Australian singles charts:
Pictures of Lily entered the Kent charts on 27 May 1967 and peaked at #7. The song was #53 on the Top 100 of 1967.
Album:
Pictures of Lily was included in the Who album Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy, a compilation of previously released singles. It entered the Kent album charts on 8 May 1972 and peaked at #27.
Songwriter:
Pete Townshend
Producer:
Kit Lambert
Record label of Australian release:
Polydor Int.
Songfacts:
Pete Townshend wrote Pictures of Lily because he wanted to see a song about masturbation become a hit. He would later write another song on the topic: Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand, which appeared on their album The Who Sell Out.
The song tells the story of a father who gives his son dirty pictures, including one of a movie star from long ago. The son becomes particularly enamored with the photo of the movie star, and all goes well until he finds out she is dead.
Pictures of Lily was banned by many radio stations for its sexual content.
Read more: www.songfacts.com/facts/the-who/pictures-of-lily
This song is also on our Spotify playlist Bang a Gong – the 60s
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