1969 Rock Song Written to Impress One Critic Became a Classic Despite Never Hitting No. 1
Some of the most iconic songs in rock history began under unusual circumstances, but few have an origin story quite like "Pinball Wizard" by The Who.
Released in 1969, the song eventually became one of the defining tracks of the classic rock era. More than five decades later, its explosive acoustic guitar intro and instantly recognizable chorus still sound just as powerful as they did during the late '60s. Yet despite its legendary reputation, the song never actually reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Pinball Wizard" appeared on Tommy, the double album rock opera released by The Who in May 1969. The project also featured songs like "I'm Free," "The Acid Queen," "Go to the Mirror!" and "We're Not Gonna Take It." Tommy helped introduce mainstream audiences to the idea of a full-scale rock opera and permanently changed the band's career trajectory.
What might truly surprise some rock fans is that "Pinball Wizard" was reportedly written in part to impress one influential music critic.
Guitarist and songwriter Pete Townshend wanted to win over influential rock critic Nik Cohn while finishing Tommy. Cohn was reportedly lukewarm after hearing early versions of the album, but then Townshend discovered that the critic loved pinball.
Townshend recalled in an interview with Uncut in 2004, via Ultimate Classic Rock, "I just remember saying to him, with maybe an element of sarcasm, 'So, if it had pinball in it, would you give it a decent review?'"
Cohn allegedly replied, "Of course I would. Anything with pinball in it's fantastic." Townshend told the publication, "And so I wrote ‘Pinball Wizard,' purely as a scam." While the songwriter reportedly didn't love the finished song, it made a big impact on not just Cohn but rock fans everywhere.
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Cohn went on to praise the finished album, and "Pinball Wizard" quickly became one of Tommy's defining moments. Its famous opening acoustic riff immediately grabs attention, and even listeners unfamiliar with the story of Tommy Walker, the "deaf, dumb and blind kid" at the center of the concept album, can still connect with the song on its own.
The single was released in March 1969. "Pinball Wizard" became one of the band's biggest songs at the time, climbing to No. 4 on the U.K. Singles Chart and reaching No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 in America.
Although it fell short of topping the charts, the song's cultural legacy eventually far surpassed its chart position.
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This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 5:53 PM.