Roger Daltrey Ride A Rock Horse CD

By the time Roger Daltrey was ready to make his second solo album, Leo Sayer, upon whom he had relied to provide songs for his first, had launched his own successful singing career and was keeping his material for himself. Daltrey, therefore, called on his producer, Russ Ballard, who wrote three songs, including the chart single "Come And Get Your Love," and one Paul Korda, who wrote another three. On this material, Daltrey took a pop/rock approach, somewhat less aggressive than his work with The Who. He also tossed in some R&B with a cover of Rufus Thomas' "Walking The Dog," and sang in something closer to his actual British accent in the Cockney rave-up "Milk Train." Ride A Rock Horse lacked the overall quality and cohesion of Daltrey, but was still a respectable effort, especially since Daltrey's solo career remained a side issue at this time. ~ William Ruhlmann

While bandmates Pete Townshend and John Entwistle utilized solo careers to pursue notions that wouldn't fit into the overall framework of the Who, Roger Daltrey seemed to use his to follow thoughts that couldn't have fit. But whereas his debut, Daltrey, stands among the finest albums within the group's entire extracurricular catalog, Ride a Rock Horse is simply so bereft of any redeeming qualities that, from the appalling title on down, it is difficult to imagine who it was targeted at. The album opens strongly with '70s rock at its most brash and polished -- "Get Your Love" is a funk-flavored rocker, awash with horns and soulful backing vocals. But, though Daltrey is in fine voice throughout the album, it's all very rock-by-numbers, a far cry from the emotive pastures mapped out by Daltrey, and a reminder that Daltrey is only as strong as whoever he chooses for his musical partner. Leo Sayer, whose songwriting fired that earlier set, was off on his own career tangent now, and neither Russ Ballard nor Paul Korda, who contributed three songs apiece to the new album, seemed able to fill his boots. The remastered reissue adds two bonus tracks to the original album, the "Dear John" B-side and an alternate version of the Phillip Goodhand-Tait ballad "Oceans Away" -- itself a barely disguised rewrite of Townshend's "Love Ain't for Keeping." ~ Dave Thompson

Roger Daltrey's second solo album, Ride a Rock Horse, opens strongly with '70s rock at its most brash and polished -- "Get Your Love" is a funk-flavored rocker, awash with horns and soulful backing vocals. Although the remainder of the album is very rock-by-numbers, Daltrey is in fine voice throughout. Leo Sayer's songwriting fired the singer's solo debut, Daltrey (which stands among the finest albums within the Who's entire extracurricular catalog), and with Sayer off on his own career tangent now, Russ Ballard and Paul Korda contributed three songs apiece to the new album. The remastered reissue adds two bonus tracks to the original album, the "Dear John" B-side and an alternate version of the Phillip Goodhand-Tait ballad "Oceans Away." ~ Dave Thompson

Additional Tracks

Liner Note Author: Andy Neill.

Recording information: C.B.S., London, England; Ramport Studios.

Authors: Roger Daltrey; Ed Hanel; Jon Astley.

Photographer: Graham Hughes.

Arranger: John Barham.

Personnel: Roger Daltrey; Dave "Clem" Clempson (guitar); Phil Kenzie (saxophone); Nick Newell (alto saxophone); Alan Bown (trumpet); Phillip Goodhand-Tait, Paul Korda (piano); Dave Wintour (bass guitar); Stewart Francis (drums); Russ Ballard (guitar, piano, organ, keyboards); Tony Meehan (strings, woodwinds, brass, congas); Henry Spinetti (drums).

Audio Remasterer: Jon Astley.