Reviews (page 3 of 13)
Deeply personal writing by Pete Townsend. As usual, musicianship is brilliant.
One of the first and best concept albums
One of m'y first LP i bought in m'y collection!! So Much souvenirs of that album...
One of my all time favs!! 5 Star performances from the whole crew
I've listen to this album since I was 10. The live version on the special edition was astonishing
THE concept album from one of the greatest rock bands even to plug in an amp and break their instruments over it.
It has been a while since the 1001albums randomizer has served me a true classic; a record I’ve known and loved for 50+ years. That said, isn’ quite perfect. It has many brilliant moments, but a few misses. Tommy was a bold and ambitious project in 1969, and even a bit audacious. A rock-opera, with overture, interweaving themes around a complex (and sometimes confusing story). The original vinyl included a lyric book, which identified which character was singing each line, which made a world of difference in understanding. Tommy has had significant impact through the years, from the Who’s performance of it at Woodstock, to ballet and opera productions, to the 1975 major motion picture. And a 1991 stage adaptation. Tommy was even analyzed in a book I read in the late 70’s (Wilson Bryan Key’s 1976 “Media Sexploitation”, IIRC. But it might have been 1975’s “Subliminal Seduction”. I read both, I forget which one it was). If I were to pick 10 albums that are “important”, this would be one of them. Not quire perfect but no question it rounds to 5/5.
cool!
Listened to this tons as a kid. I wasn’t sure if I’d still enjoy it today, but I really did. Pictured the characters from the movie version as I listened and had a delightful time.
I always have time for a concept album and obviously this is one of the 'rock opera' variety. It's got so many great tunes on it that even if the story gets incredibly weird and doesn't always make complete sense, the songs are there and it's great fun to listen to, regardless. Pinball Wizard has to be one of the greatest rock songs ever written.
Great! Love concept albums
I haven’t listened to Tommy in almost a decade and I remember it once being one of my favorites in my late teens/early twenties. I played it for one of my friends and he just said it was weird and why would I listen to this in the year of our lord 2009. That stuck with me and every time I listened to it afterwards, I thought about that comment about this thing I loved and felt a twinge of embarrassment. Well here in 2024 at 35 years old, I don’t give a shit about your opinion, Alex, Tommy is fucking awesome. It is weird and definitely a product of the 60s. One of the early rock operas and others have done it better, but I absolutely love this album. My unpopular opinion is that this is my favorite Who album.
Oh god one of the best albums, i love it. Definitely one of the best from The Who. Pinball Wizard is my fav track on here
A virtuoso performance by one of the premier bands of all time. A big score.
What an amazing and ambitious project! A rock opera that hits on so many levels and superior musicianship across the board.
Tommy defined 'concept album.' The fact that it's back on Broadway shows you just how powerful this music still is. One of the great recordings of all time.
some of the catchiest songs about child abuse and molestation, murder, and cults that i've heard
The first of The Who's rock operas I believe. I got this record and Quadrophenia, another rock opera, from my ex's collection of her dad's old records. This album is epic in many ways: the sound, length, and lyrical concept. Crazy that Pete Townshend wrote almost the entire thing. I think I saw an ad around NYC recently for Tommy on Broadway, that would be fun. I thoroughly enjoyed this from front to back, it did not feel as long as it is.
Maybe I just have a soft spot for Rock Operas, but this is a great album. Universally known and respected amongst listeners and musicians alike. Any time a piece of art s translated across multiple media, you know you have something special.
Gosh golly that was an ambitious album, wasn’t it? There were moments where the musicality felt genuinely timeless, like a piece of classical music.
Good!
Pinball wizard is a classic song off this ambitious rock opera. The entire concept album rock opera idea is executed perfectly by the Who on this album. Great songs tell the story of man's life. Great album
Again, a classic album. Love The Who. Love this album.
This is an album I’ve been curious to revisit on the 1001 album list. I listened to it a lot as a teenager. The Who were one of my favorite bands in high school as I got into classic rock. At the time, the idea of an ambitious concept album was so cool to me. Listening to it now, I’m surprised how much of it is ingrained in my memory. I must have listened to this a ton because I know every shift and change in the music by heart. Twenty years after I first heard it, I think this album is pretentious and ridiculous but also brilliant and amazing. The music really carries it. The lyrics and story are so strange though. A deaf, dumb and blind boy is subjected to all kinds of torment — a bullying cousin, a preacher trying to save him… a prostitute? … an uncle who molests him? 😬 — and he turns out to be an amazing pinball player? And then is cured by a miracle medical treatment and becomes a prophet? What compelled Pete Townshend to tell this story? But even though the story is the driving force of this album I kind of think you actually don’t completely need it. Is that crazy to say? The music is so good though. I love how musical themes are established and reprised. “Overture” and “Underture” have an epic sweep to them. The Who helped legitimize a level of ambition for rock music that still reverberates today and I’m so grateful for that. Damn, Keith Moon is so good. I said that about him on The Who’s live album “Live at Leeds” too. These drum fills on “Go to the Mirror!” are insane. He’s an absolute thunderstorm on the toms but somehow sounds light as a feather too. And he switches gears to play a different beat in an instance. Incredible. Ugh, hold up, back to the story — why is Uncle Ernie playing a part in Tommy’s camp? I guess Tommy could never know what happened to him when he was a kid but man, that’s such an unsettling inclusion right at the end of this album. Ultimately, the grandeur of this whole thing really swept me up all over again. This album swings for the fences and I can’t help but call it a masterpiece. I had a lot of fun diving back into this.
The songs themselves on this album are quite good, the music in isolation is a 3.5/4 to me. But man, the storytelling on this album is just top notch. To sum it up, everyone knows the song Pinball Wizard. But to really KNOW the song, you need to know it in context - and when you do, it takes it from a good song to a truly great song. For that reason, it gets a 5 from me.
I've listened to this many times over the years, and always find some little nuance I hadn't noticed before. It's a classic for a reason. Outstanding.
genius.
Haven’t heard this in a long time. Nice to hear it without the broadway treatment or the celebrity guest spots. I remember being in high school wondering how a 24 year old can singularly have the vision for a project so big. Great stuff.
Ein weiterer Meilenstein!
I believe Quadrophenia to be the superior rock opera penned by The Who, but Tommy was the original. I grew up listening with the CD of The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight, where they perform Tommy in its entirety. It’s super raw and awesome with guitar solos and distortion. It wasn’t until years later that I heard Tommy studio (I had heard Pinball Wizard and other singles on radio). By contrast, Tommy studio sounded acoustic and soft. But the drums are still amazing and it’s an album I can listen to in its entirety time and time again. Bonus points for any rock album that successfully incorporates the French horn.
