Pete Townshend
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Track Listings

1	Rough Boys
2	I Am An Animal
3	And I Moved
4	Let My Love Open the Door
5	Jools and Jim
6	Keep on Working
7	Cat's in the Cupboard
8	Little Is Enough
9	Empty Glass
10	Gonna Get Ya
11	I Am An Animal [Alternate Vocal]
12	Keep on Working [Alternate Vocal]
13	And I Moved [Alternate Vocal]
14	Gonna Get Ya [Long Version]

Editorial Reviews

Digitally remastered expanded edition of the 1980 album by the Who's main songwriter, including bonus tracks. This commercially and critically successful album features the hits 'Rough Boys' and 'Let My Love Open the Door'. Features musical assistance from Rabbit Bundrick, Kenny Jones, Simon Phillips and Mark Brzesicki & Tony Butler (later 1/2 of Big Country).

Product details

Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.59 x 0.39 x 4.92 inches; 3.46 ounces
Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Hip-O
Item model number ‏ : ‎ 2073878
Original Release Date ‏ : ‎ 2006
Date First Available ‏ : ‎ October 22, 2006
Label ‏ : ‎ Hip-O
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000FZESW6
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

Best Sellers Rank: #214,318 in CDs & Vinyl (See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl)
- #953 in Rock Singer-Songwriters
- #2,126 in British Music
- #3,636 in Progressive Rock

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4.7 out of 5

399 global ratings

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Mike

Arrived in good shape

Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2024

Great album.

Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2023

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Petes best solo album. Recommended.

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Bradley Evans

Pete, the Mystic. Pete, the Seeker. Pete, the Songwriter. Pete, the Enigma. Pete, the Who.

Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2016

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Pete, the Mystic. Pete, the Seeker. Pete, the Songwriter. Pete, the Enigma. Pete, the Who.

What may be added that already hasn't been said about this album? Alright, it was a "coming out" album. No, not his somewhat dubious admission of "bisexuality," but his "coming out" album away from The Who. By 1980, it seems, The Who had been exhausted, and Pete was on his own, or, at least wanted to be on his own. With this album (now CD), Pete stands on his own musically, and not that he didn't before. One must admit that "Tommy" and "Quadrophenia" are monster works. One can say of somewhat twentieth-century operatic value. But, with this album, Pete can still cut some good tunes, and they are much more mature than the "Meaty, Beaty, Big, and Bouncy" days. No, these songs are polished gems, and nothing reminiscent of his London club gig days. They are mature works and more reflective upon life's "issues."

Say and infer what you want about "Rough Boys" and "Jools and Jim," but I will focus on four of his other tunes from this album. The first, "I Am an Animal." Now, what is this song about? The animalistic nature of humankind? The lighter, more vulnerable side of Pete Townshend? I don't know, but I think it's a good tune. Yes, it's not crash/bash, like what we have come to expect of The Who or Pete Townshend, but is a bit more reflective. What's even better, included on this album as bonus tracks, is a demo of this song, still sounding vulnerable and even witty. Both tracks are good stuff.

Now, what about "And I Moved"? Okay, meant for Bette Midler, but deemed to "smutty" at the time, so a guy must sing it? Okay, that's believable in the sense that Jobim's "Girl from Ipanema" is a man's song, but sung by a woman (Astrud Gilberto). Okay, I will buy that. But, I think there is more to it than just some sexual encounter. If you listen to the music, it's quite spiritual. An ethereal piano motif played by Rabbit Bundrick permeates the entire song. It has a minimalist, if not spiritual, quality to it. Could that figure that "laid me back just like an empty dress" be God or Jesus or some other relaxing entity, weeping, also? I think that too much of a sexuality "issue" has been read by other reviewers into this album. Could it be something more "spiritual" which Pete Townshend is trying to convey to us in his music?

Lastly, now if you or I were to compose "Gonna Get Ya," wouldn't this tune be fine evidence that we were either too obsessive or were stalking someone? It has been said that Beethoven, in his music, has been a bit obsessive, even compulsive, and I think of his 3rd Symphony. With a tune entitled "Gonna Get Ya," it sounds like a one-way ticket to the head doc's office to me. Could Mr Townshend be that obsessive/compulsive, or is it his audience which would identify the most with such a tune?

Lastly, for all the banality that a working class, "garden song," like "Keep On Working" seems to be, it offers much reflection, even redemption for Mr Townshend. Words like:

And there's another thing, that they'll never touch.
Just need a boy and girl, and it won't cost you much.
And if your luck is in, then you'll have kids at play.
To make you laugh and sing, when you're old and grey.

