By 1982, I had just about given up entirely on The Who. Two back-to-back bad to middling albums in the middle of the punk revolution did nothing to awaken my mid-‘70s love of the band, and my interest waned to a point where I started to resent their alleged irrelevance.

At the same time, Pete Townshend established a solo career that felt infinitely more relevant to the times, and due to personal circumstances, infinitely more relatable to me. At a time when my own personal life was in turmoil, Townshend wrote songs that documented his own turmoil, particularly in regard to alcohol and marriage, and I felt every word as if I were Roberta Flack. He killed me softly, and as a result I related to the best songs on “Chinese Eyes” as if they were the saddest anthems ever recorded.

Featured tracks include:

Stop Hurting People

The Sea Refuses No River

Prelude

Face Dances, Pt. 2

Communication

Stardom in Action

North Country Girl

Somebody Saved Me

Slit Skirts

Ascension Two