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Trick of the Light (The Who song)

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its being "too heavy" and "too mean" for the 1977 singles chart. Segretto considers the song to be underrated, finding humor in the situation but stating that "genuine vulnerability makes the song more than a good giggle and undercuts the performance's cock-rock attitude." But it was not a favorite of Who lead singer
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Who biographer John Atkins says the song has a "muscular texture" and is "fully realized" but that it represents an "orthodox heavy rock format" that the band usually shunned. The Who FAQ author Mike Segretto considers it one of Entwistle's "catchier songs," attributing its lack of chart success to
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The lyrics describe fear of being sexually inadequate in the face of a prostitute. The singer wants to have an emotional connection with the prostitute but she only sees him as dehumanized and recognizes his sexual insecurity. He is concerned that he didn't bring her "to the height of ecstasy." It
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as sounding like "a musical Mack truck" and is actually Entwistle's heavily distorted eight-string Alembic bass. Chris Charlesworth feels that the bass dominates the song to an extent that none of the other elements of the song matter.
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said that the song "features the group's familiar song structure carried by wall-of-sound instrumentation."
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with Entwistle on eight-string and Townshend playing one of Entwistle's Alembic basses used on the
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described the guitar riff as "furious" and "unrelenting," and also praises drummer
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features a guitar-like assault throughout the song, described by
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dates in June and acoustic guitar for the rest of the tour.
1361: 1310: 407:, with Townshend originally on electric guitar on the two 433:"The Hypertext Who › Liner Notes › Who Are You" 388:, who complained that it went "on and on and on and on." 366:
said that the song is "driven by powerful guitar work by
487:"The Who - Trick Of The Light Lyrics - SongMeanings" 1409:
Won't Get Fooled Again" / "I Don't Even Know Myself
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Won't Get Fooled Again" / "I Don't Even Know Myself
426: 424: 1702: 1128:Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" / "Anytime You Want Me 976:Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" / "Daddy Rolling Stone 508: 463:The Who on Record: A Critical History, 1963-1998 545:. Backbeat Books. pp. 59–60, 82–83, 343. 421: 924: 662: 430: 540: 460: 403:tours. It made its return to the setlist in 391:It was performed occasionally on The Who's 931: 917: 669: 655: 511:The Complete Guide to the Music of the Who 504: 502: 500: 27: 1070:I Can See for Miles" / "Someone's Coming 456: 454: 452: 450: 497: 1726:Song recordings produced by Glyn Johns 1703: 1275:Let's See Action" / "When I Was A Boy 912: 650: 536: 534: 532: 530: 447: 1614:You Better You Bet" / "The Quiet One 360:'s ability to " rhythmic tension." 1174:Pictures of Lily" / "Doctor, Doctor 1052:Pictures of Lily" / "Doctor, Doctor 938: 13: 527: 14: 1752: 1462:"Postcard" / "Put the Money Down" 615: 587: 465:. MacFarland. pp. 237, 241. 