Thanks, guys, nice to know I'm not alone in my love of this album! I appreciate all your comments. - Bill PS - And yes, '82 not '83. My memory for dates is sometimes imperfect.
Hey Bill. I’ve always had a thing for this album as well. Even when I haven’t gone deep with certain songs, I’ve always been affected by its eloquence. Slit Skirts on its own is just incredible.. the imagery of feeling so over the hill and trying to cope, and the chords that are just stupendous. Have you ever seen the version from Prince’s Trust with Pete on piano and Midge Ure on guitar? So good. So yeah.. Somebody Saved Me, Sea Refuses No River, Exquisitely Bored, Slit Skirts etc… a really singular and beautiful moment in the music. ❤
Wow, I'm 57; I grew up on Who's Next and Tommy and The Kids are Alright, and I had never even heard of All the Best Cowboys. I just listened to The Sea Refuses No River. I love it when I find gems from my childhood that I missed. Thank you Bill and Otis; this is a gift.
Dunno what his best solo album would be….but his acoustic performances of “Drowned” from Quadrophenia are just damned amazing….he’s one of the best and most accurate J-200 slingers around….
I agree with Bill DeMain! I was fourteen going on fifteen when I purchased “All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes” during the summer of 1982. My love of the album and limited funds resulted in me listening to this album continuously for at least two years. I shouldn’t have liked it I suppose, but Townshend’s talented songwriting made these songs about a rock star dealing with middle age relatable to a goofy teenager. It also helps that the band backing Pete is excellent.
You have great taste in music. I eventually met Pete Townshend at a Barnes and Noble in Los Angeles and he was an absolute legend. I will never forget how kind he was and what a great conversation we had. He even talked about a song I wrote and told me it was “Gorgeous”
My favorite Pete albums are “Who Came First” (1972) and “Rough Mix” (1977, with Ronnie Lane), strangely enough for many of the same reasons Bill specifies for his love of “All the Best Cowboys.” Pete’s my favorite rock songwriter, and I also prefer his demos to the finished Who versions in most cases. As Otis suggested, the more imperfect voices can be more interesting. By the way, Bill, the first vinyl bootleg I ever got was a triple album one of those epic MSG shows from ‘79, maybe the one you attended. I collected dozens and dozens of Who live bootlegs off the back of that, but that MSG show is still a favorite. Pete was deep in his cups, loose as a goose, and pretty out of control during that tour, but somehow it worked. I also have that 1982 promo film on a bootleg DVD somewhere. All good stuff. Thanks for talking about it!
I love all of your interviews, Otis. I'm a huge Kenny Vaughn and country fan, but I also have a deep love for Pete and The Who. I never thought I'd hear an interview about Pete Townshend on your channel. Thank you for this! Keep doing what you're doing.
I can vouch for the greatness of All the Best Cowboys … Sea Refuses No River is among the greatest songs Townshend has ever written. Plus, the guitar solo is incredible.
I bought that album when I was in my early 20s after seeing the video for "Slit Skirts" on MTV. If I were to judge by lyrics alone, I would say it was one of the best rock albums of all time; it's very solid musically, but the sharp observations and poetic sensibility of the lyrics are unsurpassed.
I have loved Cowboys and White City since they came out. My two favorite tracks are Somebody Saved Me and Crashing by Design. Pete’s voice, at its peak, was amazing…and superior to Roger’s.
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That was a really enjoyable listen. I'm one of the hardcore, front row traveling Who fans, and I, too, absolutely love Chinese Eyes. I'm probably a few years younger than you. I fell in love with them in 1982. Didn't make my way to Pete solo albums until more like 1985. It was my favorite Pete solo album for many years, but White City has really grown on me in recent decades, as well. Personally, I don't like Pete's vocals "more." I just like them "different." Fortunately, I don't have to choose. I can love them both - and I do. Finally, I'm not reading through all of the comments, so this may have already been reported, but A) Chinese Eyes was actually released in 1982 and B) the video companion piece you mentioned finding on TH-cam was originally released on VHS (of course, I have had mine since the early 80s) and C) in addition to the Scoop demo compilations, a bunch of Pete's demos have been released as part of box sets, as well as both vinyl and CD bootlegs. So much great stuff. I love a LOT of music, but Pete and The Who - Nothing Even Comes Close.
I love The Best Cowboys album. My life was chaos in 84’ when I got it and it spoke to me, hugely. The production allows every word to be heard, even the whispers. I listened to the Sea Refuses No River over and over. Thanks for this Otis. It reminded me of a time when music, metaphorically, save my life. Somebody saved me!
Chinese Eyes (not sure why people prefer to call it All the Best Cowboys for short), was a very intellectual record. I discovered it in university and my girlfriend and I used to listen to it all the time. Pete’s got a very under appreciated voice. Like silk. We went to see the Who on tour solely to hear Pete sing Eminence Front off of “It’s Hard.” A great song. By the way, Pete just released a live album “Live in Concert 1985-2001” this past July 26th. He does his versions of a number of Who songs as well as his solo stuff. It’s excellent and a must for Pete Townshend fans.
