Pete Townshend - Night Train To Brixton (2021)

THE CLASSIC 1985 BRIXTON BROADCAST By the end of 1985, Pete Townshend had been off the road with The Who for three years. The pivotal British Rock band had done a farewell; tour in 1982, but had reformed for Live Aid in summer ’85. And despite pleas from both Roger Daltrey and John Entwistle to reform and tour again, the next proper Who reunion would have to wait until 1989. In the meantime, Townshend was determined to keep his solo career on track, which had been propelled by the success of radio hits like ‘Rough Boys,’ ‘Let My Love Open the Door,’ and ‘Slit Skirts.’n• The charity show featured on this CD took place at London’s Brixton Academy on 2nd November 1985, featuring Townshends legendary ‘Deep End’ band, with Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, a crack rhythm section and The Kickhorns five-piece brass section, making a perfect complement to Townshend passionate vocals and manic guitar runs.\n• The concert, which also aired on the King Biscuit Flower Hour in 1985, contains all 17 tracks played that night, including a few featuring Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, and keyboardist John Rabbit Bundrick. Opening with a rare-Who B side (from the bands 1967 Sell Out LP), Townshend kicks off with ‘Mary Anne With the Shaky Hands’ a song that was banned on many radio stations when it was first released because it deals with the joys of young girlfriends willing to please their boyfriends with the use of a single hand.

After the shock of hearing such a rarity, the audience is overjoyed when Townshend then balances unplugged and electric versions of early rock and standards including Arthur Big Boy Crudup ‘That's Alright Mama,’ Screaming Jay Hawkins ‘I Put a Spell on You’ and Robert Parker ‘Barefootinn• His remake of the classic, ‘Harlem Shuffle’ blows away the version issued around the same time by The Rolling Stones.

An eclectic mix of covers, rarities and originals therefor made for one hell of a party in South East London on this cold winter night more than 35 years ago, and it is abundantly clear from the audience reaction, obvious upon listening, that all present had a ball.

Tracklist
1 Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand
2 That's Alright Mama
3 Harlem Shuffle
4 Barefootin'
5 Midnight Lover
6 Blue Light
7 I Put A Spell On You
8 I'm One
9 Driftin' Blues
10 Save It For Later
11 Eyesight To The Blind
12 Band Intro / Walkin'
13 Boogie Stop Shuffle
14 Night Train