Drummer reacts to "Eminence Front" by The Who

Ok, what the hell. How does a band reinvent themselves like this on their 10th studio album. Just wow... this was beyond awesome. Pete literally owns this song so hard.
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• Eminence Front
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#thewho

[@johnathanstruble1064]

John Entwhistle, should never be forgotten as one of the greatest Rock bassists, in history. Even though Kenny Jones , was inserted into band, remember that John Entwhistle, had to meet Keith Moons drumming in the middle, somewhere, ..without detailing the train! 😂

[@lewismaddox4132]

Pete did a solo album in 1980 that I liked a lot. "Rough Boys" rips, and another song got a bunch of airtime, "Let My Love Open the Door". Pete will always be Pete.

[@allanalogmusicat78rpm]

@davidbradley2294 Pete was not always pleased with the way his songs evolved with the rest of the band. I feel it is his right to feel that way. I'm happy they all worked together as much as they did. ALL THE BEST COWBOYS HAVE CHINESE EYES is also a very strong (and very 1980s) solo LP from Mr. Townshend.

[@redjack9999]

Deep End Live! is also a great solo album from Pete. A collection of live acoustic versions of Who classics.

[@bobmcdougall8981]

Rough mix was also great with “street in the city” being such a great but strange song.

[@bassvibasics479]

Entwistle's bass tone in the choruses.... legendary.

[@MrDuneedon]

You know that a song is awesome when the guitar solo happens before the lyrics do. 😉

[@60sbaby456]

So much flavor music here

[@melissadambro8873]

I’m 55 and this was the song that got me really interested in The Who for the first time! I was probably 13 or so. The bass line really sold it for me. Still love it!

[@bostonwhofan]

The Who's most recent studio album was released in 2019. It is simply called "WHO". My favorite song on that one is "Beads On One String". Roger Daltrey's voice sounds amazing on it and it also contains the classic backing vocals of Pete Townshend. Zak Starkey (Ringo Starr's son) is on the drums. Also, The Who are performing several gigs in London in March for their annual Teenage Cancer Trust benefit concerts. Squeeze is the opening act.

[@jenniferfoster1692]

For Americans who were around in the 80s, this song is intertwined with our memories of the tv show Miami Vice. It was a very moody, cinematically shot show with all the shadows, neon & palm trees & this song was used perfectly in a very moody, tense scene. I can't think of one without the other, lol. This song is one of my all time faves of The Who, it's a very diferent vibe for them. The other famous song Miami Vice used is Phil Collins 'In the Air Tonight'.

[@davidboivin7996]

The sound engineer did an amazing job with this one.

[@user-dq5xx9hi4q]

When this one came out I thought it was a Pete Townsend solo track, not a Who hit. I love to listen to this one while driving.

[@L33Reacts]

yeah this seems like a perfect driving song... feels like great driving while you need to think music.

[@diverdown631]

Kenny Jones was well established in the Music Biz having been the Drummer for The Small Faces and The Faces, as well as alot of session work.

[@ChromeDestiny]

He played on some of the soundtrack of The Who's Tommy movie. They used some of the recording sessions for that soundtrack to look for stand ins for Keith Moon. John and Pete said when they worked with Kenney it was the only time they didn't look at each other and say "Where's Keith?"

[@L33Reacts]

he did a great job here! a very different sound then keith. but it was so damn groovy that you cant deny his talent. he paired well with john.

[@williamflinchum-qo6ch]

If you like the groove/ Checkout Pete Townshend Give Blood live, with Simon Phillips on drums, and david Gilmour from Pink Floyd on guitar, it will knock your socks off bro!@😊😊

[@janecrow1122]

All hail Steve Marriott peace, all 💕

[@jamesreckling6697]

The Who died with Moon. There were a few decent moments, like this song and a few others, but for the most part they never were the same without Moon.

[@lauraschwartz1077]

Not True. Guess you're entitled to your opinion tho. We all missed Keith when he died, but you can't dismiss the incredible talent of the other members like that. Go back and listen again. i know Keith was smiling at how they did him proud.

[@diverdown631]

This had a sound to it that carried over to Pete's solo work. His Album White City ( a novel) is a great album. Try "Give Blood "

[@L33Reacts]

thank you! i will def check it out. i loved this. so, so, so good.

