Does Jimmy Page play guitar on The Who is I Can't Explain?

Answer 1

Yes. He was one of the best studio musicians at the time, and the record label didn't have confidence in Townsend's musical ability, so they called in Jimmy the studio musician, just to be safe. This was a typical practice at the time.

There is also a story that Jimmy Page wouldn't let Pete borrow his effects pedal (one of the the few in London at the time), so they relented by letting him play the solo. I think the first version is more realistic, although it may be true that Page did have one of the few effects pedals in London at the time. It could be possible that Page already was called in to play the solo, as he had for many other bands, and Pete could have argued "Let me try that pedal. I bet I could play something just as good with it".

But regardless of what actually went on in the studio, playing the solo on I can't explain is one of Pages documented jobs.