Relay (song)

1972 single by the Who

"Relay"

Single by the Who
B-side| "Waspman"
Released| 25 November 1972 (US)
22 December 1972 (UK)
Recorded| 26 May 1972 at Olympic Studios, London[1]
Genre| Rock, funk rock
Length| 3:42 (US) 3:49 (UK)
Label|

* Track/Decca (US)

Track/Polydor (UK)
Songwriter(s)| Pete Townshend
Producer(s)| The Who
The Who singles chronology
| "Join Together"
(1972)  | "Relay"
(1972)  | "5:15"
(1973)

|
|

"Relay" (titled "The Relay" in the United States) is a song written by Pete Townshend, the guitarist of the Who, for the band's aborted Lifehouse project. The song was also released as a moderately successful single in 1972. It was also the last non-album single by the Who until "Real Good Looking Boy", 32 years later.

## Background

[edit]

"Relay" was originally written as part of the unfinished Lifehouse rock opera, however, like "Join Together", it was not written until 1972, when Pete Townshend revisited the project, at Roger Daltrey's suggestion.[1] In 1972, the song was resurrected to be used in Rock Is Dead—Long Live Rock!, another abandoned Who album that was to be released in 1972.

The song was recorded during the same sessions as "Join Together" and a demo of "Long Live Rock" in May 1972.[2]

"Relay" was released as a single in late 1972, backed with the Keith Moon-penned track, "Waspman". The single charted in the Top 40 in both the UK and US, reaching #21 in the United Kingdom and #39 on the Billboard Hot 100 (and #33 on Cashbox).[1] The single was the last of three singles relating to Lifehouse (but which did not appear on Who's Next), the others being "Let's See Action" and "Join Together".

Lead singer Roger Daltrey spoke positively of the song, saying "I love 'Relay'".[2] Pete Townshend, however, felt that it sounded too similar to the band's other releases. He said of this:

> I've got to get a new act together for the Who... we've got to get something fresh.

— Pete Townshend, Melody Maker[2]

### Live and alternate versions

[edit]

In order to promote the single, "Relay" was performed on two British television shows, Russell Harty Plus and The Old Grey Whistle Test, in early 1973.[2]

"Relay" was performed throughout the Who's 1972 tour, but was dropped from the setlist afterwards, and would not return until after Keith Moon's death; it was performed twice in the 1979 tour (once as an encore, once as a snippet) and frequently through the 1980 tour,[3] before returning to the full setlist in 2000 and 2002. However, it was then dropped again until 2006, and remained in the setlist through 2009. Live performances from 2000 onwards were often performed in an extended format, frequently exceeding seven minutes.

## Lyrics and music

[edit]

"Relay" begins with a strong guitar line fed through the sample and hold-controlled VCF of an ARP-2600 synthesiser,[4] which persists throughout the song. It also features an ordinary electric guitar and acoustic guitar. Intended to feature near the end of Lifehouse, "Relay" is thought to refer to the final setting up of and spreading the word about the Lifehouse concert. The fictional Relay bears strong similarities to the modern Internet, and as such in concerts in the 21st century, Townshend introduces the song as being about the Internet.

Record World said that it "begins with an Isaac Hayes sound and breaks into a heavy rocker again envincing Townshend's humanistic consciousness."[5]

## Release history

[edit]

In addition to being released as a single in 1972, "Relay" has appeared on a number of albums. In order of release:

* Hooligans (labelled as "The Relay")
* Who's Greatest Hits
* Rarities Volume II
* The Who Collection
* Thirty Years of Maximum R&B
* BBC Sessions
* Live at the Royal Albert Hall/The Who & Special Guests: Live at the Royal Albert Hall
* Live in Boston
* The Who Hits 50!

