"I can hear music/Sweet sweet music..."

[Ian Derby <iderby19@us.net>]

> Well, I separate them when I listen. Townshend is my favorite songwriter
> because he may not be the best lyricist or music writer, but he's the best
> with both together. A song that I like, therefore, must have both together.
> If one falls apart...it takes the song with it. Dylan can get away with it
> because his lyrics are so strong (at least until the `70s).

I'll agree there.  When you think of Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Ray Davies, 
Neil Young (but I like sense of melody), Joni Mitchell, etc etc, you 
think of lyrics only.  With Pete, it's a coin toss.  He has written some 
of the most infectious chord progressions in rock history yet still has 
the ability to actually say something profound.  As a solo artist, I 
think he tried to hard on Chinese Eyes in tapping his lyrical sense while 
the music suffered a little.  


> It sounds like a lessor band did it, not the ever-mighty Who.
> The scale I measure Who songs against combines other Who songs and what
> other bands were doing at that time. The Who come out as number one in `65
> and from `67-`73, hands down. And hit and miss during the other years.

When DLA is inbetween Cobwebs and Strange, and I Need You, it sounds like 
a gem.  Of course if you take DLA and compare it overall, it's pretty 
weak.  But I think of songs as how they fit on the albums.  No, it wasn't 
the greatest Pete T song (especially against So Sad About Us) on the 
album but it sounds a hell of alot better than Roger's Buddy Holly imitation.


> Well, I hope you realize that I too was making a joke. Gee, I have no
> standard to judge my humor against. I can only try...
> Since you're in Virginia (and therefore not too far away), I hope you'll
> consider coming down for WhoFest in August. Then we can "battle it out" face
> to face. "Don't play that crappy Disguises again!" "OK, then I'll play
> Please Please Please." "Noooooooo. Too much!"

I'll give it serious thought.  BTW I realize you were being funny, but I 
never try to take one sentence and turn it into two paragraphs.