Pete Townshend 1974-04-14 Roundhouse, London, UK Audience Recording, Good Quality Here's a little gem for you, also from the mid-seventies, the first solo gig ever from from Pete Townshend. Pete presents a fascinating and fairly casual show using electric and acoustic guitars, piano, some synthesizer tapes and the original 'My Generation' demos as he ran through a set that included several early Who classics like 'Substitute', 'Behind Blue Eyes', 'Pinball Wizard', and 'Magic Bus' (with one lyric cleverly changed to "...I'm so nervous I guess it shows. Don't say a thing about my great big nose..." for the occasion). The set also featured numerous covers and songs rarely heard by Townshend, such as Jimmy Reed's 'Big Boss Man' and 'Goin to New York', 'If I was A Carpenter', and 'North Country Girl'. This is the complete performance sourced from a private collection, this audience recording is of better quality than some other previous sources. Although far from perfect, it's quite good and a highly listenable audience recording, capturing this unique show and great performance. A must-have for any fan of the Who and Townshend. 00:00 The Seeker 6:34 06:34 Big Boss Man 3:49 10:24 Substitute 5:00 15:24 Amoreuse 6:16 21:41 If I Were A Carpenter 3:20 25:01 Happy Jack 2:18 27:20 Tattoo 3:11 30:31 Join My Gang 2:45 33:16 Behind Blue Eyes 4:15 37:32 Goin' To New York 2:42 (New York City Blues) 40:14 My Generation Demos I + II 3:18 43:32 North Country Girl 4:32 48:05 Corrina Corrina 4:09 52:15 No Face No Name No Number 3:17 55:32 Let's See Action 3:34 59:07 Pinball Wizard 2:50 1:01:58 See Me Feel Me 2:01 1:03:59 My Generation I 5:13 1:09:12 Magic Bus 2:44 1:11:56 My Generation II 3:20 Notes: Dave Marsh wrote about Pete's first solo-concert: "On April 14, 1974 (Easter Sunday), Townshend played a solo gig-the first of his career, for the Camden Square Community Play Centre ... Meant to be a quiet afternoon's entertainment, the solo show was blown out of all proportion when the press got word of it. Townshend spent a panicky week's preparation, then came out and did a fairly casual show using electric and acoustic guitars, piano, some synthesizer tapes and the original "MY GENERATION" demo as he ran through a set that also included 'The Seeker', Jimmy Reed's 'Big Boss Man', 'Substitute' and 'Pinball Wizard'. Despite a drunken heckler, the show was well-received and Pete was surprisingly confident." (Dave Marsh, Before I Get Old - The Story of The Who, page 442). Geetarz.org: Pete Townshend's first ever solo gig. Recorded at London's "Roadhouse" Theater. Fascinating show captures Pete at the height of his songwriting prowess, and at one point he even plays a cassette tape to the audience to explain the concept of a demo to them. Although far from perfect, it's a quite listenable audience recording. This is the complete performance sourced from a private collection, this recording is not only superior in sound quality to those found on commercially released bootlegs such as Wild Action but is also complete, featuring the complete performance of "North Country Girl". An essential part of any core collection.

• published: 10 Mar 2014
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