Pete Townshend is famous as the main songwriter and guitarist for The Who. This band is known for hits like "Baba O’Riley" and "Pinball Wizard." Townshend also worked with other artists, including David Gilmour from Pink Floyd and his friend David Bowie. He often wrote songs for other musicians, some even before The Who became successful. He started writing songs as a teenager.
"It Was You" by The Naturals
This song is Townshend’s earliest recorded track. The band The Naturals first recorded it. The band included Ricky Potter, Doug Ellis, Bob O’Neale, Mike Wakelin, and Roy Heather.
Townshend recalled recording "It Was You" in late 1963. This happened at the home studio of Barry Gray, who wrote music for children’s TV shows. Dick James, who co-published The Beatles' music, heard the song and signed Townshend to his company.
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Start Your News DetoxLater, the band Chaos and Co. also recorded and released the song. Townshend said it wasn't a hit, but being published gave him great confidence.
Having published songs also boosted Townshend's role in The Who. He felt he could now speak up about the band's musical direction. He noted a new tension with Roger Daltrey, but they developed a lasting respect.
"Join My Gang" by Oscar
Townshend also wrote "Join My Gang" for Oscar, whose real name was Paul Oscar Beuselinck. Oscar released this as one of his first singles with Reaction Records. This label had released The Who's "Substitute" the year before.
Oscar later starred in the London version of Jesus Christ Superstar. In 1977, he had a hit with "Heaven On The 7th Floor." "Join My Gang" was never recorded by The Who and is a lesser-known part of Townshend’s work.
"Love on the Air" and "All Lovers Are Deranged" by David Gilmour
Townshend and Pink Floyd's David Gilmour admired each other's music. They worked together several times. Townshend wrote two songs for Gilmour’s second album, About Face. He wrote the lyrics for "Love On the Air" and the more experimental "All Lovers Are Deranged" the day after Gilmour asked for his help.
Gilmour later helped Townshend by co-writing and playing on "White City Fighting." This song was from Townshend’s album White City: A Novel. Townshend reflected that working with Gilmour was fruitful but not easy. He admitted he is not a natural collaborator.
