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Rough Mix
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| Rough Mix | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 16 September 1977 | |||
| Recorded | Winter 1976 and Spring 1977 | |||
| Studio | Olympic Studios (London) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 41:34 | |||
| Label | MCA (US) Polydor (UK) | |||
| Producer | Glyn Johns | |||
| Pete Townshend chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Ronnie Lane chronology | ||||
| ||||
Rough Mix is an album by Pete Townshend, guitarist with the Who, and Ronnie Lane, former bassist with Small Faces and Faces. The album was released in September 1977 as Polydor 2442 in the UK and MCA 2295 in the US.[1] It peaked at number 44 on the UK Albums Chart,[2] and at number 45 on the US Billboard 200.
Content
[edit]On 21 October 1976, the Who closed a brief North American tour in Toronto at Maple Leaf Gardens, a show that would be the last with Keith Moon before a paying audience.[3] The Who then took a hiatus as band members pursued various individual interests.
Pete Townshend had been initially contacted by Ronnie Lane to produce his next album. The project instead turned into a full-blown collaboration between the pair.[4] Lane expressed an interest in a songwriting collaboration but Townshend, who has very rarely co-written songs, was unwilling.[5] The instrumental title track is credited to both musicians, however.
During the recording of Rough Mix, Lane's multiple sclerosis was diagnosed but still not revealed generally. In one instance, Lane had an emotional issue related to his MS that caused an argument between him and an unknowing Townshend. Nonetheless, Lane toured, wrote and recorded (with Eric Clapton among others) and in 1979 released another album, See Me, which features several songs written by Lane and Clapton. Around this time Lane travelled the highways and byways of England and lived a 'passing show' modern nomadic life in full Gypsy traveller costume and accommodation.
The album featured songs written by both principals in a vein less like that of the Who or Faces but instead close to the British folk rock vogue of the early 1970s among various English bands. The band on the track "Annie" comprised members of Lane's Slim Chance group, which played in that very style. A number of more famous colleagues also appeared on the recording, among them Who bassist John Entwistle, Ian Stewart and Charlie Watts from the Rolling Stones, and Eric Clapton.[6] Orchestral arrangements for the track "Street in the City" were provided by Townshend's father-in-law, noted British film and television theme composer Edwin Astley.
Rough Mix was remastered in 2006 and released by Hip-O Records, the reissue label for the Universal Music Group, in both 5.1 surround sound format on Dualdisc and standard stereo compact disc. The reissue featured three outtakes as bonus tracks.
The cover art for the gatefold sleeve, by designer Peter Joyce, features "all sorts of British pop culture images from cricket to cars to show biz" in the form of a collage of trading cards. The font for the title references that used for Rizla cigarette papers.[7]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Christgau's Record Guide | A−[9] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
| MusicHound Rock | 3.5/5[11] |
| The Rolling Stone Record Guide | |
| The Village Voice | B+[13] |
The Village Voice critic Robert Christgau wrote in his review of the album: "Meher Baba inspired psalmody so plain and sharply observed, maybe he was all reet after all. Three of Townshend's contributions—'Keep Me Turning,' 'Misunderstood,' and an unlikely song of adoration called 'My Baby Gives It Away'—are his keenest in years, and while Lane's evocations of the passing scene are more poignant on his Island import, One for the Road, 'Annie' is a suitably modest folk classic. Together, the two disciples prove that charity needn't be sentimental, detachment cold, nor peace boring. Selah."[9]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "My Baby Gives It Away" | Pete Townshend | 4:02 |
| 2. | "Nowhere to Run" | Ronnie Lane | 3:17 |
| 3. | "Rough Mix" |
| 3:12 |
| 4. | "Annie" |
| 2:56 |
| 5. | "Keep Me Turning" | Townshend | 3:46 |
| 6. | "Catmelody" |
| 3:12 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Misunderstood" | Townshend | 3:01 |
| 2. | "April Fool" | Lane | 3:34 |
| 3. | "Street in the City" | Townshend | 6:07 |
| 4. | "Heart to Hang Onto" | Townshend | 4:29 |
| 5. | "'Til the Rivers All Run Dry" | 3:54 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Only You" | Lane | 4:29 |
| 13. | "Good Question" | Townshend | 3:34 |
| 14. | "Silly Little Man" | Lane | 3:44 |
Personnel
