| "Pinball Wizard" (Townshend) [3:00] |
| Recorded at I.B.C. Studios, London by Damon Lyon-Shaw (engineer) and Kit Lambert (producer). |
| Released 7 March 1969; charts 19 March 1969; UK4 [Track 604 011] |
| Pete Townshend (guitar and vocals), Roger Daltry (vocals), John Entwistle (bass and French horn), & Keith Moon (drums) [with Nicky Hopkins (piano and organ)?]. |
| The Who. 1969. Tommy [10]. Universal City, CA: MCA [MCAD-10801] |
| Notes and Quotes |
| Section | Meas. | Description | Text |
| Intro | 9 + 8 | Begins with solo acoustic guitar. Add electric guitar and bass. | — |
| Verse | 8 | Solo vocal; harmonized vocals at hook. | a |
| Bridge | 4 | Add drums. | — |
| Verse | 8 | As in verse above except with drums. | b |
| Bridge | 4 | As above. | — |
| Chorus | 6 | 3-part harmonies | c |
| Bridge | 4 | dialogue | d |
| Verse | 8 | As in verses above. | e |
| Bridge | 4 | As in cadences above. | — |
| Chorus | 6 | As above except without dialogue. | f |
| Intro | 8 | Abbreviated beginning. | — |
| Verse | 8 | As in verses above. | g |
| Outro | 6 | End on subdominant. | — |
| Text | |
| Local Lad [/Cousin Kevin]: Ever
since I was a young boy, I've played the silver ball.
From Soho down to Brighton, I must have played them all. But I ain't seen anything like him in any amusement hall. That deaf, dumb, and blind kid, sure plays a mean pin ball! |
a |
| He
stands like a statue, becomes part of the machine.
Feeling all the bumpers,
always playing clean. He plays by intuition, the digit counters fall. That deaf, dumb, and blind kid, sure plays a mean pin ball! |
b |
| He's a pin ball wizard, there has to be a twist. A pin ball wizard's got such a supple wrist. | c |
| How do you think he does it? (I don't know.) What makes him so good? | d |
| He
ain't got no distractions, can't hear those buzzers and bells. Don't see lights a flashin', plays by sense of smell. Always gets the replay, never seen him fall. That deaf, dumb, and blind kid, sure plays a mean pin ball! |
e |
| I thought I was the Bally table king. But I just handed my pin ball crown to him. | f |
| Even
my usual table, he can beat my best.
His disciples lead him in, and he
just does the rest. He's got crazy flipper fingers, never seen him fall. That deaf, dumb, and blind kid, sure plays a mean pin ball! |
g |
| The Who | Schedule | Old Pros |
| 20-apr-15 | ||