Released December 9, 1966 Length 3:09 Composer(s) Pete Townshend | Genre Power pop Label Reaction Records | |
Recorded October 1966 at IBC Studios, London, UK | ||
"So Sad About Us" is a 1966 song by British rock band The Who, first released on the band's second album A Quick One. Originally written for The Merseys, "So Sad About Us" has likely been covered more frequently than any other song on the album; according to the All Music Guide, it is "one of the Who's most covered songs". Shaun Cassidy, Primal Scream, The Breeders, and most notably The Jam and Dexter Romweber Duo (with backup vocal by Mary Huff of Southern Culture on the Skids) are among the many artists who have recorded studio versions of the song.
Beyond the sheer number of covers, it is also one of The Who's most frequently imitated songs. As the aforementioned AMG put it, it is "an archetypal early Who song" and "hundreds of bands have based their entire careers on this one song". With its ringing guitars, Beach Boys-styled harmonies, crashing drums, and lovelorn lyrics, it is one of the early forebears of the power pop genre, along with other early Who staples such as "I Can't Explain" and "The Kids Are Alright".