"I Can See for Miles"is a song written by Pete Townshend,guitarist of songwriter-the British rock band The Who. The song was recorded for the album The Who Sell Out from 1967. "I Can See For Miles" is the only song from the plate that was issued as a single .
The recording of "I Can See for Miles" stood as an example of the ever-growing use of studio techniques in the late 1960s. Not only was it recorded at different times, the various tracks were also recorded over a geographical distance of thousands of miles. For example, the backing vocals was recorded in London, the vocals andoverdubbing was recorded at Studios in New York, while recording in Los Angeles was completed in the Gold Star Studios.
"I Can See For Miles" in the United Kingdom took place in the United States number 10 and number 9. Although these numbers are hopeful for many bands, Townshend was disappointed. He once said:
| [1] | To me it was the ultimate Who record yet it didn't sell. I spat on the British record buyer.
For me it was the ultimate Who number, but it didn't sell. I was spitting up on the British record buyer.''— Pete Townshend |
[2] |
In Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" ranked this song on 258. [1]
The opening movement and the chorus part from 01: 03 was also used for a advertising of the brand Sylvania headlights.
The song was a source of inspiration for the Beatlessong, "Helter Skelter". Paul McCartney wrote "Helter Skelter", after a review of "I Can See for Miles" to have read, in which the reviewer writes that the song is the most violent, that he has ever heard. McCartney then wrote "Helter Skelter" in an attempt to write an even stronger number than "I Can See for Miles".
The song has been covered by Tina Turner on her album Acid Queen in 1975.