The Who’s First US Top 40 Hit Broke Out in Michigan, 1967

I remember this well.

I was in a rock band back in the 60s on bass guitar and shared vocals. It was because of being in a band that I became familiar with many of the performers of the day. FM radio was becoming prominent, and many of the songs we heard came from groups that were not yet being played on AM stations.

We began learning tracks by the likes of the Yardbirds, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, and even Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention. A group we admired - and copied many of their songs - was The Who. We performed My Generation, I Can’t Explain, I Can See For Miles, It's Not True, Mary-Anne with the Shaky Hands, The Kids Are Alright, Whiskey Man, Call Me Lightning, Substitute, and Happy Jack.

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Up until 1966, The Who had released nine singles, all of which stiffed in America. But hearing some of those songs on FM radio brought attention to The Who to many fledgling local rock bands in Michigan...us included. All of a sudden, Who songs were being heard in every bar and dance outlet in the state. Our - and many other Michigan bands - repertoire of Who songs went over well and soon Who records started selling better than before.

By the time they released their tenth single, Michigan record buyers were ready. That single was Happy Jack with a simple, fun bass riff that I – and other bass players – enjoyed performing.

With the momentum stirred up by bands throughout Michigan, the Happy Jack single sold extremely well, breaking out in our state and finally catching on with the rest of the country. After being released in the US in March 1967, Happy Jack peaked at #24 in America and bled over into Canada, where it went to #1. Up to that point, the biggest song they had in America was My Generation that only made it to #74.

When The Who performed in Grand Rapids back in 2017, Pete Townshend backed up Michigan’s claim by stating onstage, "Do you know that The Who's first hit record was in Michigan? Happy Jack."

Nice to know that Michigan’s fondness for good rock influenced the entire country.