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Relay (song)
Relay (song)
Relay (song)
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"Relay"
Single by the Who
B-side"Waspman"
Released25 November 1972 (US)
22 December 1972 (UK)
Recorded26 May 1972 at Olympic Studios, London[1]
GenreRock, funk rock
Length3:42 (US) 3:49 (UK)
Label Track/Polydor (UK)
SongwriterPete Townshend
ProducerThe Who
The Who singles chronology
"Join Together"
(1972) 		"Relay"
(1972) 		"5:15"
(1973)

"Relay" (titled "The Relay" in the United States) is a song written by Pete Townshend, the guitarist of the Who, for the band's aborted Lifehouse project. The song was also released as a moderately successful single in 1972. It was also the last non-album single by the Who until "Real Good Looking Boy", 32 years later.

Background

[edit]

"Relay" was originally written as part of the unfinished Lifehouse rock opera, however, like "Join Together", it was not written until 1972, when Pete Townshend revisited the project, at Roger Daltrey's suggestion.[1] In 1972, the song was resurrected to be used in Rock Is Dead—Long Live Rock!, another abandoned Who album that was to be released in 1972.

The song was recorded during the same sessions as "Join Together" and a demo of "Long Live Rock" in May 1972.[2]

"Relay" was released as a single in late 1972, backed with the Keith Moon-penned track, "Waspman". The single charted in the Top 40 in both the UK and US, reaching #21 in the United Kingdom and #39 on the Billboard Hot 100 (and #33 on Cashbox).[1] The single was the last of three singles relating to Lifehouse (but which did not appear on Who's Next), the others being "Let's See Action" and "Join Together".

Lead singer Roger Daltrey spoke positively of the song, saying "I love 'Relay'".[2] Pete Townshend, however, felt that it sounded too similar to the band's other releases. He said of this:

I've got to get a new act together for the Who... we've got to get something fresh.

— Pete Townshend, Melody Maker[2]

Live and alternate versions

[edit]

In order to promote the single, "Relay" was performed on two British television shows, Russell Harty Plus and The Old Grey Whistle Test, in early 1973.[2]

"Relay" was performed throughout the Who's 1972 tour, but was dropped from the setlist afterwards, and would not return until after Keith Moon's death; it was performed twice in the 1979 tour (once as an encore, once as a snippet) and frequently through the 1980 tour,[3] before returning to the full setlist in 2000 and 2002. However, it was then dropped again until 2006, and remained in the setlist through 2009. Live performances from 2000 onwards were often performed in an extended format, frequently exceeding seven minutes.

Lyrics and music

[edit]

"Relay" begins with a strong guitar line fed through the sample and hold-controlled VCF of an ARP-2600 synthesiser,[4] which persists throughout the song. It also features an ordinary electric guitar and acoustic guitar. Intended to feature near the end of Lifehouse, "Relay" is thought to refer to the final setting up of and spreading the word about the Lifehouse concert. The fictional Relay bears strong similarities to the modern Internet, and as such in concerts in the 21st century, Townshend introduces the song as being about the Internet.

Record World said that it "begins with an Isaac Hayes sound and breaks into a heavy rocker again envincing Townshend's humanistic consciousness."[5]

Release history

[edit]

In addition to being released as a single in 1972, "Relay" has appeared on a number of albums. In order of release:

Chart performance

[edit]
Chart (1972–1973) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[6] 11
Canada (RPM)[7] 50
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[6] 29
UK Singles (OCC) 21
US Billboard Hot 100[8] 39
West Germany (Media Control)[6] 28

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Relay (song)

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
"Relay" is a rock song written by and performed by the English rock band the Who, originally composed as part of their unfinished project Lifehouse. Released as a non-album single on 25 November 1972 in the United States (titled "The Relay") and 22 December 1972 in the United Kingdom, it was backed by Keith Moon's "Waspman" and produced by the Who with as associate producer. The track achieved moderate commercial success, peaking at number 21 on the UK Singles Chart and number 39 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The Lifehouse project, conceived by Townshend in 1970 as a follow-up to the band's rock opera Tommy, envisioned a dystopian future where individuals lived in isolation within "experience suits" connected to a controlling media grid, with music serving as a means of rebellion and enlightenment. "Relay" emerged from this concept, capturing themes of surveillance, control, and the spread of information in a repressive society, with lyrics depicting spies, dragging feet, and warnings about an oppressive regime. Recorded at Olympic Studios in London on 26 May 1972, the song repurposed elements from Townshend's home demos using synthesizers like the EMS VCS3 and ARP, similar to those featured on the related album Who's Next (1971), which incorporated several Lifehouse tracks after the full opera was abandoned due to creative challenges and Townshend's personal struggles. Though Lifehouse never materialized as intended, "Relay" became the third single linked to the project, following "Let's See Action" and "Join Together," and has been included on compilations such as (1983). The song's prescient lyrics about digital isolation and networked control have been noted for anticipating modern and concerns, influencing later works in rock and beyond.

