I'M A BOY

Almost as a precursor to his concept albums, Pete Townshend penned this ditty for a concept album that would be scrapped, but fortunately the song survived and was released as a single (and on numerous compilations to follow). The song involves a futuristic setting in which parents can determine the gender of their children. In this particular case, the parents request four girls (God only knows why), but wind up getting three girls and a boy. The narrator is the hapless fellow who wishes to assert his masculinity, but his mother refuses him this dignity and pretends he is their fourth girl. Despite the bizarre topic, "I'm a Boy" is one of the best 1960s pop-rock songs ever written, as it contains a melody so catchy it can stay in one's heard for days, and the rhythm guitar work of the songwriter paired with Keith Moons drumming make for a fantastic instrumental bit. Using a deep brass and some excellent vocal harmonies, the B-side, "In the City" is fairly typical of the genre during the time. It is admittedly generic both musically and lyrically, but would give other guys something to dance to with our girls (I hope that reference isn't too groan-inducing).