Reply #10: Noted for its innovative fusion... [View All]

[mark414]

...of the Who's hard rock sound and early synthesizer experimentation by Townshend inspired by minimalist composer Terry Riley, and for its crashing chorus coupled with repeating F-C-Bb power chords, the song is a perennial favorite on classic rock radio stations as well as a concert staple for the band.

Although they never actually did it in concert, The Who considered pulling a person from the audience and programming their vital statistics into a synthesizer that would, in effect, translate that person into a musical theme around which a song could be built. Instead, Townshend used the life information of Meher Baba, whose philosophy had been a great personal and artistic influence on the band's chief songwriter. The name of the song is derived from this combination of the song's philosophical and musical influences: (Meher) Baba O' (Terry) Riley.

edited to include the link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baba_O'Riley