1635:Eminence Front" / "One At A Time 1210:Pinball Wizard" / "Dogs Part Two 1099:Pinball Wizard" / "Dogs Part Two 1711:Songs written by John Entwistle 676: 327:" is a song written by bassist 1203:Magic Bus" / "Someone's Coming 1142:Substitute" / "Waltz For a Pig 604:. December 2, 1978. p. 17 576:. December 2, 1978. p. 86 559: 479: 1: 1621:Don't Let Go the Coat" / "You 1583:Won't Get Fooled Again (live) 1490:I'm a Boy (Alternate Version) 1468:Squeeze Box" / "Success Story 1445:Love, Reign o'er Me" / "Water 1185:Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand 1045:Happy Jack" / "I've Been Away 632:. December 2, 1978. p. 1 513:. Omnibus Press. p. 76. 414: 370:and aggressive drumming from 1591:Dancing in the Street (live) 1380:The Seeker" / "Here For More 1239:The Seeker" / "Here For More 7: 1577:Won't Get Fooled Again (EP) 10: 1757: 1167:Happy Jack" / "Whiskey Man 958:Zoot Suit" / "I'm the Face 1673: 1651: 1628:Athena" / "It's Your Turn 1605: 1559:Athena" / "A Man Is a Man 1528: 1371: 1362:5:15 (Soundtrack Version) 1230: 1160:I'm a Boy" / "In the City 1108: 1027:I'm a Boy" / "In the City 949: 812: 787: 766: 731: 693: 686: 595:"CashBox Singles Reviews" 509:Charlesworth, C. (1995). 317: 239: 229: 225: 188: 180: 157: 143: 131: 104: 88: 80: 72: 56: 46: 35: 26: 21: 335:'s eighth studio album, 1736:Songs about prostitutes 1642:It's Hard" / "Dangerous 1479:Dreaming from the Waist 1221:We're Not Gonna Take It 1196:Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 1137:" / "Out in the Street" 1092:Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 291: 1570:I Can't Explain (live) 1566:Twist and Shout (live) 1438:The Relay" / "Wasp Man 16:1978 single by The Who 1660:Real Good Looking Boy 1548:Don't Let Go the Coat 748:"Love Is Coming Down" 541:Segretto, M. (2014). 461:Atkins, John (2000). 302:"Love Is Coming Down" 1595:Dance it Away (live) 1486:Substitute (Reissue) 1431:Baby Don't You Do It 1293:Baby Don't You Do It 1149:The Kids Are Alright 1016:The Kids Are Alright 76:2 December 1978 (US) 22:"Trick of the Light" 1741:MCA Records singles 1587:Bony Moronie (live) 1402:Overture from Tommy 1320:" / "Success Story" 1261:Overture from Tommy 1181:I Can See for Miles 724:"Music Must Change" 431:The Hypertext Who. 280:"Music Must Change" 1537:You Better You Bet 1508:Trick of the Light 1336:Trick of the Light 861:The Who by Numbers 740:Trick of the Light 623:"Hits of the Week" 567:"Top Single Picks" 325:Trick of the Light 294:Trick of the Light 204:Trick of the Light 184:singles chronology 125:3:37 (single edit) 1698: 1697: 1192:Call Me Lightning 1121:Bald Headed Woman 1081:Call Me Lightning 969:Bald Headed Woman 906: 905: 779:The Who Tour 1980 774:The Who Tour 1979 762: 761: 321: 320: 221: 220: 122:4:45 (1996 remix) 84:30 September 1977 1748: 1598: 1416:Behind Blue Eyes 1387:Summertime Blues 1246:Summertime Blues 987:Shout and Shimmy 933: 926: 919: 910: 909: 833:The Who Sell Out 767:Supporting tours 745:"Guitar and Pen" 691: 690: 671: 664: 657: 648: 647: 641: 640: 638: 637: 627: 619: 613: 612: 610: 609: 599: 591: 585: 584: 582: 581: 571: 563: 557: 556: 538: 525: 524: 506: 495: 494: 483: 477: 476: 458: 445: 444: 439:. Archived from 428: 299:"Guitar and Pen" 190: 189: 162: 148: 118: 117: 113: 61: 31: 19: 18: 1756: 1755: 1751: 1750: 1749: 1747: 1746: 1745: 1701: 1700: 1699: 1694: 1669: 1647: 1601: 1580: 1524: 1398:See Me, Feel Me 1391:Heaven and Hell 1367: 1257:See Me, Feel Me 1250:Heaven and Hell 1226: 1117:I Can't Explain 1104: 1038:The Good's Gone 965:I Can't