Love, Reign o'er Me
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"Love, Reign o'er Me" is the final song from The Who's second rock opera, Quadrophenia, and has been a concert staple for years. It peaked at number 76 on the Billboard charts and number 54 on Cash Box.[1]
Contents |
[edit] The Who's version
| “Love, Reign o'er Me” | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by The Who from the album Quadrophenia |
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| B-side | "Water" | ||||
| Released | October 23, 1973 | ||||
| Format | 7" single | ||||
| Recorded | May 1972 at Olympic Studios, London with additional tracks recorded at "The Kitchen" June 8, 1973 | ||||
| Genre | Rock | ||||
| Length |
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| Label | Track Records/MCA | ||||
| Writer(s) | Pete Townshend | ||||
| Producer | The Who | ||||
| The Who singles chronology | |||||
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| Quadrophenia track listing | |||||
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The single release is shorter than the album track, missing the introductory rolling surf sound and the first piano intro and tympani and gong crash, slightly different sequence of the lyrics and ends on string synthesizers with piano rather than the drum solo, guitar, gong and brass explosion as on the album.
[edit] Release and reception
Roger Daltrey's vocal on this track has been widely praised; Mark Deming of All Music Guide noted "Quadrophenia captured him at the very peak of his powers, and 'Love, Reign o'er Me' is one moment where his golden-haired rock-god persona truly works and gives this song all the force it truly deserves."[2]
The song served as inspiration for the title of the 2007 film Reign Over Me and was also featured extensively throughout the film.
[edit] Lyrical meaning
The song concerns the main character of Quadrophenia, Jimmy, having a personal crisis and stealing a boat to go off to a small island.
As Pete Townshend described the song:
[It] refers to Meher Baba's one time comment that rain was a blessing from God; that thunder was God's Voice. It's another plea to drown, only this time in the rain. Jimmy goes through a suicide crisis. He surrenders to the inevitable, and you know, you know, when it's over and he goes back to town he'll be going through the same shit, being in the same terrible family situation and so on, but he's moved up a level. He's weak still, but there's a strength in that weakness. He's in danger of maturing.[3]
[edit] Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Billboard Pop Singles | 76 |
[edit] Pearl Jam's version
| “Love, Reign o'er Me” | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Pearl Jam | |||||
| Released | February 23, 2007 | ||||
| Format | Digital download | ||||
| Recorded | 2006 at Studio X, Seattle, Washington and Southern Tracks Recording and Doppler, Atlanta, Georgia | ||||
| Genre | Alternative rock | ||||
| Length | 5:34 | ||||
| Label | Monkey Wrench | ||||
| Writer(s) | Pete Townshend | ||||
| Producer | Pearl Jam, Brendan O'Brien | ||||
| Pearl Jam singles chronology | |||||
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Pearl Jam released a cover of "Love, Reign o'er Me" for the 2007 film, Reign Over Me,[4] which took its name from The Who's song. Pearl Jam's version is played over the end credits of the movie.
[edit] Origin and recording
Star Adam Sandler approached Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder after a 2006 concert in Los Angeles about covering the song for the film.[5] Vedder was reluctant at first, however he agreed to do the cover only after talking to Roger Daltrey, who called Vedder and gave his approval.[6]
[edit] Release and reception
The song made a world premiere on the KISW-FM radio station on January 8, 2007. The track appears on Pearl Jam's 2006 Christmas Fan Club single along with a cover of "Rockin' in the Free World" featuring Bono and The Edge from U2. The cover was also made available as a single download from iTunes on February 23, 2007. Pearl Jam's version of the song peaked at number 32 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
[edit] Live performances
Pearl Jam premiered its cover of the song live at the band's June 26, 2007 concert in Copenhagen, Denmark.[7]
[edit] Formats and track listing
- Digital Download
- "Love, Reign o'er Me" (Pete Townshend) – 5:34
[edit] Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | US Mainstream Rock Tracks | 32 |
| US Pop 100 | 97 |
[edit] References
- ^ Quadrophenia. http://beta.thewho.net.
- ^ Deming, Mark. "Love, Reign o'er Me: Song Review". All Music Guide.
- ^ thewho.net
- ^ Cohen, Jonathan. "Billboard Bits: Pearl Jam, Mariah Carey, Trick Pony". Billboard.com. December 12, 2006.
- ^ Cohen, Jonathan. "With No Album On Horizon, Pearl Jam Touring For Fun". Billboard.com. April 5, 2007.
- ^ Whipp, Glenn. "Daltrey says ‘OK’ to Vedder’s cover: "Reign O’er Me" closes Sandler’s film". Los Angeles Daily News. March 25, 2007.
- ^ "Pearl Jam Songs: "Love, Reign o'er Me"". pearljam.com.
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