What Makes This Song Great? ""Love, Reign O'er Me" The Who 

THIS could be Ricks greatest air performance ever!...air timpani's, air drums, air Pete Townsend swoop guitar, and last but not least- air vocals!!!...fantastic!!!

Daltrey rarely gets credit for being one of the greatest rock n roll singers.

I've always thought that this was THE most magnificent rock and roll song of all time. Hard to hear without tears streaming down my face. Beauty, rage and elegance, all magically woven together in a way that leaves me breathless.

No one ever mentions Entwhistle’s bass work. The reason being it is so flawless and perfectly layers into the rest of the music.

Daltrey in my opinion went to another level with his vocals on this song.

Pete Townshend originally intended to sing lead vocals for "Love, Reign o'er Me", because it's subtitled "Pete's Theme" and he wanted the vocal delivery to be a plaintive whimper. It made sense at first--this song marks the end of "Quadrophenia", where the main character, Jimmy the mod, is drunk, strung-out, and stranded on a rock in the middle of the ocean. He's depressed and disillusioned with his mod lifestyle, and on the verge of death. He's sitting in the rain with his life flashing before his eyes, and he does something he's never done before--he prays. When Roger Daltrey wanted to sing lead vocals instead, Pete was skeptical. But when Roger came through with this towering vocal performance, Pete finally understood. It was sung from Jimmy's INTERNAL voice!

The greatest rock scream in my opinion, only to be topped by Daltrey himself in Wont Get Fooled Again.....Goosebumps quality notes

My best friend in high school, who was also my best man when I married the first time, was an alcoholic from the time he was 15. He was a Who fan, big time. I can remember him singing with this song, and when it got to the line, "oh God I need a drink, of cool, cool rain....", the emotion on his face betrayed the hopelessness of his dependency. He died in his early 40's. I played Heart of Gold, on guitar, at his funeral.

As a non-musician, whenever I watch Rick's videos I feel like I have sneaked into the back of a music class I'm not enrolled in.

Whenever I get the question: "what's your favorite band, the Beatles or the Stones?" I say, "The Who."

As an avid listener of The Who, it’s really interesting to see someone who really knows what they’re taking about to break down a masterpiece such as this

Gotta throw out a mention of the greatness of the lyrics while we're at it. The double meaning of reign and rain, then comparing love to rain that's soothing, and then rain to tears. Magnificent poetry. This song really is a masterpiece on all levels. It's hard to believe that Pete Townsend could write this, and that there exist four musicians who could do it justice.

Rick could do an episode of What Makes This Song Great for every song on this album.

“That’s one of the greatest notes ever in rock and roll”. Peak Beato.

I saw The Who in 2019. At age 75 Roger could still sing this song. He got a standing ovation!

From the greatest rock album of all time.

Couldn’t stop smiling at his love for the music. Especially the vocals

I was moved by this post! We used Love Rain O'er Me as the recessional for my son's memorial service. He was a huge fan and considered Quadrophenia to be the Who's greatest album.

God I miss Keith Moon and John Entwistle. The world was decreased on the day each of them died. Great video as always, Rick.

Rick's passion on this song is soooo infectious. I will never hear this song the same way again. Rick has transformed it from a great song to an anthem.

I had a music teacher in high school who was an amazing jazz pianist. One day I came to school with my "Best of the who" song book. He saw me looking through it, and grabbed it from me. He went over to the piano, and within 20 seconds he said, "This guy uses alot of suspended chords doesn't he". Rick saying that brought me back to that moment. Thanks Rick!

This entire album is one Pete Townshend stroke of genius after another..

The talent overflowing in The Who is demonstrated by this thorough breakdown, without a single mention of John Entwistle, arguably the best rock bassist of all time. There barely was room for him to distinguish himself, with Townshend and his writing and playing, and Daltrey and Moon all knocking this song out of the park.

