Rough Mix

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On 21 October 1976, The Who closed a brief North American tour in Toronto at Maple Leaf Gardens, a show that would be the last with Keith Moon before a paying audience.

The Who's band members then took a hiatus to pursue various individual interests.

Pete Townshend had been initially contacted by Ronnie Lane to produce his next album, the project instead turning into a full-blown collaboration between the pair. Lane expressed an interest in a songwriting collaboration but Townshend, who has very rarely co-written songs, was unwilling. The instrumental title track is credited to both musicians, however.

During the recording of Rough Mix, Lane's multiple sclerosis was diagnosed (in one instance, Lane had an emotional issue related to his MS that caused an argument between him and an unknowing Townshend). Nonetheless Lane toured, wrote and recorded (with Eric Clapton among others) and in 1979 released another album, See Me, which features several songs written by Lane and Clapton. Around this time Lane travelled the highways and byways of England and lived a 'passing show' modern nomadic life in full Gypsy traveller costume and accommodation.

The album featured songs written by both principals in a vein less like that of The Who or The Faces but instead close to the folk-rock vogue of the early 1970s among various English bands.

A number of famous colleagues appeared on the recording, among them Eric Clapton, fellow member of The Who John Entwistle, Ian Stewart, and Charlie Watts. Orchestral arrangements for the track "Street in the City" were provided by Townshend's father-in-law, noted British film and television theme composer Edwin Astley.

Rough Mix was remastered in 2006 and released by Hip-O Records, the reissue label for the Universal Music Group, in both 5.1 surround sound format on Dualdisc and standard stereo compact disc. The reissue featured three outtakes as bonus tracks.

Track listing

Personnel