One of my top five favorite albums for sure. I bought it at a time I was overindulging in booze and drugs, and found myself in rehab. I lisened to it so many times and I thought a lot of the album was about getting clean. Anyway, we are in agreement about the best of Pete Townshend Townshend Townshend
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I was working at Alfalfa Video when the ATBCHCE promo was released on VHS. I loved it, too. I still do. It’s a very honest record. It was the moment I truly understood how a song’s meaning can change depending on the vocal delivery. You’re not alone!
Great interview. Thanks for taking me back to an album I haven't listened to in quite a while. And thanks for the heads up on the documentary. The Who, Roger, Pete are my favorites. It would take a thousand pages to explain what their music has meant to me over my lifetime.
The Sea…. And Face Dances Pt 2. Brilliant songs. Music. Lyrics. Perfection. As much as I love White City, All The Best Cowboys might indeed be his best.
Pete had been through hell, his marriage was in trouble, he was coming out of serious addiction, yet, he pulls out songs Iike “Slit Skirts” and “The Sea Refuses No River”, I play it all the time. Love the line “We tried not to age, but time had its rage, we’re washed over stones, from babes into clones of the mean”
I completely agree with Bill Demain here; All The Best Cowboys is an overlooked gem that sounded like nothing else in 1983. I had the honor of meeting Pete, as well as Roger and John, on their ‘Farewell Tour’ back in the early 80’s (The Clash were the warmup act), and he was absolutely gracious with his time and attention. If it’s possible, I feel his acoustic guitar playing and singing are highly underrated. Jai Baba! 🎸
The thing about that record besides the fact that it is a brilliant album, was the fact that Pete had a lot of stuff coming out at that time as mentioned in the interview the Scoop one dropped shortly after The WHO's final show in Toronto (17 Dec "82) the 'It's Hard" tour and also this album "All the Best Cowboys have Chinese eyes" was an album that had kind of fallen into that 'WHO' crevice that was created after The Who stopped touring. "It's Hard" ATBCHCE record was kind of only like only hardcore WHO fans of course were gonna really buy and listen to It.. And although there was a lot of good videos made for it which I always saw on MTV and I thought were really cool and very creative, especially the face dances single with the really robots etc. I really think that The all the best Cowboys have Chinese eyes record is definitely a reflective album as mentioned in this interview and since it did fall in that WHO crevice which was a vacuum that was created after The WHO broke up the final one in Toronto. You know he dropped the scoop 1 demo record came out and then of course all the best Cowboys have Chinese eyes; so it did kind of fell by the wayside except for the real hardcore WHO fans who lapped it up!! Like me!! Lol!! My first listen was sort of odd, (I was 18 years old) but I did thoroughly enjoy it and turned one of my buddies (who became a huge WHO fan became of me) thought it was incredible and is his favorite Pete solo record. I thought it was fantastic!! I bought it on cassette and the first time, and listened to it I was 18 years old and was in my junior year of high school. It took a few listens to really resonate with me, although some of the songs like "Exquisitely Bored" hit me hard and of course "Slit Skirts" totally ROCKED!! I don't think a lot of those songs would have worked with 'THEWHO". Obviously Keith was gone but the new WHO or whatever you want to call it, I don't think those songs would have worked with Rog. Although because there was a couple of them probably "Exquisitely Bored" that would've worked well with Roger vox. And probably "Slit Skirts" too. Maybe(?) but yeah they were definitely better off just being part of Pete's solo work!! Great album and cool interview 👍 g🎸
Actually, All The Best Cowboys was released in June of 1982. Anywho, fantastic album. I was living in Austin, Texas when it was released and SliT Skirts was all over the radio. Great Memories!
Out of those solo albums in the 80s, 'All the Best Cowboys' is the dark horse in the race, for sure. Clearly, Pete was saving his best bits for his solo stuff, and I don't blame him. I love the contrast between him and Daltrey's vocals with The Who, but I'm not sure he would have communicated some of these lyrics like Townshend could. For instance, "And I know that when she thinks of me, she thinks of me as him, But, unlike me, she don't work off her frustration in the gym." I was in my teens when this came out, so there's no reason that line should have resonated like it did, but that was Townshend's gift. As songwriters go, he was always willing to shoot for the Moon, and got there more often than not, IMO.
I was a nineteen year old kid who was, and is obsessed with all things Pete Townshend. Although I was obsessed with Empty Glass, this album opened my mind to alternative song structure. And let’s face it, all of his writing is so intelligent, the word pretentious almost seems obligatory. You either get it, or you don’t. Viva la Pete! Thanks for reminding me that I need to re-listen as an upper-middle aged man ❤
I had that cassette as a kid and I thought it was extremely personal. Completely forgot about some of the songs till you spoke of them. So thanks, I’m gonna give it a listen again and catch up with some old friends…
I'll stand with you. I have had this album since it came out. I like the Who. I like Pete's solo albums more. Honorable Mention to his album Rough Mix with Ronnie Lane. Safe travels.