My mother introduced me to Tommy before I had any true appreciation for what The Who even was, I was young enough to not even really get the concept of a band. But I remember watching the musical and thinking I was supposed to think it was significant or at least out of the ordinary given the content I had been up to this point exposed. The only aspect that held my attention was the promise and expectation that there would be "pinball in it". In high school, I watched it again in a music elective as a tangent of musicals, the rock opera. Obviously everyone here knows what a rock opera is. I would venture to guess that Tommy is the reason you know what a rock opera is, both because of it's incredible songs but also the fact the it was made into a film as well. It's the ubiquitous OG of rock operas and is a reminder, along with Pink Floyd's "The Wall", of what England's youth's sentiment was at their respective times (Recall that The Wall was release 10 years after Tommy). Two world wars having exacted an attack on the nation's psyche, leaving the younger generations partially fatherless, profoundly disillusioned, and searching for answers. Tommy be slammin, fam
I mean. Tommy. I feel like this album has always been with me, of course it's tied up with first arcade memories, and first rock opera memories. Maybe that's all a bit surface; this has got everything.
love this~!!
A Classic that stood the test of time and will also stand all other tests I guess…
So great. I hadn't listened to the studio in a long time and I can see why. Their live performances are just incredible.
A bit of a marathon, but managed to stay varied and interesting throughout. The who has really come into their own by this album, and I love it!
Pinball Wizard is amazing
Pete is the best British guitar player
Absolute classic. It doesn't get any better than this. Lyrics and music are top notch!
It's freakin', Tommy. You already know.
Love the Who!
Great album by by the Who. The guitars don't roar as much as Quadrophrenia. songs and songwriting are top notch. The opening song and Amazing Journey my faves, also Eyesight to the Blind
Masterpiece and classic. Prototype rock opera, amazing musicianship, great songs, gripping story. What more could you want?
Such a great album!
At the age of 50 I had never actually gotten around to listening to that entire album from beginning to end. And having listened to it from beginning to end at the age of 50 I am now glad that I was old enough to properly appreciate it when listening to it for the first time. I'm now going to make a point of seeing if I can find a group that performs this album live in my area and attend their performance
Masterpiece, a classic. Brings me back, it's my dad who showed me the musical as a teen. Make sure to be high when watching the movie
Rock operas are mankind's greatest achievement
ALL TIME CLASSIC!
Listening to you, I get the music Gazing at you, I get the heat Following you, I climb the mountain I get excitement at your feet Right behind you, I see the millions On you, I see the glory From you, I get opinions From you, I get the story Listening to a remastered version with my ears in is a revelation. I know all the songs but to hear it so clearly, to heard previously buried parts of the accompaniment brings me to tears.
Obviously this is great but I am always going to associate this album with my friend who really wanted to try a raw egg cracked into a Newcastle like Keith Moon drank in the movie before abusing Tommy. Unlike this album, the drink was awful and in no way a seminal moment in prog rock.
Classic.
Forgot how good this album was. Great Great Great
Tommy is a fantastic album. Great songs, great sound and a cool story.
Great progressive Rock, why did I not listen to this before?
Classic
10 star album
The Who created a whole new genre with this album. You an hear the roots in A Quick One While He's Away.
I quite liked it.
9/10 even though I find this album a little exhaustingly repetitive, it’s still such a masterpiece of rock, and an amazing soundtrack to a fantastic movie
Beautiful story, and wonderful music. Love an album that feels like a piece of art rather than a bunch of songs, and this definitely delivers
LOVE LOVE LOVE one of my absolute favourite albums ever.
I don't know if this was the first 'rock opera' but in its brilliance it certainly set a high bar for any comparisons within the genre.
treat yourself by listening to this album (esp in order) - 4.5/5
The first time I remember heating Tommy was in the early 1990s. Back then we were exploited Columbia House and BMG to get CDs for cheap and my dad upgrading vinyl LPs. So Tommy arrives and it gets put on our fancy CD player with dual cassette deck. I'd never heard any music like it, not only Keith Moon's insane drumming but music that told a story. I'd never heard of opera of course much less rock-opera so my mind was blown! I followed along with the Liner notes and enjoyed it allot. Later I would hear Quadrophenia and be even more blown away. I also was thinking just yesterday that I'm 335 albums in and nothing by The Who yet. I'm glad that's been corrected!
Really odd listening to this after knowing the film soundtrack so well. Still some banging tracks, don't see how anyone could possibly make sense of this version but fun nonetheless
TOMMY CAN YOU HEAR ME?
Bah ouais c’est cool surtout le film
No one except maybe Jack Bruce or let’s be fair the Beatles had more musical ambition in mainstream rock music at the time. And no one but Townshend had the balls to try. This is an insane mess - his first really successful attempt at an opera based on rock music. He’d tried before but ‘Rael’ and ‘a quick one while he’s away’ are more throat clearing. Utter garbage like that P F sparrow thing is nowhere near this. And really of the dozens and dozens of rock operas that follow, it’s only this, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joe’s Garage and The Wall that go close to really achieving artistic success. And of the five this is the best. Sure Joe’s Garage goes a bit insane (it is Zappa after all). And the Wall does too. Superstar was probably more shocking at the time but holds up musically. The Who’s manager at the time, Kit Lambert, was the estranged son of noted conductor and composer Constant Lambert and went into rock to annoy his father. He assured Townshend that none of the great operas had plots that made any sense. Add in something about Townshend guru and you have a demented masterpiece. But a deaf dumb and blind pinball champion, English holiday camps. The acid queen. Cousin kevin. Uncle fricking Ernie. Could you even BE a financially successful pinball champion? The only thing that makes this album a bit saner is the incredibly demented movie. The themes, the lyrics, the structures all make sense, even if the plot doesn’t. Pinball wizard, with its chord progression based on Purcell rocks as hard as the Cream, the stones, and zeppelin. See me, feel me, is a gorgeous ballad. Reading the wiki article, I read that Molly Meldrum played uncle Ernie in an Australian production in 1971 with Darryl Braithwaite as Tommy. It just keeps getting more demented. Entwhistle is magic. Moon is on fire. Daltrey is starting to find the voice that would power Who’s Next. And this is possibly Townshends finest moment. Though he still has Who's Next and Quadrophenia to come this lays the groundwork for so much. This is really musical DNA for me. So 10/5
Brilliant!
The CLASSIC, timeless legend.
Great stuff. 5/5
FUCK YES
Haven't listened to Tommy in forever. Listened twice. Keith Moon!
I knew I would like this album because I like the song pinball Wizard but I was not prepared for the pedophile song directly before pinball wizard so now I am conflicted on how I should rate this. Worst of all is the pedophile song was quite catchy. (it was not a pro pedophilia song to clarify)
If I had been born in the 50s I would have been obsessed with this.
The Who ne déçoit jamais
A terrific rock opera.
Many memories around this one. Speaks volumes that this isn't even close to the best Who album, but it's still a masterpiece
Tommy is one of the first rock operas and still one of the best. If you are listening without hearing the words you aren't gonna get it. Not every song is an all-time great but the whole album is. It tells the story of Tommy, a traumatized boy who is good at pinball, is healed, and starts a cult. A tale as old as time. I really like the (French?) horns in Overture. Poor Tommy doesn't get Christmas :( The "wah oh wah oh wah oh" sound is fun. This is probably my favorite song if not Pinball Wizard. I forgot to continue to take specific song notes even though I listened to the album 2.5 times. I like how bits of melody from various songs show up throughout other songs, especially the instrumental ones like Overture and Underture. We're reviewing albums here and this is an Album if I've ever heard one. Perfect 5/7
a masterpiece
This album creates a character and makes your gut wrench for him. The poor dumb, deaf and blind kid gets abused and taken advantage of. Then it makes you realize he is more than sum of his circumstances. He's mother f*ckin pinball wizard. The best rock opera on this list.
Listen to Tommy with a candle burning and you will see your entire future. I love this record.
This is what a rock opera should be. Clearly set the standard in a lot of ways (in some ways for the worst), but I really enjoyed listening all the way through
The first rock opera I ever listened to as a kid. And it's awesome...because it's The Who. It really is that simple sometimes. One of my favorite ever album covers too. Favorite track: Pinball Wizard
The Who can do no wrong
A perfect concept album and, possibly, the best rock opera. Experimental musical ideas combined with an interesting story that is relative to all time periods all while having wide range and enjoyable songs. I admit that it takes a couple listens to fully appreciate, but it is well worth it. Only real complaint would be sometimes the vocals aren’t exactly pitch perfect, but I do not care. Love this thing. 5/5
Love ‘Tommy’. As a kid, my son and I would listen to it all the time. He loves ‘Pinball Wizard’ even now as a surly teenager.
One of the freatest concept albums of all time
Un super album, les albums concept c'est pa.dtoujours fou mais celui ci se démarque vraiment
Sure, I may be giving it 5 stars, but it might be my most reluctant perfect rating. The Who are fine, but IMO a little over-hyped and then I won't even get into the allegations against Pete Townshend... With that said, is Tommy an iconic album? Of course it is. And especially an iconic album as an ALBUM. You've just got to listen to it in its entirety and please do it before you die. So yeah, sure, 5 stars.
It's Tommy. It's a classic. 5 stars.
Comments not needed,
Such a unique classic. The instrumentation is great. The lyrics can be weird but I think that is part of the charm.
Absolutely gigachadded
Ahh Thomas. Weird and wonderful.
The Who’s best
A perfect album.
Tremendo discazo. Es como de teatro, no sabes cuándo un tema termina y arranca el otro. Luego busque y es 'ópera-rock'.
A great if unbalanced album. This is one of my favorite albums and I love to listen to it for all the great parts and not so great parts
cool
Vinyl
Light 9
Amazing
A three act play about the rise and fall of a blind, then not blind, cult leader who at first wasn’t a cult leader but then is a cult leader but then isn’t again.
I love the Who- magnificently gifted and oddball with disastrous concept albums and insane members. This whole album sums them up and the world would be a lesser place without them.
now an amazing 54 years old but still great to listen to
I listened to this and enjoyed it in my youth but wow what an album.
A brilliant concept album in which you can actually follow the story. It features some of Pete Townsend’s best writing and a few staples of classic rock. I don’t think it’s the Who’s best album but it definitely deserves a 5.
Tommy, can you hear me?
The first rock opera, Tommy set the stage for mainstream rock (as opposed to more niche prog rock ) to get serious and expansive. The original is vastly superior to the movie soundtrack despite the latter's star cast.
An absolute epic. Going to watch the movie. Amazing music and lyrics.
Stone cold classic. Top marks.
So good. It's a long record that sounds much shorter due to the short songs, varied characters and themes. I was surprised to find out that Tommy came so early in The Who's career.
Doesn't get much better then this. First rock opera. Beautiful music composition, powerful and thoughtful lyrics. Incredible album! 10/10
One of my favorite albums. I'm a sucker for a good rock opera, and 1969 just contained some of the most killer music ever.
Set standard for rock operas.
Discazo (LNM)
An epic album that opened up new possibilities for what a record could be. While some of the "filler" tracks do little more than propel the story forward, the "meat" of the album is powerful and soaring and includes some of the greatest rock songs ever written.
Tommy is arguably one of the greatest rock operas to ever be recorded. And it was released only a year and a half after the ridiculous The Who Sell Out. What an evolution! The Who is easily one of the greatest individuals on each of their instruments with especially Moon shining ever so bright; there’s barely a minute where he doesn’t show off some energetic fill. The story itself can feel slightly rushed at times (“Pinball Wizard” and the sudden emergence as a cult leader), but aside from that I simply have nothing bad to say about this masterpiece.
Excellent
So, OK, there's the grand pretensions of Pete Townshend writing a rock opera, that sprawling tracklisting, and the fact that the obviously surreal narrative drive of said opera is so heavy that it can distract you from time to time... But the thing is, the music on this album is *so* good, whether it is the one of the timeless songs this amazing record harbours ("Pinball Wizard", "We're Not gonna Take It/Se Me, Feel Me" ,"The Acid Queen", "I Feel Free"), or the one of the less famous cuts ("Cousin Kevin", or that long incredible instrumental that "Underture" is), that it's bound to be included in such a list. Ironically, I find this record more easily *digestible* than *Who's Next*, even if it has all the characteristics of a concept album. Evidence for me that it's an all-time great, in spite of its all-too-grand and frankly delirious ambitions on paper... Number of albums left to review or just listen to: less than 700, I've temporarily lost count here Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: approximately a half so far (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: a quarter Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): the last quarter
Nice and effortless sounding album overall. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Полный The Who, очень люблю слушать полноценные альбомы с плавными переходами. Из-за этого не могу потом выделить конкретные композиции т.к. альбом кажется монолитным произведением, однако ничего поделать не могу и просто получаю удовольствие. Под Томми читал статьи о влиянии античной философии на учение Отцов Церкви, полностью удовлетворен результатом, настоятельно советую.
Love this story!
classic!
Are you kidding me?!?
It wasn’t the first concept album, but Tommy is arguably the one that made it a viable art form-and changed the Who forever. Towering, anthemic, and surprisingly vulnerable at times, nearly every song is a gem.
Everything here is pretty great, which is why it's insane that the whole thing ends on a fucking FADE OUT????
Was going to mark it down as it's better with the film, but listening to this by itself tells such a clear story as well as being such great music.
genial, baita sons e história muito interessante
This is a tough one. As a little girl I was taught this album is the best. It is, at the least, a cultural touchstone. Listening through it now I am finding I still love it, possibly somewhat nostalgically. There is no getting past my programming. That said, I can still confidently assert Pinball Wizard is an objectively great song.
A timeless album and I have enjoyed it to the max.
Tommy Walker - Malicious compliance champion, 1921
Legendary. One of my top albums of all time by my favorite band.
Still one of my favorite albums of all time. The variety of styles and symbolism used on the record is amazing. There is a little bit of fluff and filler but not much.
Classic album. Always a fun listen
Transcendent. I dont always agree with this list of albums, but this is an insanely great record that everyone needs to hear. 5/5
5 LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Favorites Include: Overture, 1921, Amazing Journey, Cousin Kevin, The Acid Queen, Fiddle About, Pinball Wizard, Tommy Can You Hear Me?, Miracle Cure, I’m Free, We’re Not Gonna Take It
As far as Who rock operas go I prefer Quadrophenia, but the scope of this album is impressive, especially for when it was released.
Without the context of the story, this album doesn't make much sense. And some of the songs haven't aged that well. But this is a very important album for me. I heard it and the music, certainly not the story, really resonated with me. "Amazing Journey" and "Acid Queen" are two of my favorite deep cuts.
Love this album
Amazing sound throughout. Very repeatable.
I have this in five different formats. The original LP, open reel tape, cassette, CD and digital. I used to also have it in 8 Track but the foam pressure pads disintegrated so I threw them away.
It’s a Rock Opera!
Innovation at its best. Fun album all around
rock opera, album concept, what more do you want?
I had forgotten just how good this album really is. Simply impressive and fun. The whole thing could easily have flopped but The Who knocked it out of the park.
Saw it in London in ‘96. Loved it then; love it now!
Not as good as The Who Sell Out but still a classic album of course.
yes. absolute yes. love everything about it
When I was ~9 yrs old I used to check out this record from our local library - they'd package it up in this ginormous special packaging and I'd trundle it home under my tiny arm, what a sight that must have been hahaha. (I wasn't allowed to watch the (weirdasshit) movie that had just started airing on HBO though...) This album (obviously) has a long history for me and was/is one of the pillars for my love of imaginative music - music that is at once bombastic, melodic, sometimes ridiculous, aggressive, a little scary, mysterious, powerful. I became a big Who fan for some years starting at that point, which at times frustrated me - I often felt that they should have been ... better? they had a relatively short peak (which this album marked the start of) that matched any band in history, but couldn't sustain. And during my later teenage years when I was more a fan of hard rock I learned that this album was released when it wasn't completely finished (according to Pete Townshend) - at the time I wanted some of the tracks to have been bigger/louder. But that would have been disastrous - a lot of the space in some of these songs gives room for that mystery. Plus the extended "Live At Leeds" with the full Tommy performance gives that hard rock edge if you need it... Tommy the story [for the few that wouldn't know, this is a concept album, if not the original concept album...] is both essential (i.e. about half of these songs would seem half as good out of context of the album) and ridiculous at the same time. Doesn't really matter that it doesn't always make sense; there's a flow to it that when I listen to it for the first time in a while (today, in fact) makes it impossible to not go through the entire 75 minutes. Obvious highlights here are the alltime single "Pinball Wizard" - which has been overplayed on classic radio for at least 30 years, but when it kicks in midway through the album you remember why - and the epic closer "We're Not Gonna Take It" but put on some headphones and listen to the entirety as picking out two famous singles almost deflates the entire project. "Amazing Journey" indeed - 10/10 5 stars.
Wow. Musically amazing. Will have to give it a few more listens to get the story/message processed. Reminds me a lot of The Wall, but with a more positive vibe. After two listens, I discovered how little I know about The Who beyond the radio hits of the 70's. Amazing.
iconic
Love it, literally everything is great, love the detuned and dissonant guitars, Keith's frenetic Energy, it all works so well. A dark story but true to life in many aspects.
The WHO at their very apex.
Really cool! I feel like I didn't fully get the story, though, need to listen again.
Classic. Interesting hearing the studio versions since I’m mostly familiar with Live at Leeds.
Classic rock opera.
the who changed music forever with tommy. a concept album, yes, but a rock opera most importantly. it has all of the characteristics of a stage musical: overture/underture, recycling melodies, reprises. perfect for adapting into a movie! the who were influential for a few reasons but i stand by my belief that creating the first rock opera was their most important contribution to the world. this album takes you on such a journey alongside tommy. yes, perhaps some suspension of disbelief is involved and it is such a product of the sixties. you meet such a range of characters (including a sexual abuser! cool, she said sarcastically) while tommy journeys through a traumatic incident as a child to becoming a cult leader. obviously, i enjoy the story a lot but the music! the who is so solid; tommy's instrumentation is without flaw. i know this album quite well, but it's still surprising to me that "we're not going to take it," one of the who's most notable songs, a protest song, comes from this album. it has transcended tommy to stand on its own! "you've got to play pinball/and put in your ear plugs/put on your eye shades/you know where to put the cork"
10/10. Completely incomprehensible, worse by miles and miles than Quadrophenia, and "Fiddle About" ruins the entire listening experience every time, but still a very good album.
This album (and movie) may be the most impactful piece of media/art in my life. I’m pretty sure the cascade of events after seeing Tommy led to some of my longest-lasting friendships, multiple relationship status changes, and even starting this list altogether. It’s not musically perfect or even very good as a story, but it means the world to me. 10/10
Projet ambitieux, construction solide... "Underture" demeure ma pièce préférée.
This is one of my favorite albums of all time. I get a lot of the same feelings from this that I had as a child at our evangelical Christian church (I'm an atheist now). I thought those feelings of joy, excitement, and wonder came from God and Jesus but it was really the music and stories. What a wild story Tommy is and the music is fucking great---love those instrumental tracks.
This took some audacity to make, and I love that about it. A double album telling the epic story of... well, maybe it's not an epic story but it involves playing pinball. It's always been weird and mysterious enough to be quite compelling. I love that it feels like what it created, a rock opera. It feels orchestral but it's all rock instrumentation...plus French horn, of course. While many of the songs, although being part of a sequence, are great standalone songs, it's not true for them all. "Fiddle About" may be the most horrifying thing I've heard all year. *shudder* But as a whole, listening to this felt like an event today and it was great.
Another very grand rock album! Although I sometime find myself comparing tracks to the movie soundtrack versions (probably because I knew the movie before I knew this album), Tommy by The Who is another amazing work of art on this list!!
I LOVE the movie Tommy. In college we had a weeklong fundraiser where we showed Tommy for 6 nights in a row. I was the projectionist and watched the movie 13 times that week - never tiring of it. I absolutely love the music but had only heard the soundtrack with The Who, Ann-Margret, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton, Jack Nicholson, Elton John et. al. I don’t know that I’ve ever listened to the original album in its entirety. Excited to do so now! I must admit to being a little bit underwhelmed by some of the performances on this album. Ann-Margret, Tina Turner and Elton John outdo these performances by leaps and bounds. So there were times I wished I was listening to the movie version. But there were several points where I liked what was going on on the album better. And it would be unfair to knock this for not living up to a star-studded, full-blown theatrical version. I love ths album. A great concept supported by great music.
Fun, original, 4.5
Pinball Wizard was a staple of my childhood. I knew there was a full story across this double LP rock opera, but I never really paid attention to the story until today, and now I’m eager to spend several more hours with this album and to watch the movie. The overture has that great French horn, sets up the premise with a few lines, and ends on a wonderful guitar rift. 1921 is delightful and soothing, which hides the horrific gaslighting lyrics as the parents tell Tommy he didn’t see a murder. Although, I do wish I had listened more to “Got a feeling ‘21 is going to be a good year” more last year. I loved Underture! A wonderful rock symphony. The guitar, the rumbling kettle drums. Oh, momma! I’m a huge fan of funk, so sign me up for more Smash the Mirror! I jammed to the piano in Sally Simpson. The whimsical Tommy’s Holiday Camp makes me smile and laugh at the absurdity of this crazy amazing journey. This weekend I plan to listen to it again on vinyl and read the lyrics in real time to go another layer deeper. PS - the intro to Pinball Wizard will be my new walkout music
Well worth every bit of praise it gets.
Surprisingly good!
A rock opera about a boy who is blind, deaf, and mute but sells his soul to an old gypsy woman in order to become a world class pinball player by playing with his sense of smell. I didn’t have enough LSD on hand to enjoy it the way it’s meant to be enjoyed, but it’s a true original and a great classic rock album.
Wow, what a trip. I went through a big Who phase in my teens. I've listened to this album probably 30 times and every time it makes me stop what I'm doing to listen to every lyric. It's so so so good. Not many of these songs would be considered some of their greatest hits, but every song is fantastic in its story telling. How can he be saved??? See me. Feel me. Touch me. Heal me. Favorite Tracks: Overture, Christmas, Cousin Kevin, Pinball Wizard, and I'm Free.
Incredible. Loved the Album front to back. Had heard the big hits before on thr Album but they work much better in chronological order.
The Overture and Underture pieces sound a bit cliched now, but in 1969 they were probably cutting-edge, and of course, apropos for the first Rock Opera. The songs seem a bit stripped down by today’s standards, more acoustic than I remember, but that makes them riper for the orchestrated and produced versions that followed. Lots of great tracks, like the series that starts with Amazing Journey. Like the album that preceded it, I’m surprised Pete does so much singing. I was going to give it a 4, but since I gave George Jones a 4....
O The Whosach napisalem juz wszystko co zem wiedzial na dwoch poprzednich albumach, ktore chronologicznie ustawione byly akurat miedzy dzisiejszym pickiem, magnum opus bandy jakim niewatpliwie jest Tommy, czyli plyta z gatunku oper rokowych traktujaca o gluchym, glupim i slepym biednym chlopcu zwanym Tommy, od wczesnego dziecinstwa, przez dorastanie jako wyalienowany inwalida, gnebienie w rodzienie, szukania sposobow na uzdrowienie, muzyke, znalezienie pinballowego sensu zycia, do zostania bozkiem, ktory jest wykorzystywany do robienia piniedzy przez dobrego wujaszka, a ta historia opowiedziana jest w 24 aktach, bo tyle wlasnie kawalkow ma ten 75 minutowy album, a jak to byla z dobrymi lirykami, a takimi stoi cala plyta, Pete Townshend potrafi przekazac cos wiecej niz tylko opowiesc na danym traku, a cos znacznie bardziej osobistego, jesli chodzi o strone instrumentalna plyta ta poprzedza live at leeds, ktora czerpie wlasnie z Tommiego, wiec album byl nagrywany z mysla o tym zeby go sprzedac na zywca, a polaczyc to z trzymajaca sie kupy historia to nie lada sztuka, najlpeszy zywy tommy jakie slyszalem to nagranie z Ottawy z 69, wiec z roku wydania albumu, na plycie nie ma zadnych sesyjnych muzykow, a jedynie czterech czlonkow bandy, z nietypowych instrumentali pojawia sie harmonijka, puzon lub trabka francuza, czy bonjo, ciezko wybierac plejkowe utwory z tak konceptowego albumu, ktory warto przesluchac od poczatku do konca zeby uzyskac pelnowymiarowe doswiadczenie, ale na liscie mialem juz pinballowego wizarda, to dodam jeszcze songa o leczeniu tommiego przez pimpa hawkera, eyesight to the blind i zamykajacy calosc song we are not gonna take it, gdzie kampowicze daja do zrozumienia, ze nie sa w stanie podazac za naukami pinballowej religii, ktora moze byc nawiazaniem do rewolucji dzieco kwiatowej, ktora w 69 juz zaczynala umierac, jak wszystkie albumiki piecio gwiazdkowe calosc leci na spotifajowa poleczke biblioteczna
This has big nostalgic vibes for me, since it was a large part of me growing up. Apart from a single skip, it's basically still perfect to me.
Classic!
😍
The first real rock opera!!!
A sort of depressing loop, but purely cinematic and and wonderful. My only complaint is that songs tended to be incredibly samey.
Enjoyed the live half of this more than I typically do. Lots of classics, and of course got Pinball Wizard stuck in my head for hours after this.
Truly epic! There's a reason that this is THE quintessential rock opera. Jam packed with fun, rock n' roll, and cameos.
I mean, it's Tommy. I don't know what else to say.
Oh YES YES YES!!
Amazing
Topic
I know The Who are one of the most influential rock bands, but this is the first album I've listened to. I've got to say, I love this! Would love to see the this production on stage.
Escutei metade, incrível!!
First great who album
Simplesmente foda
Classic! One of the original rock musicals. Some controversial themes. Great music
Pinball Wizarddd
This is a tough one to give a 5 to. I didn't find it a particularly enjoyable album, frankly, but it's clearly competent musically. I'm giving it a 5 mostly for its sheer scope and ability to make you feel things, even if it wasn't always pleasant.
I knew many of these songs before listening to the album in full, but it was great to hear them all connected to better understand the full concept
Classic 70s concept album! Love it!
Classic! However, I really only knew Pinball Wizard, but this whole album is a banger. 'Christmas' and 'Underture' are my other stand-outs thus far.
Spotify only had disk 1 and 3 I enjoy rock opera/albums that tell a story Only listened to released album, no demo or live
Loved it! I've never listened to this album but it was an awesome journey. I can see why people went crazy for it.
Pinball ball wizard
Classic!
I love The Who but I wasn’t sure about this at first. It definitely grew on me. I appreciate how ambitious this is and I’m pretty impressed by the execution.
It's Tommy. It's incredible of course, definitely feels dated. High concept masterpiece.
Solid album. Not my favorite Who but enjoyable.
Tommy The Who 1969 Genres: Rock Styles: Hard Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Art Rock, Blues Rock, Folk Rock, Rock Opera 1. Overture (★★★★⯨) - Contexto: Obertura instrumental que presenta los principales motivos musicales que reaparecerán durante toda la historia. 2. It's a Boy (★★★☆☆) - Contexto: Nace Tommy. La familia celebra la llegada del niño. 3. 1921 (★★★★☆) - Contexto: El padre regresa de la guerra, mata al amante de su esposa y Tommy presencia el crimen. Sus padres le ordenan olvidar lo ocurrido. 4. Amazing Journey (★★★★★) - Contexto: Aunque está aislado del mundo, Tommy desarrolla una intensa vida espiritual e imaginaria. - Fav 5. Sparks (★★★★★) - Contexto: Instrumental que representa ese viaje interior y el despertar de una energía especial. 6. Eyesight to the Blind (The Hawker) (★★★★⯨) - Contexto: Sus padres lo llevan con un curandero religioso esperando un milagro. 7. Christmas (★★★★★) - Contexto: Sus padres se preguntan qué significado puede tener la Navidad para un niño incapaz de ver, oír o hablar. -Fav 8. Cousin Kevin (★★★☆☆) - Contexto: Su primo Kevin aprovecha la indefensión de Tommy para maltratarlo. 9. The Acid Queen (★★★★★) - Contexto: Una prostituta y traficante intenta curarlo mediante drogas, sexo y experiencias psicodélicas, sin éxito. 10. Underture (★★★★⯨) - Contexto: Largo instrumental que representa el caos psicológico y los efectos de esas experiencias. 11. Do You Think It's Alright? (★★☆☆☆) - Contexto: Los padres dejan a Tommy al cuidado de un tío. 12. Fiddle About (★★★☆☆) - Contexto: El tío Ernie abusa sexualmente de Tommy aprovechando su aparente incapacidad. 13. Pinball Wizard (★★★★★) - Contexto: Tommy descubre un talento sobrenatural para jugar al pinball y se convierte en una leyenda. -Fav 14. There's a Doctor (★★☆☆☆) - Contexto: La familia encuentra un médico que cree haber descubierto el origen del problema. 15. Go to the Mirror! (★★★★★) - Contexto: El médico observa que Tommy reacciona ante su propio reflejo y sugiere que el bloqueo es psicológico. 16. Tommy, Can You Hear Me? (★★★☆☆) - Contexto: Sus padres intentan comunicarse con él, sin saber si realmente puede percibir algo. 17. Smash the Mirror (★★★⯨☆) - Contexto: El espejo que simboliza su prisión mental es destruido y Tommy recupera sus sentidos. 18. Sensation (★★★⯨☆) - Contexto: El mundo queda fascinado por Tommy, que pasa de víctima a celebridad. 19. Miracle Cure (★★☆☆☆) - Contexto: La noticia de su recuperación se difunde como si fuera un milagro. 20. Sally Simpson (★★★⯨☆) - Contexto: Una fan llamada Sally resulta herida intentando acercarse a Tommy durante un acto público, mostrando el fanatismo que despierta. 21. I'm Free (★★★★★) - Contexto: Tommy proclama que por fin es libre y comparte su nueva visión espiritual. -Fav 22. Welcome (★★★⯨☆) - Contexto: Invita a nuevos seguidores a unirse a su movimiento. 23. Tommy's Holiday Camp (★⯨☆☆☆) - Contexto: Se organiza un campamento para sus discípulos, donde sus enseñanzas empiezan a institucionalizarse. 24. We're Not Gonna Take It (★★★★☆) - Contexto: Los seguidores se rebelan contra las reglas absurdas que Tommy intenta imponer. El movimiento se derrumba y el álbum concluye con el himno "See Me, Feel Me / Listening to You", que deja un mensaje sobre encontrar la iluminación por uno mismo y no mediante falsos mesías. -TOTAL = ★★★⯨☆ (3,75)
I was torn on this one. Definitely a 3, flirting with a 4 for a few reasons: there are some really good classic Who songs on here, I like the idea of a rock opera - something different and unique, and the musicianship is at a high level. On the flip side, there are some not so great songs on here and the execution of the rock opera concept isn’t always easy to follow. Unless you know the story, it can be hard to appreciate what’s going on. I actually listened to this one twice yesterday and after the second listen I’ve decided to round up to a 4.
A rock opera that hits on all the levels. The music on any given track is really good, but more than that you can envision the storyline progressing as you transition from song to song. There is a continuity across the album that helps bring the bigger picture into focus. The real Rock songs like “Pinball Wizard” are what truly draw you into the album and make this fun and exciting to listen to.
Love me a concept album. Crazy story, bit dark in spots but it's a fun ride. The Who are rocking on this album, legendary players absolution killing it. Epic songs that blow you away and some quirky fun songs that carry the story line. Absolutely stands the test of time, enjoyed the listen, a pleasant break between having my heart broken twice (Portugal and USA).
Its a solid ambitious concept, but if you dont know the concept or story behind it then it sounds disjointed and a bit all over the place. I like the idea and the scale of it rather then most of the songs on it. Although I do like a lot of them. Definitely needs a few listens to fully appreciate too. If getting into the who this isn't the best place to start 3.5!
An experimental masterpiece - as an album it’s not necessarily one you’d return to regularly, but truly impressive
Movie for my ears! What a fun time. The Who always puts me in a good mood.
8/10
I feel like this would be better as an actual opera/stage play, rather than listening to it as an album. The standout song is Pinball Wizard, probably why this is the song that is most popular.
Love a classic rock opera!
Look, it's too on the nose to be a good concept album and too batshit to be a good musical, but what can I say? I'm a sucker for a leitmotif. And every time "listening to you" or "see me, feel me" starts playing I clap. A couple of great standout songs like Acid Queen, I'm Free and Pinball Wizard, but really its all about the flow of song into song. I like it, probably more than I should.
Man, how long has it been since I got a real concept album? It feels like its been forever since I got to mention an album's plot as a part of the album review. Here we have the Who's 1969 album Tommy. All things considered, it is a very interesting album. This album is seen by many as one of the earliest examples of a rock opera, so that's pretty cool! The story is certainly unique, with it being about a boy named Tommy who loses and regains his senses before eventually becoming a cult leader. The plot has its twists and turns, though I did find the plot a little hard to follow at times, especially around the middle of the album. But how is the music of the album? It's pretty good! The Who were starting to really kick things in to high gear musically, and this album has some great songs. "Pinball Wizard" is easily the highlight of the album for me, which is kinda funny since it doesn't really have anything to do with the overarching narrative of the album. Awesome song. "Overture" is a nice opener. Songs like "1921," "Amazing Journey," and "Go the the Mirror!" are pretty cool as well. But, there are also a bunch of songs that don't really do much for me outside of the album context. This album's kinda like Pink Floyd's The Wall in that regard, except none of the songs are as good as "Comfortably Numb" so the album's just kinda worse overall. But of course, Tommy is not a bad album by any means. The album is still quite enjoyable. The emotional high points are great, the use of recurring motifs and lyrics is commendable, and the full album experience is pretty cool throughout. I like the album. It's not my favorite Who album, but it's still pretty good. Decent 4/5.
One of the earliest examples of the Rock Opera. This is a classic album that has been adapted into many formats and there is a reason it has had a lasting cultural impact and is probably the most closely associated work with The Who.
good psychodelic rock, but lacks a kick to be listened often
legend. long live ozzy
Was dreading the length, but the second and third discs are just demo / live recordings, so the length is actually 'only' about an hour and 10. And it's actually pretty good!
Great to listen to from start to finish again (twice). I can see why this might not resonate with the younger generation. But the Who and Tommy were such a huge part of music growing up in the 1970s. And the concept of the Rock Opera with the album telling a complete story from start to finish was groundbreaking at the time. Sure it leads to a few silly-ish songs, but they are integral to to story. 3-4 monster Who songs on the album make it a solid 4.5 for me.
Not as good as the Wall, but it came first. And Tommy sure does play a mean pinball
I was sort of dreading this. I don't love "rock opera's" as a concept and knew that reviews for Tommy tend to be pretty divisive. Also this album's length itself feels a bit ominous. After listening, this is the second Who album on this on list that has surpassed my expectations. As a concept album with a Pinball theme, I can't really comment on the plot knocking it out of the park, but the music and execution definitely make up for it. I feel like Keith Moon's drumming carries you through the album from start to finish, and actually enjoyed the musical interludes between stand alone tracks. This is the first time I have listened to Tommy front to back and will definitely give it another shot at some point.
This is good and contains so much instruments and stuff it’s just really nice to listen to
Хотелось бы немного сократить некоторые треки, но в целом - охуенно. Словно саундтрек к эпику про синий трактор.
nice sound, i like it!
Amazing 🤩🤩🤩 I already loved the album, but after watching the movie I love it even more! Wow wow wow!!! 🌟🌟🌟Thank you so much! 🌠💛💙
Tooodella pitkä albumi mutta silti erinomainen! En mikään teemalevyjen erityinen ystävä ole mutta tämä on loistava albumi alusta loppuun. Toki aika on puraissut soundillisesti jne aika pahastikin tähän albumiin mutta teoksen taiteellista arvoa se ei tällä kertaa vähennä lainkaan. 4/5
Жизнеутверждающе
Very few rock operas really work. But this one really does. I'd forgotten about gems like Go to the Mirror and Tommy Can you Hear Me? But by the way, John Entwistle is a sick dude--he wrote two songs for the album: Cousin Kevin and Fiddle About. He's not right in the head.
Hat seine Längen und dass im Film andere Leute die Songs gespielt haben versteht auch kein Mensch dafür ist Pinball Wizard epic
Got some fat on it, but the highs are high
Very cool album. Lots of weird songs with it being a concept album but a few phenomenal songs. Very theatrical. I was dreading it being 75 minutes long but it didn't feel that long. Quite a nice journey.
without a doubt, Tommy was the most ambitious statement the Who had made as a band up to this point: a double-LP, one of the earliest executions of the Rock Opera, and many attempts to break free of the three-minute pop song structure. Pete Townshend was more or less the architect of this thing, from the music to the concept; although, he also had help from producer Kit Lambert in ironing out the details of the story, and from the rest of the Who in arranging the staggering 75 minutes of material. if I'm being honest, though, I think this easily could've been cut down by 15-20. for all the effort spent realizing this operatic concept, there's moments where it feels like the band are dragging their knuckles just a bit. a lot of it comes down to the tracks that go longer or shorter than usual. the "Overture" and "Sparks" are tremendous instrumental showcases of the band working as a unit, but the "Underture", even with its very cool harmonic structure, doesn't really feel like it earns its 10-minute duration; on the flip-side, the C-side in particular has a bunch of little ideas that are all cool in isolation, but make for an awkward sequence (even if the ubiquitous radio staple "Pinball Wizard" might be the best song on the whole record). despite its shortcomings as a full body of work, the complete experience of Tommy has a lot to enjoy about it. there's still a ton of moments where the Who prove that they were one of the tightest, hardest-rockin' bands of their era, but for the first time in their catalog, they leave a lot of room to get more tuneful and sentimental. their future records would refine and streamline the most successful moments on this album (the sensitivity of "1921" or "Christmas", the triumph of "Go to the Mirror!" and "I'm Free") into some serious masterpieces. light 8/10.
Had more fun with this than I thought I would. I liked the prog elements and how much they committed to the subject. I felt like the last third dragged a bit.
eu adoro um album conceitinho então obviamente amei esse aqui, mesmo com a longa duração. animada para ouvir o outro album rock opera deles no user album.
Surprisingly good
Rock opera! First of its kind and when the come around they are a treat
Dunno who Tommy is but this album was pretty good
This was great. Rock opera, lots of themes, and just good jams.
Timeless. So often copied and parodied but amazing to listen to
An ambitious rock opera. Beautiful and captivating. Quite self indulgent and probably way too long, but a very nice record nonetheless.
Obviously a very thought through album. Even though it for me lacks standouts, it’s well crafted as a whole experience. 7/10
I was scared of the duration but props to them, as a concept album this was well thought out. Not every song was to my liking but very unique in their delivery and story-wise.
Some of their best songs are in this album, surrounded by folk-influenced tracks of varying quality. The story got me to the end, and although I'm not on board with some of the messages and worldviews present here, it's still interesting to get an insight into Pete Townshend's childhood.
A charmingly shaggy and enjoyable rough around the edges rock opera. It's a little same-y in parts and probably overstays it's welcome by 10 or so minutes, but it's not lacking in ambition and chutzpah. What I enjoy most about this album though is it's relative simplicity when compared to the sprawling, virtuosic, proggy concept albums that came after it. Drums perhaps notwithstanding, there is something in Townsend's powerchord based writing that makes this seem attainable, and therefore admirable.
1921 buen tema
not a huge fan of 70s pshychodelia
This is not The Who at their tightest or most emotionally direct. It is The Who deciding that raw power is no longer enough and trying to build something monumental. Sometimes it soars. Sometimes it strains under its own concept. But even when it strains, it matters.
That was crazy man.
What a strange album this is. Credit where it's due: there are few albums, if any, that made me feel like I was taken on a journey more than this one. It also had some interesting production choices: like having all the drums panned hard left on some tracks. Unless it was an artistic choice, I wish they were panned more conventional cause having them all on the left made the music feel lopsided. I'd say my listen of this album was fine. Not bad, not great, just fine. I'm sure there are plenty of details throughout the story to be picked out and analyzed. In both the contexts of this album and this entire best-albums-of-all-time list, I'm getting bored of English rock bands.
Great
The rock opera of my youth. Peter Townshend is the wizard. Some tracks very long but I don't care in this instance. 5/5
I’ve always enjoyed the musicianship in this, and found the story utter nonsense. This time round I watched the movie too, where the nonsense took centre stage and was kind of rad.
Sounds great. I need to give it another listen to pay more attention to the lyrics and storyline. 4/5
Me gustó
Classic!
Il a l'air spécial ce Tommy !
Pretty solid, I love the story being told going through each song. Christmas was a surprising banger.
sgood
great album!
GOAT.
2/3. Surprisingly understandable for a concept album about a disabled pinball kid, given it was my first time listening to it. The story is silly at the end of the day, but the music is great. Enjoyed this quite a lot and I’m looking forward to hearing more of the Who (hopefully the less conceptual kind).
It sounds a bit like Pink Floyd, just 10 years earlier. A good, fresh rock opera. 8/10
Crazy that this is where Pinball Wizard is from. I’m just an absolute sucker for concept/story albums. I think some of the transitional songs were a bit clunky, and I’d have to sit with it more to really eek out what its trying to say. I think the mental illness savant plot line is incredibly dated, but comes either the territory for an album round this time. Songs themselves were just really great to listen to, overture and underture were a great sign that this album was going to be pretty good.
A pretty damn impressive slab of 60s rock. Rock operas are not so much my thing but, of all them, this one is way up there.
It's embarrassing that it's taken me nearly five decades to listen to all of Tommy. As with most concept albums, I appreciate the ambition even if it drags a little. But it's hard for anything to drag much when Keith Moon throws down on the drums, as he frequently does here, and of course Pete Townshend's guitar playing is never tedious. I'll need to come back to this one to fully digest it, but it won't be a chore.
Never really been much of a Who fan. Know a few of their songs (who doesn’t) and even saw them live - I think performing Tommy in Hyde Park with loads of special guests in the 90’s. Was a bit too windy though so sound was pretty poor. Anyway, never listened to this album before so here goes… It’s a lot tamer than I thought it would be. Quite good, although can have the tendency of merging into background music if not careful. A lot better than I thought it would be in any case. Ok, spoke too soon, “Tommy’s Holiday Camp” should warrant a drop of atleast a point - what a terrible piece! Yuck!
Huge album. Way more instrumental songs than I remembered. Everyone just remembers Pinball Wizard. I still like the Overture and Underture though.
I had no clue who the pinball wizard was and it seems to be an incredibly sad story.
Classic Rock
The rock opera hasn't aged perhaps as well as other Who albums but there are still some great tracks on it that make it still a must listen.
7/10
Good stuff 4
veoma veoma zanimljiv koncept za album - životna priča jednog lika tomija ispričana kroz ovu ''rok operu'', all the highs and lows, and theres a lot of lows. malo me podseća na hamiltona haha. produkcija je super, ima dosta dinamičnih momenata, različitih zvukova u pesmama, stvarno kao da gledam/slušam operu.
Too long. I live the musical and this isn't as compelling, but there's a lot of great stuff here. Definitely worth a listen and it's legend status
Never listened to this but I was impressed with it. Good songs individually and they connected to the story of the album as a whole. The child abuse was a bit shocking to hear. But actually good that they were willing to speak about that way back in the 60’s.
Cool
I grew up with this one. I love it and the movie soundtrack.
Three stars for content. Extra star for execution of concept.
Best Track - "Pinball Wizard"
finally, music that tells a story
Є декілька пісень, що мені справді сподобалися. Уцілому альбом крутий. Я поставила б 4,5 бо до кінця злегка набридає
Dit was een van mijn eerste albums die ik op de middelbare helemaal luisterde. Waarschijnlijk om te kijken waar de tune van de top 2000 vandaan kwam. Ik had het al een tijdje niet gehoord, en hoewel ik niet zo omver geblazen ben als toen, vind ik dit nog steeds een erg leuk album. Het is een beetje all over the place, en sommige nummers en interludes hadden niet persé gehoeven en zitten er voor mij gevoel alleen in voor het "plot". Maar voor iedere halfbakken interlude staat er iets als we're not gonna take it, pinball wizard en overture/underture. Een nostalgisch album waar ik nog steeds een hoop lol me had vandaag. 8/10
It's been years since I sat down and listened to Tommy. I think it's great, not flawless, but rightfully included on this list for its place in musical history establishing the rock opera as a genre. There's so much imagination and creativity packed into these songs, it's hard not to appreciate. This is my 4th Who album, and I don't know how many others there are, so I think now I'll say my piece. I'd always assumed Quadrophenia would for sure be my album of the day at some point. Now I know it's not even included, which is just wild. If I got to be a contributing editor on this list, I'd never remove Tommy. But I'd be going rounds with someone to get Quadrophenia a permanent spot.
Hey, look, it's an album people actually like! You know, like one with an actual reason for being on the list(take that, Beta Band!). It's not the best album I could have had, or even the best Who album(Who's Next exists), but it's still a good album. It's a prime example of the theatrical hard rock that marks prime Who, with it generally being regarded as the beginning of the Who's strongest period. It is a concept album about a kid who becomes deaf, mute, and blind after being traumatized by a murder in his own home. However, that concept isn't what's important here; it's the songs that make an album, and many of them serve only as interludes and story development. There are good standalone songs here, though, even though the lyrics are crafted specifically to be part of the concept. I do believe the album could have ended at "Smash the Mirror" which would ideally be slightly elongated to resolve the story after the album's climax. It's far from perfect, but it still has merit and influence, so it gets good marks from me.
An album I listened to years ago but never really stuck with me, so will practically be a brand new listen. I always enjoyed The Who, but they never regularly stayed in my top tier really. First double album here. A concept album “rock opera.” It’s a really interesting concept and The Who have a great sound. It’s fun to have a story told through a long form musical like this. It very much feels influential to rock musicals that came later, not just albums. Sound wise it’s early British Invasion rock with a harder sound. Almost has the feel of something more recent than 1969. It’s hard to be negative about this because love the concept. Some of the songs are great too, even though it all feels a little long and over done. Does it need a 10 minute underture? But the way it “tells a story” feels very original. Even though lyrically, it’s easy to lose some of the story at times. Pinball Wizard is clearly the standout track here. Christmas, and Go to the Mirror, annd the closing track are probably my two other favorite parts of this. It’s funny, while listening I thought it felt a little too long but by the end I’m like that was fun. It’s great at times. 4 feels too generous? 3 feels too low. I’ll go generous. This feels like an album that should definitely be experienced.
2/13/26. Very interesting and larger than life album! Will require multiple listens to grasp the narrative throughout, but on the first listen it feels immersive. Almost a combination of later Beatles and Pink Floyd; might sound silly to describe The Who as that, but I think it applies to this album.
I listened the hell out of this as a kid, but haven't come back to it in album form for a good long time. From my current perspective I can feel the yearning to make something elevated to the form, the rock opera. The story is good, but the music suffers, I feel. It is a good headphone experience, intended for quad sound, they spent some time on it.
I was between a 3 and a 4 so I rounded up. It’s ok. Very bloated with lots of fluff but there are real high points too.
I have an appreciation for how weird this album is
The Who! cool concept album
Tommy has always been kind of mythic - heard alot about it but never listened to it in full. After my son Tommy was born, I was playing Tommy Can You Hear Me a little bit, until I looked up what this album is about, and then I stopped. I think there is a reason we only know Pinball Wizard - there just aren't many bangers on this album - which is a little infuriating. One of my favorite meme/tweets is: Pink Floyd: what if we’re misusing the time in our lives Led Zeppelin: what if love is the only way we can move forward The Who: what if a disabled kid was good at pinball
Драйв, но в отрыве от текста не так Интересно
At first I was sceptical about what I felt was standard Rock. But once I realized how story-driven this album is I came around and really enjoyed my time with Tommy. The album is so well rounded that I find it difficult to express how quickly the listenting session went by. The only problem was Underture for me: I get what The Who was going for but I feel like 10 minutes is about double the lenght the song should have had. Best songs are Go To The Mirror! and Sally Simpson. 9/10, the perfect fusion of Rock and Opera.
Ok, ful sm bla excited, po sm pa vidla 74 minut. Ampak ok, dvojni album, rock opera, gremo. (Sm fan od The Who, ampak I guess površinski, ker tega albuma še nism poslušala.) Ok, vsaj kak komad sm že morala slišat, ker so mi preveč znani. O ja, "Underture", k je 10 minutni instrumentalni komad, definitivno poznam. Fakin hud komad. "Pinball Wizard", itak. Da je "Tommy's Holiday Camp" napisal Keith Moon, ma največ smisla na svetu. Not my favourite The Who muska, ampak kr impresivno.
thomas, what the hell is this? these are some of the most random and off the wall songs the who have ever released. most are filler but there are some bangers buried in here. not sure about the plot of this rock opera and the weirdly edgy content, i think i'll pass. favorites: overture, amazing journey, sparks, christmas, pinball wizard, go to the mirror
Watched the movie, it was absolutely ridiculous, I'd swim in that champagne/chocolate/bean mix with Ann-Margret any day.
Classic, overblown, rock opera, Jack Nicholson sings in the movie.
Really loved listening to this one!
24 sanger!! Litt skuffa, ikke så kule som de blir etter hvert! Mye instrumenter og rart