Background and recording

Development

Pete Townshend composed "Relay" in 1972 as new material related to the Lifehouse rock opera, an ambitious follow-up to The Who's groundbreaking 1969 work Tommy. The project envisioned a dystopian narrative where a totalitarian government suppresses individual expression through control of music and media, ultimately leading to a revolutionary concert that liberates society via personalized sonic experiences. Townshend developed the song amid intensive demos and scripting sessions, aiming to integrate it into the opera's multimedia format combining film, live performance, and interactive elements. Following the Lifehouse project's abandonment due to its technical and conceptual complexities, much of the original material was repurposed for the 1971 album . In 1972, at Roger Daltrey's suggestion, Townshend wrote additional songs related to the Lifehouse plot line, including "Relay", which the band recorded as a standalone non-album single to maintain momentum between major albums. This approach aligned with The Who's strategy of issuing interim singles like "Join Together" and "," all drawing from Lifehouse's unfinished framework. "Relay" embodies core Lifehouse motifs of societal , awakening, and interconnected communication systems, portraying a network of relays as both a tool of and a channel for resistance. Its evoke espionage-like intrigue and simmering social discord, underscoring the opera's cautionary vision of as a subversive force against authoritarian control, as Townshend later described it as "such a cautionary piece."

Recording

"Relay" was recorded on 26 May 1972 at in . These sessions were originally focused on tracks such as "Join Together" and "." The band self-produced the recording, with credited as associate producer. handled guitar and backing vocals, provided lead vocals, played bass, and contributed drums. The resulting single versions vary slightly in length, with the edition running 3:42 and the UK edition at 3:49, highlighting a funk-rock driven by prominent bass lines and a propulsive .

Composition

Lyrics

The lyrics of "Relay," written by , portray a burgeoning against oppressive control in a surveilled society, using vivid imagery of urban unrest and clandestine communication to convey spreading dissent. The song opens with lines evoking palpable tension: "You can hear it in the street / See it in the dragging feet / The word is getting out about control," followed by references to elusive "spies" who disseminate stories of resistance, underscoring a of quiet building among the masses. This depiction ties into the song's central metaphor of a "," symbolizing the rapid, chain-like transmission of information and ideas from one person to another, much like a baton passed in a race, to foment change. Structurally, "Relay" follows a verse-chorus form, with two main verses building the scene of societal unease and a repetitive chorus that serves as a rallying hook emphasizing urgency and action. The chorus repeats variations of "Relay, things are brewin' / Relay, something's doin'," reinforcing the theme of imminent upheaval and the handover of solutions to counter control. A pre-chorus bridges the verses, highlighting the inexorable spread of truth: "The story travels on and on / From tree to shining tree," evoking an organic, unstoppable network of whispers propagating unrest. The second verse addresses doubt and disapproval from authority figures, culminating in an outro that urges participation: "Relay, relay, hand me down a solution." This repetitive structure amplifies the song's call to collective awareness and mobilization. Thematically, the lyrics draw from Townshend's abandoned Lifehouse project, a sci-fi concept envisioning a dystopian world of isolated individuals connected through a controlling grid, where music sparks rebellion against networked surveillance.

Music

"Relay" is a hard rock song incorporating funk influences, driven by a steady 4/4 time signature at 88 beats per minute. The track opens with an introductory guitar centered on chords, establishing a tense atmosphere before transitioning into verses that sustain the E progression to build momentum. This leads into a dynamic chorus featuring the chord sequence D-A followed by G-D-A, creating an explosive release of energy, while the bridge shifts to B chords before resolving back to the tonic in the outro. Central to the arrangement are Pete Townshend's guitar parts, processed through an for an enhanced, resonant tone; John Entwistle's prominent walking bass line that propels the groove; Keith Moon's forceful and varied drumming patterns; and Roger Daltrey's powerful, raw vocal delivery, all contributing to the song's hybrid rock-funk vitality.

