Ensiklopedia Dunia

Technopedia Center

Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science
S1 Informatics S1 Information Systems S1 Information Technology S1 Computer Engineering S1 Electrical Engineering S1 Civil Engineering

faculty of Economics and Business
S1 Management S1 Accountancy

Faculty of Letters and Educational Sciences
S1 English literature S1 English language education S1 Mathematics education S1 Sports Education

I'm a Boy - Wikipedia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"I'm a Boy"

Swedish picture sleeve

Single by the Who

B-side

"In the City"

Released

26 August 1966^[1]

Recorded

14, 19 June & 31 July 1966^[2]

Studio

IBC, London

Length

2:34

Label

Reaction (UK)
Decca (US)

The Who singles chronology

"The Kids Are Alright"
(1966)

"I'm a Boy"
(1966)

"La-La-La-Lies"
(1966)

Performance video

"I'm a Boy" on BeatClub (1967) on YouTube

"I'm a Boy" is a 1966 rock song written by Pete Townshend for the Who.^[3] The song was originally intended to be a part of a rock opera called Quads, which was to be set in a future in which parents can choose the sex of their children. The idea was later scrapped, but this song survived and was later released as a single.^[3]

Overview

The song is about a family who "order" four girls, but a mistake is made and three girls and one boy are delivered instead. The boy dreams of partaking in sports and other boy-type activities, but his mother forces him to act like his sisters and refuses to believe the truth ("I'm a boy, I'm a boy, but my Ma won't admit it").^[3] The track was produced by Kit Lambert at IBC Studios around 31 July–1 August 1966 and released just over three weeks later on 26 August 1966, with "In the City" as the B-side. The single was hugely successful in the United Kingdom and Ireland, reaching number 2 in the UK Singles Chart and number 7 in Ireland. The single actually reached number 1 in all the weekly music paper charts, as well as the top spot on several pirate radio stations, but as the BBC used just one chart - From Record Retailer - the single only 'officially' reached number 2. It failed to repeat that success in the US.^[3]

The original recording (released as a single), which features John Entwistle's French horn arrangement prominently in the mix, is available on the album Who's Missing.^[4] The version included on most compilations, between the original 1966 release and The Who Hits 50!, is exactly the same recording, with French horns and drum overdubs removed.^{[citation needed]}

A different, slower version was recorded in London in the week of 3 October 1966 and was intended for an early version of A Quick One titled Jigsaw Puzzle, but was later released on Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy in 1971. The same version, but without its intro and therefore beginning with the vocals, was released on a bonus disc of The Ultimate Collection in 2002 and is unique to that album.

The song was performed at the Who's concert at Leeds, released in album format as Live at Leeds. On the Live at Leeds album, Pete Townshend comments on the song by saying:^[5]

We'd like to play three selected hit singles--three easiest...and "I'm a Boy" which according to the, (crowd cheers) thank you, according to the Melody Maker was our first number one in England I think for about a half an hour (crowd laughs).

"In the City"

Released as the B-side of the single was "In the City", the only song credited to the songwriting collaboration of John Entwistle and Keith Moon.^[6] Entwistle referred to it as rip-off of Jan and Dean, a group that was a favorite of Moon's.^[7] The track was later included on the 1995 reissue of A Quick One.

Chart performance

Charts

Chart (1966–1967)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[8]	16
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[8]	16
Ireland (IRMA)^[9]	7
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[8]	6
Norway (VG-lista)^[8]	4
UK Singles (OCC)^[10]	2
West Germany (Media Control)^[8]	10

References

^ Neill 2007, p. 107.
^ Neill 2007, pp. 127, 131.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Richie Unterberger. "I'm a Boy - The Who | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
^ "The Who - Who's Missing (Vinyl, LP)". Discogs. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
^ "The Who's Live at Leeds Remains a Peerless Document of Rock and Roll Power". Consequence of Sound. 16 May 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
^ Atkins, John (14 June 2015). The Who on Record: A Critical History, 1963-1998. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-0657-6.
^ Moore, Mark A. (18 February 2016). The Jan & Dean Record: A Chronology of Studio Sessions, Live Performances and Chart Positions. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-9812-3.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "The Who – I'm A Boy". ultratop.be.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I'm a Boy". Irish Singles Chart.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.

