The song that “melts” The Who’s Roger Daltrey: “A beautiful voice”
The Who have contributed to rock music more than many people recognise, not only in what they did throughout their careers but in how their influence has impacted modern music. This all stems from their mastery over the album; they used the LP format not only to throw a load of songs onto a record but also to create a whole narrative using sound.
The band became some of the go-to people when making a concept album, as the likes of Tommy and Quadrophenia were made up not only of good songs but songs that contained plot, character development and depth. Their music was less a listening experience and more a world in which you could fully immerse yourself.
This has impacted modern music because as streaming services became more mainstream, the album has become an integral part of music once again. When iTunes first came around, people focused more on making singles as it made sense to release five singles a year for 99p each rather than one album of 12 songs for £7.99.
When Spotify came around, people started focusing on the album more, and in doing so, they looked towards The Who to learn how they could put one together and keep people engaged so fans could continue streaming their music. When you study their music to determine what about The Who’s albums keeps listeners so engaged, a few things come to mind. These are the overall songwriting, the album’s pacing, and the dynamic nature of Roger Daltrey’s voice.
In an album where several different characters’ points of view are covered and a range of emotions are tapped into, it’s essential that Daltrey can cover all bases, which he does incredibly well. Whether he is singing something sad, lustful, or euphoric, all of it is covered thanks to his excellent vocal range. As such, when he talks about singing, he knows exactly what makes a good voice. So, who is his favourite?
In an interview, Daltrey was asked about some of his favourite music, and he was quick to state that Harry Nillson was one of the best singers he ever heard. “[He] was such a great talent, and I knew Harry, a very funny guy,” he said. The song he mentioned as one of his favourites because of Nillson’s vocal performance on it was ‘Without You’.
“There is something about this record; he’s got something going on in his voice that really gets me,” he said, “A beautiful voice, and he was a very funny man. There is something about this song that really melts me. Harry was one of the best songwriters out there, the production on this record is extraordinary, such a great sound.”
Several factors contribute to The Who’s success, but Roger Daltrey’s ability as a vocalist is one of the most significant. As such, he knows what to look out for in a vocalist, so when he says Harry Nillson is one of the best ever, it’s worth listening to him.