Release

Single release

"Relay" was released as a non-album single by the British rock band the Who, marking their first standalone single since "Join Together" earlier in 1972. In the United Kingdom, it was issued on 22 December 1972 by Track Records under catalog number 2094 106. In the United States, the single—titled "The Relay"—preceded the UK release, coming out on 25 November 1972 via Track Record/Decca with catalog number 33041. The B-side, "Waspman," was a novelty instrumental track written and performed primarily by the Who's drummer Keith Moon, featuring his characteristic chaotic drumming and humorous sound effects. The single was distributed exclusively in the 7-inch vinyl format, typical for pop and rock releases of the era, with a 45 RPM speed and solid or 4-prong center options in various pressings. Although originally a standalone release outside of any studio album, "Relay" has since been included on later compilations, such as the 2014 collection The Who Hits 50! released by . The track itself was recorded on 26 May 1972 at in , during a period of activity following the band's recent album .

Promotion

The promotion of "Relay" was relatively subdued, reflecting The Who's primary emphasis on live touring and album production during late 1972 and early 1973. Unlike some contemporaries, the band did not produce a major for the single, opting instead for targeted television appearances to generate exposure. On January 3, 1973, The Who taped a performance of "Relay" for the show Plus at Studios, which aired shortly thereafter and highlighted the track's energetic rock drive. This was followed by a mimed rendition on BBC's on January 29, 1973, where the band delivered the song alongside "" in a raw, studio-audience setting that captured their onstage intensity. In the United States, a promotional for "Relay" premiered on on December 9, 1972. To build anticipation ahead of the single's release, "Relay" was debuted live during The Who's 1972 European tour, first performed on August 11, , at Festhalle in , , and featured regularly in setlists through the tour's conclusion. This integration into concerts served as organic promotion, allowing audiences to experience the unreleased track in a high-energy context that foreshadowed its studio version. The tour, supporting , provided a platform to test new material like "Relay," fostering buzz among fans without extensive traditional advertising. The B-side, "Waspman," written and credited to drummer , added a lighthearted, comedic element to the single's marketing, showcasing Moon's eccentric personality through its whimsical, mostly instrumental arrangement inspired by a 1960s airplane incident where he donned a superhero cape. Released in standard 7-inch formats in December 1972, the single's packaging emphasized this contrast to the A-side's urgency. In the , Decca timed the release for November 25, 1972, aligning with the holiday shopping season, though promotional efforts remained minimal, with radio airplay favoring established album cuts over the non-album single.

Commercial performance

Charts

"Relay" achieved moderate commercial success upon its release as a single in late 1972. In the , it peaked at number 21 on the Official Singles Chart in January 1973 and remained on the chart for five weeks. In the United States, the single, released as "The Relay," reached a peak position of number 39 on the in January 1973, spending eight weeks on the chart. The song also charted in other territories, including number 11 on the Ultratop 50 in , where it stayed for 11 weeks, and number 50 on Canada's RPM Top Singles chart.
Chart (1972–1973)Peak positionWeeks on chart
(Ultratop 50 )1111
Canada (RPM Top Singles)50—
UK Singles (OCC)215
US 398
No certifications were awarded for the single in any major market.

Reception

Critical response

Upon its release in December 1972, "Relay" received positive notices from contemporary critics, who highlighted its rhythmic drive and vocal intensity. In a review for New Musical Express, described it as The Who's best single to date, praising the "energetic groove" provided by John Entwistle's bass and Keith Moon's drums, alongside Roger Daltrey's use of the "full force and range" of his voice, which contributed to an unforgettable chorus and precise guitar lines. Lead singer has expressed strong admiration for the track in later interviews, calling it "by far the most impressive" of The Who's Lifehouse-related singles from the early , citing its raw power through "squelching synths," hoarse revolutionary screams, and Pete Townshend's gritty guitar riffs, which he likened to a funk-infused update of "." In retrospective assessments, "Relay" has been acclaimed as an essential artifact of The Who's early- creative peak, particularly for its ties to the abandoned Lifehouse project and themes of communal . Its inclusion on the 2014 compilation The Who Hits 50! has been highlighted in reviews as featuring key singles from the era. Daltrey has described it as an underrated highlight of the Lifehouse material for blending revolutionary motifs with innovative synth elements.

