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"Call Me Lightning" is a song written by Pete Townshend, guitarist of the English rock band the Who. Townshend first recorded a home demo of the song in 1964. The Who's recording was a single released in March 1968 and it later appeared on the Who's fourth American album Magic Bus: The Who on Tour.
| "Call Me Lightning" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by the Who | ||||
| from the album Magic Bus: The Who on Tour | ||||
| A-side | "Dogs" (UK) | |||
| B-side | "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (US) | |||
| Released | 16 March 1968 (US)[1] 14 June 1968 (UK) | |||
| Recorded | January, 25/26 February 1968[2] | |||
| Studio | IBC Recording Studios (London, England)[2] Gold Star Studios (Los Angeles, California)[2] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:25 | |||
| Label | Track (UK) Decca (US) | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Pete Townshend | |||
| Producer(s) | Kit Lambert | |||
| The Who singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
In the United States "Call Me Lightning" was the follow-up single to the Top 10 hit "I Can See for Miles" and reached No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 4 May 1968,[3] their 16th most successful single on the Hot 100.[4]
Billboard described the single as a "pulsating rocker with a happy beat."[5] Cash Box called it "an imaginative blend of rock-blues and rag" and praised "the potent group performance."[6] Record World said it "should turn into sales lightning as The Who do it. Hard, driving beat at its best from the group."[7]
The song features a prominent bass solo by John Entwistle. A promo film was made, and this later was included in the rockumentary film The Kids Are Alright (1979). "Call Me Lightning" was released in the United Kingdom as the B-side of the single "Dogs".
The US B-side, "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", had been considered as a possible A-side single release, along with "Call Me Lightning," as the B-side.[1] "Call Me Lightning" received a mediocre reception from Who fans, and biographer John Atkins feels that "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" was a better song, even though its horror film imagery was unsuitable for a single.[1][8] Cashbox called "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" a "psychedelified throbber on the lid that could attract added attention."[6]
The song was behind the naming of the American indie rock band Call Me Lightning.
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