“Tommy” is the fourth studio album by the English rock
band The Who. It was first released as a double album on 23 May 1969 by Decca
Records. The album was mostly composed by guitarist Pete Townshend as a rock
opera that tells the story about a "deaf, dumb and blind" boy,
including his experiences with life and his relationship with his family.
Townshend came up with the concept of Tommy after being introduced to the work of Meher Baba, and attempted to translate Baba's teachings into music. Recording on the album began in September 1968, but took six months to complete as material needed to be arranged and re-recorded in the studio. “Tommy” was acclaimed upon its release by critics, who hailed it as the Who's breakthrough. Its critical standing diminished slightly in later years; nonetheless, several writers view it as an important and influential album in the history of rock music. The Who promoted the album's release with an extensive tour, including a live version of Tommy, which lasted throughout 1969 and 1970. Key gigs from the tour included appearances at Woodstock, the 1969 Isle of Wight Festival, the University of Leeds, the Metropolitan Opera House and the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival. The live performances of Tommy drew critical praise and rejuvenated the band's career.
Subsequently, the rock opera developed into other media, including a Seattle Opera production in 1971, an orchestral version by Lou Reizner in 1972, a film in 1975, and a Broadway musical in 1992. The original album has sold 20 million copies and has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. It has been reissued several times on CD, including a remix by Jon Astley in 1996, a deluxe Super Audio CD in 2003, and a super deluxe box set in 2013, including previously unreleased demos and live material.
Townshend came up with the concept of Tommy after being introduced to the work of Meher Baba, and attempted to translate Baba's teachings into music. Recording on the album began in September 1968, but took six months to complete as material needed to be arranged and re-recorded in the studio. “Tommy” was acclaimed upon its release by critics, who hailed it as the Who's breakthrough. Its critical standing diminished slightly in later years; nonetheless, several writers view it as an important and influential album in the history of rock music. The Who promoted the album's release with an extensive tour, including a live version of Tommy, which lasted throughout 1969 and 1970. Key gigs from the tour included appearances at Woodstock, the 1969 Isle of Wight Festival, the University of Leeds, the Metropolitan Opera House and the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival. The live performances of Tommy drew critical praise and rejuvenated the band's career.
Subsequently, the rock opera developed into other media, including a Seattle Opera production in 1971, an orchestral version by Lou Reizner in 1972, a film in 1975, and a Broadway musical in 1992. The original album has sold 20 million copies and has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. It has been reissued several times on CD, including a remix by Jon Astley in 1996, a deluxe Super Audio CD in 2003, and a super deluxe box set in 2013, including previously unreleased demos and live material.
“Tommy” este al patrulea album de studio al trupei
engleze de rock The Who. Prima data a fost lansat ca un dublu album la 23 mai
1969 de catre Decca Records. Albumul, compus aproape in intregime de catre
chitaristul Pete Townshend ca o opera rock, spune povestea “unui baiat orb,
surd si mut”, inclusive experientele lui de viata si relatia cu familia sa.
Townshend a venit cu conceptual de Tommy dup ace a fost introdus in opera lui Meher Baba si a incercat sa transpuna invataturile acestuia in muzica. Inregistrarile pentru album au inceput in septembrie 1968, dar a durat 6 luni ca materialul dorit sa fie completat si aranjat si reinregistrat in studio. “Tommy” a fost aclamat de critica chiar de la lansare, care l-a salutat ca fiind lovitura data de catre The Who. Nivelul criticii s-a diminuat usor in anii care au urmat; cu toate acestea cativa scriitori au vazut albumul ca fiind important su influenta in lumea muzicii rock. The Who au promovat albumul cu un turneu prelungit si cu o versiune live aparuta de-a lungul anilor 1969 si 1970. Concertele cheie au fost la Woodstock, la Isle of Wight Festival 1969, la Universitatea din Leeds, la Metropolitan Opera House si la Isle of Wight Festival 1970. Performantele live au adus critici bune si au reintinerit cariera trupei.
