http://petetownshend.lnk.to/halfspeedmasters
17 May 2024 sees the release of the second in a series of half speed mastered studio albums from Pete Townshend, All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes and White City (A Novel).
These limited-edition black vinyl versions have been mastered by long-time Who engineer Jon Astley at Close To the Edge and cut for vinyl by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios with a half-speed mastering technique which produces a superior vinyl cut. Both albums are packaged in their original sleeves with obi strips and certificates of authenticity.
Initially released in June 1982, All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes was Pete Townshend’s third solo album and contained two singles ‘Uniforms (Corp d’Esprit)’ and ‘Face Dances Part 2′, The track ‘The Sea Refuses No River’ has also been singled out as one of Townshend’s most underrated songs.
Chris Thomas produced the album, featuring Simon Philips on drums and Jody Linscott on percussion, who would both later perform with The Who. Promo videos were made for seven tracks from the album – ‘Prelude’, ‘Face Dances Part 2’, ‘Communication’, ‘Uniforms’, ‘Stardom In Acton’, ‘Exquisitely Bored’ and an alternate version of ‘Slit Skirts’ – by renowned photographers Davies & Starr (Chalkie Davies and his then-wife Carol Starr) and released on VHS. Pete didn’t get to play the album live as three months after its release, The Who’s It’s Hard album appeared, and the band undertook their 1982 farewell tour.
SIDE 1
Stop Hurting People
The Sea Refuses No River
Prelude
Face Dances Part Two
Exquisitely Bored
Communication
SIDE 2
Stardom In Acton
Uniforms
North Country Girl
Somebody Saved Me
Slit Skirts
‘Uniforms (Corps d’Esprit’ directed by Davies & Starr
White City (A Novel) was Pete Townshend’s next studio album, released in the autumn of 1985. As the title suggests, the album tells a story of cultural conflict, racial tension and youthful hopes and dreams in the White City, London housing estate, not far from where Pete grew up. White City (A Novel) was again produced by Chris Thomas and features guest appearances by David Gilmour, Clem Burke, John ‘Rabbit’ Bundrick, Pete’s daughter Emma and a young Justine Frischmann, who would later form the Brit-Pop band Elastica.
A 60-minute long-form video directed by Richard Lowenstein, called White City: The Music Movie starring Pete, Andrew Wilde and Francis Barber and featuring the singles ‘Face The Face’ and ‘Give Blood’, was also released and included an interview with Pete and the bonus song ‘Night School’.
SIDE 1
Give Blood
Brilliant Blues
Face The Face
Hiding Out
Secondhand Love
SIDE 2
Crashing By Design
I Am Secure
White City Fighting
Come To Mama
‘Face The Face’ directed by Richard Lowenstein