Explain 945: 937: 907: 902: 901: 808: 783: 758: 727: 682: 675: 645: 644: 635: 633: 625: 621: 620: 616: 607: 605: 597: 593: 592: 588: 579: 577: 569: 565: 564: 560: 553: 539: 528: 521: 507: 498: 485: 484: 480: 473: 459: 448: 429: 422: 417: 313: 312: 243: 216: 207: 198: 158: 144: 115: 111: 110: 57: 47:from the album 17: 12: 11: 5: 1754: 1744: 1743: 1738: 1733: 1728: 1723: 1718: 1713: 1696: 1695: 1693: 1692: 1689:Ball and Chain 1685: 1677: 1675: 1671: 1670: 1668: 1667: 1655: 1653: 1649: 1648: 1646: 1645: 1638: 1631: 1624: 1617: 1609: 1607: 1603: 1602: 1600: 1599: 1573: 1562: 1555: 1544: 1532: 1530: 1526: 1525: 1523: 1522: 1519:My Wife (Live) 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419: 418: 416: 413: 368:Pete Townshend 347:Pete Townshend 329:John Entwistle 319: 318: 315: 314: 311: 310: 303: 300: 297: 290: 287: 286: 282: 281: 278: 271: 264: 257: 249: 248: 244: 241: 240: 237: 236: 227: 226: 223: 222: 219: 218: 213:Long Live Rock 209: 200: 186: 185: 178: 177: 176: 175: 170: 163: 155: 154: 152:John Entwistle 149: 141: 140: 135: 129: 128: 127: 126: 123: 120: 119:(original mix) 106: 102: 101: 100: 99: 92: 86: 85: 82: 78: 77: 74: 70: 69: 62: 54: 53: 44: 43: 33: 32: 24: 23: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1753: 1742: 1739: 1737: 1734: 1732: 1729: 1727: 1724: 1722: 1721:The Who songs 1719: 1717: 1714: 1712: 1709: 1708: 1706: 1690: 1686: 1683: 1679: 1678: 1676: 1672: 1665: 1661: 1657: 1656: 1654: 1650: 1643: 1639: 1636: 1632: 1629: 1625: 1622: 1618: 1615: 1611: 1610: 1608: 1604: 1596: 1592: 1588: 1584: 1578: 1574: 1571: 1567: 1563: 1560: 1556: 1553: 1549: 1545: 1542: 1541:The Quiet One 1538: 1534: 1533: 1531: 1527: 1520: 1516: 1512: 1509: 1505: 1502: 1498: 1494: 1491: 1487: 1483: 1480: 1476: 1472: 1469: 1465: 1463: 1460: 1457: 1453: 1449: 1446: 1442: 1439: 1435: 1432: 1428: 1427:Join Together 1424: 1421: 1417: 1413: 1410: 1406: 1403: 1399: 1395: 1392: 1388: 1384: 1381: 1377: 1376: 1374: 1370: 1363: 1359: 1355: 1352: 1348: 1344: 1340: 1337: 1333: 1330: 1326: 1322: 1319: 1315: 1312: 1308: 1305: 1301: 1297: 1294: 1290: 1289:Join Together 1286: 1283: 1279: 1276: 1272: 1269: 1265: 1262: 1258: 1254: 1251: 1247: 1243: 1240: 1236: 1235: 1233: 1229: 1222: 1218: 1214: 1211: 1207: 1204: 1200: 1197: 1193: 1189: 1186: 1182: 1178: 1175: 1171: 1168: 1164: 1161: 1157: 1154: 1150: 1146: 1143: 1139: 1136: 1135:My Generation 1132: 1129: 1125: 1122: 1118: 1114: 1113: 1111: 1107: 1100: 1096: 1093: 1089: 1085: 1082: 1078: 1074: 1071: 1067: 1064: 1060: 1059:The Last Time 1056: 1053: 1049: 1046: 1042: 1039: 1035: 1034:La-La-La-Lies 1031: 1028: 1024: 1021: 1017: 1013: 1010: 1009:Instant Party 1006: 1002: 999: 995: 991: 988: 984: 983:My Generation 980: 977: 973: 970: 966: 962: 959: 955: 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235:track listing 234: 233: 228: 224: 214: 210: 205: 201: 196: 192: 191: 187: 183: 179: 174: 171: 169: 166: 165: 164: 161: 156: 153: 150: 147: 146:Songwriter(s) 142: 139: 136: 134: 130: 124: 121: 109: 108: 107: 103: 98: 95: 94: 93: 91: 87: 83: 79: 75: 71: 67: 63: 60: 55: 52: 51: 45: 42: 38: 34: 30: 25: 20: 1731:1978 singles 1664:Old Red Wine 1507: 1347:I'm the Face 1335: 1282:Baba O'Riley 894: 889:Endless Wire 887: 880: 873: 866: 859: 854:Quadrophenia 852: 845: 838: 831: 824: 817: 802: 739: 719:Sister Disco 677: 634:. Retrieved 630:Record World 629: 617: 606:. Retrieved 601: 589: 578:. Retrieved 573: 561: 542: 510: 491:SongMeanings 490: 481: 462: 441:the original 436: 390: 382: 377:Record World 375: 361: 351: 343: 336: 324: 322: 293: 275:Sister Disco 