, and notoriety for his eccentric and often self-destructive behaviour, earning him the nickname "Moon the Loon". Moon...
during the group’s concert at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on March 11, 1976
The Who Tour 1976
The Who Tour 1976 was The Who's second concert tour for their The Who By Numbers album.-History:After spending most of the last three months of 1975 supporting The Who By Numbers, the group again embarked on a series of tours in 1976, with two stints in North America and several shows in the United...
. Since then it has been performed during each era of the band’s existence, though never regularly. The song has been played in varying arrangements through the years, but never in the exact arrangement of the original studio recording. Versions from 1996
The Who Tour 1996-1997
The Who Tour 1996-1997 was The Who's second attempt at a tour promoting their 1973 album, Quadrophenia.-History:Having worked on the remastering of Quadrophenia in 1996, Pete Townshend was inspired to finally perform the complete rock opera as he had always hoped to hear it played, with a full band...
-2000
The Who Tour 2000
The Who Tour 2000 was in support of The Who's live album The Blues to the Bush and their first full-fledged tour as a five-piece band since 1982.-History:...
featured Roger Daltrey
Roger Daltrey
Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE , is an English singer and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. He has maintained a musical career as a solo artist and has also worked in the film industry, acting in a large number of films, theatre and television roles and also...
singing the first verse unaccompanied while playing
acoustic guitar.