Roger Daltrey
As Long As I Have You
(Republic)

As the lead singer of The Who, we tend to forget Roger Daltrey’s solo work, his acting and lending of his time, name, and money to noteworthy causes. The man does get around. Here with his tenth solo release, As Long As I Have You, the iconic rock singer is going back to his roots, giving forth his powerful pipes on songs from the soul, stuff very much like the music that inspired him to sing in the first place.

Of the eleven songs here two are Daltrey originals, the a horn poppin’ “Certified Rose,” and the big gospel sway of a truly fantastic album ending, “Always Heading Home.” Daltrey also grabs Dusty Springfield’s “Where is A Woman To Go,” manages the snappy snare and acoustic guitar mix cover of  Stephen Stills’ “How Far,” and gets real dirty and rockin’ on his cover of Stevie Wonder’s “You Haven’t Done Nothing.”

I have seen and heard Roger Daltrey plenty with The Who, and especially in recent years I have felt his voice hasn’t sounded its best. He’s been singing the same tunes for 50 years. On As Long As I Have You, Daltrey sounds renewed, sanctified, his soul certainly intact. Simply put, he is singing the best he has in years.

Good old Who bandmate and songwriter, Pete Townshend even lends a hand here playing on seven tracks, while Mick Talbot manages keys.

Not that he needed to, but Roger Daltrey truly proves his soul is alive and well on As Long As I Have You.