[edit]- Ronnie Lane and Pete Townshend – vocals, guitars, mandolins, bass guitars, banjos, ukuleles
- Charlie Hart – violin on "Annie"
- John Entwistle – horns on "Heart to Hang Onto"; vocal help on "Till the Rivers All Run Dry"
- Mel Collins – saxophones on "Catmelody"
- Peter Hope Evans – harmonica on "Nowhere to Run" and "Misunderstood"
- Benny Gallagher – accordion on "Annie"
- John "Rabbit" Bundrick – organ, Fender Rhodes on "Nowhere to Run", "Rough Mix", "Keep Me Turning" and "Heart to Hang Onto"
- Ian Stewart – piano on "Catmelody"
- Eric Clapton – electric guitar on "Rough Mix"; acoustic guitar on "Annie"; Dobro on "April Fool" and "Till the Rivers All Run Dry"
- Graham Lyle – twelve-string guitar on "Annie"
- Dave Markee[14] – double bass on "Annie" and "April Fool"
- Boz Burrell – bass guitar on "Heart to Hang Onto" and "Till the Rivers All Run Dry"
- Henry Spinetti – drums on "Nowhere to Run", "Rough Mix", "Keep Me Turning", "Heart to Hang Onto" and "Till the Rivers All Run Dry"
- Charlie Watts – drums on "My Baby Gives It Away" and "Catmelody"
- Julian Diggle – percussion on "Misunderstood"
- Billy Nicholls – vocal help on "Till the Rivers All Run Dry"
- Edwin Astley – orchestrations on "Street in the City"
- Tony Gilbert – orchestral leader on "Street in the City"
- Charles Vorsanger – principal second violin on "Street in the City"
- Steve Shingles – principal viola on "Street in the City"
- Chris Green – principal cello on "Street in the City"
- Chris Laurence – principal bass on "Street in the City"
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1977) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[15] | 70 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[16] | 44 |
| US Billboard 200[17] | 45 |
References
[edit]- ^ Neill, Andy, and Kent, Matt. Anyway Anyhow Anywhere: The Complete Chronicle of The Who 1958–1978. 2009, ISBN 978-1-4027-6691-6, p. 299.
- ^ "Search | Official Charts". Official Charts Company.
- ^ The Who. Thirty Years of Maximum R&B. 1994, MCA Records CD-207146, liner notes booklet.
- ^ Heinz Rudolf Kunze. Rough Mix. 2006, SPV 304852, liner notes.
- ^ "Ronald Frederick Lane". the-faces.com.
- ^ "Pete Townshend & Ronnie Lane, 'Rough Mix' (10/03/77)". 10 November 2014.
- ^ Athas, Peter Adrastos (18 April 2018). "Album Cover Art Wednesday: Rough Mix". FIRST DRAFT.
- ^ AllMusic review
- ^ a b Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: T". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 16 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Larkin, Colin, ed. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus. p. 826. OL 11913831M.
- ^ Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel, eds. (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. p. 404. ISBN 1-57859-061-2.
- ^ Marsh, Dave; Swenson, John, eds. (1979). The Rolling Stone Record Guide. New York: Random House. p. 387. OL 4403309M.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (31 October 1977). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ Markee's surname is incorrectly listed as "Marquee" on most editions of the album.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Image 5455b". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Pete Townshend Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Pete Townshend Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
External links
[edit]- Rough Mix (with Ronnie Lane) at whofans.net
- Rough Mix at discogs.com
- "My Baby Gives It Away" on YouTube
Rough Mix
View on GrokipediaBackground
Origins of the collaboration
In 1976, Ronnie Lane, facing financial difficulties following the breakup of the Faces in 1975 and contractual obligations to Atlantic Records after departing a planned Small Faces reunion, approached his longtime friend Pete Townshend to produce a solo album.[1][6] Their friendship dated back to the early 1960s London mod scene, where Townshend's band The Who and Lane's Small Faces emerged as leading acts, sharing neighborhoods and a mutual admiration for British folk and rock influences.[1] This bond had deepened during a chaotic joint tour by The Who and Small Faces in Australia and New Zealand in 1968, which Townshend later described as an experience that brought them closer amid the tour's intensity.[7] The invitation came during a casual meeting amid a break in The Who's 1976 tour schedule, providing Townshend with temporary downtime for side projects after years of intense touring and album production.[2][1] At the time, Lane had transitioned to solo work with his band Slim Chance, formed in 1973 after leaving the Faces, releasing albums that garnered critical praise for their folk-rock style but limited commercial success.[8] Townshend initially declined the producer role but countered with the idea of a collaborative album, leveraging their shared musical roots and prior joint efforts on Townshend's solo and spiritual projects inspired by Meher Baba.[1] This shift from a producer-artist dynamic to a full partnership reflected their informal rapport, with initial demos captured in September 1976 using Lane's mobile studio during a break in The Who's schedule, setting the stage for relaxed, jam-session-style recording.[1] Lane found in the project a creative outlet amid his career uncertainties.[2]Recording process
