Ever since I was a young boy I played the silver ball From Soho down to Brighton I must have played them all But I ain't seen nothing like him in any amusement hall That deaf, dumb and blind kid sure plays a mean pinball . This song is one of the band's most famous live songs, being played at almost every Who concert since its debut live performance on 2 May 1969. Billboard Hot 100. Originally written by the Who as part of their rock-opera, "Tommy," "Pinball Wizard" was covered by Elton John, whose flashy, tinsel-y version sounds like something he would write… The song "Pinball Wizard" was written and recorded almost immediately. John appeared as a very tall “Pinball Wizard” rigged on stilted giant boots. Who is`better'-God or mere mortal? Brilliantly fun. The track from ‘Tommy’ became Elton’s first UK Top 10 single since another cover, of The Beatles’ ‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.’. Roger Daltrey, lead singer for The Who, played the lead character Tommy. Your email address will not be published. John released a live compilation album, Elton John One Night Only – The Greatest Hits, featuring songs from the show he did at Madison Square Garden in New York City that same year. She did and it went over pretty well. The B-side of the Pinball Wizard single is an instrumental credited to Keith Moon, titled "Dogs (Part Two)". A psychosomatically deaf, dumb and blind boy becomes a master pinball player and, subsequently, the figurehead of a cult. It was made into a play and continues to run as an off-Broadway production. Elton John. 4 in the UK charts and No. Townshend once called it "the most clumsy piece of writing [he'd] ever done"[1] nevertheless, the song was a commercial success and one of the most recognised tunes from the opera. . In which The Who really did play in front of that giant theatre audience (Even though Elton John's band, is featured on the soundtrack). She did and it went over pretty well. Pinball Wizard Elton John Buy This Song. The Pinball Wizard scene Pinball Wizard Elton John Buy This Song. I like Elton's version tool, and I also like the piano in the beginning. Elton played the campy pinball champ (screenname Local Lad) that must compete against the pinball wizard (Tommy played by The Who's Roger Daltrey) to keep his pinball crown. Discover releases, reviews, credits, songs, and more about Elton John - Pinball Wizard at Discogs. Top Answer. Required fields are marked *. Elton John. John has performed the song as part of his Las Vegas Red Piano Show, as well as on various tours. (Excuse my flippancy) Thing is,of the 2 famed versions there is one for the Tommy album-The Who. In hitting the Top 10, Elton’s cover achieved what his own three previous singles written with Bernie Taupin (“Philadelphia Freedom,” “Someone Saved My Life Tonight,” and “Island Girl”) had all failed to do. Er ist Bestandteil der Rockoper Tommy, bei deren gleichnamiger Verfilmung Elton John die Rolle und den Gesang übernahm. Karaoke Revolution: American Idol Encore 2, https://music.fandom.com/wiki/Pinball_Wizard_(Single):Elton_John?oldid=104421, Roger Ruskin-Spear (who was Townshend's roommate at college,) performed the song on his album "Unusual", The song was featured in a medley with another song from, Noted theatre organist Jonas Nordwall has recorded covers on his albums Can't Stop the Music and Bits, Bytes, & Pipes Vol. He immediately wrote and recorded the song Pinball Wizard, and added it to the score for Tommy. If you look closely, you'll see that a small keyboard was fitted to the pinball machine that he was "playing". The 50 Best Jazz Saxophonists Of All Time, ‘Fancy’: Behind Bobbie Gentry’s Women’s Lib Statement, Best Blue Note Album Covers: 20 Groundbreaking Artworks, The Women of Stax: Five Unheralded Pioneers, Some rock standards should never be remade, but others lend themselves brilliantly to another distinctive treatment. Over the decades, it was nearly always included in Who concerts. Pinball Wizard is a song by The Who which is part of Tommy, the first "Rock Opera." Alan from Louisville, Ky Shocking Blue did not copy this lick -- the only thing the hook from "Venus" has in common with "Pinball Wizard" is the use of a suspended 4th chord. Townsend shares, “The chordal structure for the intro was inspired by [English Baroque composer] Henry Purcell, who did this very short piece called ‘Symphony Upon One Note.’ 2 insert is a lyric sheet with photos and images. The film, which opens Friday, was executive produced by . Discover releases, reviews, credits, songs, and more about Elton John - Pinball Wizard at Discogs. It was a revelation to observe how quickly and efficiently Elton and his band worked, nailing a driving track with solos, lead and backing vocals in less than four hours.”. I was in the eighth grade school chorus and convinced our music teacher to let me sing “Pinball Wizard” during the spring concert. However, while all this was going on, I think you'll also notice Pete Townsend, John Entwhistle & Keith Moon providing both musical accompaniment & visual diversion. See Answer. A pinball wizard for the girls who dig pinball lore He's scoring more He's scoring more I thought I was the Bally table king But I just handed my pinball crown to him To him To him! Elton duly set about recording his take on Townshend’s “Pinball Wizard,” calling on his usual team of producer Gus Dudgeon and his band featuring Davey Johnstone, Dee Murray, Ray Cooper and Nigel Olsson. 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