Music review: Roger Daltrey – 鈥楢s Long as I Have You鈥�
Roger Daltrey returns to his early musical roots on his ninth solo effort.
The Who frontman channels plenty of smooth R&B with punches of rock luster from the earlier days before Daltrey, Pete Townshend, Keith Moon and John Entwistle went on to become one of the biggest rock bands on the planet.
鈥淎s Long as I Have You鈥� comes 45 years after Daltrey鈥檚 first solo album and rates as one of his best with the 74-year-old vocalist heartily belting out 11 tracks about love, life, emotional trials and perseverance.
Townshend joins his bandmate and plays guitar on a variety of the selections from a set consisting of spirited covers as well as some moving original arrangements.
The title track, originally recorded by soul singer Garnet Mimms back in 1964, serves as a rousing rock and blues number that is fueled by a stirring combination of feisty guitar riffs, vibrant horns and ebullient backing vocals.
Daltrey takes full ownership of Stevie Wonder鈥檚 鈥淵ou Haven鈥檛 Done Nothing,鈥� Parliament鈥檚 鈥淕et On Out of the Rain鈥� and Joe Tex鈥檚 鈥淭he Love You Save,鈥� while Stephen Stills鈥� 鈥淗ow Far鈥� comes across sounding like classic Who with the assistance of Townshend on acoustic guitar as Daltrey confesses, 鈥淢ost of my life/I鈥檝e been living on the road/Then I realized that the suitcase ain鈥檛 my home.鈥�
An incredible touching cover of Nick Cave鈥檚 鈥淚nto My Arms鈥� simply steals the spotlight with Daltrey demonstrating that he can passionately handle a piano ballad with the same haunting tone as Cave did back in 1997 on 鈥淭he Boatman鈥檚 Call.鈥�
Original tracks 鈥淐ertified Rose鈥� and 鈥淎lways Headed Home鈥� find the rocker once again revealing his softer side on these reflective pieces that gently illustrate a life well lived.
In addition to his new solo album, fans can look forward to the release of Daltrey鈥檚 memoir in the fall of 2018 and a mini tour this summer that will feature Daltrey performing the Who鈥檚 rock opera 鈥淭ommy鈥� with the assistance of a local orchestra at each show.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.