Love Ain't for Keeping

Last updated
"Love Ain't for Keeping"
Song by The Who
from the album Who's Next
Released14 August 1971
RecordedSpring 1971,
Studio Olympic, London
Genre Rock
Length2:10
Label
Songwriter(s) Pete Townshend
Producer(s)

"Love Ain't for Keeping" is a song written by Pete Townshend and originally released by the Who on their 1971 album Who's Next. Its themes include the joy of physical love, the power of nature and the need to live for the moment.

Contents

Music and lyrics

At two minutes and ten seconds, "Love Ain't for Keeping" is the shortest song on Who's Next. [1] [2] It is also one of the lightest songs on the album, and one of the few not to use synthesizers. [1] [2] However, an earlier version of the song, recorded in New York City with Kit Lambert producing, was more of a hard rock song, [1] and included synthesizers as well as electric guitars (with Leslie West guesting on lead guitar). [3] The hard rock version appears on reissues of Odds and Sods and on the deluxe version of Who's Next, and was used as the concert opener for Who live shows for some shows in 1971. [1] [4] A live recording, from a concert at the Young Vic in 1971, appears on the deluxe version of Who's Next.

"Love Ain't for Keeping" was originally conceived as part of Townshend's abandoned Lifehouse project, [5] and the demo version (which, like the hard rock version, includes synthesizers) appears on Lifehouse Chronicles . [6] The song (referring to the best-known version on Who's Next) has been described as "a blues-tinged country love song." [5] The lyrics project optimism and contentment and the themes of the song include the peaceful joy of physical love, the power of nature and the need to live for the moment, indeed to share love rather than "keep" it. [3] [5] For example, the lyrics include: [1] [5]

Rain is coming down
But I know the clouds will pass
...
Lay down beside me
Love ain't for keeping.

The song has a bouncy tempo. [2] The instrumentation of "Love Ain't for Keeping" is dominated by multitracked acoustic guitars, played by Townshend, including an acoustic guitar solo. [1] [5] Keith Moon's drumming is more restrained than usual. [1] [5] Moon plays a Ludwig drum kit on this song, rather than his usual Premier kit. [5] John Entwistle's bass playing is also relatively restrained. [5] Allmusic critic Tom Maginnis describes Roger Daltrey's vocal as using a "clear, soaring voice," and singing sweetly for the line "Lay down beside me/Love ain't for keeping." [1] "Love Ain't for Keeping" segues into the following song on Who's Next, "My Wife." [2] [3]

Critical reception

Rolling Stone described "Love Ain't for Keeping" as "faintly pretty but negligible." [4]

Other versions

A version of "Love Ain't for Keeping" appeared on the 1998 reissue of The Who's Odds and Sods album. [7] Townshend included a version of the song on his solo album The Lifehouse Chronicles . [8] Milton Mapes covered the song on the 2004 album Who and Who. [9]

Personnel

Related Research Articles

The Who English rock band

The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist and singer John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century, and have sold over 100 million records worldwide. Their contributions to rock music include the development of the Marshall Stack, large PA systems, the use of the synthesizer, Entwistle and Moon's influential playing styles, Townshend's feedback and power chord guitar technique, and the development of the rock opera. They are cited as an influence by many hard rock, punk rock and mod bands, and their songs still receive regular exposure.

<i>Whos Next</i> 1971 studio album by the Who

Who's Next is the fifth studio album by English rock band the Who. It developed from the aborted Lifehouse project, a multi-media rock opera written by the group's guitarist Pete Townshend as a follow-up to the band's 1969 album Tommy. The project was cancelled owing to its complexity and to conflicts with Kit Lambert, the band's manager, but the group salvaged some of the songs, without the connecting story elements, to release as their next album. Eight of the nine songs on Who's Next were from Lifehouse, the lone exception being the John Entwistle-penned "My Wife". Ultimately, the remaining Lifehouse tracks would all be released on other albums throughout the next decade.

