Sunday 4th June

A clever title from the songwriter and guitarist of the Who.  The Album came out shortly after Who’s Next, which was a brilliant return to form and success by the band.  We always knew that Pete was a great songwriter, but most of us were unaware that he was interested in Eastern Religions.  The Beatles, especially George, we knew, went to Rishikesh to meet the Maharishi.  Pete though had discovered the teachings of another Eastern mystic teacher, Meher Baba.  And the album ‘Who Came First’ was dedicated to him, as was the song Baba O’Riley on Who’s next.

So, what about the album?  Well, it is quite different from The Who records.  Much quieter, more reflective, but recognizable too.  The record starts off with a complete version of ‘Pure and Easy’ which appeared as a fragment on ‘Who’s Next.’  Pete at this time was working on another project which he called the Lifehouse.  Many of the songs on ‘Who’s Next’ and this record were originally written for this – but Pete more or less abandoned it as too ambitious.  It eventually emerged as a box set with four records of songs and instrumental pieces and a radio play.  It was all a bit incomprehensible, but the songs as usual stood out.  Another favourite on this record is ‘Evolution’ sung here by Ronnie Lane of the Small Faces.  There is a devotional song ‘Parvadigar’ and even a rendition of a Jim Reeves song ‘There’s a Heartache Following Me’ because Meher Baba particularly liked it.  But most of all this is a joyfull and hopeful record, completely unlike anything by The Who or anyone else really.  A lovely record.