Pete Townshend is a truly amazing artist. He shall go down in history as one of the greats. Even some of the simplest of tunes from The Who prove this. Thanks for this Rick.

If you score a Pete or Roger interview you will be my hero forever

No mention of Entwistle who is playing what is needed perfectly.

The Who greatest live band. Townshend and Paul Mc are two of the greatest singer/songwriters, musicians, performers ever. They can play any instrument well. Best all around musicians.

My favorite artist, my favorite album, and my favorite song. Came out when I was a moody teenager and it captured everything I was going through. To this day one of the only songs that will actually bring tears to my eyes. For over twenty years (before marriage and kids) I kept a second electric guitar, tuned down one half step, just to play this song. When Pearl Jam performed for the VH1 special I was transfixed and almost incapacitated. My wife and my son simply do not understand why I love this song so much, and I will never be able to explain it to them. Even Pete has been quoted as saying he never wrote another album as good as this one. You are correct when you lament Pete's underestimated guitar work. Some say he is a rhythm guitarist, or just played power cords, or fills. You only have to hear him play banjo to know he is capable of amazing works. But his music is not an excuse to solo, or about any one instrument, it is about expressing his stories in music. His guitar serves the needs of the song, not the other way around. I am not putting down those who play a thousand notes a measure in long solo over three cords, I am just saying there are many ways to be great on guitar, and Pete seems less flashy, but actually places the perfect notes where they need to be. You said nothing, however, about John Entwistle, and as a bassist, I find it hard to forgive you. However, here John restrains himself in service of the song. (Although, I think he said he produced the orchestral parts.)

Quadrophenia is, for me, the greatest concept album of all time. All 4 members at their absolute best

This is Roger's OPUS. The sea, the piano and the soaring guitar.... Entwistle and Moon were just amazing on this one. One of Townshend's best written and composed tunes of his entire catalog of songs.

I'm so glad he spent time highlighting Roger's vocal performance--there's so much more to it than screaming and posturing (there always is with Roger). There are all sorts of textures and colors in there: breaths, hoots, pauses, shouts, little moments of falsetto, and a gamut of emotions. The album as a whole contains some of his best recorded singing. A unique vocalist and a hugely moving performance in this song especially. Thanks, Rick!

The Who didn’t write just songs. They were complex compositions. One of the greatest bands to stand the test of time.

Every person has that ONE album in their life and for me, that album was Quadrophenia. This song has all the things that make The Who great, but Daltrey's performance is just superstar. When you think of a "perfect" song, it's hard to argue against this masterpiece.

Quadrophenia is The Who's greatest work. Hugely underrated.

This song is one of the greatest songs of all time. Pete is a genius. Quadrophenia is one of the top ten rock albums. Thank you Rick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The main descending guitar riff is a PERFECT example of why The Edge once told me (interview in 1982) that Pete Townshend -- as a COMPOSER on the guitar -- was one of the most powerful influences on U2, from Day 1.

Wow, Rick - you didn’t just pick one of The Who’s best songs - you picked one of the greatest songs of all time!

Roger Daltrey’s vocals in this song represent one of those musical moments that bring chills. Thanks Rick for commemorating that in your video.

Saw The Who in Tahoe, August 2017 and they did this song. Haven't heard them do it since I saw their Cow Palace performance of Quadrophenia in 1973. Daltry's vocals were unbelievable especially for his age. Rick is right...truly an underrated song, band and composition! One of my favorites of all time! The lyrics are some of the best also!

There is nothing that could've made me love this song any more than I did growing up with it, watching them perform it live, until I watched this video. . .Thank You Rick Beato. ..

"On the dry and dusty road The nights we spend apart alone I need to get back home to cool, cool rain I can't sleep and I lay and I think The night is hot and black as ink Oh God, I need a drink of cool, cool rain" Pete Townshend is simply one of the greatest lyricists ever.

What I love in these series of "What Makes This Song Great" is that Rick Beato passionaly loves the songs as real fan, but unlike the majority of them, he also knows perfectly why, and explains and plays them for us. I am a Rick Beato fan! (from Brazil).

