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From album
Who’s Next
The Who · 1971 · Track 2
Details
Duración5:33
ÁlbumWho’s Next
Año1971
ISRCGBAKW7100114
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The story behind
The song Bargain, written by Pete Townshend, is a track that departs from the conventions of a typical love song. While the lyrics express total devotion, the central idea points towards a spiritual connection, specifically with God, influenced by the teachings of the Indian mystic Meher Baba. Townshend himself has explained that the lyric is about the renunciation of the ego on the path of a devotee, seeking union with the divine, and that this total surrender would be a "bargain", a good deal. The piece begins with a delicate acoustic guitar, to which a subtle background sound is added. The intensity increases with Keith Moon's drum fills and Townshend's rhythmic guitar chords, before Roger Daltrey's voice takes center stage. Although Daltrey performs most of the lyrics with energy, there is a more serene passage where Townshend sings, accompanied by John Entwistle's bass, expressing a deep sense of emptiness without that sought-after connection.
The recording of Bargain took place between April and June 1971 at London's Olympic Studios, and was produced by The Who along with Glyn Johns. The instrumentation is rich, including an ARP synthesizer that fulfills both solo and accompaniment roles, especially during the guitar solo. This solo, like Moon's drum fills and Entwistle's bass lines, received praise from critics like John Mendelsohn and authors like Chris Charlesworth and Alan Parker. Townshend used several guitars in the recording, including a 1959 Gretsch Chet Atkins, a gift from Joe Walsh. At least nine versions of the song were recorded during that period, and Townshend was particularly satisfied with the sound Glyn Johns achieved, especially on the acoustic guitars. The song, which lasts 5:34, is part of the album Who's Next and has been highlighted for its lyricism, power, and the band's performance, being considered by some as one of Townshend's most beautiful compositions.