Tommy

24 sanger!! Litt skuffa, ikke så kule som de blir etter hvert! Mye instrumenter og rart

Ugh, a few days ago I got Berlin and wrote that I think rock operas seldom work. And here's another classic example - a good album buried in a bunch of mediocre songs needed to advance the story. And a story that's just not sufficiently interesting to stand alone.

Rockoper

Una opera rock ... Interesante escuchar algo tan distinto a lo que se escucha hoy en día.

Whilst it has some great moments/tracks it definitely works best as a whole. I generally don't like concept albums and I like to digest my rock in bite size chunks rather than big slabs. However you have to admire the bonkers creative vision behind it and its landmark status. Keith Moon's drumming is great throughout and holds everything together.

Absolute classic prog-rock opera. Diverse musical ideas and unexpected themes.

here i am again giving yet another album 4⭐️s. i feel like this album is so revolutionary in its genre that anything below that would be criminal. i cannot be caught underappreciating the input in culture and rock development it had, although (don't shoot me) i did not find myself musically THAT attracted to it (which is rather surprising because rock's one of my fav genres and i like other some other songs by The Who). i've listened to it a few times now but i've liked "Christmas" (stuck out to me first listen), "Go To The Mirror!", "I'm Free" and "Pinball Wizard" because it's legendary (i've yet to find my footing w this one). i've not finished reading the lyrics yet, but so far i can tell that i see myself coming back to this album more as a movie or a book -- as a story, maybe in a year or a few when i forget pieces of it as that has been feeling like immersing myself in it rather than just individual musical/lyrical pleasure.

There was quite a bit of songs I didn’t add to my playlist, but I did like a lot of the instrumentals.

He's a pinball wizard!

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.

Although I like The Who I rolled my eyes when I saw this double album monstrosity come up. I had seen the movie in college in a film class and I thought it was kind of silly. But the difference between college me and now me is that I do have an increased appreciation of early prog rock, a la early Genesis, and this is kind of prog rock adjace with some weirdness and power that I've come to really respect. Beyond Pinball Wizard there is not much in the way of hits here, but yay for complex, ambitious weirdness.

I think I'm biased against it because of how much I love Quadrophenia, however it's still phenomenal. Will need to listen to it again with my full attention

Elite album Pinball wizard unmatched

This is a top tier concept album and I'm just love it. Obviously "Pinball Wizard" is an all time banger of a song, but the thematic flow of the rest of the album just works so well.

Three words: Classic Rock Opera. Liked Songs Added: Pinball Wizard Sally Simpson I'm Free

I just think concept albums are fun, and I'm still a huge Keith Moon fan. I do prefer the more rock side of this band and this one is softer, but they still pulled it off

Start with, im a huge who fan. Hell made my own who tee shirt when they reunited in 96 to don at the show. Of the two full rock operas, Tommy is the worst. It's a bit pretentious at times, some of the tracks are very weak failing to showcase anyone's talents. It was ground breaking and created a bit of a run on other bands trying to do their own. This is a personal annoyance, but every live album they release is a live version of them playing Tommy and its tired. Stand out tracks: amazing journey, sparks, christmas, acid queen, pinball wizard, go to the mirror, smash the mirror, im free, were not gonna take it. 10 out of 24 tracks.

Pretty solid rock album

Great album

Pretty chaotic but nice

I'm actually surprised to see such a decrease in popularity in this album over time. Overall, as a concept, I think it's still really, really strong. I wish there were a way that I could read it 4.5, but I will round down to 4. The mere fact that this has been redone and covered and turned into stage shows, etc. should automatically earn it a few stars, and then when listening and picking out some of the really difficult guitar licks or hearing Keith Moon's incredible drumming, or listening into the disturbing (but super creative) lyrics that somehow all come together, it's easy to see why I rated this highly.

I think this is a really great soundtrack to a musical when you see it live for instance, as I did in the London West End. But I don’t think it’s something that you put on and enjoy as an album. That creates the tension here.