[@MaddyN999]

There’s a great video with David Gilmour on guitar from Pete’s tour

[@MissAstorDancer]

GREAT album I own on vinyl! Love "Face The Face" too!❤‍🔥

[@MrDuneedon]

Oh yeah. Give Blood & White City Fighting are musts! But I love the entire album, as well.

[@rapsack7058]

@@MissAstorDancer yea face to facerocked the dance flors back then, and was my favorite song for some years

[@mickr1448]

Saw them live for the umpteenth time last year, this is brilliant and it's Petes song, but Roger picks up the six string and accompanies him perfectly with some sublime backing vocals

[@lmkeniston216]

Oh man, haven’t heard this in 100 years. Such a change for the Who, back then it didn’t get the love it deserved. Similarly, listen to the Stones’ “Shattered.” They haven’t done a good song since, but that one rocks hard.

[@cazgerald9471]

From their 1982 album "It's Hard". In many ways this was their final album. The last album with John Entwistle, the second and final album with Kenney Jones.

[@anthonyblakely399]

❤❤❤Masterpiece ❤❤❤saw them in concert 2022 Sacramento, CA. LIVE....Excellent!!! Excellent!!! Excellent!!! The old guys still got it!!! BTW I loss my voice screaming and yelling so much!!!

[@petervandervlies6427]

Great comment 👍😁👊 I saw the young WHO in Amsterdam in 1972,and indeed EXCELLENT!!! Cheers from the Netherlands 😁👊

[@51Dss]

One of the best riffs in all of rock and roll music - ever! This is one of those riffs that begs to be played loud in your car with the windows - or the top down shared with other cars/people on the road.

[@HT-io1eg]

Great song, such a vibe, so many layers, and yes, the keyboards, gorgeous sets of motifs, little twiddly bits adding complexity and interest

[@L33Reacts]

yeah this is awesome. only the who. years later still coming out with the heat.

[@heyskipj]

Eminence Front was the song playing when I realized when I was stoned for the very first time. Xmas eve of that year. Unfortunately I was an early teen trapped in the back of the family car. But my dad had a really good stereo. Will never forget that bass hitting me in the chest. Smooth ride!

[@paintinginthedark7899]

Iconic tune. Good way to start your Friday night.

[@johnnyfrederick01]

Love this song ! ❤ It’s used in a number of TV shows and movies.

[@L33Reacts]

I can see why! it's so damn good!!

[@onemerlin]

While Kenny was an old friend and a known guy to the band, I remember some definite fan backlash. Going from the epitome of the maniac on the kit to a pro's pro pocket player was a serious stylistic change, and I remember guys in school complaining that it just wasn't The Who without Moonie. But Kenny could definitely nail the groove, even if he wasn't as elaborate.

[@L33Reacts]

Yeah it would be hard to fill those shoes that moon left... but Kenny did really good here. Totally groovy as hell and very fluid. He's definitely in there.

[@jonathansmith3742]

Killer tune. All Pete. Roger did a tune called Free Me from the McVicar movie soundtrack. His screams are on another level.

[@aMan-or9ij]

I'll never forget a DJ on WNEW in NYC chuckling while introducing this song as "Living in the Bronx" instead of "Eminence Front". He explained that he just received a request to play it, and the DJ was like what's it called? And the caller was like, you know, living in the Bronx.

[@nyrocks5580]

That's amazing! LOL

[@mikemitton6447]

I saw them on this Tour! Phenomenal!

[@stevenparker4684]

Peter Townsend does a solo version of this track on his album " All good cowboys have Chinese eyes" fantastic

[@RockChick63174]

Pete owns every song, man.

[@kratino]

KILLER song. Killer band.

[@woodyheywood8792]

Man I'm really enjoying your reactions! Nicely Done!!!

[@MikeOstrowski-iq8wf]

……Pete singing ! 🎸🔥 ……also written by Pete ……. Check out another song written by Pete off their 1981 album Face Dances “You Better You Bet !

[@L33Reacts]

Pete is the man. What a talented dude

[@mjb0183]

Pete IS The WHO.

[@davidhendrix2418]

Now I gotta go watch Entourage again. What a great show

[@kristahartmann6712]

Such a strong cut. The live video is great.