<i>Who Are You</i> 1978 album

Who Are You is the eighth studio album by English rock band the Who, released on 18 August 1978 by Polydor Records in the United Kingdom and MCA Records in the United States. Although the album received mixed reviews from critics, it was a commercial success, peaking at number 2 on the US charts and number 6 on the UK charts.

Lifehouse is an unfinished science fiction rock opera by the Who intended as a follow-up to Tommy. It was abandoned as a rock opera in favour of creating the traditional rock album Who's Next, though its songs would appear on various albums and singles by the Who, as well as Pete Townshend's solo albums. In 1978, aspects of the Lifehouse project were revisited by the Who on Who Are You. In 2000, Townshend revived the Lifehouse concept with his set Lifehouse Chronicles and the sampler Lifehouse Elements. On 1 May 2007, he released an online software called The Lifehouse Method in which any "sitter" could create a musical "portrait". The site is now defunct.

<i>Odds & Sods</i> 1974 compilation album by The Who

Odds & Sods is an album that consists of studio outtakes and rarities by British rock band the Who released by Track Records in the UK and Track/MCA in the US in 1974. It is notable as being one of the first and earliest examples of "rarities" compilations.

Wont Get Fooled Again Song by the Who

"Won't Get Fooled Again" is a song by the English rock band the Who, written by Pete Townshend. It was released as a single in June 1971, reaching the top 10 in the UK, while the full eight-and-a-half-minute version appears as the final track on the band's 1971 album Who's Next, released that August.

Going Mobile Song by The Who

"Going Mobile" is a song written by Pete Townshend and originally released by the Who on their 1971 album Who's Next. It was originally written for Townshend's abandoned Lifehouse project, with lyrics celebrating the joy of having a mobile home and being able to travel the open road. The Who's lead singer Roger Daltrey did not take part in the recording of the song, leaving the rest of the band to record it as a power trio; Townshend handles the lead vocals, guitars, and synthesizers, with John Entwistle on bass guitar and Keith Moon on drums. The song has attracted mixed reviews from music critics.

5:15 Song by The Who

"5:15" is a song written by Pete Townshend of British rock band The Who. Part of the band's second rock opera, Quadrophenia (1973), the song was also released as a single and reached No. 20 on the UK Singles Chart, while the 1979 re-release reached No. 45 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Who Are You (The Who song) Song by The Who

"Who Are You" is the title track on The Who's 1978 album, Who Are You, the last album released by the group before Keith Moon's death in September 1978. It was written by Pete Townshend and released as a double-A sided single with the John Entwistle composition "Had Enough", also featured on the album. The song was one of the band's biggest hits in North America, peaking at number 7 in Canada and at number 14 in the US, and has become one of the band's signature tunes at their live shows. The piano on the track is played by Rod Argent.

<i>My Generation: The Very Best of The Who</i> 1996 greatest hits album by The Who

My Generation: The Very Best of The Who is one of The Who's many greatest hits collections, released by Polydor Records internationally and MCA Records in the United States in 1996. Its release coincided with the release of the remastered original albums and thus contained the newly remastered versions of the songs, and some also remixed.

"The Song Is Over" is a song by the English rock band the Who, appearing on Who's Next. It was originally to be the ending song on Lifehouse. It takes place after the police invade the Lifehouse Theatre and the concert goers disappear.

"Getting in Tune" is a song written by Pete Townshend and originally released by the Who on their 1971 album Who's Next. It was originally written as part of Townshend's abandoned Lifehouse project. Its lyrics describe the power of music, as well as reflect the inner contradictions Townshend was feeling at the time between his spiritual needs and his persona as a rock star. The music incorporates a number of changes in tempo and has been praised by critics for its use of dynamics.

Im Free (The Who song) 1969 single by the Who

"I'm Free" is a song written by Pete Townshend and performed by the Who on the album Tommy. The song has since been released as a single, becoming one of the best known tracks from Tommy.

