Pete Townshend - Prog Related

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Pete Townshend is the principle songwriter for the PA Proto-Prog band "the Who." His discography includes two progressive rock albums "Iron Man: The Musical" 1989 and "Psychoderelict" 1993 in the vein (though not the quality) of the Who's concept album Tommy (the former) and the progressive masterpiece Quadrophenia (the latter). While Townshend's solo output is more obscure than the Who's, the main problem I imagine is that Pete Townshend's popular/radio friendly phase at the start of the eighties was primarily a pop affair. He began writing a loose concept album with White City in 1985 and by 1993 with Psychoderelict had put together perhaps the most progressive of all the Who related albums. This album, however, flopped completely. Townshend subsequently released a "music only" version - the album featured constant performances by voice actors and complex instrumentals which ran through the album. The album still hasn't won much recognition. 

"....On Psychoderelict, songs and music fight the spoken word "drama"
throughout...Throw in the added static of instrumental passages paying tribute to
Townshend's spiritual mentor, Meher Baba, and the overall effect is
disjointed and most unsatisfying." - all music

The previous album, Iron Man, was given a typical prog treatment:

"the arrangements are obvious and overblown, making Iron Man an
overwrought, ambitious failure."

Perhaps this is why Townshend has been forgotten on Prog Archives, but he isn't any less prog then the Who. 

Edited by RoyFairbank - April 11 2010 at 17:56

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RoyFairbank Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: January 07 2008 Location: Somewhere Status: Offline Points: 1072	Topic: Pete Townshend - Prog Related Posted: April 11 2010 at 17:49
	Pete Townshend is the principle songwriter for the PA Proto-Prog band "the Who." His discography includes two progressive rock albums "Iron Man: The Musical" 1989 and "Psychoderelict" 1993 in the vein (though not the quality) of the Who's concept album Tommy (the former) and the progressive masterpiece Quadrophenia (the latter). While Townshend's solo output is more obscure than the Who's, the main problem I imagine is that Pete Townshend's popular/radio friendly phase at the start of the eighties was primarily a pop affair. He began writing a loose concept album with White City in 1985 and by 1993 with Psychoderelict had put together perhaps the most progressive of all the Who related albums. This album, however, flopped completely. Townshend subsequently released a "music only" version - the album featured constant performances by voice actors and complex instrumentals which ran through the album. The album still hasn't won much recognition. "....On Psychoderelict, songs and music fight the spoken word "drama" throughout...Throw in the added static of instrumental passages paying tribute to Townshend's spiritual mentor, Meher Baba, and the overall effect is disjointed and most unsatisfying." - all music The previous album, Iron Man, was given a typical prog treatment: "the arrangements are obvious and overblown, making Iron Man an overwrought, ambitious failure." Perhaps this is why Townshend has been forgotten on Prog Archives, but he isn't any less prog then the Who. Edited by RoyFairbank - April 11 2010 at 17:56