[@optimusprime2]

The Who: baby don't you do it (Who's Next) extended version

[@CharlyDS]

Pete's voice is amazing, a style of his own (think about it, having Roger's fantastic voice, you get a second one like this and even John is a good singer too!) I second Give Blood live as a Pete's solo choice. And even his cover of I Put A Spell On You, there's a great number of excellent versions out there, but Pete always got me. It would be a great "concept video" to listen to a few of these versions in fact :)

[@ShiverHinge]

It's like Baba O'Reilly and Sledgehammer had a baby. Always like the drift in this.

[@davescurry69]

Kenny Jones was the drummer for the Small Faces and then The Faces before he was Keith's replacement in The Who. In my opinion, they never made the most of it while Jones was there. And it's Pete on lead vocals for this song.

[@scotstevens5263]

Excellent choice here. Love The Who. Try “Slit Skirts” on Pete’s solo album, All the Best Cowboys have Chinese Eyes.

[@glassontherocks]

Velvet Revolver "She builds quick machines"

[@stevedahlberg8680]

It also kind of feels like it has a bit of a Gang of Four feel to it, but of course it still totally has their sound. I was disappointed when, unlike Lynyrd Skynyrd and Led Zeppelin for example, they decided to continue, and so I tried to dislike this, but it was so good and we played it all the time and it was on the radio a lot. And the older I get the more I appreciate it. And the more I realized that Kenny was the perfect drummer for that. He was highly respected and he worked on other projects that I really loved.

[@kristinemckee9279]

Love watching Roger Daltrey perform. Oozes charisma.

[@scottlaughlin9897]

You do know that is Pete on vocals on this track right?

[@Itelkner]

"I love Roger's voice." Pete's singing on this one.

[@L33Reacts]

Yeah, watch the video it literally says that, lol

[@Itelkner]

@@L33Reacts Jeez, you're right. Somehow I didn't see it. Ok, sorry about that. I just thought you'd appreciate knowing Pete sings lead here, as he does sometimes, but you got it sorted before I came along. 😅 Pete has a very soulful voice as well as Roger. Much to appreciate about these guys in every listening.

[@swampfizz]

theres a couple fantastic live versions of this

[@Juanjin1961]

Best band

[@MaddyN999]

Every song on Who’s Next is amazing. On Quadraphenia definitely need to hit Love Reign O’er Me and The Real Me

[@randyteta9170]

Awesome song, the video was a Hugh MTV staple, till this day I’m still looking for that black telecaster Pete plays in the video

[@nyrocks5580]

Killer song.

[@ChromeDestiny]

Absolutely love this track. I get the feeling it might have been inspired a bit by The Meters, certainly Funk music anyway. There was an alternate take with Roger doing some of the vocals put as a bonus on the RSD edition of It's Hard a few years ago. I hope in the future they put that on Spotify, KZbin, use it in a movie or TV show soundtrack or put that version on a Who compilation, more people deserve to hear that version. If you want other good Kenney Jones tracks from It's Hard look for I've Known No War and Cry if You Want.

[@L33Reacts]

oh wow i would love to hear roger's take on this! i will try and search for it lol. i loved this too!

[@lathedauphinot6820]

I was 17 when this came out. I was working with a couple friends that summer, so we had a little money, and the day the album was released we went to the record store at lunch, they said they hadn’t opened the box yet but the records were there, and we made them open the box and sell us three albums. I remember hearing “Eminence Front” for the first time (last song, side 1) and thinking, “This is either the best or worst song on the album” (best), because it was so new, different, and hard to immediately process. P.S. The title track is better than “Athena” to me. Good guitar work.

[@billblackbone7152]

I saw them at the Mecca Arena in downtown Milwaukee in 1982 and i think this was the loudest song of the entire set by far because of the bass and drums, my ears rang for 2 days.

[@joeyblowey123456]

This song is right up there with all the other Who classics. Top 5 song from Pete.

[@joannparker1977]

I remember when I first heard this.

[@glenndespres5317]

Another great tune from Pete is Slit Skirts. I love this song but don’t know much about the album.

[@paulbroadhurst5350]

Kenny was a proper drummer , you don't expect a genius but a proper drummer, well that's the desire.

[@novanights2chevy597]

Always liked "I've Known No War" and "Cry If You Want" off this album.

