In a certain sense, 's solo career should be divided into two parts. The first part, running from 1973 to 1980 and including the albums , , and , consists of work did in between making records and touring with . The second part, from 1984 on, is 's post-Who career, during which you might expect be would be more focused and would concentrate on making his solo albums primary statements rather than diversions. Guess again. was much more successful, commercially as well as artistically, when his solo career was a side project. , the first album made after 's breakup in 1982, contains some interesting tracks, including 's which gives you an idea what would sound like if was its lead singer, and "Somebody Told Me," written by and Annie Lennox of . But for the most part, it consists of mediocre material indifferently sung. The message: Parting painful, especially to . ~ William Ruhlmann