Empty Glass
Encyclopedia
Empty Glass was released in 1980 as the first Pete Townshend
solo album (Who Came First
was a collection of demo recordings and Meher Baba
-inspired songs, while Rough Mix
was written and recorded with Ronnie Lane
) and was his most successful. The album deals with a plethora of issues that Townshend was struggling with, including alcoholism, drug abuse, marital problems and deceased friends. Empty Glass also contained the devotional love song, "Let My Love Open the Door
", which became a top ten hit single in the United States, along with the other (modestly successful) singles, "Rough Boys" and "A Little Is Enough". The album was rated #57 on Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Albums of the 1980s.
This concept was derived from the work of the Persian poet Hafiz, which Townshend became interested in from his involvement with Meher Baba.
The album was written and recorded between 1978 and 1980, when activity with The Who
had started to pick up again, and Townshend found himself having to write for both his solo projects and his band. As a result, Empty Glass, when compared with The Who's 1981 album Face Dances
, was considered the superior album, with many critics calling it a Who album that never was. Roger Daltrey
later commented that he felt let down by Townshend, and that many of the songs from the album would have worked well for The Who, among them "Rough Boys" and "Empty Glass"; Townshend countered by saying that he felt "Rough Boys" was the one song Daltrey would have wanted clarified (in terms of the song's homoerotic subtext) and toned down if he were to sing it, thus defeating its message, while "Empty Glass" had been recorded during sessions for Who Are You
in 1978, with a version featuring Keith Moon
on drums and John Entwistle
on bass released on the 1996 reissue of that album. This version is notable for the more suicidal undertones in the lyrics that were changed in the final, solo version. The line "Killing each other, then we jump off the ledge" on the Who Are You sessions was changed to "Killing each other by driving a wedge".
. http://tralfaz-archives.com/coverart/T/townshend_empty.html The album's title is an allusion to a poem by the Sufi poet Hafez
.
The sleeve cover of the vinyl album (SD 33-100) includes this dedication:
.
(North America)
Singles - Billboard (North America)
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
solo album (Who Came First
Who Came First
Who Came First is the first major-label solo album by Pete Townshend, released in 1972 on Track Records in the UK and Track/Decca in the US. It includes demos from the aborted concept album Lifehouse, part of which became Who's Next...
was a collection of demo recordings and Meher Baba
Meher Baba
Meher Baba , , born Merwan Sheriar Irani, was an Indian mystic and spiritual master who declared publicly in 1954 that he was the Avatar of the age....
-inspired songs, while Rough Mix
Rough Mix
Rough Mix is an album by guitarist Pete Townshend and bassist Ronnie Lane, released in September of 1977 as Polydor 2442 in the UK and MCA 2295 in the US...
was written and recorded with Ronnie Lane
Ronnie Lane
Ronald Frederick "Ronnie" Lane was an English musician, songwriter, and producer who is best known as the bass guitarist and founding member of two prominent English rock and roll bands; the Small Faces where he was nicknamed "Plonk", – and, after losing the band's frontman, Faces, with two new...
) and was his most successful. The album deals with a plethora of issues that Townshend was struggling with, including alcoholism, drug abuse, marital problems and deceased friends. Empty Glass also contained the devotional love song, "Let My Love Open the Door
Let My Love Open the Door
"Let My Love Open the Door" is a song written and performed by Pete Townshend from his 1980 album Empty Glass. It reached the top ten in America in that same year, reaching number nine....
", which became a top ten hit single in the United States, along with the other (modestly successful) singles, "Rough Boys" and "A Little Is Enough". The album was rated #57 on Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Albums of the 1980s.
History
The origins of the album's title are described in the following quote from Pete Townshend (taken from the exclusive interview with Murray Lerner off the film 'The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival'):This concept was derived from the work of the Persian poet Hafiz, which Townshend became interested in from his involvement with Meher Baba.
The album was written and recorded between 1978 and 1980, when activity with The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
had started to pick up again, and Townshend found himself having to write for both his solo projects and his band. As a result, Empty Glass, when compared with The Who's 1981 album Face Dances
Face Dances
Face Dances is the ninth album by English rock band The Who. It was originally released in 1981 in the US on Warner Bros. Records and in the UK on Polydor Records...
, was considered the superior album, with many critics calling it a Who album that never was. Roger Daltrey
Roger Daltrey
Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE , is an English singer and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. He has maintained a musical career as a solo artist and has also worked in the film industry, acting in a large number of films, theatre and television roles and also...
later commented that he felt let down by Townshend, and that many of the songs from the album would have worked well for The Who, among them "Rough Boys" and "Empty Glass"; Townshend countered by saying that he felt "Rough Boys" was the one song Daltrey would have wanted clarified (in terms of the song's homoerotic subtext) and toned down if he were to sing it, thus defeating its message, while "Empty Glass" had been recorded during sessions for Who Are You
Who Are You
Who Are You is the eighth studio album by English rock band The Who. It was released on 18 August 1978, through Polydor Records in the United Kingdom and MCA Records in the United States. It peaked at #2 on the US charts and #6 on the UK charts...
in 1978, with a version featuring Keith Moon
Keith Moon
Keith John Moon was an English musician, best known for being the drummer of the English rock group The Who. He gained acclaim for his exuberant and innovative drumming style, and notoriety for his eccentric and often self-destructive behaviour, earning him the nickname "Moon the Loon". Moon...
on drums and John Entwistle
John Entwistle
John Alec Entwistle was an English bass guitarist, songwriter, singer, horn player, and film and record producer who was best known as the bass player for the rock band The Who. His aggressive lead sound influenced many rock bass players...
on bass released on the 1996 reissue of that album. This version is notable for the more suicidal undertones in the lyrics that were changed in the final, solo version. The line "Killing each other, then we jump off the ledge" on the Who Are You sessions was changed to "Killing each other by driving a wedge".
