Roger Daltrey Under A Raging Moon CD

Personnel: Roger Daltrey (vocals); Alan Shacklock (guitar, piano, keyboards, percussion); Russ Ballard (guitar, background vocals); Robbie McIntosh, Bruce Watson (guitar); Mark Feltham (harmonica); Nick Glennie-Smith (keyboards, synthesizer); Steve Rance (Fairlight); Tony Butler, John Siegler (bass); Mark Brzezicki (drums, percussion); Zak Starkey, Cozy Powell, Martin Chambers, Roger Taylor, Stewart Copeland, Carl Palmer (drums); Mark Williamson, Annie McCaig, John Payne, John Parr (background vocals).
With songs unleashed from the soul of Roger Daltrey, Under a Raging Moon is a short voyage into the psyche of an aging rock star who has plenty to reveal. Daltrey's bitterness about growing older while gasping for every last breath of a youth gone by gives this album heart and a certain emotional dimension, coming to a head on the title track. His thunderous but passionate ode to his former friend and drummer Keith Moon is a fervent downpour of frustration that can be truly felt inside every line of the song. A spectacular drum solo from Mark Brzezicki is a modest tribute to the late Moon and adds depth indefinitely. A multitude of drummers appear on the album, musically paying their respects, including Cozy Powell, Roger Taylor, and Stewart Copeland. The guitar slashing "Let Me Down Easy," penned by Bryan Adams, is a perfectly formulated rock song intensified through Daltrey's energy. While this song and all of the others act as outlets for his pent up anger, each one is sung, and sometimes screamed, with genuine passion and heart. Even the slower songs, like "The Pride You Hide," display a moving amount of sincerity. Not every song is a treasure, but all contain a intangible character that only Daltrey can muster. ~ Mike DeGagne
UNDER A RAGING MOON remains one of Roger Daltrey's strongest solo albums. While his earlier releases were more ballad-based (a departure from his blaring hard rock with The Who), UNDER A RAGING MOON contains mostly rock compositions. The best track here is the Pete Townshend-penned "After the Fire," which turns out to be a tribute to their fallen friend, Keith Moon (its video was an MTV favorite in the fall of 1985).
Other standout rockers include "Don't Talk to Strangers," "Bringing Down Paradise," "Let Me Down Easy," and the title track. While it's not on par with such Who classics as TOMMY or WHO'S NEXT (how could it be?), UNDER A RAGING MOON proved to Who fans that the band's ex-singer wasn't going wallow in retirement.