[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: A new album & more



> I probably should have elaborated:  There are at least two reasons I think
> The Who "should work on a new album even if they're not confident it will be
> 'great'," one being that I'd be surprised if they could ever come to the
> same judgment about a project!

Rich:

There you have a very good point. I think it's going to have to be the
producer who makes the call after hearing Pete's demos.

> And you're right that I'd hate to see the reactions from detractors, but for
> whatever weird reason there seems to be a certain segment of the music world
> that is going to criticize The Who no matter what they do 

This is certainly true. Look at ANY Rolling Stone (magazine) review!

> That's a good point.  Like the one he created for the Broadway Tommy, which
> is a song I don't dislike but also doesn't fit with the rest of Tommy.

As an afterthought, if they simply rerecorded the Lifehouse songs it
really wouldn't be a new album. Better for them to finally release it as
Pete envisioned the project in the first place (w/original recordings),
and then make a new album!

> beatier, bigger and bouncier songs on Psychoderelict, for example, or White
> City

Well, IMHO these are two PT albums which SHOULD have been Who albums! As
you say with the demos, it would have been transformed. WC in particular
cried out for Who treatment, IMHO.

> I know many who were, but I still was a bit stunned when I saw some people
> leave concerts during "The Rock"

Oh, what they missed!

> it's a good time for a new Who album because it WOULDN'T be forced out of
> them

I should think it's been that way for some time. They have enough money
(although there have always been rumours about Daltrey & JAE "running
out"), and their place in Rock history is secure. However, a mediocre
album could certainly affect that!

> The Who can't make a new album, because it's not really The Who anymore.

Ryan:

Fair enough...let them make an album as TED, then.

> I just don't see what
> putting the name "The Who" on an album written by Pete would prove at
> this point.

Nothing...what do they have to prove? But I'd sure like to see the
chemistry only they can produce in the studio again. For instance, I
loved their version of Saturday Night's Alright...didn't you?

> I don't know about Rog and John, though.

Mike:

Given their solo choices, I think they'd do anything Pete gave them. And
be well-advised to do so!

> Granted, Simon is a great drummer, but not a great drummer for the Who.

Very well put. Jones was too traditional for The Who.

> Did Pete play drums too? 

Yes, Pete played all of the instruments on his demos. He's not bad, is
he?

> You're forgetting someone......ELVIS!!!

Elvis wrote very little of his songs, and usually co-wrote even then.

> Obviously Buddy Holly, the BBs and Bill Haley came first.  But they didn't
> create the avalanche that came with the British Invasion.

J:

True, but that's another point entirely. Haley certainly did create an
avalanche...the avalanches just keep getting bigger (even today)! The BB
created a style of music which is still notable today (you don't know
how many Dick Dales CDs I could sell, if only I could get them).
Everything is in stages. By your argument, I could say that Michael
Jackson was bigger than The Beatles because THRILLER sold better than
any of their albums.
My point was that there were plenty of other self-writing bands before
The Beatles, and how I missed Chuck Berry I'll never know. The Fab Four
simply do not deserve this distinction.

> Regarding PT and Moon playing while the "other" band was a bar band.  The
> point I was trying to make was if the first band didn't have a "mega success"
> quite possibly none of them would.

That may be, or not...there's no way to tell now. The Who might have
spearheaded it...or, even more likely, The Kinks. I think it had more to
do with dissatisfaction with the current scene than the supposed
excellence of the Beatles songs. And the American fascination with James
Bond movies and things British in general about that time. I think there
are many factors.

> If anyone out there knows if this is factual information I would be
> interested in knowing the truth.

You got it right. For details I suggest Before I Get Old and Maximum
R&B.

>  No no no, Mark...you've got it wrong. It's RINGO STARR's live CD that's
> only available at Blockbuster! ;)

Ian:

Hey, that's no joking matter, bud. There's a Blockbuster close to my
store! Competition...

- -- 

            Cheers                ML

 "There's a million ways to laugh/And every one's a path..."

            Pete Townshend