Daltrey’s tone later turns more conciliatory.
“I understand Rock Town Hall’s Foyer of Fame selection committee has stringent criteria that disallow my solo songwriting efforts within The Who as well as my lead acting work within the band in the Ken Russell film Tommy. Certainly, I respect the Hall’s consistency in handling these matters.”
Daltrey continues,
“I would hope that Rock Town Hall will consider my solo works beginning in 1973, when I released my first solo album proper, Daltrey. With the help of a young songwriter named Leo Sayer I crafted an album that easily bested many of my band’s works following the 1978 death of our brother, Keith Moon. The single from that album, ‘Giving It All Away’ made the Top 5 in the UK and the Top 50 in the US market, which to be fair was still catching up with the catalog of The Who.”
“By the time of my soundtrack for McVicar,” writes Daltrey, “the members of The Who were supporting me with their musical contributions.”
“As great a talent and as visionary an artist as Pete Townshend is,” he concludes, “he’s always ready to hitch his wagon to my powerful voice. It is unusual that I speak of my own talents, preferring instead to let others share in the rays of light that spread beyond my spot front and center onstage, but I feel strongly that Rock Town Hall’s oversight is in need of correction. I have offered the Hall three solo tracks from my Best Bits collection for their consideration. If they choose, at this late date, to induct me into this year’s class of Foyer of Fame inductees, I will be happy to accept via satellite. Whether I am inducted this year or next, I would like to recommend my dear friend and collaborator Leo Sayer for the honors of my introduction. Thank you.”
Rock Town Hall will accept this unsolicited, leaked request for recognition by Roger Daltrey. Three tracks from Daltrey’s solo career follow. You may use the Comments section for this post to petition his last-minute induction. Thank you.
Had I but known that Daltrey would be posting traxx fom his solo “Best Of” LP! One of my more valuable thrift stotre finds was the radio DJ edit version of the McVicar soundtrack album — it features between-song patter from Roger, explaining his vision for each number and detailing his challenges filming that particular biopic!
For the record, I think Daltrey the solo artist *should* be inducted in a future Foyer of Fame ceremony. His “triple- threat” career should not be overlooked!
I like Early Morning, Cold Taxi.
The Foyer is going to get pretty full pretty fast if we start letting in members of major bands, even frontmen of such, who achieved only mediocrity as solo artists.
Yeah, as much as I love Daltrey within The Who, I’m standing firm in my vote against his entrance. I do appreciate his reaching out to us, however.
Letting in Daltrey would make a complete mockery of the Foyer of Fame.
If you have to ask yourself whether an artist really deserves to be included in the Foyer of Fame, then the answer should be “no.”