Was Roger Daltrey really needed in the Who?

[yomptepi]

I have been playing Sliders Who set of late, and reading up on the records on Wiki as they play. I am astonished how many of the songs are sung by Townshend. Playing Tommy this afternoon, I noticed that Daltrey only sings solo on six of the songs. Was he badly thought of? Was Townshend trying to tell him something? Could the Who have been as great as a three piece band? I wonder if Daltrey was really of any value to the Who. Certainly up to Tommy. I know he sings a lot more on Quadrophenia, Who's Next and Who by Numbers. He must have felt like a spare prick at a Jewish wedding most of the time.

[Sneelock]

I say yes. Pete is fine on some songs but he lacks the oomph of Daltrey's best stuff. I like my Who with oomph.

[The Modernist]

Any number of front men from more obscure sixties bands would have been as good and probably better.

[Quaco]

I think to a large extent it was his band. Even though PT was clearly the leader and Moon was the star, it was probably Daltrey who made everybody come to work in the morning, so to speak. So I don't think we'd have a Who without him. But so often you realize he was the weak link, as you did -- their instrumental stuff was transcendent, he often bellowed when he could have tried something subtler, PT sings a lot of the greatest songs, he wasn't much of a creative thinker, etc. Still, on balance, I think a Daltrey-less Who would have been the smuggest bunch of jerks, and I'm glad he was there as a straight man. Made Townshend and Moon much funnier.

[pcqgod]

Someone had to carry the equipment before they were successful enough to hire roadies.

[sloopjohnc]

he often bellowed when he could have tried something subtler

Agree, somewhat. I think you had to have someone with the power of his voice to stay with Townshend, Moon, and to a degree, Entwhistle.

I think those three would've gone off the rails without Daltrey.

I'm not as sold on he bellowed instead of being subtler. I think there are plenty of times he chooses the right tone.

I think he was a much better singer than Townshend. I think Townshend's voice is pretty weedy and thin and lacks substantial power.

[Quaco]

Biut Townshend's voice could move you. Daltrey rarely did. But certainly, the contrast was part of it.

[yomptepi]

he often bellowed when he could have tried something subtler

Agree, somewhat. I think you had to have someone with the power of his voice to stay with Townshend, Moon, and to a degree, Entwhistle.

I think those three would've gone off the rails without Daltrey.

I'm not as sold on he bellowed instead of being subtler. I think there are plenty of times he chooses the right tone.

I think he was a much better singer than Townshend. I think Townshend's voice is pretty weedy and thin and lacks substantial power.

I agree. Although tonally they are very similar. i think it is a fair point that Daltrey was the least creative of the four.But those big songs are masterclasses in rock singing. 5.15, Won't get fooled again, and Baba O'Reilly would be feeble if Townshend had sung them.

It is unusual to have such a great singer in the group, and yet use him so sparingly though

['skope]

I have been playing Sliders Who set of late, and reading up on the records on Wiki as they play. I am astonished how many of the songs are sung by Townshend. Playing Tommy this afternoon, I noticed that Daltrey only sings solo on six of the songs. Was he badly thought of? Was Townshend trying to tell him something? Could the Who have been as great as a three piece band? I wonder if Daltrey was really of any value to the Who. Certainly up to Tommy. I know he sings a lot more on Quadrophenia, Who's Next and Who by Numbers. He must have felt like a spare prick at a Jewish wedding most of the time.

it's a fair point, mikel. i have little interest in the who post 'tommy', so can't comment on the albums that followed.

i absolutely love townshend's voice, but daltrey's was rawer and more working-class, which lent itself better to the who's pop-art years.

[der nister]

Any number of front men from more obscure sixties bands would have been as good and probably better.

Like?

['skope]

Any number of front men from more obscure sixties bands would have been as good and probably better.

Like?

google is your friend, seepage. YOU tell us, like you normally do.

[Count Machuki]

I don't think Townshend could have sustained a whole set of early Who stuff. How could he have been heard over that sheer volume, much less done all the windmills and scissor kicks and auto-destruction stuff?

[Zeeba Neighba]

i absolutely love townshend's voice, but daltrey's was rawer and more working-class, which lent itself better to the who's pop-art years.

Agreed - I can't even imagine Pete punching out songs like "Love Reign O'er Me", "Won't Get Fooled Again", "5:15", or "Bargain"(most of the song) much less "My Generation". I think Townsend realized how much Daltry could convey that power in the songs too. Granted Townshend, Entwistle, and Moon were, at the time, among the top players of their instrument, so Daltry as a vocalist is always gonna pale in comparison. Still, I think he was indeed "really needed".

[jimboo]

The Who at their peak and pomp needed every member.

[Snarfyguy]

Townsend and Daltrey always seemed to me like they disliked each other quite a bit, and that tension is part of the unique chemistry that made them the band they were.

[jimboo]

Maybe Snarf ,but there only ever was one Who. I am not so sure there is that much tension. I mean Pete has had his issues over the years and I think Rog has been a rock in his life . I would describe them as having a marriage of sorts. I believe they have been a successful unit . Great question by the way.

[The Modernist]

Any number of front men from more obscure sixties bands would have been as good and probably better.

Like?

The names aren't really important, though if you want some - Reg King, Kenny Pickett, Art Wood etc.
The point is Daltrey's vocals were pretty run of the mill for the time. And then there are the seventies to be held against him.

[jimboo]

Nah Moddy , wouldn't be the same band , any bass player would have done as well? Why have a loony on drums chucking fills and thrills when you could have had a million others , listening to the Who is an experience because of the clash and character of them involved .

[The Modernist]

Nah Moddy , wouldn't be the same band , any bass player would have done as well? Why have a loony on drums chucking fills and thrills when you could have had a million others , listening to the Who is an experience because of the clash and character of them involved .

Well that's true. He probably was a vital part of the chemistry, but on a strictly musical criteria I'm not sure he was that great.
He always looked a bit uncomfortable in the mod clothing at the beginning too. Has anyone ever thought he was cool?

[Quaco]

In the early days, Marriott was the guy doing what Daltrey was trying to do.