The Who plots covers album, plays for a cause

In February, we reported that a new Who album was in the works, full of tracks that harkened back to a better time, a simpler time, when The Who was, well, The Who. Just this morning it was announced that the band will be doing an album of Motown covers.

Wait a minute, weren’t the Who supposed to write new material for this one? Well, Pete Townshend might still write some. But the rock legends will mainly cover R&B classics, many of which they believe audiences might not even be familiar with yet.

“We’re digging through lots of material and seeing what will work,” T-Bone Burnett told RollingStone.com. “There’s an incredible treasury of songs in the mode of what they used to play.” Burnett is producing the project and has tentative plans to jaunt over to London this fall to begin recording.

In other Who-news, Amazing Journey just came out on CD, dual-disc DVD and vinyl. Also, for those who just happen to be in London, the band will be performing an acoustic set at a benefit to raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust. The non-profit helps to improve quality of life of adolescents fighting cancer. Other acts performing at the event include the Fratellis, Muse, the Futureheads and the Raveonettes.

Look at that: The Who has both heart and soul (see what we did there?).

Got news tips for Paste? E-mail news@pastemagazine.com.