Late Who bassist John Entwistle was born 80 years ago today (October 9, 1944). Entwistle was considered one of the greatest rock bassists ever, and his fluid and powerful riffing earned him the nickname “Thunderfingers.” He also played French horn and contributed his brass talents to quite a few Who tunes.
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Beyond being a great musician, Entwistle was a strong singer and a witty songwriting, with a penchant for irony and the macabre. While guitarist Pete Townshend was The Who’s primary songwriter and creative force, Entwistle contributed one or more tunes to nearly every album by the band until his passing.
Sadly, Entwistle was just 57 when he passed away in June 2002. The rocker, who’d been diagnosed with heart disease and high cholesterol, suffered a cocaine-induced heart attack in his room at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino near Las Vegas the evening before The Who were scheduled to launch a U.S. tour.
Looking back at his body of work, several of John’s compositions for The Who became fan favorites, although quite a few may have gone under the radar of casual aficionados. In honor of Entwistle’s milestone birthday, here are four noteworthy songs he wrote for the British rock legends that you (may or) may not have heard:
“Whiskey Man” (1966)
“Whiskey Man” appeared on The Who’s respective second U.K. and U.S. albums, A Quick One and Happy Jack. Entwistle said that the tune was one of the first he ever wrote.
The mid-tempo song features Entwistle singing from the perspective of a man who has a friend who only joins him when he’s drinking and who only he can see. As the quirky minor-key tune proceeds, the man winds up being taken away by “two men dressed in white,” who tell him Whiskey Man can’t come with him.
The character then shares his concern that his friend “will waste away if he’s left on his own.” The song features a melancholy French horn part by Entwistle.
Interestingly, the Ramones copied the melody of the song’s break for a part of their 1981 tune “It’s Not My Place (In the 9 to 5 World).”
“Silas Stingy” (1967)
“Silas Stingy” was featured on The Who’s third studio effort, the 1967 concept album The Who Sell Out.
The song tells the tale of an old miser who constantly worries that someone is trying to steal his money. Entwistle and Who frontman Roger Daltrey share lead vocals on the track, which boasts a baroque classical feel.
Entwistle paints an unsympathetic picture of Silas Stingy, who is mocked by children as he walks by them, and hardly eats or bathes because he doesn’t want to spend money on food or soap.
At the end of the song, Silas discovers that he has no money left, even though he kept it in a padlocked box guarded by a watchdog.
“Trick of the Light” (1978)
“Trick of the Light” was one of three Entwistle-written songs featured on The Who’s 1978 album, Who Are You.
The rocking song, which features Daltrey on lead vocals, focuses on somewhat of an unsavory encounter. It’s sung from the perspective of a guy who has just had a tryst with a prostitute. The man is insecure about how he performed in bed, and keeps asking the woman, “Was I all right?” He also flirts with her and asks her if she’d “steal away” with him.
The woman doesn’t respond to his overtures, though, just takes the money and leaves the hotel room.
“Trick of the Light” was released as a single from Who Are You, but failed to chart.
“The Quiet One” (1981)
“The Quiet One” is one of the hardest-rocking tunes on The Who’s 1981 album, Face Dances. The song showcases Entwistle’s raspy but driving lead vocals.
On the tune, John sings about how he’s known for not being talkative, and explains why it’s not a bad thing to be quiet.
In the liner notes for Face Dances, posted on TheWho.net, Entwistle shared some background on the song.
“It’s me trying to explain that I’m not really quiet,” he maintained. “I started off being quiet and that’s the pigeon hole I’ve been stuck in all these years.”
“The Quiet One” also was released as the B-side of The Who’s hit single “You Better You Bet.”
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