News

Today, Pete Townshend turns 78 years young.  The Who frontman will be touring Europe with Roger Daltrey in June and July as well as keeping busy with other endeavors; his Tony Award-winning musical The Who’s Tommy will see a major revival from original director Des McAnuff in Chicago this summer.  On June 23, UMe will revisit two solo chapters of Townshend’s career with half-speed mastered reissues of two solo albums, Rough Mix (1977) and Empty Glass (1980).  These are just the first in a series of reissues expected to roll out in the coming months.

Rough Mix, Townshend’s second “solo” album, was recorded with bassist-songwriter Ronnie Lane (Small Faces, Faces) and producer Glyn Johns.  Though recorded during a Who hiatus, John Entwistle nonetheless made an appearance as did Eric Clapton, Charlie Watts, Ian Stewart, the duo of Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle, Boz Burrell (King Crimson, Bad Company), future Who sideman John “Rabbit” Bundrick, and others.  Composer Edwin Astley (The Saint, Danger Man) – then Pete’s father-in-law – added the orchestral chart for “Street in the City.”  Though Townshend was resistant to a co-writing arrangement with Lane, they did share credit on the instrumental title track.  Both men contributed songs to Rough Mix, which proved more redolent of folk-rock than The Who’s amped-up anthems or Faces’ rough-hewn, loose brand of rock-and-roll.  The album placed at No. 44 in the U.K. Albums Chart and No. 45 on the U.S. Billboard 200.

Townshend’s next LP was a commercial high point for the artist as singer-songwriter.  Produced by Chris Thomas (Elton John, Pretenders), 1980’s Empty Glass was a hard-hitting exploration of the issues weighing on the singer-guitarist’s mind at the time, including mortality, drugs, alcohol, spirituality, and falling out of love.  Some have called it the best Who album the band never recorded, with Roger Daltrey reportedly having expressed disappointment that it wasn’t a Who record.  “Rabbit” Bundrick joined in, as did Faces/Who drummer Kenney Jones, Big Country bassist Tony Butler, drummer Simon Phillips, and others.

Empty Glass is well-remembered today for the shimmering single “Let My Love Open the Door,” a U.S. top ten success which shot the album up the Billboard chart to a No. 5 berth.  Though that joyous track stalled outside of the U.K. top 40, Great Britain preferred the rowdy rocker “Rough Boys,” with its punk edge and homoerotic overtones.  It went to No. 39 there.  (“Rough Boys” peaked at No. 89 stateside.)  The LP was filled with tracks reflecting various aspects of Townshend’s musical persona; he was inspired by Ray Davies for “Keep on Working” and rescued a Who cast-off with the title song.  Townshend initially considered enlisting Todd Rundgren to produce, but even without Todd’s hand, he crafted an album that stands up to Rundgren’s versatile best.

Both of these limited-edition black vinyl releases have been mastered by long-time Who engineer Jon Astley and cut for vinyl by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios with a half-speed mastering technique.  Both titles are packaged in original sleeve replicas with Japan-style OBI strips and certificates of authenticity. Rough Mix is housed within a gatefold sleeve and has replica U.K. Polydor labels, and Empty Glass features a full-color inner bag with lyrics and a 12″ x 24″ poster.

Look for the half-speed mastered LPs of Rough Mix and Empty Glass on June 23 from UMe.  Happy Birthday, Pete!

Pete Townshend and Ronnie Lane, Rough Mix (MCA (U.S.) LP MCA-2295, 1977 – reissued UMe, 2023) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Side 1

1. My Baby Gives It Away
2. Nowhere To Run
3. Rough Mix
4. Annie
5. Keep Me Turning
6. Catmelody

Side 2

1. Misunderstood
2. April Fool
3. Street In The City
4. Heart To Hang Onto
5. Till The Rivers Run Dry

Pete Townshend, Empty Glass (Atco (U.S.) LP SD 32-100, 1980 – reissued UMe, 2023) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Side 1

1. Rough Boys
2. I Am an Animal
3. And I Moved
4. Let My Love Open the Door
5. Jools And Jim

Side 2

1. Keep On Working
2. Cat’s In the Cupboard
3. A Little Is Enough
4. Empty Glass
5. Gonna Get Ya