Who - Tommy (1969 Original Concept Album)

Definitely the first full-scale rock opera written, arguably the best one (in close competition with Andrew Lloyd Webber`s and Tim Rice`s `Jesus Christ Superstar` from 1970, and Pink Floyd`s `The Wall`). Sgt. Pepper was named the first concept album ever because of its intertwining structure, but Tommy gave the concept meaning. Musically, it`s one of the handful rock albums in history that can really be called perfect, as composition and arrangements go. As for instrumental and vocal performance, Tommy shows four brilliant musicians at the very top of their career. Townshend makes for possibly the best rhythm guitarist to ever grace a rock n` roll band, and his lead abilities don`t fall short either; John Entwistle, inarguably one of the top five bass players in rock history, does his best and amazes as usual, and his trademark French horn also comes in handy; Roger Daltrey`s vocals and his touching portrayal of Tommy are soulful and painfully beautiful; and drummer Keith Moon`s performance is his very best ever. This album is worth listening to several times with emphasis on different layers. Try it once listening just to the drums.

The plot is often confusing, and usually very vague. What exactly do the disciples do to Tommy at the end of `We`re Not Gonna Take It`? What is it precisely that Tommy sees and can never tell anyone in `1921`? Did the Lover kill the Father? Did the father kill the Lover? Is it just witnessing Mother`s infidelity? Is the `Father` Captain Walker? But that vagueness is the beauty of the album. The most important problem with the awful movie made in 1973 (bad acting, bad singing and bad arrangements aside) should have been foreseen from the very start of the production - Tommy was simply not meant to be a movie, and to make the plot completely clear and obvious makes the whole thing look a bit dumb. Tommy is a spiritual journey, and it`s important to remember that it`s not a Broadway musical, but a rock opera - half musical, half rock album. The music should be precisely as important as the story, and vagueness in details makes the music meld with the lyrics and the plot.

Within the complete, wonderful creation that is this rock opera, Tommy has some classic songs which are terrific moments of rock music the likes of which only Townshend and co. could create - `Pinball Wizard`, despite stupid lyrics, is a musical masterpiece and an incredibly catchy tune; `Christmas`, `We`re Not Gonna Take It`, `I`m Free`, `Amazing Journey`, `The Acid Queen`, `Welcome`, `Go To The Mirror` and Entwistle`s `Cousin Kevin` - each one is a terrific rock song by its own right, but the whole is much greater than the sum of its parts. The entire album might be a bit heavy on first listen - it took me three times through to really get into it, but the catchy songs scattered around the album will help you through it, and when you get into the album and get to know it, it`ll become one of your top CDs. The long instrumental sections also make the listening experience somewhat tiring, but once you know the songs and the musical themes that run throughout it you`ll appreciate them more, especially the classic overture and the haunting `Sparks`, but also the somewhat oversized `Underture`, that runs over ten minutes and cuts the album neatly in half.

No CD collection would be perfect without Tommy; if you don`t have any other album by the Who, get Tommy rather than a compilation album, it`s deeper and much more rewarding.

When it was released, "Pinball Wizard", "I`m Free", and "See Me Feel Me" (from "We`re Not Gonna Take It" were big hits. John Entwistle contributed 2 songs about the characters in this masterpiece "Fiddle About" (Uncle Ernie`s ode to the bedtime dance) and "Cousin Kevin" ("the schoolbully, the classroom cheat"). Keith Moon was accredited to "Tommy`s Holiday Camp".

If you`re not familiar with the story, here`s a synopsis. Tommy Walker is born while his father is away at war (believed to be dead). But Captain Walker is alive and well and returns while his wife is having an affair ("You Didn`t Hear It"). Devastated, little Tommy becomes deaf, dumb, and blind ("Amazing Journey"). Tommy`s parents look for a cure but the "Acid Queen" and a doctor are of no avail ("Go to the Mirror"). Tommy`s cure is discovered through a pinball machine ("Pinball Wizard"). The success of Tommy led to performances at Woodstock and the Isle of Wright Festival and eventually a movie and finally a Broadway production (with George Martin doing orchestration).

This is a great album and I recommend it over the forgettable movie soundtrack with everyone from Elton John, Eric Clapton, and Tina Turner (the more listenable moments) to Ann Margaret and Jack Nicholson (no, Ann Margaret doesn`t smash a guitar in the movie but she does get to smash a televison which squirts out beans, chocolate, and soap!).