Classic Rock Solo Albums - Whistle Rhymes by John Entwistle

 Who’s Next blew me away in the summer of 1971, the year I turned 14. I already had Tommy, and Live At Leeds, and I had heard songs like Happy Jack, I Can See For Miles, and Magic Bus on the radio, but from the opening sounds of Baba O’Riley, I was transfixed by this new Who record.

I wanted more, and while I waited on the follow-up, I read about a new John Entwistle album, Smash Your Head Against The Wall. According to the first review I ran across, it was only available as an import, but sounded a lot like The Who. I can’t remember where I finally found that album, but it whetted my appetite, as it sounded very “Whoish” to me, too. 

So, when I saw a cutout of Entiwstle’s follow-up, Whistle Rhymes, in a local record store a year or two later, I snapped it up. I don’t recall knowing much about the album when I bought it (you had to actually buy magazines to get info about new releases back then, and that’s assuming you could find the mags that covered the kind of music you liked in your area), but I do know I was expecting more of of what I heard on Smash Your Head. I was wrong about that, but not entirely disappointed.

Whistle Rhymes, released in 1972, found Entwistle working with a new group of musicians. Among those backing him on the album’s ten tracks were figures both familiar and obscure. One of the keyboardists was Neil Sheppard, to whose unreleased 1971 solo album Entwistle had contributed (for more on Sheppard’s history see the excellent article at https://thestrangebrew.co.uk/intervie. ws/life-neil-sheppard-marty-simon/).

Another was Alan Ross, who adds acoustic guitar and backing vocals to several tracks. Ross also later played on Entwistle’s “Rigor Mortis Sets In” and was part of his touring band in the early 70s. See https://lowando.blogspot.com/2010/06/british-guitarist-alan-ross.html?m=1 for more information on Ross.

Among the better known contributors to the album were Peter Frampton and Jimmy McCulloch. At the time they played on Whistle Rhymes, both were “known,” Frampton primarily due to his membership in Humble Pie, and McCulloch as the guitarist from Stone The Crows.

The album featured two drummers, Rod Coombes (Stealers Wheel; Strawbs) and Gordon Barton.

The songs focused on marriage and infidelity, and there was even one about a peeping tom.

Here are the tracks with a few notes. 

Side 1

1.     Ten Little Friends

Frampton on lead (lots of guitar)

Coombs on drums

Sheppard on keys

2.     Apron Strings

 

Frampton on lead (really featured again)

 

Jimmy McCulloch on rhythm

JE piano

Alan Ross Backing vocals

 

3.     I 

 

Frampton and McCulloch both on lead

JE piano

 

4.     Thinking It Over

 

JE piano synthesized bass

No elec guitar and no lead guitar

 

5.     Who Cares?

Brass – Trombone and trumpet (latter by JE)

Neil Sheppard elec piano and organ

Frampton lead guitar (at end)

JE piano and trumpet

 

All vocals (lead and backing) on this side by JE except 2

 

Side 2

 

1.     Wonder

Trumpet and Trombone again

A Ross Backing vocals

JE piano and trumpet

 

2.     Was Just Being Friendly

 

Drums guitar (PF) 

Synthesized bass (as a lead instrument)

 

3.     The Window Shopper

 

About a peeping tom

Ross Backing vocals

Synthesizer JE

No guitar

 

4.     I Found Out

 

Acoustic and 12 string Alan Ross

Piano JE

 

5.     Nightmare (Please Wake Me Up)

 

Synthesizer piano French horn JE

Trombone again by Bryan Williams who also plays organ

Also includes violin

 

Starts as a Ballad then turns up-tempo