It may seem that a generation separates the two rockers - Johnson's first album with Dr. That twin connection is important, as Going Back Home isn't merely a return to Wilko's roots, it's a homecoming for Daltrey as well, marking the first time in decades that he's sung such tough, blues-based, three-chord rock & roll. Supported by his touring band, Johnson entered the studio with Daltrey and knocked out Going Back Home in a week, just like the Feelgoods and the Who did back in the old days. Feelgood songbook: the hard R&B and rock & roll songs he wrote and recorded in the '70s that continued to resonate decades later. Wilko had a few new originals, plus the idea to cover Bob Dylan's "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window," but he mainly stuck to the Dr. Instead of whiling away his final days, Johnson set out on a final tour and, finding himself still standing at the end of it, received an invitation from Who singer Roger Daltrey to go into the studio and record an album of whatever songs the guitarist wanted. We may never break new ground but if we go into the studio we have to try.Early in 2013, Wilko Johnson received the news that he had terminal pancreatic cancer and had maybe ten months to live. These are different times, and we are different people. … But if we are to do something new it should probably not be an attempt to top what we once did that would be futile. Not so that the difference between us becomes obvious, but so that we’ve found common ground in the studio, similar to that we’ve found on-stage. We have come to the point where the next “Who” album, if there is to be one, really needs to feature songs from Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend in equal numbers. When I do, I tend to do either music or lyrics, and I don’t think I have ever once sat in a room with someone and written a song while gazing into their eyes. We have tried to write together a few times, but I don’t have a method or process, so there is no pathway for Roger to follow when we sit down together. … Roger left a phone message thanking me for my work and support, so I assume he liked what I did. I also find I take more chances if I’m not being overlooked by a producer in a regular studio. I did my work in my home studio where I can get the guitar sound I like most easily. I thought the lead guitar done by Sean Genockey was excellent, so if there was a challenge it was to try and work with that, without getting into a guitar battle. They are very much the kind of songs we used to play when we started out in the early 60’s. I had heard the album in a rough mix stage and liked all the songs. I tried to do something adventurous on every track I worked on. I think it’s a really good recording by a great producer with a great band with some absolutely amazing vocal performances from Roger, and I told him so. I was proved right: it all sounded sublime. … When I got the separate tracks from, I lined up the faders and played it all back through my Neve mixer at home. I felt the rough mixes were a bit too rough, and that they undersold the recordings. … He had grave doubts about the record and the arrangements, and I offered to listen. I offered to get involved after hearing from our managers that Roger had decided not to release it. Here are a few excerpts from the discussion with Pete. The latest issue of Mojo magazine features Roger on the cover and in-depth interviews with both Roger and Pete. ![]() ![]() The album is available now for pre-sale on Amazon, where you can listen to preview clips of all the songs. The album also contains cover songs that have inspired Roger over the years, including the recently released title track that was originally recorded by Garnet Mimms in 1964. "As Long As I Have You" features a couple of new compositions written by Roger, including the long talked about “Certified Rose”, which nearly made the last Who album “Endless Wire” in 2006, and “Always Heading Home”, a beautiful ballad that Roger has been closing many of his recent solo shows with. This will mark Roger's first solo album since the release of "Rocks In The Head" in 1992. ![]() The album was produced by Dave Eringa, who also produced Roger and Wilko Johnson's album "Going Back Home" which came out in 2014. Pete’s distinctive rhythmic guitar will intermingle with the lead guitar tracks played by Sean Genockey. Pete Townshend has contributed guitar tracks to 7 songs on Roger Daltrey’s upcoming solo album “As Long As I Have You” which is due to hit stores on June 1. Pete plays guitar on new Roger Daltrey album!
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