Founding Who guitarist and songwriter Pete Townshend will release a new box set featuring his seven solo studio albums. Aptly titled The Studio Albums, the eight-CD collection will arrive on March 28.
Videos by American Songwriter
The albums featured in the compendium are Townshend’s 1972 solo debut, Who Came First; his 1977 collaboration with the Faces’ Ronnie Lane, Rough Mix; Empty Glass (1980); All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes (1982); White City: A Novel (1985); The Iron Man: The Musical by Pete Townshend (1989); and two versions of his 1993 concept album Psychoderelict.
One CD will feature the original version of Psychoderelict, while a second CD will present the album without dialogue and spoken-word introductions.
The box set also will feature new packaging designed by Richard Evans, with rare photos and images of memorabilia. In addition, the collection will offer a new interview with Townshend, and sleeve written notes by Who archivist Matt Kent. Pete Townshend: The Studio Albums can be pre-ordered now.
Here’s a brief look at Townshend’s solo studio albums:
Who Came First
Who Came First’s released followed The Who’s classic 1971 album Who’s Next. It includes demos of a number of songs that Townshend had intended for the aborted Who multimedia project Lifehouse. Among those songs were “Pure and Easy” and “Nothing Is Everything (Let’s See Action),” both of which The Who also recorded.
Who Came First also features a number of tunes inspired by his spiritual guru, Meher Baba. One of the songs, “Evolution,” boasts lead vocals by his Rough Mix collaborator Lane.
The album peaked at No. 30 on the U.K. chart and No. 69 on the Billboard 200.
Rough Mix
Rough Mix features Townshend collaborating with former Small Faces and Faces bassist Lane. The album includes an impressive list of guest musicians, among them Eric Clapton, Who bassist John Entwistle, Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, Stones session pianist Ian Stewart, Bad Company bassist Boz Burrell, and ex-King Crimson sax player Mel Collins.
Rough Mix’s best-known song is the lead track, the Townshend-penned “My Baby Gives It Away,” which features Watts on drums. Clapton plays on four tracks, including “Annie,” which he co-wrote with Lane.
The album peaked at No. 44 and 45, respectively, on the U.K. and U.S. charts.
Empty Glass
Empty Glass was Townshend’s most successful solo album, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard 200. It features the hit single “Let My Love Open the Door,” which peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. Other standout tracks include “Rough Boys,” “And I Moved,” and “A Little Is Enough.”
Empty Glass features contributions from Who/ex-Faces drummer Kenney Jones, and Big Country bassist Tony Butler and drummer Mark Brzezicki.
The album was certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of 1 million in the U.S.
All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes
All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes was a critically acclaimed album that reached No. 26 on the Billboard 200. It features “Slit Skirts” and “Face Dances, Pt. 2,” videos for which received heavy airplay on MTV. Other popular songs included “Stop Hurting People,” “The Sea Refuses No River,” and “Somebody Saved Me.”
Big Country’s Butler and Brzezicki also appear on the record.
White City: A Novel
White City: A Novel is a loose concept album that’s set during the 1960s in a low-income housing project in London. The story boasts themes cultural upheaval, racial tension, and the hopes and dreams of young people.
The album features Townshend’s last chart hit “Face the Face,” which reached No. 26 on the Hot 100. Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour plays guitar on two tracks—“Give Blood” and “White City Fighting.” Other musicians featured on the album are Butler, Mark Brzezicki, Blondie drummer Clem Burke, and future Who touring bassist Pino Palladino.
The Iron Man: The Musical by Pete Townshend
The Iron Man: The Musical by Pete Townshend is a concept album inspired by British Poet Laureate Ted Hughes’ 1968 sci-fi novel. Townshend enlisted various artists to sing parts of different characters, including The Who’s Roger Daltrey, blues great John Lee Hooker, jazz legend Nina Simone, and Pete’s younger brother, Simon.
Two tracks feature The Who—the original song “Dig” and a cover of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown’s 1969 hit “Fire.” Townshend wrote all of the tunes on the album with the exception of “Fire.”
The Iron Man: The Musical by Pete Townshend peaked at No. 59 on the Billboard 200. A stage version of the album was presented at the Young Vic theatre in London in 1993.
The Iron Man was later adapted into the popular animated film The Iron Giant, which released in 1999 and co-executive produced by Townshend.
Psychoderelict
Psychoderelict, Townshend’s last solo studio effort to date, is another concept album. It focuses on a fictional reclusive 1960s rock star named Ray High.
The musicians who contributed to the record included Brzezicki and Simon Townshend.
Psychoderelict was Townshend’s lowest-charting solo album, reaching only No. 118 on the Billboard 200.
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.