Intensity decided to form a band, and it was called The Who. Keith Moon was the antithesis of the modern tack beat. Rock In Perpetuity, Moon The Loon!

The Who were so incredible live that it was hard to record properly. I think Pete was always trying to strive to get there. He was an honest to god maestro. Pete was a true innovator.

What amazes me the most about these WMTSG episodes is that you can take a song I've been hearing for 40+ years and open my ears up to hearing things I never heard before. In essence making an old song new again. Awesome. Thank-you!

This's gotta be one of the greatest songs ever recorded in the history of music. Daltrey's performance on this one is just unbelievable. I saw The Who on Rock in Rio 2017 and he just NAILED the vocals when they played it. A truly remarkable singer.

Who else watches these and just wants to hang out with Rick and jam out to records? 🤣

Roger's vocals are legendary for sure. With distinctive and unique tone, great range, unbridled POWER and massive control. IMO, his performances will never be matched. Rick you really help me fall in love all over again with the music I already love. You have mad skills with your trained ear. Impressive barely describes this gift of yours.

Genius. Bob Heil is a friend. He told me one day he got a call from Pete asking him to come over. Bob flew to London. Pete asked him if he could make Roger's vocal bounce to the 4 corners of the concert hall. Bob said yes, I can build a board for that. Pete said you build it, I'll write it. Quadrophenia. That board is in the Rock Hall. FYI: Bob is also the guy behind the Talk Box that Frampton and Walsh helped make famous. Talking with that guy is like a master's course in whatever he has on his mind.

This song is why I say Pete Townshend is a musical genius and why I say Roger Daltrey is unequaled as a singer.

I saw them in concert a month or so ago and even at 78 Roger can absolutely still crush this song, especially the rock scream part in the middle. Unbelievably impressive

Daltrey is unique in that he loses little power the higher he sings. In the bridge, the way he adds a little tail at the end of "reign", going higher with the note but with even more power, is a favorite Daltrey moment of mine.

[A drummer writes] There are so many crazy stories about Moon the Loon - it detracts from the fact that he was an astonishingly creative and brilliant drummer.

The strings were an ARP synthesizer. Pretty sure the main ostinato was a programmed sequence. Pete also gets overlooked as a pioneering electronic musician!

Not enough people explore the lyrics of this great lyricist. Pete Townsend wrote some of the most plaintive and heart-rending and soul searching lyrics ever produced. And of course, Roger Daltry brings a powerful and insistent vocal, like a preacher reaching deep into the soul and wrenching out the truth of human experience. Wow. There are few songs that I can lose myself in, and this is one of them. Every time I hear it, I feel the humanity of love, loss, and of painful need. Thanks, Rick! Now I know why I get crazy when I listen to truly moving music.

One of the greatest performances by one of the greatest bands ever. Townshend is a genius. My 1st guitar hero. Dude still scares the hell out of me.

I saw the Who live in Buffalo, NY at Rich Stadium and it started to rain during this song. Pete quipped "Let's see the Rolling Stones do *that*".

Rick was so into it, I thought he was gonna smash his guitar!

It is quite possible this is the greatest song ever recorded. Best Composer Best Vocals Best Drums Best Bass Best Song that completely destroys me everytime.

This is just one of MANY great songs written by Pete Townsend. What surprises me is that he comes in 29th of the all time greatest song writers according to Rolling Stone Magazine. 11 higher than Prince? For gosh sake, Townsend wrote rock operas, and Prince wrote Red Corvette. I wonder who Townsend pissed off on the voting committee? Townsend is top 3

Even by itself, this song is an absolute masterpiece...but then when you listen to it after listening to the whole album....I feel like everyone should listen to this album at least once during lifetime...All the emotions the album makes you go through...

Exactly how many times Is Rick going to introduce us to a song we've heard a million times and you listen as if it's the first, Mr Beato cannot be praised enough !