## Chart performance

[edit]

Chart (1972–1973)  | Peak
position

|

Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[6] | 11
Canada (RPM)[7] | 50
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[6] | 29
UK Singles (OCC)  | 21
US Billboard Hot 100[8] | 39
West Germany (Media Control)[6] | 28

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Cady, Brian. "'Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy' liner notes". The Hypertext Who. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06.
2. ^ a b c d Grantley, Steve; Parker, Alan. The Who by Numbers: The Story of the Who Through Their Music. Helter Skelter.
3. ^ http://www.thewholive.net/concert/showconcerts.php?GroupID=&SongID=75 [dead link]
4. ^ "The Who Backing Tracks". Wbtracks.co.uk.
5. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. December 2, 1972. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
6. ^ a b c "The Who - Relay". Ultratop.
7. ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - January 27, 1973" (PDF).
8. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 910.

* v
* t
* e

The Who singles

UK 1960s|

* "Zoot Suit" / "I'm the Face"
* "I Can't Explain" / "Bald Headed Woman"
* "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" / "Daddy Rolling Stone"
* "My Generation" / "Shout and Shimmy"
* "Substitute" / "Circles"
* "A Legal Matter" / "Instant Party"
* "The Kids Are Alright" / "The Ox"
* "I'm a Boy" / "In the City"
* "La-La-La-Lies" / "The Good's Gone"
* "Happy Jack" / "I've Been Away"
* "Pictures of Lily" / "Doctor, Doctor"
* "The Last Time" / "Under My Thumb"
* "I Can See for Miles" / "Someone's Coming"
* "Dogs" / "Call Me Lightning"
* "Magic Bus" / "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"
* "Pinball Wizard" / "Dogs Part Two"

US 1960s|

* "I Can't Explain" / "Bald Headed Woman"
* "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" / "Anytime You Want Me"
* "My Generation" / "Out in the Street"
* "Substitute" / "Waltz For a Pig"
* "The Kids Are Alright" / "A Legal Matter"
* "I'm a Boy" / "In the City"
* "Happy Jack" / "Whiskey Man"
* "Pictures of Lily" / "Doctor, Doctor"
* "I Can See for Miles" / "Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand"
* "Call Me Lightning" / "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"
* "Magic Bus" / "Someone's Coming"
* "Pinball Wizard" / "Dogs Part Two"
* "I'm Free" / "We're Not Gonna Take It"

UK 1970s|

* "The Seeker" / "Here For More"
* "Summertime Blues" / "Heaven and Hell"
* "See Me, Feel Me" / "Overture from Tommy"
* "Won't Get Fooled Again" / "I Don't Even Know Myself"
* "Let's See Action" / "When I Was A Boy"
* "Baba O'Riley"
* "Join Together" / "Baby Don't You Do It"
* "Relay" / "Waspman"
* "5:15" / "Water"
* "Squeeze Box" / "Success Story"
* "Who Are You" / "Had Enough"
* " Trick of the Light" / "905"
* "Long Live Rock" / "I'm the Face"/"My Wife (Live)"
* "I'm One" / "5:15 (Soundtrack Version)"

US 1970s|

* "The Seeker" / "Here For More"
* "Summertime Blues" / "Heaven and Hell"
* "See Me, Feel Me" / "Overture from Tommy"
* "Won't Get Fooled Again" / "I Don't Even Know Myself"
* "Behind Blue Eyes" / "My Wife"
* "Join Together" / "Baby Don't You Do It"
* "The Relay" / "Wasp Man"
* "Love, Reign o'er Me" / "Water"
* "The Real Me" / "I'm One"
* "Postcard" / "Put the Money Down"
* "Squeeze Box" / "Success Story"
* "Slip Kid" / "Dreaming from the Waist"
* "Substitute (Reissue)" / "I'm a Boy (Alternate Version)"
* "Who Are You" / "Had Enough"
* "Trick of the Light" / "905"
* "Long Live Rock" / "My Wife (Live)"

UK 1980s|

* "You Better You Bet" / "The Quiet One"
* "Don't Let Go the Coat" / "You"
* "Athena" / "A Man Is a Man"
* "Twist and Shout (live)" / "I Can't Explain (live)"
* "Won't Get Fooled Again (EP)" ( "Won't Get Fooled Again (live)" / "Bony Moronie (live)" / "Dancing in the Street (live)" / "Dance it Away (live)" )

US 1980s|

* "You Better You Bet" / "The Quiet One"
* "Don't Let Go the Coat" / "You"
* "Athena" / "It's Your Turn"
* "Eminence Front" / "One At A Time"
* "It's Hard" / "Dangerous"

