You Better You Bet
Encyclopedia
"You Better You Bet" is a song written by Pete Townshend
of The Who
for their 1981 album, Face Dances
. It appears as the first track on the album.
"You Better You Bet" was the last single by The Who that reached the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100
, reaching #18 on 21 March 1981. The track peaked at #1 on the Billboard Top Tracks chart in the first half of 1981. It was also their last single to hit the Top Ten in the UK, peaking at #9. It is sung by front man Roger Daltrey
but contains backing vocals from Townshend and bassist John Entwistle
. Townshend's guitar part is played on a Rickenbacker 360/12
.
with the line: "I drunk myself blind to the sound of old T.Rex... and Who's Next
"
for the song was produced in black and white featuring the band and keyboardist John Bundrick
playing onstage. It was the fourth video played upon MTV
's launch on 1 August 1981. The video was also the 55th video to be aired on MTV
, making it the first video to be shown on MTV more than once.
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
of The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
for their 1981 album, Face Dances
Face Dances
Face Dances is the ninth album by English rock band The Who. It was originally released in 1981 in the US on Warner Bros. Records and in the UK on Polydor Records...
. It appears as the first track on the album.
"You Better You Bet" was the last single by The Who that reached the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, reaching #18 on 21 March 1981. The track peaked at #1 on the Billboard Top Tracks chart in the first half of 1981. It was also their last single to hit the Top Ten in the UK, peaking at #9. It is sung by front man Roger Daltrey
Roger Daltrey
Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE , is an English singer and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. He has maintained a musical career as a solo artist and has also worked in the film industry, acting in a large number of films, theatre and television roles and also...
but contains backing vocals from Townshend and bassist John Entwistle
John Entwistle
John Alec Entwistle was an English bass guitarist, songwriter, singer, horn player, and film and record producer who was best known as the bass player for the rock band The Who. His aggressive lead sound influenced many rock bass players...
. Townshend's guitar part is played on a Rickenbacker 360/12
Rickenbacker 360/12
The Rickenbacker 360/12 is an electric guitar made by the Rickenbacker company; it was among the first electric twelve-string guitars. This instrument is visually similar to the Rickenbacker 360...
.
Content
The song makes references to both the group T.Rex and the group's own 1971 album Who's NextWho's Next
Who's Next is the fifth studio album by English rock band The Who, released in August 1971. The album has origins in a rock opera conceived by Pete Townshend called Lifehouse. The ambitious, complex project did not come to fruition at the time and instead, many of the songs written for the project...
with the line: "I drunk myself blind to the sound of old T.Rex... and Who's Next
Who's Next
Who's Next is the fifth studio album by English rock band The Who, released in August 1971. The album has origins in a rock opera conceived by Pete Townshend called Lifehouse. The ambitious, complex project did not come to fruition at the time and instead, many of the songs written for the project...
"
Music video
A music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for the song was produced in black and white featuring the band and keyboardist John Bundrick
John Bundrick
John Douglas "Rabbit" Bundrick is an American rock keyboardist, pianist and organist. He is best known for his work with The Who and associations with others including Eric Burdon, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Roger Waters, Free and Crawler. Bundrick is noted as the principal musician for the cult...
playing onstage. It was the fourth video played upon MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's launch on 1 August 1981. The video was also the 55th video to be aired on MTV
First music videos aired on MTV
This is a list of the first music videos broadcast on MTV's first day, August 1, 1981. Video of the launch of MTV was uploaded onto YouTube in 2009.-List:#"Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles#"You Better Run" by Pat Benatar...
, making it the first video to be shown on MTV more than once.
Charts
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 4 |
| UK Singles Chart | 9 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 18 |
| U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 1 |