On Record Store Day this year, The Who are releasing a special 40th Anniversary edition of their 1982 album “It’s Hard“. The 2-LP release includes a half speed master of the album along with rare and unreleased material, including the Roger Daltrey vocal version of ‘Eminence Front’. There’s no denying that “Eminence Front” boasts a gas pedal-mashing groove – but listen more closely: John Entwistle thunks his bass, but without the murderous intent we’ve come to expect. And that tense little keyboard figure can’t obscure the fact that Roger Daltrey is nowhere to be found. Instead of ending “It’s Hard” with a sense of newfound direction from the remaining three founding members, this sounded like what it was: The next Pete Townshend solo song as the Who went dark.
The Who’s album, “It’s Hard“, celebrates its 40th anniversary with an expanded 2 LP set. Disc One (Orange Vinyl) contains a half-speed remaster of the album, while Disc Two (Yellow Vinyl) continues the rest of the album with additional rare and unreleased material. This edition, with art by Richard Evans, also comes with a poster from the era.
“Athena” With its rumbling guitar opening, striking tempo changes, and the way Daltrey’s barking verses bleed into Townshend’s “she’s just a girl” Greek chorus, “Athena” seemed to point to a return to form for the Who on their second Keith Moon-less project. Kenney Jones, his oft-maligned replacement, even tosses in a few explosive drum rolls as a bright brass section weaves in and out. Unusual for ’80s-era Who, “Athena” was perfectly suited for Daltrey’s staccato rasp. Only now, this reliably cocksure street tough has become romantically confused. “Athena” ends with a thrilling flourish amid Daltrey’s desperate pleas.
“It’s Hard” an early version of this song, then titled “Popular,” was rejected during sessions for 1981’s “Face Dances” and reworked with a new chorus. The result is just one of the contemporary Pete Townshend tracks that doesn’t seem to have been written with Roger Daltrey’s cadence in mind, including the somehow even more wordy “Cry If You Want.” “It’s Hard” then failed to chart after the lead single “Athena” reached a high-water mark among the Top 40 in both America and the U.K. Still, a bouncy propulsion carries everything along.
“I’ve Known No War” isn’t exactly the most musical song on “It’s Hard”, but the bluntly honest “I’ve Known No War” may be the most important. Townshend thought so: “It’s possibly one of the best Who tracks we’ve ever done, I believe,” he later said. “It’s very archetypal, very ’60s issue, but it’s also bloody great.” Everything started with the very Cold War construct of a clock ticking. The underlying message – “basically we’re a bunch of spoilt brats,” Townshend admitted – would resonate for generations.
“It’s Hard“. Originally released on 4th September 1982, “It’s Hard” was the last studio album to include bass guitarist John Entwistle who sadly passed away in 2002. It was also the last studio album to feature drummer Kenney Jones. The album is spread over three sides of the 2-LP set. Side Four on the second LP includes four previously unreleased tracks including the much-anticipated version of ‘Eminence Front’ featuring a lead vocal by Roger Daltrey. The original album has been remastered by Jon Astley, cut at half speed by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios and pressed on orange and yellow vinyl.
The Fat Angel Sings 