Customer Reviews

Who: Tommy (DVD Audio)

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

When people talk about The Who's Tommy, they generally seem to focus on the form rather than the content of the album. Listeners will comment on the originality of Townshend's application of opera sensibilities to a rock and roll album, and so on and so forth. Yes, it's true, what made The Who's Tommy a major hit rather than a pop-culture after-thought was its structure and distinction as the first "Rock Opera," but I believe that the most artistically redeeming quality of the album is its message.

During a time when psychedelic experimentation was the order of the day, The Who had the intestinal fortitude to release an album preaching transcendence through spiritual exploration. Tommy is a wholesale rejection of the entire psychedelic culture dominating the late 60's and a plea for spiritual enlightenment. More than just great music, Tommy is an album with purpose and a positive message.

Still the best version of this so-called rock opera. It doesn't have the extra stars of the movie version but rips at the soul with its emotional depth and the raw originality of its creators.

Listening to this is pure bliss its a Opera of some of the best rock music you may ever hear in your life.........The Who are a very impressive rock band and some may say Classic Rock sucks but those idividuals are usually "Limp Bizkit" fans who dont really even know what real music is.......take my advice and get this classic opera approach with an open mind and let it soak in your head till the day you die for this is an album to celebrate and cheerish to the end of all things

This two disc SACD version of the The Who's Tommy has much improved dynamics and resolution over the redbook CD.
Roger Daltrey's vocals are sharp and focused. Keith Moons drumming is explosive and John Entwhistle's bass comes through clean and clear. Pete Townshend's manic acoustic guitar opening to the Pinball Wizard sounds like he's
right there in my listening room about 8 feet away. It's as though they removed a veil of electronic reproduction
- the transparency brings the band back to life. My only nitpick (a minor one but worth noting) about this disc
is how they recorded and mixed Moon's drums so that they moved from left to right and back in the soundstage when going from one track to the next. Otherwise a fantastic recording.

Let's face it: 'Tommy' was The Who's final attempt to make it in show business. Even Pete said that if this didn't work, The Who were finished.

I got 'Tommy' as part of a birthday present from a friend of mine (and I nearly choked him to death (in a good way) when I saw the album cover). That being said, I think that 'Tommy' is one of the greatest albums ever recorded. It's right up there with Dark Side of the Moon, Sgt. Pepper, Highway To Hell, and Led Zeppelin IV. It's a great way to get introduced to The Who if you're not all for buying a lame greatest hits compilation. You'll find NO FILLER on here at all despite the long list of songs, and what other listeners may say. Every track is worth listening to. Highlights include: 'Overture', 'Amazing Journey', 'Eyesight To The Blind (The Hawker)', 'Sparks' (one of the best guitar solos I've ever heard), 'Cousin Kevin', 'Acid Queen', 'Pinball Wizard', 'Sally Simpson', and 'Miracle Cure'.

Add this to your Who collection mates!

The New Mix of a classic. Tommy Deluxe has 42 songs on two CD's over two hours of Music. A must for any who fan

The Who's fourth studio album Tommy was released in May of 1969. This album was the make or break for the group because if Tommy had failed, The Who would have probably disbanded. Guitarist Pete Townshend came up with a rock opera about a deaf, dumb and blind kid named Tommy whom becomes those aforementioned things after witnessing an event as a child that traumatized him(his father killing his step-father whom he considered his father). Alot of classics appear on this album like the Overture, Pinball Wizard, Amazing Journey, the Underture(best instrumental on here), Go to the Mirror, I'm Free, Cousin Kevin(one of bassist John Entwistle's greatest compositions), Fiddle About(about the perverted Uncle Ernie), Tommy's Holiday Camp(another excellent ditty written by drummer Keith Moon whom did an excellent rendition in the film version of Tommy in 1975) and the finale We're Not Gonna Take It among many other classics. The 1996 remaster used different masters for the remixed reissue. However, this version uses the very original tapes that were found in Universal's vault after being said that the original tapes were destroyed by Kit Lambert in a fire. As a result of the discovery of the original tapes, the sound quality is amazing on here. I have yet to hear the surround mix but I know it will be great. Disc two has great outtakes and demos like I Was, The Who trying to record Sally Simpson with hilarious results and instrumental versions of Tommy Can You Hear Me and Tommy's Holiday Camp among many other rarities. Highly recommended.

I love "Tommy" for all its incredible melodies, deep insights, challenging format, and stunning production. The concept of the album was beyond even what the Beatles were doing in that it was not just held together by a theme. "Tommy" was an attempt to probe the psychology of a traumatized boy and his family, and the sick, exploitative culture that we are all (still) embedded in. That being said, it simply rocks!!! I had the Gold CD version and dumped it because the version of Eyesight to the Blind features an alternate vocal that lacks the intensity of the original. Here, instead of hitting the notes hard and high, Daltrey is singing them an octave lower with a more pensive approach. Well, nobody beats Roger for sphincter-tightening screams, so I went for the orginal/remastered version. I will probably get the newer, Deluxe 2-disc edition just for completeness' sake, and because the Who have done a fantastic job with that entire series, putting other icons (such as the Stones) to shame when it comes to class reissues. (Beatle industry--are you paying attention?) So, don't go for the gold on "Tommy", just go for what was great in the first place.

This is the definitive Rock Opera, Tommy, by The Who. This classic album saved the band's career during a dark period when the artists had strong creative disagreements. For a few good reviews of this album, read the ones for the Tommy (1969 Original Concept Album) [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED].Please, if considering this product, disregard the stupid reviews above. I have know earthly idea as to what the H*ll those people are talking about.

The Who's fourth studio album Tommy was released in May of 1969. This album was the make or break for the group because if Tommy had failed, The Who would have probably disbanded. Guitarist Pete Townshend came up with a rock opera about a deaf, dumb and blind kid named Tommy whom becomes those aforementioned things after witnessing an event as a child that traumatized him(his father killing his step-father whom he considered his father). Alot of classics appear on this album like the Overture, Pinball Wizard, Amazing Journey, the Underture(best instrumental on here), Go to the Mirror, I'm Free, Cousin Kevin(one of bassist John Entwistle's greatest compositions), Fiddle About(about the perverted Uncle Ernie), Tommy's Holiday Camp(another excellent ditty written by drummer Keith Moon whom did an excellent rendition in the film version of Tommy in 1975) and the finale We're Not Gonna Take It among many other classics. The 1996 remaster used different masters for the remixed reissue. However, this version uses the very original tapes that were found in Universal's vault after being said that the original tapes were destroyed by Kit Lambert in a fire. As a result of the discovery of the original tapes, the sound quality is amazing on here. I have yet to hear the surround mix but I know it will be great. Disc two has great outtakes and demos like I Was, The Who trying to record Sally Simpson with hilarious results and instrumental versions of Tommy Can You Hear Me and Tommy's Holiday Camp among many other rarities. Highly recommended.