ALBUMS: Empty Glass (1980); Rough Mix,w/Ronnie Lane (1977)
MVC Rating: Empty (4.0/$$$$), Rough (4.5/$$$$)
Here’s two excellent albums that are still affordable and find-able. Up front, I want to acknowledge that Rough Mix is an almost equal collaboration between Ronnie Lane and Pete. I have talked about it in the blog before but don’t remember why, and I know I didn’t review it.
This is a good thing folks: I’ve done so many records I can’t remember them all, or, if I’ve done them. I’m closing in on 100 left of my 678 records. When I get there, probably in the next few days, I’ll do a short health update and look-ahead piece. Now on to the day’s albums.
Of the several all solo albums Townshend did, this is the one to get. It sounds like a Who album in many respects without Roger Daltrey’s powerful pipes, mind you. ‘Rough Boys, the opening song, is one that has that feeling of a long lost Who track. “And I Moved’ is an atmospheric piano driven piece that leaves me sad. Townshend’s jaunty hit song ‘Let My Love Open the Door” got quite a bit of radio play.
Rough Mix is a different album altogether as Townshend brings in Ronnie Lane, an English rock and roller who injected English folk music into much of his songs with the Slim Chance Band and Small Faces. ‘Annie’ is a beautiful example of Lane’s style. So is April Fool and ‘Nowhere to Run.’ Eric Clapton, who played guitars on much of the album, gets co-writing credit for Annie. Townshend, too, writes some excellent new songs: ‘Keep Me Turning,’ ‘Street in the City,’ and ‘Heart to Hang Onto.’