56. ‘Substitute’

on ‘Who Covers Who’, 1993. Produced by Blur.

Recorded live at Matrix in February ’93, ‘Substitute’ is a 1966 hit by The Who which Blur were asked to cover for the tribute album ‘Who Covers Who’. Alas, the band were especially hungover the day in question and spent much of their time arguing. Graham declined to teach the song to Alex. The ensuing performance is incriminatingly reckless. Entering hot-headedly at 0.06, Dave accelerates the song by about 150 per cent – Graham tries to slow it back down again at 1.59, to no avail – and Damon fluffs several of Pete Townshend’s lyrics, including some world-famous ones. To cap the débâcle, CM Discs contrived to omit Graham’s first guitar chord from the song’s introduction. Damon calls ‘Substitute’ Blur’s worst ever performance on record, and refuses to have a copy of the album in his house.