The set features seven out-of-print live shows
On July 26th, UMe is set to release Pete Townshend Live in Concert 1985-2001, an expanded 14 CD and digital set featuring seven long-out-of-print live albums by The Who guitarist. Newly remastered by Jon Astley, the set gathers together for the first time all of the live solo recordings that were only available via Pete Townshend’s website, Eel Pie. All of the albums have been out of print for two decades.
The box set features expanded deluxe packaging in a CD-sized box with new art by longtime Townshend collaborator Richard Evans, sleeve notes by band archivist Matt Kent, a new exclusive Pete Townshend interview, and rare photos and memorabilia in a hard-backed book.
The live shows included in the box set are Pete Townshend’s Deep End, live at Brixton Academy in London recorded on November 1-2, 1985 featuring David Gilmour from Pink Floyd on guitar, a live full rendition of Pete’s album Psychoderelict and more recorded at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York, 7th August 1993 during Pete’s only full solo tour, an intimate show from The Fillmore in San Francisco on April 30, 1996 around the time of his first solo compilation album CoolWalkingSmoothTalkingStraightSmokingFireStoking, Pete returned to his old stomping ground for the first time in 30 years with Live At The Shepherd’s Bush Empire November 9, 1998, there are also two nights at London’s Sadlers Wells Theatre, usually home to ballet and modern dance shows, presenting music from ‘Life House’, it was the only time a full Life House show has been attempted and the only times some of those songs were ever performed and finally, two shows from La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, where the Tommy musical first ran, on June 22-23, 2001.
The shows included in this boxset were all previously released online through Pete’s company, Eel Pie, there was only one run of each CD, and they all quickly became collector’s items. While Townshend has often performed short solo sets for charitable reasons, amongst others, Amnesty International, The Prince’s Trust and Pete’s own Double O charity which helps victims of domestic abuse and those suffering from addiction, full solo shows have been few and far between. When Pete has put on an entire solo show, the setlists have been picked from his own output, specifically Who songs, and cover versions of artists who have influenced him over the years.
CD 1: Brixton Academy 1 & 2 November 1985
- Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand
- Won’t Get Fooled Again
- A Little Is Enough
- Secondhand Love
- That’s Alright Mama
- Behind Blue Eyes
- The Shout
- Harlem Shuffle
- Barefootin’
- After The Fire
- Love On The Air
- Midnight Lover
- Blue Light
- I Put A Spell On You
- I’m One
CD 2: Brixton Academy 1 & 2 November 1985
- Driftin’
- Magic Bus
- Save It For Later
- Eyesight To The Blind
- Walkin’
- Stop Hurting People
- The Sea Refuses No River
- Boogie Stop Shuffle
- Face The Face
- Pinball Wizard
- Give Blood
- Night Train
CD 3: Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, New York 7 August 1993
- Intro
- English Boy
- Meher Baba M3
- Let’s Get Pretentious
- Meher Baba M4 [Signal Box]
- Early Morning Dreams
- I Want That Thing
- Intro: Outlive The Dinosaur
- Outlive The Dinosaur
- Gridlife
- Flame [Demo]
- Now And Then
- I Am Afraid
- Gridlife 2
- Don’t Try To Make Me Real
- Intro: Predictable
- Predictable
- Flame
- Meher Baba M5 [Vivaldi]
- Fake It
- Intro: Now And Then [Reprise]
- Now And Then [Reprise]
- Baba O’Riley [Demo]
- English Boy [Reprise]
CD 4: Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, New York 7 August 1993
- Pinball Wizard / See Me Feel Me / Listening To You
- Let My Love Open The Door
- Rough Boys
- Behind Blue Eyes
- The Kids Are Alright
- Keep Me Turning
- Eminence Front
- A Little Is Enough
- You Better You Bet
- Face The Face
- Won’t Get Fooled Again / Let’s See Action
- Magic Bus
CD 5: Fillmore 30 April 1996
- Let My Love Open The Door
- English Boy
- Drowned
- The Shout
- I Put A Spell On You
- Cut My Hair
- Sheraton Gibson
- I’m One
- Heart To Hang Onto
- Parvardigar
- A Legal Matter
CD 6: Fillmore 30 April 1996
- A Friend Is A Friend
- I Am An Animal
- All Shall Be Well
- Slit Skirts
- Eyesight To The Blind
- Driftin’ Blues
- Now And Then
- Rough Boys
- I’m A Boy
- Magic Bus
CD 7: The Empire 9 November 1998
- On The Road Again
- A Little Is Enough
- Pinball Wizard
- Drowned
- Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere
- You Better You Bet
- Behind Blue Eyes
- Baby Don’t You Do It
- English Boy
- Three Steps To Heaven
- Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand
- Sheraton Gibson
- Substitute
- I Am An Animal
- North Country Girl
CD 8: The Empire 9 November 1998
- (She’s A) Sensation
- A Friend Is A Friend
- Now And Then
- Let My Love Open The Door
- Who Are You
- The Kids Are Alright
- Acid Queen
- Won’t Get Fooled Again
- Magic Bus
- I’m One
CD 9: Live Sadler’s Wells 2000 Recorded live 25 & 26 February 2000
- One Note
- Purcell (Quick Movement)
- Teenage Wasteland
- Time Is Passing
- Love Ain’t For Keeping
- Goin’ Mobile
- Greyhound Girl
- Tragedy
- Mary
- I Don’t Even Know Myself
- Bargain
- Gettin’ In Tune
- Pure And Easy
- Baba O’Riley – Orchestral
CD 10: Live Sadler’s Wells 2000 Recorded live 25 & 26 February 2000
- Baba O’Riley
- Hinterland Rag
- Behind Blue Eyes
- Let’s See Action
- Sister Disco
- Relay
- Who Are You
- Join Together
- Won’t Get Fooled Again
- Tragedy Explained
- The Song Is Over
- Can You Help The One You Really Love?
CD 11: La Jolla Playhouse 22 June 2001
- Pinball Wizard
- Let My Love Open The Door
- Heart To Hang Onto
- Cut My Hair
- Slit Skirts
- Drowned
- Greyhound Girl
- Tattoo
- The Sea Refuses No River
CD 12: La Jolla Playhouse 22 June 2001
- Saint James Infirmary
- Eminence Front
- Won’t Get Fooled Again
- Behind Blue Eyes
- Won’t Get Fooled Again (Electric)
CD 13: La Jolla Playhouse 23 June 2001
- Pinball Wizard
- Let My Love Open The Door
- Heart To Hang Onto
- Cut My Hair
- Slit Skirts
- Drowned
- Greyhound Girl
- Tattoo
- Collings
- Eminence Front
CD 14: La Jolla Playhouse 23 June 2001
- Sheraton Gibson
- Won’t Get Fooled Again
- I’m One
- Behind Blue Eyes
- Driftin’ Blues
- Eyesight To The Blind
- Won’t Get Fooled Again (Electric)