Words like this couldn't be truer. Pete was a family man, had two daughters and a son, so, in conclusion, he can't be all that bad. For all of Pete's "seeking," and he seems to have spent a life-time doing just that, I can't think of any of his words which ring more true than the previous four lines above. Pete the Seeker (and not Pete Seeger), has found home at last with these words in the most Odyssean fashion.

Bowie left $100 million to his family and nanny. I understand that Pete is worth a little bit more than half of that. I guess this isn't too bad for a life spent seeking with the knowledge of a few chords, playing the guitar "hard," and knowing a few good synthesizer riffs. The rest of us all know the 9 to 5 grind, if some of us even have that, all too well.

Uh, buy this album? I don't know. That's up to you. I guess we have all had about thirty-six years now to reflect upon it. I guess it is better than the current mash of what's being poured out by even lesser musicians. At least these fine musicians were all in the same studio when it was recorded. Enough said. Out . . .

4 people found this helpful

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B. Hernandez

Pete's best solo album!

Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2021

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One of the those rare albums where all of the songs are good. What Pete has over other guitarist/keyboardists (with the exception of Kerry Livgren, but of course Kerry is not a great vocalist, which Pete is) is that his guitar playing has a truly unique and very musical style and his use of synths and keyboard is masterfully brilliant. As opposed to say Rundgren or Zevon, who I also love, but their guitar playing isn't as unique, and their use of keyboards (especially Warren) more conventional. Just a very beautiful and mellifluous album!

One person found this helpful

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D.E. Hull

Post-rock Who-pop perfection

Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2005

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Who can argue with an album that contains two of the most perfect rock songs ever recorded? And that's not even counting the hits ("Let My Love Open the Door" and "Rough Boys")! "Jools and Jim" is Pete's strange, stirring challenge to punk rock and rock criticism of the late 70's and also, along the way, a sad meditation on the death of Who drummer Keith Moon: "Typewriter tappers/You're all just crappers/You listen to love with your intellect" is sung over the most propulsive, explosive music Pete ever created outside the Who. "I Am an Animal" is even more powerful, with Pete lacerating himself, in a voice that veers into falsetto (echoed by adventursome bass runs), over drums like rolling thunder: "I was always here in the silence/But I was never under your eye/Gather up your love in some wiseness/For every memory shall always survive/And you will see me!" The rhythm section on this album (Tony Butler on bass, Mark Brzezicki on drums) went on to become the rhythm section of band Big Country, but the best moments of "Empty Glass" are worlds more sophisticated and powerful than anything Big Country or the later-day Who could hope to achieve. Transcendant, pounding, powerful, beautiful stuff.

16 people found this helpful

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MODsquad

Pete Townshend's Empty Glass

Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2015

Verified Purchase

I've had this twice on cassette, and both wore out, and twice on CD, I sold the first CD because I needed money, couldn't find a copy of it for a long time, then it appeared on Amazon.com and I snatched it up. This album reminds me of high school days, which I'm not too fond of, but the music I remember is very sentimental for me. The album tracks do not disappoint, some say the album is about homosexuality, but I disagree, the album can be about anything you perceive it to be - if a half full glass can be associated with optimism, and a half empty glass can be associated with pessimism, it's fair to say an empty glass can be associated with whatever.

One person found this helpful

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lj bailey

An old favorite for drive music

Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2022

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Townshend just being himself. Arrived in good time, and as described.

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Amazon Customer

Pete's best solo album.

Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2022

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What's not to like?

One person found this helpful

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David S.

Like Brand New - Excellent !

Reviewed in Canada on January 4, 2022

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Great Price, excellent condition, fast delivery . . . you could not ask for better and I offer my highest recommendation.

demagny monique

DU BON TOWNSEND

Reviewed in France on April 13, 2021

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QUELQUES PERLES

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Leon Blanco

Magnífico álbum

Reviewed in Mexico on June 11, 2018

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Durante años me perdí de una obra única. Si bien la voz de Pete en algunas canciones me parece que se queda un poco corta, el círculo se cierra con sus estupendas composiciones y su visión del rock y la música. Sensacional!

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uncle Ernie

Gran álbum.

Reviewed in Spain on December 6, 2018

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Gran disco de Pete, requiere varias escuchas para sacar lo mejor de el; muy en la línea del Who are you de los Who.

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T. Baranyai

Anything but empty

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 7, 2012

Verified Purchase

This is easily Pete Townshends best solo record. From start to finish this is a collection of fantastic songs. Rough boys, I am an animal, Let my love open the door, A little is enough and Empty glass are all rock/pop classics and the whole album has you singing along after just one listen. The bonus tracks on the reissue are a bit naff though, just four alternate takes that sound very similar to the final album takes. I think some completely unreleased tracks or even a few live tracks would have been better. But that aside, this is a must have album for all Townshend or Who fans.

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Empty Glass

Extra Tracks, Remastered

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