Disguises (The Who song)

"Disguises"
Song by the Who
from the EP Ready Steady Who
Released11 November 1966
Recorded31 July – 1 August 1966[1]
StudioIBC Studios, London
Genre
Length3:11 (mono)
3:20 (stereo)
LabelReaction
Songwriter(s)Pete Townshend
Producer(s)Kit Lambert

"Disguises" is a song by the English rock band the Who, written by guitarist Pete Townshend, and first released on the group's 1966 extended play Ready Steady Who.[4] It, along with "I'm a Boy" are of the earliest compositions in which Townshend questions gender identity and identity crisis', a prevalent aspect found later in his songwriting.[5][6] "Disguises" and "I'm a Boy" also marks the first time Kit Lambert received credit as a record producer for the Who, something that had previously been credited to Shel Talmy and Townshend.[7]

The thematic concept for the song proved successful and Townshend was subsequently praised by critics.[8] It has since been covered by the Jam as the B-Side for their top-five single "Funeral Pyre" in 1981[9] and Of Montreal for their 1997 EP The Bird Who Ate the Rabbit's Flower.

  1. ^ Neill, Andrew; Kent, Matthew (2009). Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere: The Complete Chronicle Of The Who, 1958-1978 (Rev. ed.). Sterling Publishing Company. p. 86. ISBN 978-0-7535-1217-3. OCLC 122283647.
  2. ^ Atkins, John (2000). The Who On Record: A Critical History, 1963-1998. McFarland. p. 69. ISBN 0-7864-0609-7. OCLC 43060511.
  3. ^ "Disguises - The Who | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  4. ^ Parker, Alan G.; Grantley, Steve; Body, Sean (2010). The Who by Numbers. Helter Skelter Publishing. p. 35. ISBN 978-1-905139-26-2.
  5. ^ Kelts, Roland (2012-10-09). "Pete Townshend's War". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  6. ^ Perone, James E. (2008). Mods, Rockers, And The Music Of The British Invasion. Praeger Publishers. p. 113. ISBN 978-0-275-99861-5. OCLC 428195032.
  7. ^ Neill, Andrew; Kent, Matthew (2009). Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere: The Complete Chronicle Of The Who, 1958-1978 (Rev. ed.). Sterling Publishing Company. p. 89. ISBN 978-0-7535-1217-3. OCLC 122283647.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 277. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.