My favorite too. I got to see him at House of Blues on a whim in the 90’s. Send my Chinese Eyes CD backstage after show. Incredibly, six months later an envelope arrived from Twickenham with it signed “For Gary, Pete Townshend”. He’s the greatest.
I've always loved All The Best Cowboys too, quietly underrated. Empty Glass was turbulence and turmoil, Cowboys is about rebuilding and hope. I always listen to them together as a double album. The promo movie has a great great Slit Skirt take, thanks for the tip.
Hey guys, I bought the album when it came out because I was a Who guy. Quadrophenia the movie and The Kids are Alright had come out a few years before. I was a fan. I have pictures of me standing next to my record collection with "Chinese Eyes" prominently displayed because I thought it was cool (I was 23). But honestly didn't love it. Just a couple of good songs. Scoop was better. I've seen the video doc on youtube and laughed so hard when Pete cracked a couple of raw eggs and raw bacon a tomato slice and popped in a microwave. I lived in London in the late 80's early 90's. Let me tell you, I did all my shopping on the US Military facilities
The Scoop albums are my favorite Townshend recordings. I like the stripped down versions of so many of the classic Who tunes. I also prefer Pete's voice to Roger's. The Scoop version of Behind Blue Eyes is the definitive one in my opinion. It is the version I use when I play it on my guitar. I did buy All the Best Cowboys... when it came out and I played the heck out of it. The Sea Refuses No River Is an epic song and really displays Pete's songwriting ability lyrically and melodically.
Love this, I have also always LOVED this album. The chorus of "Exquisitely Bored" has this weird way of just entering my brain about once a month ever since the day I heard it back then. And "The Sea Refuses No River" is absolutely brilliant. Bill Demain is a great story teller.
An awesome record. "Slit Skirts" is one of my all time favorite songs and "Sea Refuses No River" is also fantastic. From "Who By Numbers" to :Allt he Best Cowboys" is an interesting period for Pete. Very reflective and trying to come to grips with his fame and aging.
I was blown away to hear that Pete used a kind of granny home organ for the intro to Baba O’Reiley. There’s a TH-cam of a guy recreating it. I always thought it was a synth!
I have to agree with about Pete’s solo work over The Who first the same reasons, Roger’s vocals and “All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes” is one of my all the me favorite albums. Funny too, I was playing it one day in the car and my wife said “this is pretentious”, I said yeah, but I love it.
All the Best Cowboys is also one of my favorite records. Maybe even my favorite. I bought it not long after release and I still keep coming back to it.
I slap wore out the VHS tape my friend made for me of The Kids Are Alright, which included the mini-opera from the Rock n Roll Circus, and it's still, to me, the perfect Who song, but I'm about to check out ...Cowboys... so who knows. I've gotten a little older, too 😅.
An incredible album! Bill pretty much expressed everything I love and feel about this album. One exception: Face Dances Pt. 2. Have to skip it every time. It just doesn't seem to fit i.m.o. Pete and Joni always speak right to my being. Thanks Otis, thanks Bill.
Right there with you, Bill. I’m a huge fan of Pete’s solo stuff from Who Came First on. One of my favorite writers, singers and guitar players. His acoustic guitar playing is outstanding. Song topics also interesting never run of the mill. I would have to say I Am an Animal from Empty Glass is my favorite of his songs, and I’m One from Quadrophenia. All the best Cowboys is a fantastic album. I played that and empty glass so much you could see through the vinyl ha ha. Great episode Otis. Love the podcast.
I love The Who too, but I appreciate Townsends solo work allot beginning with "Who Came First" which I've enjoyed since it came out (about Fall of '72). I like Entwistles album(s) too. Great episode I really enjoy you both. Thanks brothers, you're appreciated.
Chinese Eyes is one that I never went to deeply but I do love the radio songs off of it. I listened to White City and Psychoderelict a lot more, the latter was a huge hit with a late buddy and I. We quoted from it a lot thru the years. Another of his overlooked gems IMO. Anyway, love to hear from Bill! Save travels, Otis.
Definitely his best album. Bukovac is a big fan too, right? When I was very, very young I bought Cowboys, Empty Glass, and Face Dances (should have been a solo record, but Daltrey's audible struggle to handle its words sympathetically is interesting). My idea of adult manhood was strongly influenced by that era of Pete's lyrics. VO: "It did not go well."
I love that record, all those three; Empty Glass ,...Chinese Eyes & White City are tremendous, and I agree about Petes voice...so good.Bill is right on.
Who Came First is great solo album from Pete and Rough Mix (although a collaboration) is still my favorite - still gets rotation here after 50 plus years.
White City will always be my favorite Pete Townsend album, but only because I'm such a huge David Gilmore and Pino Palladino junky. That said, I've always loved Pete's solo stuff more than The Who (which is weird with me being a bass player), and Chinese Eyes is probably right behind White City for me. I always wondered if that album inspired Ween's song "Japanese Cowboy" in some absurd way?