[@mojorider8455]

yes, +1 on "I've Known No War" !

[@alrivers2297]

Another of their good ones from the 80s is You Better, You Bet

[@jeanphilippebaye1713]

Thank you for this video which I really enjoyed. There is another version of this title with Roger Daltrey on vocals. Reading the comments, it is true that Pete has written some gems on his solo albums. For the Who albums, what's extraordinary is that each album has its own identity. All Who albums are different from each other.

[@user-eb6eh1ph6t]

There is a Roger Daltrey vocal version of this. Daltrey himself thought Townshend's was better and insisted that be the version released.

[@bobschenkel7921]

Saw The WHO on the tour for this album, and it was an incredible event. Roger Daltry even plays some "guitar" on this song, rhythm sort of. The concert was a true tour-de-force, by the band, a real career look back. My favorite songs at the show were "Sister Disco" and "Boris The Spider". Not huge hits, but they were a lot of fun live. They did play "Eminence Front".

[@redzone77p]

Live version in Toronto i believe from the late 80's is the one to check. Entwistle on bass is dynamic.

[@Ferretbomber]

I actually like this album as much as any they did before. Call me crazy.

[@AnthonyBasileo]

I agree. Very underrated. Better than Face Dances.

[@robsutherland5744]

Even Pete thought this was one of the only good things they did later in their career. Love this song and love your reactions young sir.

[@AnthonyBasileo]

Listen to Cry if You Wantand I’ve Known No War. Both are on Its Hard also. Great songs. The

[@xlerb_again_to_music7908]

The Who. Is the COMPLETE band.

[@Asymmatrix]

Yes you put it perfectly it's amazing how they came out with this. Kenny Jones was an excellent choice.

[@L33Reacts]

yeah kenny has a different vibe then keith obviously but i really enjoyed his work here. pete was just killing it

[@xlerb_again_to_music7908]

If you like this.... check out Mike and the Mechanics (Mike Rutherford's band, post Genesis)

[@nancymjohnson]

This song is soooo good!!

[@AttackChefDennis]

1979,1980,1981were watershed years for Rock, brand new artists pushing the limits of the genre and older artists changing their sound to address the burgeoning New Wave and Synth styles. David Bowie, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Queen and mang other bands, all tried new-ish sounds in their early 80's albums. Do ATHENA next !! Awesome song, She is the bomb. !!

[@pommie5093]

one of my fave Who tunes!

[@jamesreckling6697]

That is Pete singing.

[@msfoodiediva]

Great song but Roger and band realized that kenney wasn't the drummer for the who. Keith was like jet airplane taking off (roger stated this) zak starkey sounds and plays drums like keith probably because keith taught him. Zaks father is Ringo

[@TheCornishCockney]

Iconic British band (ANOTHER one) and always will be.

[@L33Reacts]

Seriously. I can't get enough of them. They are like a nexus point of so many good styles and genres. And it's always with a KILLER groove.

[@MattKrogmeier]

Once the chorus kicks in, this becomes one of my favorite bass lines ever. It's worth hearing an isolated mix - obviously, it starts with just 2 notes repeated, but the bass riffing going on in the chorus is amazing.

[@L33Reacts]

Now I want to hear that isolated track... because the sound John gets Here is massive.

[@MattKrogmeier]

@@L33Reacts it's on youtube already...and it's magnificent! Check it out! Just search "The Who - Eminence Front (Bass Only)"

[@cardcomm91]

I don't know if it applies to the studio version, in Live versions Roger Daltrey is playing the awesome steady riff during the song

[@ggwalker55]

That’s Townsend singing.

[@daseguin]

YT live version is great.

[@joelliebler5690]

Definitely different and more of a modern progressive sound done with Pete’s magical expertise!

[@L33Reacts]

Yeah this is one of my favorite who songs now hands down! It's so mature and so damn groovy...

[@alansmith7626]

you are really gonna like Let My Love Open the Door, diff groove, just as tasty

[@douglasbarrera951]

You need to react to the live version of my generation where the amps explode

[@woodyheywood8792]

Apologies for the duel posts but you notice and pickup "THE LAGNIAPPE" ". A Cajun saying ....loosely translates as a little extra...

