A Benefit for Maryville Academy
Pete Townshend Live: A Benefit for Maryville Academy (Platinum 9555) is 1998 a live album by English Rock musician Pete Townshend, member of The Who, recorded at the House of Blues in Chicago. It was produced by Jon Carin. Covers many Who songs and some solo material. A "bonus CD" features 2 tracks with Eddie Vedder, Pearl Jam's vocalist.
It was released by Platinum Entertainment, licensed by The Who's charity, Double O Promotions Limited and all artist royalties benefit Maryville Academy, "a leader in the treatment of physically, secually, and emotional abused children. It provides a safe, secure, and stable environment where these youngsters can regain the hope they lost so long ago and begin the healing process". Curiously, Townshend, an abused child himself, was later accused of watching child pornography.
Tracklist
Disc 1
1. On the Road Again (composed by F. Jones & A. Wilson). It is a cover of Canned Heat's minimalist drone blues.
2. Anyway Anyhow Anywhere (Pete Townshend & Roger Daltrey). An old 1965 Who single from My Generation, and one of the very few (co-)penned by Roger Daltrey.
3. A Little is Enough (Townshend). Covering Townshend's solo song from Empty Glass.
4. Drowned (Townshend). From The Who's Quadrophenia.
5. You Better You Bet (Townshend). From The Who's 1981 Face Dances and their last widely successful single.
6. Now and Then (Townshend). From Townshend's 1993 Psychoderelict.
7. North Country Girl. In the CD's booklet it appears credited to Townshend, but it is actually a traditional or folk British song, also covered/arranged by Bob Dylan in a folk/country manner, or very 80's-like by Townshend in his 1982 All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes album. This version, with Townshend's trademark weak vocals, is quite desolating and melancholic. Any listener will feel the pain of lost love... don't slit your artheries!!!
8. Let My Love Open the Door (Townshend). Also from Empty Glass and widely used in movie/TV soundtracks since the 1980's.
9. Won't Get Fooled Again (Townshend). A great rendition of the lenghty political statement and excellent single from the brilliant 1971 Who album Who's Next.
10. Magic Bus (Townshend). One of The Who's trademark singles, clearly influenced by Bo Diddley.
11. I'm One (Townshend). Another great track from Quadrophenia
Disc 2
(featuring Eddie Vedder)
1. Magic Bus.
2. Heart to Hang Onto (Townshend). From the 1977 Townshend split/duet album Rough Mix with the late Ronnie Lane, from The Small Faces and The Faces.
Performers
Disc 1
Pete Townshend: vocals, electric and acoustic guitars
Jon Carin: keyboards, drum tracks, sequencer, vocals
Peter Hope-Evans: mouth organ, jews harp
Jody Linscott: percussion
Chucho Merchan: bass, and additional percussion on Now and Then
Tracey Langran: hi-string guitar, vocals
Disc 2
Pete Townshend: vocals, guitar
Eddie Vedder: vocals
Jon Carin: keyboards, vocals