It's my favorite Pete solo record, too. Pretentious as F? Yes it is, but also honest and soul-baring. Great tunes. The only Who album I can compare it to in that context is The Who By Numbers, which I also love.
I still think Empty Glass is woefully underappreciated... In general....Not just Who/Pete, as a whole. Plus, I always enjoyed the duality of the covers, front v. Back
Tbh, with the exception of "Slit Skirts," I don't think I've ever heard any of the album. Will pick up a copy. I do, however, have the 5-disc "Scoop" compilation, plus a few other Townsend demo boots, plus lots of live Who (most of which is on YT.) Happy to drop off copies for you, OG, at the Peace Dale gig...
If you love Pete Townshend, check out his live album entitled “Live in Concert 1985-2007. Chock full of great solo and Who songs sung by Pete. It’s a treasure.
I second your recommendation. I had several of these shows from when he first released them exclusively on his website 20-odd years ago, but I recently re-listened to all of them in the span of 3 or 4 days when they showed up on Spotify. Love hearing how he tailors his Who songs to whichever band, audience, decade, or mood he's in.
I got it when it was first released and loved it at once. I still do and play it quite often. And I also prefer Townshend's voice to Daltrey's as I love the slightly plainitive quality in Pete's voice. A great album!
I totally LOVE this record as well! It’s genius. However, I was not into it when it came out. I was a teen, and it wasn’t what I wanted from him at the time. But as an adult, I’ve been obsessed with it for many years now.
I absolutely love Empty Glass and All The Best Cowboys but there are now outtakes of The Who doing the title track of Empty Glass and Somebody Saved Me both with Pete singing that I prefer to the solo album versions cause they're a lot rawer, less polished. White City has a lot of highlights but Scoop volumes 2 and 3 have songs from an abandoned 1984 solo album that from the sound of it would have been great.
I prefer Pete Townshend’s voice over Roger Daltrey’s as well. This particular album was released in ‘82 though, not ‘83. I was just listening to ‘’Sheraton Gibson’’ this morning while having my coffee, love his acoustic guitar strumming. I get tempted to buy a Gibson J-200, every time I hear Pete Townshend , but back away from pulling the trigger when I see the price tag….lol !
@@61stratman I walked into a Gibson dealer the day I had the money to buy my J200, the guitar that inspired me to play when I heard Pete strumming Pinball Wizard when I was 8.
I plan to do both. I wanna listen to the album Cowboys and watch the documentary. I had the Empty Glass LP, but I neglected to buy his follow up album, but I’m really excited to listen to it now.
Thanks, guys, nice to know I'm not alone in my love of this album! I appreciate all your comments. - Bill PS - And yes, '82 not '83. My memory for dates is sometimes imperfect.
Hey Bill. I’ve always had a thing for this album as well. Even when I haven’t gone deep with certain songs, I’ve always been affected by its eloquence. Slit Skirts on its own is just incredible.. the imagery of feeling so over the hill and trying to cope, and the chords that are just stupendous. Have you ever seen the version from Prince’s Trust with Pete on piano and Midge Ure on guitar? So good. So yeah.. Somebody Saved Me, Sea Refuses No River, Exquisitely Bored, Slit Skirts etc… a really singular and beautiful moment in the music. ❤
Agree wholeheartedly. His solo albums have always had more of an emotional impact on me.
Who songs impact me emotionally. But I agree that there is something in Pete’s voice that is more vulnerable and emotive.
Rough Mix was a favorite of mine. Misunderstood is a classic from that album.
Right on brother I love that album Townsend , Ronny Lane & Eric Clapton.
One of my favorites also. Street in the City and Heart to Hang on To. All great.
That there is a great album, no bad songs included
I love Rough Mix, Annie, Street In The City, and the outtake Only You are my favorites
My Baby Gives It Away was the first song I searched for, listened to and, liked on Spotify. That was 9 years and 1039 liked songs ago.
Bill DeMain, you're not alone. I bought All the Best Cowboys when it was new and have valued it ever since. Thanks for shining a spotlight on it here.
Wow, I'm 57; I grew up on Who's Next and Tommy and The Kids are Alright, and I had never even heard of All the Best Cowboys. I just listened to The Sea Refuses No River. I love it when I find gems from my childhood that I missed. Thank you Bill and Otis; this is a gift.
Dunno what his best solo album would be….but his acoustic performances of “Drowned” from Quadrophenia are just damned amazing….he’s one of the best and most accurate J-200 slingers around….
The Prince's Trust Quadro show? Bar none, his musical apex, that song.
I agree with Bill DeMain! I was fourteen going on fifteen when I purchased “All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes” during the summer of 1982. My love of the album and limited funds resulted in me listening to this album continuously for at least two years. I shouldn’t have liked it I suppose, but Townshend’s talented songwriting made these songs about a rock star dealing with middle age relatable to a goofy teenager. It also helps that the band backing Pete is excellent.
