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Going Mobile

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Wikipedia article




"'Going Mobile'" is a song written by Pete Townshend and originally released by the Who on their 1971 album 'Who's Next'. It was originally written for Townshend's abandoned 'Lifehouse' project, with lyrics celebrating the joy of having a mobile home and being able to travel the open road. The Who's lead singer Roger Daltrey did not take part in the recording of the song, leaving the rest of the band to record it as a power trio; Townshend handles the lead vocals, guitars, and synthesizers, with John Entwistle on bass guitar and Keith Moon on drums. The song has attracted mixed reviews from music critics.

Lyrics and music



"Going Mobile" is one of the lighter moments on 'Who's Next'. It was originally conceived as part of Townshend's abandoned 'Lifehouse' project. Townshend described the use of the song in the proposed project as follows: "As the story unfolded, because of the vagaries of the modern world, because of pollution being caused mainly by people's need to travel, to be somewhere else. (People) had been told, 'You can't do that anymore. You have to stay where you are.' But people have got this lust for life, and adventure, and a bit of color." It celebrates the joys of having a mobile home and being able to travel the highways at will Townshend himself had acquired a mobile home about a year before the song was recorded. An example of the theme is illustrated by such lyrics as:

"Going Mobile" was recorded without Who lead singer Roger Daltrey. Rather, guitarist and songwriter Townshend handled the vocals on the song. Instrumentation includes acoustic guitar, bass guitar and drums. A VCS 3 synthesizer is also overdubbed on part of the song. Further, on his guitar solo, Townshend plays the instrument through an envelope follower, a feature of the ARP synthesizer that produces what Townshend describes as a "fuzzy wah-wah sound". Author Chris Charlesworth describes the effect as being as if Townshend is playing underwater. Allmusic critic Tom Maginnis describes Entwistle's bass playing on the song as "ultra-fluid" and Moon's drumming as "exuberant."

Critical reception



'Rolling Stone's John Mendelsohn described the song as "inane". However, in 'The Rolling Stone Record Guide', John Swenson described "Going Mobile" as one of "Townshend's most beautiful songs". Allmusic's Tom Maginnis states that "Going Mobile" "shows the tremendous energy of the band without the support of powerful guitar amplification". Charlesworth states that "Going Mobile" "lacks the grandeur" of some other 'Who's Next' songs, but nonetheless considers it "a witty and worthy contender".

Other appearances



The Who never performed "Going Mobile" live. Townshend included a version of "Going Mobile" on his solo album 'The Lifehouse Chronicles'. In 2011, Simon Townshend performed the song with Roger Daltrey's No Plan B band on its "Tommy Reborn" concert tour.

References



Category:1971 songs

Category:The Who songs

Category:Songs written by Pete Townshend

Category:Song recordings produced by Glyn Johns

Category:Pete Townshend songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Pete Townshend

Category:Songs about cars

Category:Decca Records singles

Category:Polydor Records singles

Category:Track Records singles

Category:MCA Records singles

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