Live performances

Early performances

"Relay" received its live debut during The Who's European tour on August 11, 1972, at the Festhalle in , , where it served as the tenth song in the setlist. The band continued performing it throughout the tour, including dates in on August 12, on August 16, on August 17, and on August 21, typically extending the studio arrangement's rhythmic drive into extended jams that highlighted John Entwistle's bass lines and Keith Moon's propulsive drumming. These early renditions lasted approximately 5 to 6 minutes, emphasizing the song's funk-rock groove and its roots in the unfinished Lifehouse project recorded in May 1972 at in . The song's UK television debut came on January 29, 1973, during an appearance on BBC2's , aired from the BBC Television Theatre in , where the band delivered a vigorous performance with live vocals over pre-recorded instrumentation, capturing their raw onstage intensity. This broadcast coincided with the single's recent UK release on December 22, 1972, and helped promote it amid the lingering excitement from the Who's Next album, with "Relay" evoking Lifehouse's themes of communal spiritual transmission through its lyrical call to "pass the message round." Early were met with enthusiastic audience responses, as the track's energetic delivery resonated with fans eager for new material from the band.

Later performances

Following Keith Moon's death in 1978, The Who revived "Relay" during their 1979 tour with new drummer , marking the song's return to the live setlist after a seven-year absence. The first performance with Jones took place on , 1979, at the Capitol Theatre in , where the track was extended beyond its studio length to over seven minutes, incorporating extended improvisational jams that highlighted the band's evolving stage dynamic. The song appeared sporadically during the 1980 tour, such as on May 5 and 6 at in , , and April 28 at the Checkerdome in St. Louis, Missouri, maintaining the elongated structure with room for instrumental exploration. After a long hiatus, "Relay" became a regular feature in The Who's setlists from the 2000 tour through 2022, including the February 8, 2002, concert at the in , where it served as a high-energy mid-set highlight. The track's inclusion in these tours showcased its enduring appeal as a rock anthem. Post-Moon adaptations simplified the arrangement to accommodate Jones's more precise, less chaotic drumming style compared to Moon's frenetic fills, shifting focus to Pete Townshend's intricate guitar solos and allowing for dynamic builds during live renditions. This version, often clocking in at seven minutes or more, underscored the song's adaptability in the band's later era. "Relay" remained a staple through tours such as the 2015–2016 "The Who Hits 50!" and the 2022 "The Who Hits Back!" tour, with its last known performance on October 14, 2022, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, , after which it has not been played live as of November 2025.

Legacy

Compilations and reissues

"Relay" first appeared on a compilation with the 1981 release of Hooligans, featuring a shortened version of the track alongside other non-album material. It was included in full length in 1983 on The Who's Rarities Volume II, a collection of non-album tracks from 1970 to 1973 that included the song alongside its original B-side "Waspman." This emphasized its status as a standalone single-era piece. A live version from a 1973 BBC session was featured on the 1999 compilation BBC Sessions, capturing the band's energetic performance during a promotional appearance. The album, spanning recordings from 1965 to 1973, highlighted "Relay" as one of the later entries, showcasing its adaptation in a broadcast setting. In 2014, the studio version of "Relay" was included on The Who Hits 50!, a career-spanning singles compilation celebrating the band's 50th anniversary, where it appeared as the third track on disc two amid remastered hits. This reissue underscored the song's enduring place in The Who's catalog of non-album singles. The most extensive reissues came with the 2023 super deluxe edition of Who's Next | Life House, which featured the original single mix of "Relay" on disc six, an unedited remix with alternate vocals on disc five, and additional variants drawn from Lifehouse-era sessions. These were remastered in 2022 by longtime engineer from the original tapes, enhancing audio clarity for both physical and streaming formats under Polydor. Despite these inclusions, "Relay" has not received standalone reissues and remains primarily available through such compilations and expanded album sets.