You have great taste in music. I eventually met Pete Townshend at a Barnes and Noble in Los Angeles and he was an absolute legend. I will never forget how kind he was and what a great conversation we had. He even talked about a song I wrote and told me it was “Gorgeous”
May I ask what the tune was? I’d love to hear it!
The Sea Refuses No River is a masterpiece!!
White City is one of my all-time favorite albums
White City:A Novel is one of my favorite PT albums as well...a great selection of songs from Pete.
My favorite Pete albums are “Who Came First” (1972) and “Rough Mix” (1977, with Ronnie Lane), strangely enough for many of the same reasons Bill specifies for his love of “All the Best Cowboys.” Pete’s my favorite rock songwriter, and I also prefer his demos to the finished Who versions in most cases. As Otis suggested, the more imperfect voices can be more interesting. By the way, Bill, the first vinyl bootleg I ever got was a triple album one of those epic MSG shows from ‘79, maybe the one you attended. I collected dozens and dozens of Who live bootlegs off the back of that, but that MSG show is still a favorite. Pete was deep in his cups, loose as a goose, and pretty out of control during that tour, but somehow it worked. I also have that 1982 promo film on a bootleg DVD somewhere. All good stuff. Thanks for talking about it!
I love all of your interviews, Otis. I'm a huge Kenny Vaughn and country fan, but I also have a deep love for Pete and The Who. I never thought I'd hear an interview about Pete Townshend on your channel. Thank you for this! Keep doing what you're doing.
Ditto!
I can vouch for the greatness of All the Best Cowboys … Sea Refuses No River is among the greatest songs Townshend has ever written. Plus, the guitar solo is incredible.
I bought that album when I was in my early 20s after seeing the video for "Slit Skirts" on MTV. If I were to judge by lyrics alone, I would say it was one of the best rock albums of all time; it's very solid musically, but the sharp observations and poetic sensibility of the lyrics are unsurpassed.
I have loved Cowboys and White City since they came out. My two favorite tracks are Somebody Saved Me and Crashing by Design. Pete’s voice, at its peak, was amazing…and superior to Roger’s.
Pete hits areas in my emotions that no one else hits
@@surfbuddha4667 Yeah, “Song is Over”, “Behind Blue Eyes”, you gotta have something going on deep down to write those kinds of songs.
We should be friends.
Hi there!
@@napoleoninrags1346 absolutely! Hahaha
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My pals went Saturday based on my recommendation of YOUR recommendation. They said it was superb.
That was a really enjoyable listen. I'm one of the hardcore, front row traveling Who fans, and I, too, absolutely love Chinese Eyes. I'm probably a few years younger than you. I fell in love with them in 1982. Didn't make my way to Pete solo albums until more like 1985. It was my favorite Pete solo album for many years, but White City has really grown on me in recent decades, as well. Personally, I don't like Pete's vocals "more." I just like them "different." Fortunately, I don't have to choose. I can love them both - and I do. Finally, I'm not reading through all of the comments, so this may have already been reported, but A) Chinese Eyes was actually released in 1982 and B) the video companion piece you mentioned finding on TH-cam was originally released on VHS (of course, I have had mine since the early 80s) and C) in addition to the Scoop demo compilations, a bunch of Pete's demos have been released as part of box sets, as well as both vinyl and CD bootlegs. So much great stuff. I love a LOT of music, but Pete and The Who - Nothing Even Comes Close.
I love The Best Cowboys album. My life was chaos in 84’ when I got it and it spoke to me, hugely. The production allows every word to be heard, even the whispers. I listened to the Sea Refuses No River over and over. Thanks for this Otis. It reminded me of a time when music, metaphorically, save my life. Somebody saved me!
@@peterlehmann157 Somebody literally saved Pete, he was in a pretty bad way back in early 80’s.
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Chinese Eyes (not sure why people prefer to call it All the Best Cowboys for short), was a very intellectual record. I discovered it in university and my girlfriend and I used to listen to it all the time. Pete’s got a very under appreciated voice. Like silk. We went to see the Who on tour solely to hear Pete sing Eminence Front off of “It’s Hard.” A great song. By the way, Pete just released a live album “Live in Concert 1985-2001” this past July 26th. He does his versions of a number of Who songs as well as his solo stuff. It’s excellent and a must for Pete Townshend fans.
Not wrong. One of my favorite of all albums. Plus, Simon Phillips.
I was a senior in college when this album came out. I was obsessed with it, but haven’t heard this in over 35 years. Will go revisit this album now.
Always nice to hear from Bill DeMain. Interesting choice of albums. Wishing everyone a great week.😊
One of my top five favorite albums for sure. I bought it at a time I was overindulging in booze and drugs, and found myself in rehab. I lisened to it so many times and I thought a lot of the album was about getting clean.
Anyway, we are in agreement about the best of Pete Townshend Townshend Townshend
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I was working at Alfalfa Video when the ATBCHCE promo was released on VHS. I loved it, too. I still do. It’s a very honest record. It was the moment I truly understood how a song’s meaning can change depending on the vocal delivery. You’re not alone!
