Ten 60's American covers of songs by The Who!
The Who didn't reach the American Top 10 until 1967 when " I Can See For Miles" traveled all the way to #8 ("Happy Jack" rose to #13 prior to this) . With that said they were foist on the American public with "I Can't Explain" on December 19, 1964, a whole month before it's U.K. release! Despite taking almost three years to reach the American mainstream (aided in no small part by their explosive performance at the Monterey Pop Festival in June 1967) the band always enjoyed a hardcore following in the U.S. in little pockets of dedicated underground fans in places like Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois (to name a few). This could not be exemplified any better than a cursory look at the vast number of band's (mostly on obscure independent labels) that covered tracks by The Who in the Sixties. Enjoy!
1. THE KORDS-"Boris The Spider" Laurie LR 34-3 1967
The Kords hailed from sunny Florida and chose to cover a John Entwistle Who composition (it even got a release in New Zealand!). This cover of the Ox's most famous 60's Who tune does not really differ much from the original and is pretty much a carbon copy but gets high marks for obscurity!
https://youtu.be/sMPDoTbxEHw?si=vfOuCg-cbD0kTnXP
2. RAIN-"Substitute" A.P.I. API-337 1967
This Los Angeles band cut this mondo obscuro cover of "Substitute" (a popular number among the forgotten U.S. bands like The Tower Of London, Malibalavi etc). Sticking to the original's arrangement they manage to inject an interesting mix of frat rock meets soulful overtones. Curiously they chose the modify the Who's censored version (which saw them replace "I look all white but my Dad was black" with "I try walking forward but my feet walk back" exclusively for it's American release) with their own lyrics: "I see right through your plastic mask, I'd like to leave but I can't turn back, my shiny shoes they are made out of sack..".
https://youtu.be/4i64AwRML3o?si=fuQGoxi5iVvKlR4T
3. BLUE-"Sad 'Bout Us" Iris IR-1036 1968
It doesn't get any more obscure than this boys and girls! Hailing from Salt Lake City, Blue add a jangly folk rock delivery to this cover of "A Quick One's" strongest track. The harmonies are halfway decent even if they are a bit raw in places.
https://youtu.be/q4ZMDQ8x_zY?si=pfXUUH5VX7y96Gtj
4. THE ROVIN' KIND-"My Generation" Dunwich 45-146 1967
There are at least half a dozen covers of this track by American 60's bands (The Count Five, The Bards, The Human Beinz, The First National Band, The Iron Gate etc) so picking one was tough. This one has always been my favorite of them all. The vocals are pure snotty American 60's garage teen and the pace is quickened considerably from the original and even, if I'm not committing sacrilege here, far more ballsy than the original at times!
https://youtu.be/fVZlVL-GT-4?si=OpA0JnyVu3NhP4Yu
5. THE SAINTS-"Out In The Street" Summit 402 1967
The Saints hailed from Illinois, a state that the Who enjoyed a very strong base in the 60's (along with Michigan). The tempo is increased considerably from the original and it has a frat rock meets blue eyed soul feel turning it into a "call and response" number. It's incredibly primitive in it's production/recording but completely original in it's interpretation.
https://youtu.be/zpqiD3sphBM?si=qakXgi--XRHl-WAA
6. SONS OF CREATION-"Run Run Run" Four Sons 4S16803 1968
I can't tell you much about these guys who I believe are from Alabama. Their crack at one of the most powerful tracks on "Happy Jack" (the U.S. issue title of the Who's "A Quick One" LP) is probably the only American cover version of it. They apply the usual American 60's fuzz guitar/snotty vocals and Farfisa organ combination to it which tones down the edge of the original but still works, though just barely.
7. THE SPONTANEOUS GENERATION-"Pictures Of Lily" Fevre 8680 1968
These fellas hailed from Atlanta, Georgia and did what's basically a note for note cover of the original BUT they saturated it in really strong, well structured double tracked harmony vocals which actually better The Who in my book!
https://youtu.be/LtwsxXBUuOE?si=hkYl06WjkDyidn_n
8. OSCAR AND THE MAJESTICS-"I Can't Explain" U.S.A USA 851 1966
Hailing from Gary, Indiana, Oscar and The Majestics cut this fuzz lacerated cover of The Who's debut single with prerequisite frat rock backing vocals and plenty of tambourine with some really cool guitar flourishes and some nifty, searing guitar solos!
https://youtu.be/ugvQC4z5PWo?si=te8xz27VdOcgECl5
9. THE LITTER-"Legal Matter" Scotty 803G-6710 1967
Tucked away on the flip of the legendary Twin Citie's combo's "Action Woman" was their interpretation of this Pete Townshend anti-marriage ditty from the first Who LP. It's punked up with searing fuzz guitar and a doubled pace that carries it along nicely and is probably my favorite of all of today's selections.
https://youtu.be/jzkhgwUTgEQ?si=07uyIsqkKPGGRc4w
10. THE GREEK FOUNTAINS-"I'm A Boy" Pacemaker PM-250 1966
Alright boys and girls, this band hailed from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and their cover of "I'm A Boy" is interesting because the delivery though close to the template of the original is almost...goofy? The vocal delivery is almost tongue and cheek but the playing is solid (especially the drummer)!
https://youtu.be/E3JDzKmWbUw?si=tQsUO_X0sk9k3DdX