Wow, this is the first time I’ve ever heard this song by them and I am floored. This might be one of the best songs I’ve ever heard. The melody during the chorus hits just right.

Little late to this post but I saw the who play this last night with a full orchestra behind them, and it was honestly the best song they played all night! It was just a huge, moving experience, with Roger’s vocals slicing through the mix like I’ve never heard before. The orchestra really made those string parts come through beautiful. I have to say it was a perfect performance!

Alternative title: *Rick goes full fanboy for 13 minutes straight*

The whole album, Quadrophenia, Is a masterpiece. In my opinion the best rock album ever.

I am so glad you did this one. I was 13 years old and had a babysitting gig one night. The very next day I took that money and bought The Who Live At Leeds album. I still have it! The Who got better and better...just amazing musicianship. I finally got to see them live many years later. The Clash opened for them!

Bravo Rick. One of the greatest rock songs of all time. I was in tears by the end. Always great to hear your technical take on something so intuitively great.

It's impressionism. The beginning, the rain, thunder. Very memorable.

I'm so happy Rick chose this of all of The Who's back catalogue, what an incredible piece of music!

Sheer brilliance from one of the greatest bands ever... arguably the greatest bassist of all, playing with one of the greatest drummers, and one of the greatest/ smartest guitarists ever, AND a great singer. Raised my daughters on classic rock, and to this day, my youngest , (28 years old), daughter’s favorite band is The Who... Dad is proud!

Rick, I'm so glad that you gave this album some love.

Such a great song in all respects. Daltrey's vocals are so epic and emotional.

I got to see The Who with my sister in 1979 (I was 13). We had 3rd row on the floor seats at the Forum in L.A. Roger Daltrey had the audience in the palm of his hand during this song. His powerful, towering vocal I have never forgotten. Thank you for this episode, Rick!

I seen the Who @ Pontiac Silverdome in 1975 w/ Moon of course. My buddies and I stood outside in frigid December temperatures for 10hrs to land up front (2nd row) seating. 97k people pushing toward the front made it extremely difficult to endure, even for a teenager, but what an incredible experience! Moon with his speed and antics was captivating making it nearly impossible to take your eyes away from him. I remember also being blown away by Entwistle fingers so fast, that they were literally a blur. Not exaggerating... I had never seen anything like that before or since. Pete and Roger were also nothing short of incredible as well. Scaffolds stacked 6-7 tall lined both sides of the stage and were filled with Marshall amps. A big marquee above them was flashing. "Welcome to the World's largest sound system. ever" & "Welcome to the Worlds largest indoor concert ever." To be honest, it was survival of the fittest because of general admission seating. When the gates opened to let the public in, security immediately cleared out of the way not even attempting to collect tickets. I still have my original ticket fully intact. I've seen the Who twice since then with Kenny on drums and the Ox on bass sometime in the 80s. I then seen them several years ago with Pete's brother and Ringo's son playing drums. Both shows were great, but not in comparison to the 1975 show.

Amazing song. Definitely my favourite from the Who. At the top of their game. What a voice Roger has !

I can only listen to Quadrophenia maybe, 2x a year-front to back. When it’s over, I have to sleep for a few hours because I’m totally wrung out-which seems appropriate, considering the album’s underlying water themes. I would have to say that “Drowned” is my be all, end all fave from this album! “Bellboy” is a close second, because you can really hear the fatigue and despair in Keith’s voice when he sings “you know how I feel, always running at somebody’s heel.”

There is nothing like this being made today. Pure artisan-ship, craftsmanship and musicianship bundled beautifully. Thanks to The Who, Glynn Johns and Rick Beato for making and keeping this music alive.

