Single:
Substitute entered the Australian singles chart* on 7 May 1966 and peaked at #5. It was #48 on the Top 100 of 1966.
Songwriter:
Pete Townshend
Producer:
Pete Townshend
Record label of Australian release:
Polydor Int.
*Kent Music Report / Australian Chart Book. See About.
Longer version:
Wikipedia:
Substitute was primarily inspired by the 1965 soul single The Tracks of My Tears by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. Pete Townshend became obsessed, particularly, with the line, “Although she may be cute, she’s just a substitute.” This had then led Townshend “to celebrate the word with a song all of its own.”
For the main guitar riff in the verses, Townshend took inspiration from the song Where Is My Girl by Robb Storme & The Whispers, which was one of the singles he was asked to review for the New Musical Express in November 1965.
Read more: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substitute_(The_Who_song)
Lyrics:
You think we look pretty good together
You think my shoes are made of leather
But I’m a substitute for another guy
I look pretty tall, but my heels are high
The simple things you see are all complicated
I look pretty young, but I’m just back-dated, yeah
Click for full lyrics
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