Probably my favorite Townshend solo album as well. Somebody Saved Me is an overlooked gem.
Bill’s tours of Nashville are a hoot! Well worth the effort and time, great story-teller.
Great interview. Thanks for taking me back to an album I haven't listened to in quite a while. And thanks for the heads up on the documentary. The Who, Roger, Pete are my favorites. It would take a thousand pages to explain what their music has meant to me over my lifetime.
The Sea…. And Face Dances Pt 2. Brilliant songs. Music. Lyrics. Perfection.
As much as I love White City, All The Best Cowboys might indeed be his best.
That first CD pressing of Cowboys sounds incredible, I consider that an audiophile grade disc.
White City is one of my favorites also. I am a Who fan but don't listen to them that much, but I throw on White City every couple years.
It’s a bloody masterpiece
Pete had been through hell, his marriage was in trouble, he was coming out of serious addiction, yet, he pulls out songs Iike “Slit Skirts” and “The Sea Refuses No River”, I play it all the time. Love the line “We tried not to age, but time had its rage, we’re washed over stones, from babes into clones of the mean”
“Can’t pretend that growing older never hurts” is the grown up version of “Hope I die before I get old”
I was at the same Who concert at MSG. I too remember it as very LOUD. Thanks for bringing back that memory. Great channel.
I completely agree with Bill Demain here; All The Best Cowboys is an overlooked gem that sounded like nothing else in 1983. I had the honor of meeting Pete, as well as Roger and John, on their ‘Farewell Tour’ back in the early 80’s (The Clash were the warmup act), and he was absolutely gracious with his time and attention. If it’s possible, I feel his acoustic guitar playing and singing are highly underrated. Jai Baba! 🎸
Well, dang... looks like I have some listening homework going into the weekend...
Thank Otis and Bill 🙏🏻🤍
The thing about that record besides the fact that it is a brilliant album, was the fact that Pete had a lot of stuff coming out at that time as mentioned in the interview the Scoop one dropped shortly after The WHO's final show in Toronto (17 Dec "82) the 'It's Hard" tour and also this album "All the Best Cowboys have Chinese eyes" was an album that had kind of fallen into that 'WHO' crevice that was created after The Who stopped touring.
"It's Hard" ATBCHCE record was kind of only like only hardcore WHO fans of course were gonna really buy and listen to It..
And although there was a lot of good videos made for it which I always saw on MTV and I thought were really cool and very creative, especially the face dances single with the really robots etc.
I really think that The all the best Cowboys have Chinese eyes record is definitely a reflective album as mentioned in this interview and since it did fall in that WHO crevice which was a vacuum that was created after The WHO broke up the final one in Toronto.
You know he dropped the scoop 1 demo record came out and then of course all the best Cowboys have Chinese eyes; so it did kind of fell by the wayside except for the real hardcore WHO fans who lapped it up!! Like me!! Lol!! My first listen was sort of odd, (I was 18 years old) but I did thoroughly enjoy it and turned one of my buddies (who became a huge WHO fan became of me) thought it was incredible and is his favorite Pete solo record. I thought it was fantastic!! I bought it on cassette and the first time, and listened to it I was 18 years old and was in my junior year of high school.
It took a few listens to really resonate with me, although some of the songs like "Exquisitely Bored" hit me hard and of course "Slit Skirts" totally ROCKED!! I don't think a lot of those songs would have worked with 'THEWHO". Obviously Keith was gone but the new WHO or whatever you want to call it, I don't think those songs would have worked with Rog. Although because there was a couple of them probably "Exquisitely Bored" that would've worked well with Roger vox. And probably "Slit Skirts" too.
Maybe(?) but yeah they were definitely better off just being part of Pete's solo work!!
Great album and cool interview 👍 g🎸
Finally some recognition towards this underrated gem. PLAY LOUD
Actually, All The Best Cowboys was released in June of 1982. Anywho, fantastic album. I was living in Austin, Texas when it was released and SliT Skirts was all over the radio. Great Memories!
Completely agree! "Empty Glass: and "...Chinese Eyes" are not only his two best, but two of the best overall rock albums ever.
Man, thanks for the suggestion. I tend to get absolutely lost in the Scoops albums and completely forget about this one.
Great interview Otis!
Out of those solo albums in the 80s, 'All the Best Cowboys' is the dark horse in the race, for sure.
Clearly, Pete was saving his best bits for his solo stuff, and I don't blame him. I love the contrast between him and Daltrey's vocals with The Who, but I'm not sure he would have communicated some of these lyrics like Townshend could. For instance, "And I know that when she thinks of me, she thinks of me as him, But, unlike me, she don't work off her frustration in the gym." I was in my teens when this came out, so there's no reason that line should have resonated like it did, but that was Townshend's gift. As songwriters go, he was always willing to shoot for the Moon, and got there more often than not, IMO.
