Album Anniversary: Pete Townshend "Empty Glass".

Released on this day in 1980: Pete Townshend's second solo album "Empty Glass". It’s clear that Pete kept the best songs for his solo albums around this time. The material on “Empty Glass”, and the follow up “All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes”, is a fair cut above most of the tracks on the two Who releases from around the same time: “Face Dances” and “It’s Hard”.

Roger Daltrey was reportedly frustrated that some of the songs didn't end up on a Who album, particularly “Rough Boys” and “Empty Glass”. Regarding the former, Pete commented that Roger would likely be uncomfortable with the subject matter if fully explained. “Empty Glass” was considered for “Who Are You”. There’s a demo version on its expanded reissue.

Regarding the album title and theme Townshend offered this explanation: “I called it Empty Glass, “because of this idea that when you go to the tavern - which is to God, you know – and you ask for His love – He's the bartender, you know – and He gives you a drink, and what you have to give Him is an empty glass”.

The album deals with issues that Townshend was struggling with at the time, including addiction, marital problems, and deceased friends, particularly Keith Moon who died in 1978. The lightest moment on the album is “Let My Love Open the Door”, which made the top 10 in the U.S.

I played the heck out of “Empty Glass” at the time. I’m looking at the album’s track list as I write this and there isn’t a subpar moment in the 10 songs on display.

“Empty Glass” was mostly met with positive reviews and still sounds fresh and vital more than 40 years on. Billboard’s review at time sums it up well, concluding that: "the production, along with Townshend's impeccable timing, delivery and rhythmic sense gives the album an urgent and contemporary flavor, and an indication of what rock'n'roll should be”.