Rock Is Dead—Long Live Rock was the title of an unreleased 1972 autobiographical album by the British rock band The Who. In the liner notes for the Who's 1974 rarities collection Odds & Sods, guitarist and lead songwriter Pete Townshend said, "I had an idea once for a new album about the history of The Who called Rock Is Dead—Long Live Rock. That idea later blossomed into Quadrophenia." The sessions for the album spanned from 19 May to 6 June at Olympic Studios in London. Rock Is Dead—Long Live Rock was to be produced by The Who and Glyn Johns and scheduled for release in October 1972, but although the album was nearly completed the band felt as though it sounded too much like their 1971 LP Who's Next. Townshend later stated that Rock Is Dead—Long Live Rock was also going to be a TV special about The Who.

<i>Quadrophenia</i> (soundtrack) 1979 album

Quadrophenia is the soundtrack album to the 1979 film Quadrophenia which refers to the 1973 rock opera Quadrophenia. It was initially released on Polydor Records in 1979 as a cassette and LP and was re-released as a compact disc in 1993 and 2001. The album was dedicated to Peter Meaden, a prominent Mod and first manager of The Who, who had died a year prior to the album's release.

"Bargain" is a song written by Pete Townshend that was first released by the Who on their 1971 album Who's Next. It is a love song, although the intended subject of the song is God rather than a woman. The song has been included on several compilation and live albums. It was also included on several of Townshend's solo projects. Critics have praised the song's lyricism and power, as well as the performance of the band on the song. Townshend acknowledged during the Who's concert at the Prudential Center in Newark on 19 March 2016 that this is his favorite song on the album.

<i>Tommy</i> (soundtrack) 1975 soundtrack album by The Who

Tommy is a soundtrack album by The Who with contributions from numerous artists. The soundtrack was used in the 1975 Tommy film that was based on the original album that was released by The Who in 1969. Pete Townshend oversaw the production of this double-LP recording that returned the music to its rock roots, and on which the unrecorded orchestral arrangements he had envisaged for the original Tommy LP were realised by the extensive use of synthesiser. Although unmarked, according the August 9, 1975 issue of Billboard "QLP POLYDOR TOMMY/ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK RECORDING $9.98" it is Quadraphonic encoded.

Join Together (The Who song) 1972 single by The Who

"Join Together" is a song by British rock band The Who, first released as a non-album single in May 1972. The song has since been performed live multiple times and has appeared on numerous compilation albums.

"Naked Eye" is a song by The Who, written by Pete Townshend. The studio version was released on the group's 1974 compilation album Odds and Sods. Live versions appear on Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970, View from a Backstage Pass, Greatest Hits Live, Thirty Years of Maximum R&B, and both reissues of Who's Next.

Lets See Action 1971 single by The Who

"Let's See Action" is a song written and composed by Pete Townshend and recorded by the Who. It was released as a single in the UK in 1971 and reached #16 in the charts.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Maginnis, T. "Love Ain't for Keeping". Allmusic . Retrieved 2011-11-30.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Charlesworth, C. (1995). The Complete Guide to the Music of The Who. Omnibus Press. p. 43. ISBN   0-7119-4306-0.
  3. 1 2 3 Atkins, J. (2000). The Who on record: a critical history, 1963–1998. McFarland. pp. 154, 159. ISBN   978-0-7864-0609-8.
  4. 1 2 Mendelsohn, J. (January 22, 1997). "Who's Next". Rolling Stone Magazine . Retrieved 2011-11-30.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Grantley, S. & Parker, A.G. (2010). The Who by Numbers. Helter Skelter Publishing. pp. 92–93. ISBN   978-1-905139-26-2.
  6. ↑ "Behind the Song: "Love Ain't for Keeping" by the Who". 21 October 2020.
  7. ↑ Unterberger, R. "Odds and Sods". Allmusic . Retrieved 2011-11-30.
  8. ↑ Jurek, T. "The Lifehouse Chronicles". Allmusic . Retrieved 2011-11-30.
  9. ↑ "Who and Who". Allmusic . Retrieved 2011-11-30.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.