 |  | The Who - Listening To You ............ |  |
Few will deny that The Who's "Tommy" remains one of the all time great classic rock albums. Although concept albums had been done before this one, "Tommy" was the first one to really catch a wave of public support and basically define just what a concept album was. There was nothing like this out there when "Tommy" was released in 1969 as The Who raised the bar for rock n roll creating a work of art instead of just an album full of songs. Of course this rock opera went on to inspire a film, all star staging's of the material, and a Broadway musical. "Tommy" is not the best concept album ever created in fact it is not even the best by The Who ("Quadrophenia" is better), but it has stood the test of time as a great musical composition and remains a great influential album. Songwriter and Who guitarist Pete Townshend began the run of his life as "Tommy" was the beginning of a 3 album creative spurt that is as good as any in the history of rock n roll. "Who's Next" and "Quadrophenia" would follow "Tommy" and all three are bona fide classics without a weak track on them that would propel The Who to the top of the heap.
July 1, 2008 | | The Best Blueprint for a Live Album Ever | |
OK, thirty years on, what is Tommy's true standing? The songs are there, and they are nothing short of amazing. The band was firing on all four cylinders. What ultimately comes up lacking is the production. In my opinion, Kit Lambert tried too hard to force Tommy into previously-codified forms, such as a "rock" opera, or a song cycle. What one hears on this album is just a precusor to the white-hot beast that Tommy could become in concert. If you doubt my opinion, listen to the live renditions of "Tommy" on Live at Leeds and the Isle of Wight festival recordings. On such recordings the Who literally slam the first effective rock concept album across with an energy which wouldn't be rivalled until the advent of the Ramones and the Sex Pistols. I am not trying to dissuade anyone from buying this recording of Tommy; it is, after all, the only one which was in common circulation until the release of the Isle of Wight performance. Generations of headphone freaks cut their teeth on this album. Still, having heard the live versions of Tommy, it's hard to go back to the studio niceties of the original album. If it'd had the dynamic production of Who's Next, Tommy in this form would almost assuredly stand as a definitive recording of rock's entry into the world of "serious" musical accomplishment. As things stand, the studio recording of Tommy is now best seen as a dry run for what the album and narrative would become. Get the live versions, if only to hear Townshend's damn-near overpowering guitar coupled with Daltrey's seemingly effortless shifting between dramatic voices, all done live for your benefit.
May 19, 2008This album shows a time where The Who were at their prime. The energy of these songs continue to blow newcomers out of the water. Buy this product. You'll fall in love with the greatest rock band of all time all over again. I certainly did.
May 18, 2008 the cd is a testament to pete's genius,musically and lyrically. never get tired of the who
May 4, 2008This is the masterpiece in The Who cannon. I know some of you will say Who's Next or Quadrephenia. I could accept arguments for Who's Next, but I still give Tommy the nod because of its ambition and abundance of good melodies and good playing. Quad is way too ambitious to be enjoyable. It is as exhausting to listen to as it must have been to make. Tommy signals the end of the 60's ethos. The hippie thing had become commercialized and enlightenment would have to be pursued individually, not en masse. For the youngsters who don't get it, well, we're gonna leave you behind with the kids are alright!! You had to be there and if you weren't, this is as close as you'll ever get. And if you don't get it then you won't at all.
April 18, 2008More reviews at Amazon.com ...
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