The song is welcomed to the sound of cheers and clapping as the usual rhythm of ‘Magic Bus’ floods the arena. The adoration fans had for the tune is undeniable when listening to the Leeds live recording of the track. With that iconic riff and the vocals chiming through, everyone is having an excellent time, including Pete Townshend, who often used to say it was one of his favorite songs to play live because of the rhythm. On the other side of the stage, though, was John Entwistle, having a terrible time.
The Who don’t get enough credit for their ingenuity and what they did for music. Sure, they’re a world-famous band that can sell out arenas, so it sounds like they get plenty of credit, but they paved the way for a new way to approach what an album can be. They were constantly looking at the bigger picture, changing the album format from just being a collection of songs to having a narrative intertwined throughout, and this genius is often overlooked.
Many of their tracks were created to play into whatever story they were trying to make in their music. Some songs are barely over a minute long, while others are nearly ten minutes long. Both styles of music are appropriate and can generally be a lot of fun to play. So long as there is enough to keep the musician engaged.
This was John Entwistle’s problem with the track ‘Magic Bus’. It is a favorite amongst fans. And Townshend has also previously stated how much he enjoys playing the song. It’s not the most engaging track for a bassist. The rhythm throughout is consistent, and the bassline isn’t very complex. This was Entwistle’s problem with the piece and why he was always hesitant to play it live.
“I hated playing ‘Magic Bus’,” he said. “’ Magic Bus’ was sometimes like eight minutes of A. In certain recordings, it sounds like I fall asleep.”
It’s hard to criticize John Entwistle for his attitude towards ‘Magic Bus’. Part of what was alluring about so many songs by The Who was the fact that they were intricate and engaging. This meant they were exciting to listen to but also play, as reflected in the animated stage presence of each band member. To go from that to a song where you’re hitting the same note for what feels like forever must be a severe gear change.
After months of touring and playing the same songs, there is only so much you can gauge from a crowd. For the first few shows, the excitement of an audience might be enough to rub off on you. After a long tour, it doesn’t matter how excited a crowd is to hear ‘Magic Bus. Entwistle had no interest in playing it. There were several exciting tracks for him to perform on each side of those dull and lingering eight minutes.