The recording of Rough Mix took place over several months, from late 1976 through the summer of 1977, primarily at Olympic Studios in London, with Glyn Johns serving as the lead producer and engineer, and Pete Townshend acting as co-producer.[2][9][10] The sessions originated from Ronnie Lane's request for Townshend to collaborate on an album following the collapse of Lane's planned Small Faces reunion, evolving into a spontaneous joint effort rather than a structured solo project.[10] Initially planned for just two weeks, the process extended due to the informal, relaxed atmosphere, allowing friends to drop in and contribute without a fixed band lineup.[10][2] Guest musicians played key roles in the sessions, including Eric Clapton on guitar and dobro, Charlie Watts on drums for select tracks, Mel Collins on saxophone, and John Entwistle on bass and vocals for specific songs, all arranged on an ad-hoc basis to foster a collaborative spirit.[2][9] Production emphasized live, rough takes to preserve a raw folk-rock intimacy, capturing the performers' natural interplay with minimal overdubs, as reflected in the album's title referring to preliminary mixes.[11][2] For the track "Street in the City," Edwin Astley provided orchestral arrangements, adding a lush layer to Lane's composition.[2][12] During the sessions, Lane began experiencing symptoms of multiple sclerosis—including physical tremors, slurred speech, fluctuating energy levels, and emotional outbursts—that were undiagnosed at the time and sometimes misinterpreted as intoxication or moodiness, leading to workflow adjustments such as shorter recording days.[13][2][10] Lane was formally diagnosed with the condition in 1977 but did not disclose it widely, including to Townshend, who provided friendship and creative guidance to help navigate these emerging personal difficulties without awareness of the underlying cause.[13][10] The collaboration ultimately proceeded to completion, resulting in an album that highlighted both artists' strengths amid personal adversity.[11]Composition
Musical style
Rough Mix exemplifies a predominant British folk-rock style, characterized by the interplay of acoustic guitars, and harmonica alongside rock elements such as electric guitar solos and rhythmic grooves. This blend draws from Ronnie Lane's roots in the Faces and his subsequent Slim Chance project, which incorporated loose, rollicking folk-rock with pub rock sensibilities from the 1970s British scene, while Pete Townshend contributes subtler textures that diverge from the high-energy bombast of his work with the Who.[14][15][16] Influences from Lane's folk influences, evident in tracks like "Annie," merge with pub rock's unpretentious energy, as seen in the instrumental jam "Rough Mix," which features driving electric guitar and organ work. The album's sound also incorporates country and early rock 'n' roll touches, creating a collaborative texture that feels intimate and unforced, contrasting Townshend's prior denser productions. Diverse instrumentation further defines this approach, including piano on "My Baby Gives It Away" and strings enhancing the ballads, all supporting a midtempo folk-rock vein with occasional rave-ups.[14][16][15] The overall "rough" aesthetic, true to the album's title, prioritizes organic performances and raw energy over polished studio effects, resulting in a warm, open sound that emphasizes natural tonality and spatial dynamics. This loose collaboration yields a spiritually resonant folk-rock concoction, blending playful and introspective elements without overproduction.[16][14]Lyrics and themes
The lyrics on Rough Mix delve into central themes of personal detachment, spiritual searching, and interpersonal relationships, often drawing from the artists' shared devotion to Meher Baba and their introspective outlooks. Pete Townshend's "Keep Me Turning" exemplifies spiritual searching through its parable-like narrative of elusive enlightenment, with lines such as “They saw the Messiah/But I guess I missed him again,” reflecting Townshend's ongoing quest for divine connection influenced by Meher Baba's teachings.[16][2] Ronnie Lane's "Annie," written by Lane with Kate Lambert and Eric Clapton, contrasts this with themes of interpersonal bonds and the simplicity of rural life, inspired by an elderly villager and evoking enduring natural and human resilience in lyrics like “Old oaks stand tall, Annie/Seen the world grow small, Annie.”