Pete Townshend's demos had grown legendary among
Who collectors well before the official release of the double-album
Scoop in 1983. On each demo,
Townshend worked out full arrangements, which
the Who would often follow exactly. He also recorded a wealth of songs and instrumental pieces that never made it to record. Over the course of two albums,
Scoop features 25 of these demos, including both classic
Who songs ("So Sad About Us," "Bargain," "Behind Blue Eyes," "Magic Bus," "Love Reign O'er Me") and unreleased gems ("Politician," "Melancholia," "To Barney Kessell," "Mary"). Occasionally, the songs sound better in their demo versions, particularly on latter-day
Who songs, which were overwrought in their official incarnations. But what makes
Scoop so fascinating is its revelation of the depth and detail of
Townshend's imagination, and how he refined his ideas. But even casual fans will find the sheer musicality of the record worthwhile -- it's one of the most focused and impressive albums he has ever released. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine