Just a couple of corrections, really:

"Tommy" was NOT the first rock opera put to record. That distinction belongs to the Pretty Things and their album "PF Sorrow." It's certainly a less well known work, but they still beat The Who to vinyl.

And in the original concept album, it's Captain Walker who kills the boyfriend upon his return (he was MIA following World War I), not the other way around as in the film version. Ken Russell insisted upon changing this for his film because his pal Oliver Reed was playing the boyfriend (Frank Hobbs) and had to have a big part. Pete Townshend has said that "it doesn't matter" which character dies; however, I strongly disagree, as I'm sure most psychologists would as well. (A child is bound to be more profoundly affected by the murder of a father he's longed to know for his entire life than the death of some friend of his mum's whom he bearly knows). But for the sake of getting it right, it's the boyfriend who buys the farm in the album version and it's his parents' screaming at Tommy to deny his senses after witnessing the murder which sends him into his catatonic state.

Theres not much more to say about this record. Pure genius....buy it....you wont be dissapointed.

Tommy(1969). The Who's Fifth Album.

In 1969, The Who were close to becoming international superstars. While they had achieved minor sucess in America, The Who still didn't have a best-selling album yet. In 1969, to create hype for Tommy, The Who released "Pinball Wizard" as a single. The song became The Who's best-selling single yet, and people went out in droves to buy Tommy. Tommy was highly hyped by critics and fans alike who were calling the album a "rock opera". The album was a critical and commercial smash, and The Who were grouped along with bands like Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, and The Beatles. Pete Townshend's story of a deaf, dumb, and blind pinball player might have been an unlikely sucess, but it helped make The Who to become one of rock's most recognizable bands. What did I think of this legendary album? Read on to find out!

HISTORY

With Tommy, The Who and Pete Townshend took a totally different approach to their new album. The Who was essentially a basic, catchy, and guitar-driven British group, but Pete Townshend strived to be something more than that. He wanted The Who to be a band that wouldn't just be remembered as musicians, but artists. After brainstorming many ideas off the rest of the group, Townshend finally patched up all the loose ends and contrived a massive concept album based on a boy who was deaf, dumb, and blind. The Who's record label and producer were skeptical at first, but they agreed to make the album.

MUSIC

Pete Townshend planned Tommy as a concept album, or an album where all the songs would "flow" or "blend together". Throughout Tommy, The Who repeats many of the same rhythms, melodies, and harmonies, and you will continually hear many of the same songs on each track. Pete Townshend tried to make his guitar not just an instrument, but a character in the story. To that degree, Tommy is a very ambitious album, yet maybe it's own ambition is what causes it to fail.

"Pinball Wizard", a rock classic, is a thundering anthem that combines Pete Townshend's awe-inspiring guitarwork with Roger Daltrey's inspired singing. "I'm Free" is a short but sweet rocker that many fans will recognize as classic Who material. "We're Not Gonna Take It", the album's closer, is a decent track that finds The Who rocking out. The rest of the album, at best, is barely listenable. The tracks, which supposedly are chapters in the story, all sound the same. In fact, most tracks on Tommy are filler. What I found that I didn't like about this album is the overblown and cheesy way Tommy is made; the tracks are laughable at many times. While The Who tried to make an amazing rock opera, they simply did not suceed. Tommy is a hopelessly flawed and indulgent rock relic that will leave you feeling confused, but not satisfied.

OPINION

The Who would later go on to create masterpieces like Who's Next and The Who By Numbers, and Tommy inspired The Who to explore their creative abilities. Tommy also popularized The Who, and opened them up to a wider audience. "Pinball Wizard" and "I'm Free" are also some of the finest Who tracks around. To me, Tommy had some good things, but mostly it was a disaster. However, many fans and rock critics consider Tommy a great album, and many, such as myself highly, dislike it. If I were to totally not recommend this album, I would be wrong. You might love Tommy, and you might not. I would suggest listening to Tommy or borrow it before you choose to buy it. If you wanted to discover The Who, I suggest picking up Who's Next, The Who By Numbers, or The Ultimate Collection to start you off.

Thanks For Reading!