Magic Bus (song)

"Magic Bus"
Single by the Who
B-side
Released27 July 1968 (1968-07-27)[1]
Recorded29 May 1968
StudioAdvision, London
GenrePsychedelic rock
Length3:15
LabelTrack (UK)
Decca (US)
Songwriter(s)Pete Townshend
Producer(s)Kit Lambert
The Who UK singles chronology
"Dogs"
(1968)
"Magic Bus"
(1968)
"Pinball Wizard"
(1969)
The Who US singles chronology
"Call Me Lightning"
(1968)
"Magic Bus"
(1968)
"Pinball Wizard"
(1969)
Official audio
"Magic Bus" on YouTube

"Magic Bus" is a song recorded by British rock band the Who. It was written by their guitarist Pete Townshend during the time that their debut album My Generation was being recorded in 1965. However, it was not recorded until 1968, when it was released as a single on 27 July 1968 in the United States and Canada, followed by its release in the United Kingdom on 11 October 1968.[2] It has become one of the band's most popular songs and has been a concert staple, although when released, the record only reached number 26 in the UK and number 25 in the United States.[3] The song was included on their 1968 album Magic Bus: The Who on Tour.

The arrangement for "Magic Bus" uses a Latin percussion instrument known as claves, which are pairs of small wooden sticks that make a distinctive high pitched clicking noise when struck together. The Who had previously used this same instrument on the song "Disguises", which was recorded in 1966. The song makes use of the Bo Diddley beat.[4]

  1. ^ "Magic Bus". thewho.com. Retrieved 2018-07-27.
  2. ^ John Atkins (1 February 2000). The Who on Record: A Critical History, 1963-1998. McFarland. p. 297. ISBN 978-1-4766-0657-6.
  3. ^ Who Discography by Ed Hanel, included in booklet to box set Thirty Years of Maximum R&B
  4. ^ Ratliff, Ben (2 June 2008). "Bo Diddley, rock & roll pioneer, dies at 79". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-11-24.