Read Daltrey’s autobiography... what an amazing guy... humble... like Pete, John and Keith, he developed his own gift, with no lessons, or musical schooling, just passion, experience, on stage and in the studio... it comes through his singing ... almost like a Broadway or opera singer ... because Pete’s music is so theatrical

Every time I watch one of these, I'm reminded of the scene in The Big Chill where William Hurt's character says to Kevin Kline's character, "You're SO analytical. Sometimes, you just have to let art flow over you." I have no idea what Rick's talking about, but I know a great song when I hear it.

Both the Stones and Zeplin interpreted the blues in their own unique ways to create powerful and enduring rock classics... but Pete... he created something altogether new and different in almost every song he wrote - never more evident than here on 'Love Reign O'er Me' ...and Roger, well, he sang this one like his life depended on it. The rhythm section was merely great on this one. Thanks Rick for shining a light on one of Rock's greatest songs.

Quadrophenia is probably my favorite album of all time. This is The Who at their absolute best with powerful vocals from Roger, John being a badass bass player as always, especially in The Real Me, Keith at the height of his playing, and genius lyrics and great guitar work by Pete. This is definitely a must for musicians and rock fans.

Now THAT is songwriting!!! The emotion in the vocals AND the lyrics, as well as the dynamics and musicianship of the players....It's hair raising. I wish you would've isolated the strings starting at 11:57. At any rate, compare this song to any of the "songs" in your Spotify Top Ten video.

I grew up with the song on the radio all of the time and never really liked it ... until I finally listened to it in the context of the whole album, which was only a couple of years ago. The whole album hints at and points to this song and when it hits, it's massive. I can only imagine what the first listeners thought - it must have knocked their socks off.

This song never fails to bring me to tears. It taps in to that moment of shear heartbreak we have all experienced at some point in our lives. It is true art at its best - depicting life at the most dramatic of moments. Genius!

Tommy was always considered ‘THE’ rock opera. But this was pure brilliance. Tommy was just a practice run. 😎

It's rare when you hear Keith Moon play straight anything ...talented monster, he was

…my favourite track from Quadrophenia…here is love and yearning tearing apart a teenager with no clear identity…how can you really convey that crisis musically? Rain, drama, chaotic drums, swelling ostinato, falling guitar riffs, and Roger’s bloody perfect vocals. Oh, god I need a drink of cool cool rain…

Quadrophenia is the reason I survived high school.

“When it used to be on the radio.” Better times.

It is heartening for me to know that this album, this song, which were anthems of life for me in my teens, is understood by so many others. And that so many others appreciate its greatness. :)

I love how you're so into the music that you can barely resist the urge just to play along with the whole song - your passion is infectious!

Incredible. Keith Moon REALLY followed Roger's singing and Roger drew his energy from Keith's playing. Such a powerful song on an truly powerful album. Thanks, Rick!

Confession; When I was initially introduced to this channel, I had mixed feelings (leaning toward skepticism combined with no small amount of bewilderment). Then ... I discovered Mr. Beato's "What Makes This Song Great" series and my sensibilities have been dramatically altered. This series has not only been quite enjoyable and entertaining, it has (on several levels) been fascinatingly informative. Mr. Beato's insights and obvious love for music with which I, myself, am extremely familiar is a joy to see. The fact is, Mr. Beato and this series has helped my writing and improved my arrangements and mixes. Thanks, Mr. Beato.

So otherwordly and haunting. To me along with Nights in White Satin. One if the most haunting songs from the 70's. Love music like this.

To have even written one song like this in a career would have been such an achievement. Quadrophenia is the Mona Lisa of rock.

It's refreshing to see someone so enthusiastically give POSITIVE comments about what is good, versus what is wrong with something. Especially from an expert like Beato.

Considering the rain theme, it needs to be said: John Entwistle is the first and ONLY god of thunder. That Thor guy is just a poser.

Just saw them Sunday night in Jacksonville, FL and 78 year old Roger Daltrey knocked it out of the park! Pete still can play..GO see them folks!

COME ON! I love this guy! Whenever I’m feeling down about anything all I need is a dose of Rick and a WMTSG video. What enthusiasm!