Cover Art
The sleeve was designed by photographer Bob Carlos ClarkeBob Carlos Clarke
Robert Carlos Clarke was an Irish photographer, known for his highly stylised erotic imagery....
. http://tralfaz-archives.com/coverart/T/townshend_empty.html The album's title is an allusion to a poem by the Sufi poet Hafez
Hafez
Khwāja Shamsu d-Dīn Muhammad Hāfez-e Shīrāzī , known by his pen name Hāfez , was a Persian lyric poet. His collected works composed of series of Persian poetry are to be found in the homes of most Iranians, who learn his poems by heart and use them as proverbs and sayings to this day...
.
The sleeve cover of the vinyl album (SD 33-100) includes this dedication:
- This album is dedicated to my wife Karen.
"Rough Boys" is dedicated to my children EmmaEmma TownshendEmma Townshend is an English writer, journalist, musician and lecturer, and the elder daughter of The Who's Pete Townshend. She has taught courses since being a postgraduate at Cambridge in 1994, most recently for the Department of Continuing Education in Oxford.Townshend also appears as a regular...
and Minta and to the Sex PistolsSex PistolsThe Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
.
Track listing
All songs were composed by Pete TownshendPete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
.
- "Rough Boys" – 4:02
- "I Am an Animal" – 3:51
- "And I Moved" – 3:21
- "Let My Love Open the DoorLet My Love Open the Door"Let My Love Open the Door" is a song written and performed by Pete Townshend from his 1980 album Empty Glass. It reached the top ten in America in that same year, reaching number nine....
" – 2:44 - "Jools and Jim" – 2:36
- "Keep on Working" – 3:23
- "Cat's in the Cupboard" – 3:34
- "A Little Is Enough" – 4:42
- "Empty Glass" – 5:25
- "Gonna Get Ya" – 6:25
Bonus Tracks
Included only on the 2006 Hip-O USA and Imperial Japan CD Release- "I Am an Animal" (Demo Alternate Vocal Version) – 3:48
- "Keep on Working" (Demo Alternate Vocal Version) – 3:32
- "And I Moved" (Demo Alternate Vocal Version) – 3:06
- "Gonna Get Ya" (Work-in-Progress Long Version) – 11:24
Non-album Tracks
- "Classified" (Demo Recorded in 1970 Released as a B-side on several 1980 European single releases of "Let My Love Open the Door".)
- "Greyhound Girl" (B-side to "Let My Love Open the Door" EP in Europe.)
- "Let My Love Open the Door" (Alternative Mix from the 1996 UK CD Single.)
Personnel
- Pete Townshend: vocals, guitars, keyboards, synths
- John "Rabbit" BundrickJohn BundrickJohn Douglas "Rabbit" Bundrick is an American rock keyboardist, pianist and organist. He is best known for his work with The Who and associations with others including Eric Burdon, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Roger Waters, Free and Crawler. Bundrick is noted as the principal musician for the cult...
: "straight" keyboards - Mark BrzezickiMark BrzezickiMark Brzezicki is a rock drummer, who is primarily known for his work with Big Country, and was a member of the groups The Cult, Ultravox, and Procol Harum. He has also played with Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, Midge Ure, Fish, The Pretenders and many others...
: drums - James AsherJames AsherJames Asher is an English multi-instrumentalist, composer and record producer, focusing on world music, trance music and New Age music.-Biography:Born in a suburb of London in the early 1950s, Asher began to study the violin at the age of seven...
: drums - Simon PhillipsSimon PhillipsSimon Phillips is an English jazz, pop and rock drummer.-Career:Phillips began to play professionally at the age of twelve in his father's Dixieland band for four years. He was then offered the chance to play in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar...
: drums - Tony ButlerTony Butler (bass player)Anthony Earle Peter "Tony" Butler , is a rock bassist, best known for his lengthy work with the Scottish rock band Big Country...
: bass guitar - Kenney JonesKenney JonesKenneth Thomas "Kenney" Jones is a veteran English rock drummer best known for his work in Small Faces, Faces, and The Who.-Small Faces to the Faces:...
: drums on "Rough Boys" - Raphael Rudd: brass arrangements on "Rough Boys"
- Peter Hope-Evans: harmonica on "Cat's in the Cupboard"
Charts
Album - BillboardBillboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
(North America)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Pop Albums | 5 |
Singles - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | "Let My Love Open The Door" | Pop Singles | 9 |
| 1980 | "Rough Boys" | Pop Singles | 89 |
| 1980 | "A Little Is Enough" | Pop Singles | 72 |
External links
- [ Album review] at Allmusic