"Eminence Front" is a song by The Who, written and sung by lead guitarist Pete Townshend. It appears as the sixth track on the group`s tenth studio album It`s Hard (1982). The single entered Billboard Hot 100 on 25 December 1982, reaching number 68.[3][4]

Background and recording

In the song, Townshend sings about the delusions and drug use of the wealthy and hedonistic. The lyrics describe a party in which people hide from their problems behind a façade. Townshend has introduced the song in live performances with: "This song is about what happens when you take too much white powder; it`s called `Eminence Front`."[5] In an interview, Townshend explained:

"Eminence Front" was written around a chord progression I discovered on my faithful Yamaha E70 organ. I hesitate to try to explain what it was about. It`s clearly about the absurdity of drug-fueled grandiosity, but whether I was pointing the finger at myself or at the cocaine dealers of Miami Beach is hard to recall.[6]

In the originally released version, there is a timing flaw or a syncopation in the first chorus, where Townshend sings "behind an eminence front" at the same time Daltrey sings "it`s an eminence front", with Townshend one syllable behind. A more linear-sounding remixed version appears on the 1997 re-release of It`s Hard (a live version, recorded on the band`s final stop on their 1982 tour in Toronto, appears as a bonus track on the re-release). Additionally, the remix has Townshend`s vocals panned centrally rather than hard right in the stereo field.[citation needed]

Release

"Eminence Front" was scheduled to be released as a single in the UK by Polydor Records in 1982; the catalog number was WHO 7 but the single was never released. The picture sleeve, by Richard Evans, depicted a 1930s Art Deco house in Miami.[7] The single in its picture sleeve was finally released in 2017 as part of The Who`s The Polydor Singles 1975-2015 box set.[8] It was released as a promotional 12" single in both the US and UK, and as a 7" single in the US and Canada.

Critical reception

In a wholly negative review of It`s Hard, Robert Christgau gave faint praise to "Eminence Front" as the album`s high point, sarcastically noting how the aging Townshend "discovers funk. Just in time. Bye."[2] Cash Box said that it "rides along on Pete Townshend`s cleanly slicing guitar and the band`s patented synth sound" as well as a "strong bottom" from the drums and bass guitar."[9] Rolling Stone ranked the song as the Who`s tenth best song, stating, "`Eminence Front` showed they could connect Townshend`s new wave-influenced solo work with the classic sound of Who`s Next."[6]

In popular culture

The song has been used as the intro music for Dallas Mavericks games since it was adopted during the 2000–01 NBA season, the team`s final season at the Reunion Arena.[10]

Charts

Weekly charts