New box set of Pete Townshend solo albums coming in March

The Who’s Pete Townshend’s solo career is being celebrated with a new box set.

Pete Townshend The Studio Albums, dropping March 28, will consist of eight CDs, featuring newly remastered versions of seven Townshend albums — 1972’s Who Came First, 1977’s Rough Mix (with Ronnie Lane), 1980’s Empty Glass, 1982’s All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes, 1985’s White City (A Novel), 1989’s The Iron Man: The Musical by Pete Townshend and 1993’s Psychoderelict. It will also feature the music-only version of Psychoderelict.

The set also comes with a new foreword by Townshend, new artwork, sleeve notes by band archivist Matt Kent, and a 28-page book filled with rare photos and memorabilia.

“I have always written first for myself. Not as an artist but for play, for fun, for joy, for self-expression. For therapy? In a way, of course,” Pete shares of his solo work. “These solo songs are therefore not Who exclusions or out-takes, they are part of a story that may well have been very different had I not made some poor decisions in the early ’80s.”

He adds, “I have stories to tell about every song, and one day I may write a book that tells of that journey, but I’m probably happier spending my time today writing new music rather than explaining how the old stuff came about.”

Pete Townshend The Studio Albums is available for preorder now.