Pete Townshend's Deep End: Face the Face

Following the release of his 1985 solo album White City: A Novel, Pete Townshend—best known as the artistic leader, guitarist, and principal songwriter for The Who—went on tour with Deep End, a gathering of assorted allies and familiar faces (including Who keyboardist John “Rabbit” Bundrick and Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour). Pete Townshend's Deep End: Face the Face presents a 1986 concert aired on the German TV series Rockpalast of Townshend and Deep End performing at Midem in Cannes. The engaging, somewhat big-band showmanship of the players nicely matches Townshend's free-roaming program of 15 songs plucked from White City as well as earlier solo albums, along with a few Who standards and a couple of unexpected covers (Screamin' Jay Hawkins' “I Put a Spell On You,” Jimmy Forrest's 1951 “Night Train”). The show kicks off with “Won't Get Fooled Again,” which here sheds its epic dimensions to become a brassier, blues-tinged, looser arrangement that underscores the oft-missed satire of this popular Who workhorse. Fans of Townshend know that he likes to revisit his canon to discover new interpretive possibilities, and he here offers a touching and spare “Behind Blue Eyes,” as well as a solo acoustic rendition of Tommy's “Pinball Wizard.” Selections from White City include the barn burner “Secondhand Love” and swinging “Face the Face” (during which Townshend, sans guitar, bops around the stage and conducts his hard-charging musicians), with older solo cut highlights including “The Sea Refuses No River,” and back-to-back performances of “A Little Is Enough” and “Rough Boys.” Presented in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo, extras include a bonus audio CD featuring 14 tracks. Highly recommended. (T. Keogh)