Covers and influence

The song "Relay" has seen few professional covers, primarily on tribute and budget covers albums, such as BWD Production's version on Hot Hits 11 (1973) and The Mean Reds' rendition on the tribute compilation Whodunit: Chicago Knows Who (1997). No major artists have released official covers. Most other renditions consist of amateur acoustic interpretations shared online. For example, a guitar cover was uploaded to YouTube in 2012, capturing the track's driving rhythm in a stripped-down format. Another acoustic version followed in 2019, emphasizing the song's lyrical urgency through solo performance. Within The Who's discography, "Relay" represents a key artifact from Pete Townshend's aborted Lifehouse project, a sci-fi envisioning a dystopian where enables mass control and isolation. The track's inclusion on the 1972 non-album single bridged Lifehouse's unfinished narrative to the thematic density of later concept albums like (1973), where Townshend explored psychological fragmentation and societal pressures through interconnected storytelling. Townshend has reflected on the metaphor—symbolizing transmitted messages of rebellion amid surveillance—as central to Lifehouse's critique of dehumanizing systems, influencing his ongoing experimentation with multimedia rock concepts. In modern retrospectives, "Relay" has been lauded for its prescient surveillance themes, portraying protagonists numbed by government-monitored "experience suits" linked to a universal grid, eerily foreshadowing internet-era data tracking and digital isolation. A 2023 analysis highlighted how the lyrics encapsulate Lifehouse's vision of entertainment as a tool for control, drawing parallels to contemporary works like Radiohead's (1997) and underscoring the song's enduring cultural resonance.

References

  1. https://www.thewho.com/music/relay/
  2. https://petetownshend.net/musicals/lifehouse
  3. https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/relay-the-who-song-that-predicted-the-future/
  4. https://www.songfacts.com/facts/the-who/relay
  5. https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/how-pete-townshend-turned-the-trauma-of-his-aborted-sci-fi-rock-opera-into-the-triumph-of-whos-next
  6. https://jazzrocksoul.com/artists/the-who/
  7. http://www.thewhothismonth.com/1972.html
  8. https://www.discogs.com/release/10662919-The-Who-Relay
  9. https://genius.com/The-who-relay-lyrics
  10. https://songbpm.com/@the-who/relay-yeeur
  11. https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/the-who/relay-chords-1944541
  12. https://petetownshend.net/musicals/electronica
  13. https://www.discogs.com/master/109065-The-Who-Relay
  14. https://www.songfacts.com/facts/the-who/wasp-man
  15. https://www.thewho.com/music/the-who-hits-50/
  16. https://music.amazon.com/tracks/B07P7RK4DZ
  17. https://www.thewho.com/movie/the-old-grey-whistle-test-volume-2/
  18. https://www.facebook.com/groups/240098362684435/posts/5666412146719669/
  19. http://www.thewholive.net/songs/info.php?id=75
  20. https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/who-relay/
  21. https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1973-01-13/
  22. https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/content-search.aspx?KeyWo=Relay&Lang=eng&By=The%20Who&s=50
  23. https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/roger-daltrey-s-track-by-track-guide-to-the-who-s-greatest-hits-28335/
  24. https://psychobabble200.blogspot.com/2014/11/review-who-hits-50.html
  25. https://www.thewhothismonth.com/1973.html
  26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGZpjkBFYUg
  27. http://www.thewholive.net/tour-list/showconcert.php?SongID=75
  28. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljG2k-ADJSc
  29. http://www.thewholive.net/concert/index.php?id=73
  30. https://open.spotify.com/track/3RQSE0JSTiaP621Hh7m4g7
  31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu6OizRwiFE
  32. https://www.setlist.fm/stats/the-who-bd6bd2a.html?year=2009
  33. https://www.thewho.com/music/hooligans/
  34. https://www.thewho.com/music/rarities-volume-1-and-volume-2/
  35. https://www.discogs.com/release/2220246-The-Who-Rarities-Vol-2-1970-1973
  36. https://www.thewho.com/music/the-who-bbc-sessions/
  37. https://www.discogs.com/release/2060655-The-Who-BBC-Sessions
  38. https://www.discogs.com/master/759809-The-Who-The-Who-Hits-50
  39. https://www.thewho.com/music/whos-next-life-house-super-deluxe-edition/
  40. https://www.discogs.com/release/28268602-The-Who-Whos-Next-Life-House
  41. https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/62905
  42. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lovj6vN3RAc
  43. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVf8tf3vg5s
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