Continued from page 14
brow virtues of his beloved . Townshend and Lane were both followers of Indian spiritual leader Meher Baba , and other fare , including the devotional anthem “ Keep Me Turning ,” point toward less carnal pursuits . The renewal-seeking characters inhabiting “ Heart to Hang Onto ” follow suit as Townshend and Lane trade vocals . Faces roots and Dylan ' s influence are evident on the loping “ Nowhere to Run .” Lane ’ s raspy voice is accompanied by his own nimble bass , Rabbit Bundrick ’ s shimmering organ , Peter Hope Evans ’ harmonica , and Townshend ’ s sparkling banjo . Lane offers the winsome and reedy Scottish folk / shanty of “ Annie ” and acoustic strummer “ April Fool ,” both featuring Eric Clapton . The personnel list for Lane ’ s rollicking blues-boogie “ Catmelody ” includes King Crimson saxophonist Mel Collins , Watts , and Stones linchpin Ian Stewart on piano . Lane ’ s wry lyric paints the portrait of someone who burned too hot and flamed out but had a wild time before swearing to walk the straight and narrow . The album ’ s lone Townshend-Lane co-write is the chugging instrumental title cut , recalling the rootsy energy of a Delaney & Bonnie jam while led by Bundrick ’ s ecstatic organ and Clapton ’ s economical blues guitar . Townshend ’ s minimalist “ Misunderstood ” finds him longing to be an inscrutable and revered artiste . “ I want to be feared in my neighborhood ,” he sings . The urban observational “ Street in the City ” is the album ’ s production outlier , with Townshend ’ s tumbling acoustic guitar accompanied by classical orchestration . The questing “ Heart to Hang Onto ” features Who bandmate John Entwistle ’ s bombastic brass arrangement sparring with Townshend ’ s guitar , setting aside folk-style arrangements and recalling the dynamic that fueled the Who ’ s Quadrophenia . Rough Mix concludes with the country music tones of Don Williams ’ “ Till the Rivers All Run Dry ,” offered in tribute to Townshend and Lane ’ s guru ( dedicated in liner notes “ to the Old Man ”). Rough Mix arrives in a gatefold sleeve with an anti-static liner .
1980s Empty Glass found Townshend ’ s solo work emerging as a viable commercial enterprise and threat to a shaken Who ’ s relevance . It was Townshend ’ s first release following the death of Who drummer Keith Moon . The album followed 1978 ’ s Who Are You , and many fans will call Empty Glass a stronger effort than 1982 ’ s It ’ s Hard if not 1981 ’ s Face Dances ( some of which was written concurrently ) as well . The motivating idea behind the album again reflected Townshend ’ s search for spiritual enlightenment . Townshend explained in interviews that he drew inspiration from 14th-century Sufi poet Hafez . If a weary soul approaches God as a bartender and seeks refreshment , the patron must offer his heart as an empty glass and allow the divine to fill it . Singles include the synth-driven and pop-savvy # 9 Billboard Hot 100 single “ Let My Love Open the Door .” The upbeat song functions on the surface as a sweet love song , even as it subtly urges listeners to embrace divine love . “ There ’ s only one thing gonna set you free ,” sings Townshend as the voice of heaven . “ Rough Boys ” is a slash-and-burn guitar rocker with homoerotic undertones that reappear during the cinematic “ And I Moved .” Although it charted only at # 72 , the vulnerable and confessional “ A Little is Enough ” is retrospectively considered to be among Townshend ’ s finest songs and his premiere attempt at an actual love song . The song was written as Townshend ’ s marriage was fraying . Meher Baba ’ s secretary told Townshend that if his wife only loved him a little , the limitless nature of love made that small amount sufficient . The song features drumming by Mark Brzezicki and bass by Tony Butler , who would soon be known as the ace rhythm section of Big Country . The album ’ s remaining tracks include ample thrills for any Townshend fan to indulge , as the songwriter and guitarist examines the tumult in his life in songs like the arresting “ I Am an Animal ” and attempts to transcend issues including alcohol , drugs , the loss of Moon , and marital unrest . The title cut , “ Empty Glass ,” leads with an angry and cathartic guitar while reaching toward a higher power in search of change and rebirth . The hotblooded “ Jools and Jim ” slings barbs at the music press and reacts to a callous comment about Moon ’ s death . Hope-Evans ’ harmonica wails alongside Simon Phillips ' s shuffling and stomping beat during “ Cats in the Cupboard .” The relentless Who Are You leftover “ Keep on Working ” finds Townshend hoping for future days as a granddad . Townshend has claimed that the song was an attempt to write in the style of the Kinks ’ Ray Davies . Empty Glass ships with a lyric sleeve and a 12 ” x24 ” poster .
These limited-edition anniversary pressings were remastered by producer and Who engineer Jon Astley and half-speed mastered at Abbey Road Studios onto heavyweight vinyl platters at 45RPM for superior stability and fidelity . The basis for comparison in this review was a well-maintained 1980 pressing of Empty Glass . The remastering effort is respectful of the original work , with subtle improvements to body , depth , clarity , balance , and presence . Some distortion previously evident during the vocal of “ A Little is Enough ” is improved by virtue of the new pressing ’ s heavier vinyl . The differences are more audible during the single “ Rough Boys .” The old master is more compressed and louder , primed for FM radio play ( Et tu FM98 , The Loop ). The new pressing isn ’ t as loud but is open , dynamic , and detailed .
– Jeff Elbel
Rough Mix
6 9
Empty Glass ROBYN HITCHCOCK Life After Infinity
( Tiny Ghost )
An album of pensive instrumental and music may seem out of character for psychedelic pop legend and erstwhile Soft Boy Robyn Hitchcock . Viewed in terms of the artist ’ s longstanding habit of defying conventions and expectations , however , it ’ s practically rational . In any case , this wel- september 2023 illinoisentertainer . com 15