230: 203: 48: 1497:Who Are You 1452:The Real Me 1325:Who Are You 1318:Squeeze Box 875:Face Dances 868:Who Are You 826:A Quick One 796:Empty Glass 753:Who Are You 679:Who Are You 543:The Who FAQ 338:Who Are You 307:Who Are You 232:Who Are You 195:Who Are You 160:Producer(s) 50:Who Are You 1716:1978 songs 1705:Categories 1501:Had Enough 1329:Had Enough 994:Substitute 847:Who's Next 709:Had Enough 636:2023-02-12 608:2022-01-01 580:2020-07-09 520:0711943060 437:thewho.net 415:References 372:Keith Moon 358:Keith Moon 261:Had Enough 173:Jon Astley 168:Glyn Johns 1510:" / "905" 1338:" / "905" 1088:Magic Bus 882:It's Hard 803:Lifehouse 574:Billboard 393:1979 tour 353:Billboard 97:Hard rock 1682:Be Lucky 1606:US 1980s 1529:UK 1980s 1475:Slip Kid 1372:US 1970s 1231:UK 1970s 1217:I'm Free 1109:US 1960s 950:UK 1960s 732:Side two 702:New Song 694:Side one 602:Cash Box 363:Cash Box 285:Side two 254:New Song 247:Side one 242:9 tracks 81:Recorded 73:Released 1456:I'm One 1420:My Wife 1358:I'm One 1304:Waspman 998:Circles 943:singles 940:The Who 409:Toronto 333:The Who 217:(1979) 208:(1978) 199:(1978) 182:The Who 41:The Who 1020:The Ox 549:  517:  469:  105:Length 59:B-side 37:Single 1674:2010s 1662:" / " 1652:2000s 1593:" / " 1589:" / " 1585:" / " 1568:" / " 1550:" / " 1539:" / " 1517:" / " 1499:" / " 1488:" / " 1477:" / " 1454:" / " 1429:" / " 1418:" / " 1400:" / " 1389:" / " 1360:" / " 1345:" / " 1327:" / " 1302:" / " 1300:Relay 1291:" / " 1259:" / " 1248:" / " 1219:" / " 1194:" / " 1183:" / " 1151:" / " 1119:" / " 1090:" / " 1077:Dogs" 1061:" / " 1036:" / " 1018:" / " 1007:" / " 996:" / " 985:" / " 967:" / " 840:Tommy 788:Other 714:"905" 687:Songs 626:(PDF) 598:(PDF) 570:(PDF) 133:Label 90:Genre 547:ISBN 515:ISBN 467:ISBN 405:1989 401:1976 397:1975 374:." 331:for 1597:" ) 1581:( " 1552:You 1349:"/" 1079:/ " 896:WHO 268:905 138:MCA 66:905 39:by 1707:: 1579:" 628:. 600:. 572:. 529:^ 499:^ 489:. 449:^ 435:. 423:^ 215:" 206:" 197:" 116:06 1691:" 1687:" 1684:" 1680:" 1666:" 1658:" 1644:" 1640:" 1637:" 1633:" 1630:" 1626:" 1623:" 1619:" 1616:" 1612:" 1575:" 1572:" 1564:" 1561:" 1557:" 1554:" 1546:" 1543:" 1535:" 1521:" 1513:" 1506:" 1503:" 1495:" 1492:" 1484:" 1481:" 1473:" 1470:" 1466:" 1458:" 1450:" 1447:" 1443:" 1440:" 1436:" 1433:" 1425:" 1422:" 1414:" 1411:" 1407:" 1404:" 1396:" 1393:" 1385:" 1382:" 1378:" 1364:" 1356:" 1353:" 1341:" 1334:" 1331:" 1323:" 1316:" 1313:" 1309:" 1306:" 1298:" 1295:" 1287:" 1284:" 1280:" 1277:" 1273:" 1270:" 1266:" 1263:" 1255:" 1252:" 1244:" 1241:" 1237:" 1223:" 1215:" 1212:" 1208:" 1205:" 1201:" 1198:" 1190:" 1187:" 1179:" 1176:" 1172:" 1169:" 1165:" 1162:" 1158:" 1155:" 1147:" 1144:" 1140:" 1133:" 1130:" 1126:" 1123:" 1115:" 1101:" 1097:" 1094:" 1086:" 1083:" 1075:" 1072:" 1068:" 1065:" 1057:" 1054:" 1050:" 1047:" 1043:" 1040:" 1032:" 1029:" 1025:" 1022:" 1014:" 1011:" 1003:" 1000:" 992:" 989:" 981:" 978:" 974:" 971:" 963:" 960:" 956:" 932:e 925:t 918:v 798:" 794:" 755:" 751:" 742:" 738:" 721:" 717:" 711:" 707:" 704:" 700:" 670:e 663:t 656:v 639:. 611:. 583:. 555:. 523:. 493:. 475:. 399:– 323:" 309:" 305:" 296:" 292:" 277:" 273:" 270:" 266:" 263:" 259:" 256:" 252:" 211:" 202:" 193:" 114:: 112:4 68:" 64:"

Index


Single
The Who
Who Are You
B-side
905
Genre
Hard rock
Label
MCA
Songwriter(s)
John Entwistle
Producer(s)
Glyn Johns
Jon Astley
The Who
Who Are You
Long Live Rock
Who Are You
New Song
Had Enough
905
Sister Disco
Trick of the Light
Who Are You
John Entwistle
The Who
Who Are You
Pete Townshend
Billboard

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