I was a nineteen year old kid who was, and is obsessed with all things Pete Townshend. Although I was obsessed with Empty Glass, this album opened my mind to alternative song structure. And let’s face it, all of his writing is so intelligent, the word pretentious almost seems obligatory. You either get it, or you don’t.
Viva la Pete! Thanks for reminding me that I need to re-listen as an upper-middle aged man ❤
I had that cassette as a kid and I thought it was extremely personal. Completely forgot about some of the songs till you spoke of them. So thanks, I’m gonna give it a listen again and catch up with some old friends…
I'll stand with you. I have had this album since it came out. I like the Who. I like Pete's solo albums more. Honorable Mention to his album Rough Mix with Ronnie Lane. Safe travels.
“Cowboys” is indeed a brilliant album. I completely agree about Townshend’s voice and its emotional resonance.
Thank you Otis
I love that album too. I also love White City and the Scoop albums.
Ditto. I've always loved that album and there were a lot of great records coming out at that time.
My favorite too. I got to see him at House of Blues on a whim in the 90’s. Send my Chinese Eyes CD backstage after show. Incredibly, six months later an envelope arrived from Twickenham with it signed “For Gary, Pete Townshend”. He’s the greatest.
I've always loved All The Best Cowboys too, quietly underrated. Empty Glass was turbulence and turmoil, Cowboys is about rebuilding and hope. I always listen to them together as a double album.
The promo movie has a great great Slit Skirt take, thanks for the tip.
Hey guys, I bought the album when it came out because I was a Who guy. Quadrophenia the movie and The Kids are Alright had come out a few years before. I was a fan. I have pictures of me standing next to my record collection with "Chinese Eyes" prominently displayed because I thought it was cool (I was 23). But honestly didn't love it. Just a couple of good songs. Scoop was better. I've seen the video doc on youtube and laughed so hard when Pete cracked a couple of raw eggs and raw bacon a tomato slice and popped in a microwave. I lived in London in the late 80's early 90's. Let me tell you, I did all my shopping on the US Military facilities
Exquisitely Bored always draws me in.
Thanks for this - watching the doc now, and revisiting the album later.
The Scoop albums are my favorite Townshend recordings. I like the stripped down versions of so many of the classic Who tunes. I also prefer Pete's voice to Roger's. The Scoop version of Behind Blue Eyes is the definitive one in my opinion. It is the version I use when I play it on my guitar. I did buy All the Best Cowboys... when it came out and I played the heck out of it. The Sea Refuses No River Is an epic song and really displays Pete's songwriting ability lyrically and melodically.
Ottis, your friend loves this album as much as I do, I feel a kinship with him.
Love this, I have also always LOVED this album. The chorus of "Exquisitely Bored" has this weird way of just entering my brain about once a month ever since the day I heard it back then. And "The Sea Refuses No River" is absolutely brilliant. Bill Demain is a great story teller.
An awesome record. "Slit Skirts" is one of my all time favorite songs and "Sea Refuses No River" is also fantastic. From "Who By Numbers" to :Allt he Best Cowboys" is an interesting period for Pete. Very reflective and trying to come to grips with his fame and aging.
I was blown away to hear that Pete used a kind of granny home organ for the intro to Baba O’Reiley. There’s a TH-cam of a guy recreating it. I always thought it was a synth!
Always been one of my favorite albums…brilliant!
I have to agree with about Pete’s solo work over The Who first the same reasons, Roger’s vocals and “All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes” is one of my all the me favorite albums. Funny too, I was playing it one day in the car and my wife said “this is pretentious”, I said yeah, but I love it.
Rough Mix is a fantastic Townsend album.
I agree entirely with Bill, just played the album after many many years, still as good. Cheers Tim from Australia.
All the Best Cowboys is also one of my favorite records. Maybe even my favorite. I bought it not long after release and I still keep coming back to it.
I slap wore out the VHS tape my friend made for me of The Kids Are Alright, which included the mini-opera from the Rock n Roll Circus, and it's still, to me, the perfect Who song, but I'm about to check out ...Cowboys... so who knows. I've gotten a little older, too 😅.
An incredible album! Bill pretty much expressed everything I love and feel about this album. One exception: Face Dances Pt. 2. Have to skip it every time. It just doesn't seem to fit i.m.o.
Pete and Joni always speak right to my being. Thanks Otis, thanks Bill.
No, Bill, you’re not alone. I’ve always loved ATBCHCE, and btw it’s from 1982 not 1983… sorry to be ‘that guy’
Right there with you, Bill. I’m a huge fan of Pete’s solo stuff from Who Came First on. One of my favorite writers, singers and guitar players. His acoustic guitar playing is outstanding. Song topics also interesting never run of the mill. I would have to say I Am an Animal from Empty Glass is my favorite of his songs, and I’m One from Quadrophenia. All the best Cowboys is a fantastic album. I played that and empty glass so much you could see through the vinyl ha ha. Great episode Otis. Love the podcast.
You’re not alone
I totally agree it’s his best solo album
Still listen to it to this day
I love The Who too, but I appreciate Townsends solo work allot beginning with "Who Came First" which I've enjoyed since it came out (about Fall of '72). I like Entwistles album(s) too. Great episode I really enjoy you both. Thanks brothers, you're appreciated.