2000s|

* "Real Good Looking Boy" / "Old Red Wine"

2010s|

* "Be Lucky"
* "Ball and Chain"

* v
* t
* e

The Who

* Roger Daltrey
* Pete Townshend

* John Entwistle
* Keith Moon
* Kenney Jones
* Doug Sandom

Studio albums|

* My Generation / The Who Sings My Generation
* A Quick One / Happy Jack
* The Who Sell Out
* Tommy
* Who's Next
* Quadrophenia
* The Who by Numbers
* Who Are You
* Face Dances
* It's Hard
* Endless Wire
* Who

Live albums|

* Live at Leeds
* Who's Last
* Join Together
* Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
* BBC Sessions
* Blues to the Bush
* Live at the Royal Albert Hall
* Live from Toronto
* View from a Backstage Pass
* Greatest Hits Live
* Live at Hull 1970
* Quadrophenia Live in London
* Live at the Fillmore East 1968

Soundtrack albums|

* Tommy
* The Kids Are Alright
* Quadrophenia
* Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who

Compilation albums|

* Magic Bus: The Who on Tour
* Direct Hits
* Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy
* Odds & Sods
* The Story of The Who
* Phases
* Hooligans
* Who's Greatest Hits
* Rarities Volume I & Volume II
* The Singles
* The Who Collection
* Who's Missing
* Two's Missing
* Who's Better, Who's Best
* Thirty Years of Maximum R&B
* My Generation: The Very Best of The Who
* 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection
* Encore Series
* The Ultimate Collection
* Then and Now
* The 1st Singles Box
* Greatest Hits
* The Who Hits 50!

Extended plays|

* Ready Steady Who
* Won't Get Fooled Again
* Wire & Glass

Filmography|

* Tommy
* The Kids Are Alright
* Quadrophenia
* Who's Better, Who's Best
* Thirty Years of Maximum R&B Live
* Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
* The Who & Special Guests: Live at the Royal Albert Hall
* The Who Special Edition EP
* Live in Boston
* Tommy and Quadrophenia Live
* The Vegas Job
* Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who
* The Who at Kilburn: 1977
* Quadrophenia Live in London
* Lambert & Stamp

Discographies|

* The Who
* Roger Daltrey
* Pete Townshend
* John Entwistle
* Keith Moon

Tours and
performances|

* 1962–1963 performances
* Tommy Tour
* The Who by Numbers Tour
* 1979 tour (1979 Cincinnati human crush)
* 1980 tour
* 2000 tour
* 2001 The Concert for New York City appearance
* 2003 The 46664 Concert appearance
* 2006–2007 tour
* Quadrophenia and More
* The Who Hits 50!
* Back to the Who Tour 51!
* 2017 Tommy & More
* Moving On! Tour

Musicians|

* Mitch Mitchell
* Julian Covey
* Chris Townson
* Scot Halpin
* John "Rabbit" Bundrick
* Tim Gorman
* Steve "Boltz" Bolton
* Simon Phillips
* Jon Carin
* Steve White
* Brian Kehew
* J. J. Blair
* Danny Thompson
* Simon Townshend
* Jon Button
* Loren Gold
* Frank Simes
* Pino Palladino
* Reggie Grisham
* Morgan Nicholls
* Chris Stainton
* Scott Devours
* Zak Starkey

Associated places|

* Ashdown House, Oxfordshire
* Chapel House, Twickenham
* Holmshurst Manor
* Quarwood
* Ramport Studios
* Shepperton Studios
* Tara, Chertsey
* The Wick

Related|

* Songs
* Awards and nominations
* Band members
* Musical equipment
* The Boy Who Heard Music
* Lifehouse
* The Who's Tommy
* Rock Is Dead—Long Live Rock!
* The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard
* Who Covers Who?
* "A Tale of Two Springfields"
* "In Concert"
* Double O
* The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus
* No Plan B
* Kim McLagan
* Richard Barnes
* Dougal Butler
* Chris Charlesworth
* Kit Lambert
* Chris Stamp
* Bill Curbishley
* Track Records
* Shel Talmy

* Category

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work

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