"English Boy"
Single by Pete Townshend
from the album Psychoderelict
Released1993
GenreRock
Length5:07
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)Pete Townshend
Producer(s)Pete Townshend
Pete Townshend singles chronology
"I Won't Run Anymore"
(1985)		 "English Boy"
(1993)		 "Let My Love Open the Door (1996 remix)"
(1996)

"English Boy" is a song by Pete Townshend, released as the first and only single from his 1993 album Psychoderelict.[1][2] The song is used to introduce the character Ray High, as well as journalist Ruth Streeting, host of Street on the Street.[3] Townshend has said the song is about "the emergence of the modern punk", and has been referred to as the focus point for the entire album.[4] There are three versions of this song:

  • the first, lengthier version features dialog by Ruth Streeting over instrumental parts of the song.
  • the second was released as an edited, no dialog version, and appeared on both single releases in 1993 and on the Pete Townshend compilation albums coolwalkingsmoothtalkingstraightsmokingfirestoking, Anthology, and Gold.
  • a reprise, which ends the album and features a slightly different backing (including harmonica by Peter Hope-Evans and additional cowbell) and dialog by Ray High, wrapping up the album and imploring "what happened to all that lovely hippie shit?"

B-sides

Two exclusive tracks were released on different single releases of "English Boy".[5]

  • "Psycho Montage" is a compilation of dialogue related to the narrative.
  • "Electronic Wizardry" is an instrumental demo derived from the Lifehouse project.

Single release

In the UK, the song was released as a single in the following variations:

  • "English Boy" (non-dialog) / "English Boy" (dialog) (7" vinyl)
  • "English Boy" (dialog) / "Fake It" / "Psycho Montage" (CD single 1)
  • "English Boy" (non-dialog) / "Fake It" / "Flame" (Simon Townshend demo) / "Early Morning Dreams" (Pete Townshend demo) (CD single 2)

References

  1. ↑ "Pete Townshend's solo albums set for reissue". UNCUT. 2016-09-30. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  2. ↑ Mansfield, Brian. "Premiere: Pete Townshend's 'Guantanamo'". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  3. ↑ Wilkerson, Mark (2009-10-28). Who Are You: The Life Of Pete Townshend. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-008-3.
  4. ↑ Wilkerson, Mark (2009-10-28). Who Are You: The Life Of Pete Townshend. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-008-3.
  5. ↑ Pete Townshend - English Boy, retrieved 2022-08-17
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.