RECORDS David Wigg

PETE TOWNSHEND is happily back in business after his spell of nearly self-destructing on drink and drugs. So it's perhaps of no surprise that his latest album, "All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes" (Atco), is heavily laden with his personal problems and despair.

The opening song, "Stop Hurting People," becomes a half-spoken, half-sung plea to his wife, Karen, to save their marriage, which is followed by "The Sea Refuses No River" — an emotional calling as he drowns in polluted waters yet wanting to be reborn.

Then there is another passionate signalling in the "Tommy" influenced "Somebody Saved Me." I like the rousing closer "Split Skirts," poetic and rhythmic, but generally methinks he protests too much.