[17][2] Charity and peace motifs further underscore the album's humanistic core, particularly in tracks addressing support and non-violence. "Heart to Hang Onto," co-written by Townshend and Lane, explores emotional interdependence with pleas like “Give me a heart to hang onto,” symbolizing resilience and later supporting Lane's Multiple Sclerosis Society efforts following his diagnosis during the album's recording sessions.[17][2] Similarly, "Nowhere to Run," credited to Ronnie Lane, conveys a peace motif through its depiction of entrapment and the futility of escape from conflict, rendered in an intimate, rustic arrangement that critiques violence without sentimentality.[16][18] Songwriting on the album highlights collaboration, with pure instrumentals like the title track "Rough Mix"—co-written by Townshend and Lane, featuring Eric Clapton on lead guitar—allowing unadorned musical dialogue, while co-authored pieces such as "Heart to Hang Onto" merge Townshend's philosophical introspection with Lane's grounded, narrative-driven earthiness.[16][17] These elements reflect broader 1970s countercultural shifts toward spiritual detachment and communal simplicity, subtly incorporating Lane's emerging health struggles into themes of perseverance, as the recording process proceeded amid his undiagnosed multiple sclerosis symptoms like tremors.[2][17] The folk-rock style briefly referenced here enhances the intimacy of these verbal explorations.[16]Release
Commercial performance
Rough Mix was released on September 5, 1977, by MCA Records in the United States and on September 16, 1977, by Polydor Records in the United Kingdom.[3][19][1] Initial sales were supported primarily by the dedicated fanbases of The Who and the Faces.[17] The album achieved modest chart success, peaking at number 44 on the UK Albums Chart and number 45 on the US Billboard 200.[17][20] This performance was attributed in part to the absence of any singles promotion or significant marketing push from the labels.[2] The album received no major certifications from industry bodies such as the RIAA or BPI.[3] It maintained steady mid-level sales, indicative of its niche appeal to rock enthusiasts rather than broader mainstream pop audiences.[2] Contributing to its limited visibility were external factors, including The Who's temporary hiatus following their 1976 tour, which reduced Townshend's promotional bandwidth, and the recent publicity surrounding Ronnie Lane's multiple sclerosis diagnosis during the recording sessions.[2][8]Promotion and artwork
The promotion of Rough Mix was characteristically low-key, aligning with Townshend and Lane's preference for an organic, collaborative project over commercial hype. No major singles were released to drive sales, and the album received limited marketing support from MCA Records in the US and Polydor in the UK, resulting in modest visibility at launch.[2][3] Instead, exposure relied on FM radio play, particularly for "My Baby Gives It Away," alongside promotional interviews such as a joint appearance by Townshend and Lane on BBC2's The Old Grey Whistle Test and Townshend's radio discussion with Jim Ladd on KMET in Los Angeles.[2][21][1] Townshend's solo appearances, including US engagements during his 1977 promotional activities, provided indirect boosts to the album's profile, though the duo avoided extensive touring together due to Lane's health challenges.[1] Press coverage emphasized the artists' longstanding friendship and the project's unpretentious spirit, with a notable review in Rolling Stone praising the merger of their styles while noting the album's intimate, non-commercial vibe.[22] Similar interviews in UK outlets like NME highlighted the collaboration's roots in shared spiritual influences and Lane's personal struggles, including his recent multiple sclerosis diagnosis during recording.[10][23] The album's packaging reflected its rustic ethos through a gatefold sleeve design, featuring liner notes penned by Townshend that whimsically detailed the instruments used—"acoustic & electric guitars, mandolins & bass guitars, banjos, ukuleles & very involved mind games"—and credited contributions from guest musicians.[2][24] The cover artwork adopted a simple, illustrative style evoking rural simplicity, underscoring the folk-infused collaboration without elaborate visuals. Distribution occurred through established labels, with the US release on MCA tying into Townshend's broader solo visibility for added, albeit limited, reach.[3] This approach contributed to the album's chart performance, peaking at number 45 on the Billboard 200.[2]Reception
Initial critical response
Upon its release in September 1977, Rough Mix garnered positive notices from contemporary critics, who lauded the album's relaxed, collaborative vibe and the evident chemistry between Pete Townshend and Ronnie Lane amid a rock landscape dominated by arena excess and the emerging raw energy of punk.[22][25] In a review for Rolling Stone, Dave Marsh praised the record as a "relaxed gem" that touched "closer to the heart of the rock & roll spirit than almost anything else you'll hear this year," highlighting its devotional undertones inspired by Meher Baba while acknowledging occasional unevenness in its mix of raucous and introspective moments.[22] Similarly, in Trouser Press, Dave Schulps welcomed it as a "return to form" for Townshend, emphasizing the duo's unpretentious charm and the strong contributions from guest musicians like Eric Clapton. Robert Christgau gave the album an A− grade in The Village Voice's Consumer Guide, calling it Meher Baba-inspired psalmody that was "plain and sharply observed," with Townshend's "Keep Me Turning," "Misery," and "My Baby Gives It Away" ranking among his keenest recent works, and Lane's "Annie" a poignant folk classic; he viewed its detached quality as a virtue, proving that "charity needn't be sentimental, detachment cold, nor peace boring" in an era favoring punk's aggression.[18] The album placed 12th in the 1977 Pazz & Jop Critics' Poll, reflecting broad acclaim among U.S. reviewers for its respite from bombast.[25] While some critiques pointed to uneven pacing across its eclectic styles, standout tracks like "Misery" drew particular praise for their heartfelt simplicity and melodic appeal, contributing to a consensus that Rough Mix was an underrated gem for fans seeking authentic, low-key artistry.[22][18]Retrospective assessments
In the years following its release, Rough Mix has garnered increasing acclaim from critics as an understated highlight in the solo careers of Pete Townshend and Ronnie Lane, often described as an "overlooked gem" for its intimate blend of folk-rock, country, and spiritual undertones. AllMusic rated the album 4 out of 5 stars, commending its eclectic mix of styles and the genuine rapport between the two artists, which lends a sense of warmth and authenticity to the proceedings.[15] Similarly, a 2022 review on On The Record labeled it a "minor masterpiece," emphasizing Lane's understated charm on tracks like "Annie" and how the collaboration elevates his often-undervalued songwriting alongside Townshend's more prominent contributions.[14] Critics have particularly highlighted the album's emotional depth and vulnerability, qualities that have resonated more profoundly in hindsight, especially given Lane's later battle with multiple sclerosis. The Vinyl District, in a 2015 retrospective, awarded it an A grade, praising Lane's soulful vocals and bass playing for infusing tracks such as "April Fool" with raw emotional impact, while noting the album's timeless appeal despite its initial commercial underperformance.[16] Best Classic Bands echoed this sentiment in 2020, calling it a "minor masterpiece" that showcases Lane's poignant, folksy delivery and Townshend's more introspective side, with the warmth of their interplay standing out as a key strength over repeated listens.[2] The album's reevaluation has also been informed by biographical context, as Townshend reflects in his 2012 autobiography Who I Am on Rough Mix as a pivotal side project born from mutual admiration and shared spiritual influences, one that allowed both artists to explore personal vulnerabilities away from their band legacies.[1] A 2023 analysis in AnalogPlanet further underscored its "warm and inviting" sonic character, crediting producer Glyn Johns for capturing the organic textures that make it a rewarding, cohesive listen decades later, particularly in tracks like "Heart to Hang Onto."[26] Overall, these assessments mark a shift from contemporary mixed reactions to a consensus viewing Rough Mix as a cult favorite that highlights Lane's overlooked artistry and the duo's rare chemistry.Track listing and credits
Track listing
The original 1977 vinyl release of Rough Mix is divided into two sides with a total of 11 tracks, running for approximately 41 minutes.| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side one | |||
| 1. | "My Baby Gives It Away" | Townshend | 3:57 |
| 2. | "Nowhere to Run" | Lane | 3:12 |
| 3. | "Rough Mix" | Townshend, Lane | 3:09 |
| 4. | "Annie" | Lane | 2:54 |
| 5. | "Keep Me Turning" | Townshend | 3:44 |
| 6. | "Catmelody" | Lambert, Lane | 3:11 |
| Side two | |||
| 7. | "Misunderstood" | Townshend | 2:59 |
| 8. | "April Fool" | Lane | 3:31 |
| 9. | "Street in the City" | Townshend | 6:05 |
| 10. | "Heart to Hang Onto" | Townshend | 4:26 |
| 11. | "Till the Rivers All Run Dry" | Williams, Holyfield | 3:51 |