Ulterior opera rock s-a dezvoltat in alte media incluzand productia din 1971 a Operei din Seattle, versiunea orchestrala a lui Lou Reizner din 1972, un film in 1975, o productie pe Broadway in 1992. Albumul original s-a vandut in 20 de milioane de copii si a fost introdus in Grammy Hall of Fame. A fost relnsat de cateva ori pe CD incluzand o rearanjare a lui Jon Astley in 1996, un super audio CD deluxe in 2003 si o cutie set super deluxe in 2013 incluzand material demo si live anterioare nelansate.
Townshend a venit cu conceptual de Tommy dup ace a fost introdus in opera lui Meher Baba si a incercat sa transpuna invataturile acestuia in muzica. Inregistrarile pentru album au inceput in septembrie 1968, dar a durat 6 luni ca materialul dorit sa fie completat si aranjat si reinregistrat in studio. “Tommy” a fost aclamat de critica chiar de la lansare, care l-a salutat ca fiind lovitura data de catre The Who. Nivelul criticii s-a diminuat usor in anii care au urmat; cu toate acestea cativa scriitori au vazut albumul ca fiind important su influenta in lumea muzicii rock. The Who au promovat albumul cu un turneu prelungit si cu o versiune live aparuta de-a lungul anilor 1969 si 1970. Concertele cheie au fost la Woodstock, la Isle of Wight Festival 1969, la Universitatea din Leeds, la Metropolitan Opera House si la Isle of Wight Festival 1970. Performantele live au adus critici bune si au reintinerit cariera trupei.
Ulterior opera rock s-a dezvoltat in alte media incluzand productia din 1971 a Operei din Seattle, versiunea orchestrala a lui Lou Reizner din 1972, un film in 1975, o productie pe Broadway in 1992. Albumul original s-a vandut in 20 de milioane de copii si a fost introdus in Grammy Hall of Fame. A fost relnsat de cateva ori pe CD incluzand o rearanjare a lui Jon Astley in 1996, un super audio CD deluxe in 2003 si o cutie set super deluxe in 2013 incluzand material demo si live anterioare nelansate.
List of tracks
Side 1
1. "Overture" Townshend 3:50
2. "It's
a Boy" Townshend 2:07
3. "1921" Townshend, Roger Daltrey on chorus 3:14
4. "Amazing
Journey" Daltrey 3:25
5. "Sparks" Instrumental 3:45
6. "The
Hawker" (Sonny Boy Williamson II) Daltrey 2:15
Side 2
1. "Christmas" Daltrey, Townshend in middle eight 5:30
2. "Cousin
Kevin" (John Entwistle) Entwistle
and Townshend 4:03
3. "The
Acid Queen" Townshend 3:31
4. "Underture" Instrumental 10:10
Side 3
1. "Do
You Think It's Alright?" Daltrey
and Townshend 0:24
2. "Fiddle
About" (Entwistle) Entwistle 1:26
3. "Pinball
Wizard" Daltrey, Townshend on
bridge 3:01
4. "There's
a Doctor" Townshend, with Daltrey and
Entwistle 0:25
5. "Go to
the Mirror!" Daltrey and Townshend 3:50
6. "Tommy
Can You Hear Me?" Daltrey,
Townshend and Entwistle 1:35
7. "Smash
the Mirror" Daltrey 1:20
8. "Sensation" Townshend 2:32
Side 4
1. "Miracle
Cure" Daltrey, Townshend and
Entwistle 0:10
2. "Sally
Simpson" Daltrey 4:10
3. "I'm
Free" Daltrey 2:40
4. "Welcome" Daltrey, Townshend ("more at the
door") and Entwistle
(spoken
part)
4:30
5. "Tommy's
Holiday Camp" (Keith Moon) Townshend 0:57
6. "We're
Not Gonna Take It" Daltrey, with Townshend and Entwistle 6:45
Personnel
Roger Daltrey – vocals, harmonica
Pete Townshend – vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar,
keyboards, banjo
John Entwistle – bass, french horn, vocals
Keith Moon – drums
The Who Perform Tommy at Fillmore East, October 24, 1969
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