[@danbrett7246]

Yes try the song White City or Give Blood with help from David Gilmour. Townsends solo career was epic. That was Pete on vocals BTW.

[@markthompson7983]

Kenny Jones was the drummer in The Faces, which also included Rod Stewart and future Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood. A few to consider from this great band - "Stay With Me", "Miss Judy's Farm", or "Pool Hall Richard"

[@shasta810]

Bad N Ruin my favorite

[@donpardo2510]

@L33Reacts the songs Entwistle sings are written by him. You should check them out. He had a dark sense of humor

[@josephthomas3912]

As great a drummer as Keith Moon was, I doubt that he could have stayed in the pocket long enough for this song. Just not his style. Kenny definitely understands that funk requires a certain discipline to be done right. This is one of my favorite Who songs. I love it when bands stretch out and try something different. Even when I don't like the result, I respect the effort.

[@stc60]

Saw them around 1980 with Kenny Jones....not the same without the mad man Moon.

[@raymondggoldstein]

Best song intro ever!

[@kendalton2115]

I remember when this first came out being played on the radio, I was just a kid in jr high, I thought Pete was saying "livin with a slut" instead of "eminence front". I'm serious. I was listening to my cheap little clock radio in my room in mono and I didn't know the name of the song. I was corrected very quickly by my dad. Ahhh, the good old days...

[@L33Reacts]

Hahaha it seems like everyone had a different idea of what he was saying. A few other comments mention different things they heard LOL that's great

[@Grithron2]

And on first hearing I thought it was proposing a dance craze dedicated to a football team - the Everton Strut.

[@shasta810]

my sister thought he said endless funk

[@floridaoutdoordiscoveries8301]

This song is about coke parties and the cocaine personality/facade, written by pete

[@firebird7479]

Roger played that main riff on the guitar. This was the first time Who fans saw Roger play guitar.

[@L33Reacts]

oh no shit really?? i had everything mixed up then... LOL well it was still amazing, no matter who was doing what I guess

[@firebird7479]

@@L33Reacts I think a lot of people forgot that. Check out the music video.

[@MrJiggerG]

Thats Pete on vocals.

[@midnightrambler7716]

When this came out I bought it on vinyl and played it for a friend. He swore up and down Townshend was singing “Everything’s fucked!” 😂 There’s a great live version of this filmed (I believe) at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto in ‘82 during the first of their many decades of farewell tours. I saw them a few years before around 80/81 at MLG and at Exhibition Stadium (yes the same dump the Blue Jays used to play at). But there were 70,000 people there for The Who. The Clash was supposed to open for them but they got booked to play Letterman or something like that at the last minute, so Joe Jackson (of Look Sharp fame) opened for them instead. Bad idea. I liked Joe Jackson. But he got booed off the stage by a rough Who crowd!

[@AdmiringFlowerPot-ut7fe]

Hey dude While this studio version is good, you really need to see the live version Eminence Front Toronto 17th dec 1982 it really rocks!

[@davidburton9136]

I always liked this song, but this Keith Moon fan was still missing him. Love Kenny though...great drummer in his own right. The original release of this album had a different bass track than is out there now, but I guess John was trying to improve what I thought was already perfect. I was lucky enough to have seen the band perform this on a few occasions.

[@user-nc2zn8nh2h]

Try REO Speed wagon golden country

[@indolentcheese]

They gave Roger a guitar & a badass riff to have something to do onstage when they did this number otherwise it's a Pete solo song all the way.

[@L33Reacts]

thank you for the info, i was confused by the end when i realized it was pete singing lol. great song though. so damn groovy.

[@toddk2737]

John Entwistle once said in an interview that Kenny Jones was a much easier drummer to work with than Keith.

[@jeffschielka7845]

Hey Lee! The Beatles or The Stones? The WHO and The KINKS❗️❗️❗️👍😎

[@spooley]

Have a look at Polyphonic analysis of this song, again the link may be removed but search the title and "Polyphonic" to see it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2XPq6htba6Brs0

[@ChasBeauregarde]

If you like this and could listen to it for an hour, check out the 12” single remix.

[@mojomusica.0169]

There's a Gov't Mule CD behind you. Warren Haynes does an amazing version of this song...

[@cmonman3639]

This is the only Who song that I like.