50 years ago: The Who released Tommy

Tommy The Who

Released: May 23, 1969 Peak: 4 US, 2 UK, 6 CN, 8 AU Sales (in millions): 2.5 US, 0.1 UK, 20.0 world (includes US and UK) Genre: classic rock

Tracks: Song Title (Writers) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts. Overture [3:50] It’s a Boy [2:07] 1921 [3:14] Amazing Journey [3:25] Sparks [3:45] The Hawker (Eyesight to the Blind) (Sonny Boy Williamson II) [2:15] Christmas [5:30] Cousin Kevin (Entwistle) [4:03] The Acid Queen [3:31] Underture [9:55] Do You Think It’s Alright? [0:24] Fiddle About (Entwistle) [1:26] Pinball Wizard [3:50] (3/7/69, 19 US, 15 CB, 15 HR, 1 CL, 4 UK, 6 CN, 45 AU) There’s a Doctor [0:25] Go to the Mirror! [3:50] Tommy, Can You Hear Me? [1:35] Smash the Mirror [1:20] Sensation [2:32] Miracle Cure [0:10] Sally Simpson [4:10] I’m Free [2:40] (7/5/69, 37 US, 30 CB, 29 HR, 7 CL, 83 AU) Welcome [4:30] Tommy’s Holiday Camp (Moon) [0:57] We’re Not Gonna Take It [6:45] (“See Me, Feel Me” excerpt: 9/26/70, 12 US, 8 CB, 9 HR, 5 CL, 4 CN, 70 AU) Songs written by Pete Townshend unless noted otherwise. Total Running Time: 75:15 The Players: Roger Daltrey (vocals) Pete Townshend (guitar, vocals) John Entwistle (bass) Keith Moon (drums)

Rating: 4.254 out of 5.00 (average of 27 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album: The Who’s fourth studio set bears the distinction of being “the first musical work to be billed overtly as a rock opera.” WK The double album, written almost entirely by guitarist Pete Townshend, “launched the band to international superstardom.” AMG The story focuses on a deaf, dumb, and blind kid who becomes a Messiah-like figure. This gave Townshend a chance to explore “the larger themes of emotional scars, freedom and religion.” RV When initially released, some critics hailed it as a masterpiece and “the beginnings of a new genre” WK Life magazine said “for sheer power, invention and brilliance of performance, Tommy outstrips anything that has ever come out of a rock recording studio.” WK AMG One device used to get attention was pinball. The album’s main character is “a blind pinball wizard who was worshipped as the new messiah.” RVThe story goes that Townshend tailored the song Pinball Wizard to rock journalist Nic Cohn’s tastes to get a positive review from him. His reaction: “It’ll be a masterpiece.” RV “Though the album was slightly flawed, Townshend’s ability to construct a lengthy conceptual narrative brought new possibilities to rock music. Despite the complexity of the project, he and the Who never lost sight of solid pop melodies, harmonies, and forceful instrumentation, imbuing the material with a suitably powerful grace.” AMG One of the highlights comes when “frontman Roger Daltrey fully embodies the tortured essence of Tommy, displaying his newfound liberty in I’m Free.” RV The album has some other “excellent songs, including…Sensation, Christmas, We're Not Gonna Take It, and the dramatic ten-minute instrumental Underture.” AMG “We’re Not Gonna Take It” was whittled down to “See Me Feel Me” for the singles-friendly radio market. The group has frequently played the entire album live in concert, but not as a staged theatrical show. Several live performances have been released in their entirety, including the 2002 Deluxe Edition of the 1970 live album Live at Leeds and the Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 release in 1996. In 1975, the album was adapted into a film with major stars such as Ann-Margret, Elton John, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton, and Jack Nicholson. Elton John’s performance of “Pinball Wizard” became a top 10 hit in the U.K. The band re-released a soundtrack version of the album. In 1993, Townshend and theatrical director Des McAnuff adapted the album for a Broadway musical. The show initially received mixed reviews, but won five Tony Awards that year, including Best Original Score. Notes: A 2003 edition added a second disc of demos and outtakes. A 2013 edition added a full live performance of Tommy from October 15, 1969 at the Capitol Theatre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and the Swansea City Football Club on June 12, 1976.

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for The Who AMG All Music Guide review by Richie Unterberger NO TheNightOwl.com review by Steve Marshall RV The Review “100 Greatest Albums of All Time” by Clarke Speicher (October – November 2001; Vol. 128: numbers 12-23). WK Wikipedia Other Related DMDB Pages: First posted 3/23/2008; last updated 8/13/2021.