Odorono

Album: The Who Sell Out (1967)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In the wake of the release of Who's Next Pete Townshend said that he felt the songs he writes tell a little story. He added this tune about underarm perspiration, "was a little story, and although it's a good song, it was about something groovy - underarm perspiration." Townshend then went on to say that the song's male love interest rushes backstage to congratulate the song's female protagonist, "and it looks like she's all set, not only for stardom but also for true love. And then, underarm perspiration cuts the whole thing. And you know, without getting too serious about it, because it's supposed to be very light, that's life. It really is. That really is life." (Source of quote Mojo magazine April 2009)
  • Pete Townshend rather than Roger Daltrey was the lead vocalist on this song. In fact either Townshend or bass guitarist John Entwistle were the sole lead vocalist on seven of the songs on The Who Sell Out.
  • One of the panels on the front cover of the The Who Sell Out album shows Townshend applying some Odorono deodorant from an oversized stick. The fictitious brand name was named after an actual product called Odo-Ro-No, which was the first underarm deodorant that was marketed specifically for women. In 1919 an advert for Odo-Ro-No coined the term "B.O." Women were warned in the ad, that if they had "B.O." they might never get a man.
  • Roger Daltrey was said to have caught pneumonia after sitting in the bath of beans for the cover of The Who Sell Out. He told Q magazine: "The trouble was, the beans had come straight out the fridge. Then they stuck an electric fire behind the bath. I did become ill."

Comments: 2

  • Tara from Petoskey, MiYeah, Roy, I agree. I listen to this album when I want to just laugh. Especially this song.
  • Roy from Granbania, MaThe Who Sell Out is a very interesting record. It was a good concept (the whole pirate radio idea), but wasn't executed completely consistently. It still ended up being fun to listen to, though.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Prince

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

Julian Lennon

Julian LennonSongwriter Interviews

Julian tells the stories behind his hits "Valotte" and "Too Late for Goodbyes," and fills us in on his many non-musical pursuits. Also: what MTV meant to his career.

Who Wrote That Song?

Who Wrote That Song?Music Quiz

Do you know who wrote Patti Smith's biggest hit? How about the Grease theme song? See if you can match the song to the writer.

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Mike Scott of The Waterboys

Mike Scott of The WaterboysSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Whole Of The Moon" and "Red Army Blues," and why rock music has "outlived its era of innovation."

Charlie Daniels

Charlie DanielsSongwriter Interviews

Charlie discusses the songs that made him a Southern Rock icon, and settles the Devil vs. Johnny argument once and for all.