Chinese Eyes is one that I never went to deeply but I do love the radio songs off of it. I listened to White City and Psychoderelict a lot more, the latter was a huge hit with a late buddy and I. We quoted from it a lot thru the years. Another of his overlooked gems IMO. Anyway, love to hear from Bill! Save travels, Otis.
Definitely his best album. Bukovac is a big fan too, right? When I was very, very young I bought Cowboys, Empty Glass, and Face Dances (should have been a solo record, but Daltrey's audible struggle to handle its words sympathetically is interesting). My idea of adult manhood was strongly influenced by that era of Pete's lyrics.
VO: "It did not go well."
I love that record, all those three; Empty Glass ,...Chinese Eyes & White City are tremendous, and I agree about Petes voice...so good.Bill is right on.
Who Came First is great solo album from Pete and Rough Mix (although a collaboration) is still my favorite - still gets rotation here after 50 plus years.
You're not wrong, it's an outstanding musical work.
It’s one of my favorites, Communication and Slit Skirts are my go tos.
White City will always be my favorite Pete Townsend album, but only because I'm such a huge David Gilmore and Pino Palladino junky. That said, I've always loved Pete's solo stuff more than The Who (which is weird with me being a bass player), and Chinese Eyes is probably right behind White City for me. I always wondered if that album inspired Ween's song "Japanese Cowboy" in some absurd way?
It's my favorite Pete solo record, too. Pretentious as F? Yes it is, but also honest and soul-baring. Great tunes. The only Who album I can compare it to in that context is The Who By Numbers, which I also love.
There are some fine songs on Chinese Eyes. The Sea Refuses No River is one of Pete's best. But I still prefer Empty Glass, musically and lyrically.
I still think Empty Glass is woefully underappreciated...
In general....Not just Who/Pete, as a whole.
Plus, I always enjoyed the duality of the covers, front v. Back
The band on the "Slit Skirts" video is one my favorite bands of all time!!
Tbh, with the exception of "Slit Skirts," I don't think I've ever heard any of the album. Will pick up a copy. I do, however, have the 5-disc "Scoop" compilation, plus a few other Townsend demo boots, plus lots of live Who (most of which is on YT.) Happy to drop off copies for you, OG, at the Peace Dale gig...
i feel like all of these themes and sensibilities are present on who by numbers.
If you love Pete Townshend, check out his live album entitled “Live in Concert 1985-2007. Chock full of great solo and Who songs sung by Pete. It’s a treasure.
I second your recommendation. I had several of these shows from when he first released them exclusively on his website 20-odd years ago, but I recently re-listened to all of them in the span of 3 or 4 days when they showed up on Spotify. Love hearing how he tailors his Who songs to whichever band, audience, decade, or mood he's in.
I have a VHS copy of that movie that I watched most of about a month ago. Love Petes voice!
I got it when it was first released and loved it at once. I still do and play it quite often. And I also prefer Townshend's voice to Daltrey's as I love the slightly plainitive quality in Pete's voice. A great album!
I totally LOVE this record as well! It’s genius. However, I was not into it when it came out. I was a teen, and it wasn’t what I wanted from him at the time. But as an adult, I’ve been obsessed with it for many years now.
I love Chinese Eyes and Empty Glass. Listened to them hundreds of times
I absolutely love Empty Glass and All The Best Cowboys but there are now outtakes of The Who doing the title track of Empty Glass and Somebody Saved Me both with Pete singing that I prefer to the solo album versions cause they're a lot rawer, less polished. White City has a lot of highlights but Scoop volumes 2 and 3 have songs from an abandoned 1984 solo album that from the sound of it would have been great.
Check out Pete Townshend Live 1985-2001 which was released on July 26, 2024.
I prefer Pete Townshend’s voice over Roger Daltrey’s as well. This particular album was released in ‘82 though, not ‘83. I was just listening to ‘’Sheraton Gibson’’ this morning while having my coffee, love his acoustic guitar strumming. I get tempted to buy a Gibson J-200, every time I hear Pete Townshend , but back away from pulling the trigger when I see the price tag….lol !
@@61stratman I walked into a Gibson dealer the day I had the money to buy my J200, the guitar that inspired me to play when I heard Pete strumming Pinball Wizard when I was 8.
I plan to do both. I wanna listen to the album Cowboys and watch the documentary. I had the Empty Glass LP, but I neglected to buy his follow up album, but I’m really excited to listen to it now.
That is one of my favorite albums!
The Scoop albums are a wonderful sit through.
Yes - I LOVE Pete's voice!
And i still sing a razor line every time . Thats pete
Pete's the best.....I love the "deep end live" record....and the VHS was even better.
Cowboys is really, really self indulgent. He took chances on it & some songs worked but most don’t
Somebody Saved Me top 10 Pete songs
I've always thought "Slit Skirts" was genius lyrically and musically.