(John Entwistle) The Who - The Real Me

Matt Till · #1 10-25-2007, 04:48 PM

Seriously, the man is playing the bass on this song, for realz.

It's been said before, it's gonna get said again, this is an awesome display of bassmanship. I just love the fact that Pete Townsend just kinda told John to "just go off" on this song, and really, it's borderline "just a bunch of wankery," but damn it it's brilliant.

The song just has so much energy because of what Mr. Oxenborgh bass playing.

Just as a change of pace, I thought I wouldn't just bitch about stuff, but instead just give a nod that I've already given (so once again) to this particular jam.

RIP to probably my favorite bass player.

(Currently listening: Quadrophenia)

Philbiker · #2 10-26-2007, 06:10 AM

Get a hold of the next album "The Who By Numbers" and give a listen to "Dreaming From The Waist".

nysbob · #3 10-26-2007, 06:56 AM

That tune is solid evidence that it's fine to overplay as long what you play is solid, driving and memorable...and doesn't step on anyone else's toes too much. Quadrophenia is not my favorite Who album, but it is the E-man's finest hour IMO.

darthplagis · #4 10-26-2007, 07:13 AM

actually john played the album version quite to townshends demo, it was johns versions where he goes OTT hehe, if you can get a hold of the quadrophenia demo cd there are some great tunes on there that show the stages of how the who developed songs from petes rather good demo's.

as well as 'dreaming from the waist' (live version is rather splendid and very OTT) from 'by numbers' try listening to the funky lines in 'sister disco' from 'who are you' while not as acrobatic as the others its lightning fast fills are crazy. but for me johns solo stuff holds the best gems 'dancin master' is available on a few compilation cds and also on 'too late the hero' its johns take on people saying he sounded like stanley clarke so he did a piss take disco tune LOL (ironically it was played on an alembic baby bass, the one with the bigsby trem....... as seen on the cover of one of stanley clarkes abums)

Philbiker · #5 10-26-2007, 10:04 AM

Funny people would say E sounded like Clarke, they were the two well known famous players to start playing Alembics in the 70s.

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #6 10-26-2007, 12:34 PM

Was Jack Casady not considered famous back then (I wasn't around yet

)? IIRC he had the first Alembic.

EagleMoon · #7 10-27-2007, 12:38 AM

John Entwistle was the one who made me pick up the bass in the first place. Learning how to play The Real Me was a stepping stone I set for myself. I thought if I could ever figure it out, I'd be a good bass player. Mind you, this was before bass tabs, or at least a LONG time before I ever heard about bass tabs. So it was a lot of listening....pick up the record player arm, set it back an eighth of an inch, listen again...repeat about a million times. It's a wonder my records weren't all scratched up. I still can't play the damn thing exactly right!

Entwistle is a god. That's all I'm going to say.

Justin V · #8 10-27-2007, 07:04 PM

Entwhistle = my favorite bass player.
Quadrophenia = my favorite album.
The Real Me = Pure awesome.

That is all...

Dave Magaro · #9 10-27-2007, 07:23 PM

Great Tune! I LOVE playing that song. Just a Damn fun song to play! I took it to my band to play. They kind of learned it but just weren't real interested in doing it. Can't have the bass playing having that much fun I guess....hehehe!

Dave

PeppermanL2K · #10 10-28-2007, 08:01 AM

I'll say that my favorite version of The Real Me is on the Quadrophenia Soundtrack. It's got all that snarly 'modern' Ox tone all over it and just sounds more energetic to me. Looove it!!

MysticMichael · #11 10-28-2007, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nysbob

That tune is solid evidence that it's fine to overplay as long what you play is solid, driving and memorable...and doesn't step on anyone else's toes too much.

...in which case, it's not actually overplaying. Because overplaying isn't defined in some absolute sense, i.e. playing very loudly, very fast, very intensely - or some combination of the three - regardless of context.

Overplaying is very much relative to the musical context in which it occurs. And in this particular case, loud, fast, intense playing was exactly what the song called for...

MM

washtub_bass · #12 10-28-2007, 08:55 AM

Entwhistle just played what worked, and at the time it was ground bereaking bass playing. I think he underplayed on almost everything else after "Who By Numbers".

Mon Rominee · #13 10-28-2007, 09:27 AM

As much of a gas as it is to listen to that cut, it's sheer elation to play it live. Simply a gas.

Mon

Joe Nerve · #14 05-24-2011, 05:11 AM

Always assumed entwistle never played anything near the recorded version live. Can't say fer sure why I thought that.

This vid put a huge smile on my face.

YouTube - ‪The Real Me Live at the Royal Albert Hall‬&rlm;

Anybody ever notice the who was a great band?

Barkless Dog · #15 05-24-2011, 10:12 AM

To me Quadrophenia & Live At Leeds could be the to best rock bass recordings ever, both in tone & in ability.

Quadrophenia is the peak of Entwistle's tone in my opinion.

PeppermanL2K · #16 05-25-2011, 12:26 AM

Which version? The original record or the 'soundtrack' version? I prefer the soundtrack, myself.