Pete Townshend demos are like alternate Who albums

where can i hear the demo? the piano version on the scoop series is not a demo from the early 80's

 

Yeah, the only demo I've ever heard from It's Hard is "Teresa" (Athena).

 

I recall hearing a demo for the song It's Hard, but I can't seam to locate it.

 

I like the Scoop series, but always preferred the 1st one. It has some great stuff on it.

 

Are you sure you aren't thinking of Popular? That turned into It's Hard.

 

My favorite '60s era Pete demo is "Things Have Changed". I only own the Scooped 2CD compilation, so when I first heard that song on YouTube, I was blown away. I guess it was too "folky" for the band back in '66?

Roger's voice wasn't so "bark-y" back then, he could've handled it (listen to him on Sell Out, for instance). Pete & John would've done the "do tu do tu daaaaah" backup vox, and Keith could've added a little snap n' sizzle to make it pop onto the charts.

Other favorites:
Mary
Time is Passing (even though we have The Who version now, which I slightly prefer)

 

Yes, that's it.

Thanks

 

That's what I was saying--I thought Scoop was only for demos pre Who. Eminence Front wasn't.

 

oops read your post again and understand this time. i thought there was an early 80's demo floating around that i had not heard

 

Understood. I think it is also important to imagine that, imo, some of them may be more to the tune of guide vocals or more than that but not with the idea of this is the best vocal I can do and I'm going to do multiple takes of it to make it sound exactly right, tonally, before the band hears the demo. that is conjecture on my part obviously and there are songs Roger just sings better than Pete, but for what it's worth, the human voice being the vulnerable and sometimes inconsistent instrument that it is, I would expect some of those vocals to have been re recorded if that was a Pete solo album release at the time. as they are, they are what they are, I just don't listen to the vocals as if every one is a finished, absolute best PT lead vocal.

 

Won't Get Fooled Again drags on the demo and the Record Plant version. If any of them were issued at the time the song wouldn't be so revered.

 

The demo doesn't have the bombast that the Who recording does, but I don't think it drags in the slightest.

Record Plant...I can agree with that.

 

Townshend uses drums as sound effects on his demos. That's the basic flaw of listening to a whole bunch of them together. His rhythm is in his guitar, the drums are just explosions and exclamation marks.

 

I think at this point we are talking about different things and better for me just to leave what I said, as what I said.

I also agree with you though about the Record Plant version.

 

I can't imagine what they were thinking by inviting Leslie West to the sessions. He was the wrong choice for a second guitar player to experiment with. Not because Leslie is bad in any way. Just the opposite actually. His style is just too aggressive - it didn't work.

 

Oh I don't know...I think Love Ain't For Keeping and Pure and Easy are amazing, and Behind Blue Eyes and Baby Don't You Do It aren't far behind. IMO Getting In Tune and Won't Get Fooled Again kind of fall flat, but I don't think that's West's fault.

 

LAFK, very interesting, Pete lead vocal in the studio and Leslie on guitar, sounding unlike what it became on the album proper, but close to what it would be on stage. A great find, .

 

Yeah, I agree it is a great find. Because the album version always leaves you wanting for more. Its easy though not to mention that Pete is also on guitar on the RP version...lol

 

Let's not forget the greatest Pete demo of all that never made it to an album.



This is absolutely brilliant...what genius.

 

There's also Girl in a Suitcase and Cookin' which were done during the Who By Numbers demo and writing period from the Scoop series. I think they're both great songs.

 

I love both those demos too, One Louder!

The Q Cloud shows Cookin' via a caption to a photo to be dated 1970 71 if memory serves correct. I wish The Who could have recorded more of Pete's demos!

 

Does this count as a Pete demo?

 

When the Record Plant tracks were being mixed for release I asked Jon Astley whether he was tempted to reduce or eliminate the Leslie West parts on the grounds that they were too flashy and diminished Pete's guitar work but he said that Pete had requested that it all remained up front.

 

I'll take Rundgren on Something/Anything, Hermit of Mink Hollow, Healing, The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect, Acapella, and several other one man does everything including produce releases.

 

I'm glad Pete asked to keep the mixes as an accurate representation of the sessions.