Inauguration: Who's on first (term)?

"MEET the new boss/Same as the old boss."

That well-worn lyric, from The Who's 1971 classic "Won't Get Fooled Again," applied well to much of the city's elected pols for the last few decades.

But it would have sounded a little out of place yesterday at the Academy of Music, where more than a half-dozen new faces - and, OK, some not-so-new - took the oath of office.

Six new members of City Council were sworn in, marking the largest influx of freshman members in 20 years.

"It was a great ceremony," a beaming Councilman-at-large David Oh said, moments after the inauguration wrapped. "I'm optimistic and very positive about the future."

Councilwoman Cindy Bass, who now represents Northwest Philly's 8th District, said that there are plenty of issues for the new Council members to focus on.

"We just got this label, 'Killadelphia,' in the paper the other day," she said, referring to a Daily News story about the city's high murder rate.

"There's a lot we need to do to address the issues facing young people."

The other new members included: Councilman-at-large Dennis O'Brien, the former state representative, and Councilmen Mark Squilla (South Philly's and Center City's 1st District), Kenyatta Johnson (South Philly's 2nd District) and Bobby Henon (Northeast Philly's 6th District).

Former state Rep. Jewell Williams was sworn in as the city's sheriff, and vowed to clean up what had been an ineffective, scandal-ridden office.

Al Schmidt and Stephanie Singer were sworn in as City Commissioners, following successful campaigns that were built around messages of reforming and updating that office. Longtime commissioner Anthony Clark also was sworn in for another term.

Yesterday also was the first day back at work for (briefly retired) City Councilwoman Marian Tasco and Register of Wills Ronald Donatucci.

Both retired - Tasco on Friday, Donatucci on Dec. 23 - collected six-figure DROP payments and returned to office.

Maybe they should have played The Who, after all.