Sources

Neill, Andrew (2007). Anyway Anyhow Anywhere: The Complete Chronicle of the Who 1958–1978. London: Virgin Books. ISBN 978-0-7535-1217-3.

v t e The Who singles
UK 1960s	"Zoot Suit" / "I'm the Face" "I Can't Explain" / "Bald Headed Woman" "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" / "Daddy Rolling Stone" "My Generation" / "Shout and Shimmy" "Substitute" / "Circles" "A Legal Matter" / "Instant Party" "The Kids Are Alright" / "The Ox" "I'm a Boy" / "In the City" "La-La-La-Lies" / "The Good's Gone" "Happy Jack" / "I've Been Away" "Pictures of Lily" / "Doctor, Doctor" "The Last Time" / "Under My Thumb" "I Can See for Miles" / "Someone's Coming" "Dogs" / "Call Me Lightning" "Magic Bus" / "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" "Pinball Wizard" / "Dogs Part Two"
US 1960s	"I Can't Explain" / "Bald Headed Woman" "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" / "Anytime You Want Me" "My Generation" / "Out in the Street" "Substitute" / "Waltz For a Pig" "The Kids Are Alright" / "A Legal Matter" "I'm a Boy" / "In the City" "Happy Jack" / "Whiskey Man" "Pictures of Lily" / "Doctor, Doctor" "I Can See for Miles" / "Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand" "Call Me Lightning" / "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" "Magic Bus" / "Someone's Coming" "Pinball Wizard" / "Dogs Part Two" "I'm Free" / "We're Not Gonna Take It"
UK 1970s	"The Seeker" / "Here For More" "Summertime Blues" / "Heaven and Hell" "See Me, Feel Me" / "Overture from Tommy" "Won't Get Fooled Again" / "I Don't Even Know Myself" "Let's See Action" / "When I Was A Boy" "Baba O'Riley" "Join Together" / "Baby Don't You Do It" "Relay" / "Waspman" "5:15" / "Water" "Squeeze Box" / "Success Story" "Who Are You" / "Had Enough" " Trick of the Light" / "905" "Long Live Rock" / "I'm the Face"/"My Wife (Live)" "I'm One" / "5:15 (Soundtrack Version)"
US 1970s	"The Seeker" / "Here For More" "Summertime Blues" / "Heaven and Hell" "See Me, Feel Me" / "Overture from Tommy" "Won't Get Fooled Again" / "I Don't Even Know Myself" "Behind Blue Eyes" / "My Wife" "Join Together" / "Baby Don't You Do It" "The Relay" / "Wasp Man" "Love, Reign o'er Me" / "Water" "The Real Me" / "I'm One" "Postcard" / "Put the Money Down" "Squeeze Box" / "Success Story" "Slip Kid" / "Dreaming from the Waist" "Substitute (Reissue)" / "I'm a Boy (Alternate Version)" "Who Are You" / "Had Enough" "Trick of the Light" / "905" "Long Live Rock" / "My Wife (Live)"
UK 1980s	"You Better You Bet" / "The Quiet One" "Don't Let Go the Coat" / "You" "Athena" / "A Man Is a Man" "Twist and Shout (live)" / "I Can't Explain (live)" "Won't Get Fooled Again (EP)" ( "Won't Get Fooled Again (live)" / "Bony Moronie (live)" / "Dancing in the Street (live)" / "Dance it Away (live)" )
US 1980s	"You Better You Bet" / "The Quiet One" "Don't Let Go the Coat" / "You" "Athena" / "It's Your Turn" "Eminence Front" / "One At A Time" "It's Hard" / "Dangerous"
2000s	"Real Good Looking Boy" / "Old Red Wine"
2010s	"Be Lucky" "Ball and Chain"