At some point in high school, I declared The Who to be my favorite of the British invasion bands of the sixties. This was mostly because I’d become obsessed with “Baba O’Riley,” whose bright looped organ melody was absolute bliss to my ears. I also became fascinated by Keith Moon. It wasn’t just his manic drumming style that I loved, but the wild and reckless energy that he poured into everything he did. I started exploring the band’s hits, which was easy to do, since their music was getting a bit of a resurgence thanks to CSI. I listened to The Who’s music quite a bit throughout high school and college, but their only complete album that I’d listened to was Who’s Next. I’ve never listened to Tommy before because I just wasn’t interested in listening to a rock opera that’s over an hour long. Now, for my final album by The Who on this project, I’ll finally listen to it. I’ve been pretty lukewarm on Who albums outside of Who’s Next, so I’m a bit hesitant headed into Tommy, but I’m willing to give it a fair shot. Tommy wasn’t perfect, but it was quite a bit better than I was thinking it would be. I really enjoyed how straightforward the story of the rock opera was, and how seamlessly the narrative moved along throughout the album. I definitely like to hear Roger Daltrey’s vocals more than Pete Townshend, the variation in lead and backing vocals throughout the album was enjoyable. Musically, there was so much to take in on this album, and I really enjoyed the rich sound. I couldn’t believe that only the four members of The Who were credited on this album, and that they didn’t use any additional musicians. The scope and vision of this album was truly impressive, and for a band whose earlier work was more firmly rooted in pop music, making an album like Tommy as their fourth studio album is quite an impressive achievement. This album truly felt like a collaborative effort from everyone, and it was like watching a rowing crew in perfect synchrony. “Pinball Wizard” would be my obvious choice for my favorite song on the album, but I think that’s mostly because it’s the song on this album that works the best on its own. However, I did enjoy side two of the LP version the best. I thought the four songs on that part of the album were really strong, and there was quite a lot going on musically and story wise on that part of the album. Things did drag a little bit from “Pinball Wizard” until “I’m Free,” but Tommy was still a really enjoyable album to listen to, and it’s certainly a milestone in rock music.

60er/70er kenne ich wenig von..nochmal reinhören

A lot of songs, which means there's some great ones and some not so great ones. Luckily, the former outnumber the latter. 4 heavy stars.

Great story-telling. I really like the vocals and instrumentation, but not every song was a bop.

Pretty good classic rock. Wouldn't own it but some songs on here are iconic.

Its like if Pink Floyd focused more on storytelling. The story was super fun to follow. Instruments regulated the tone nicely. I don't know if this is a "concept album" but it's a great album either way.

Man, a double concept album is super ambitious. There's some great songs on here but it is long and does drag in spots which holds it back from a 5 for me.

Pretty good! I like 1921!

Interesting, another one I'd heard before but nothing new stood out. Always liked the rock opera album and a couple songs I hadn't listened to in years

Boy, do I love a good rock opera. I imagine that Tommy is one of the earlier examples of a rock opera or even a concept album. Albums that tell a story throughout are some of my favorites, because the artist made a concerted effort to make a cohesive piece of music/art rather than a collection of individual songs pieced together around a few chart-topping singles. I've never been a huge Who fan, but Tommy is something of theirs that I can get behind. Certainly an enjoyable listening experience. Top Tracks: Eyesight for the Blind, Pinball Wizard, The Acid Queen, Christmas

I need more who

Listening session: january 4th, while finishing a uni assignment and crocheting Listened to before: no Thoughts: great album to listen front to back, the Freaks from Freaks and Geeks knew what’s up Favourite tracks: 1921, Underture, Go To The Mirror!

In 1997, the Christian rock band Geoff Moore and the Distance released a cover of The Who's "I'm Free", using the lyrics about a previously deaf dumb and blind kid becoming a cult leader to be about Jesus instead. I dunno, I think that's funny.

Interesting approach for an album. I would love to see it on stage as a Rock opera show.

At it's most effective when simple. The storyline works to its advantage, and the hits are big hits. Some of the interludes are a little meandering, but the underlying melodies are very effective. Probably one of the best whole Who records.

Worth listening to once all the way through…but you know the good stuff off this already. Pinball Wizard, and We're Not Gonna Take It being the standout tracks

last time I listened to this I gave it a 5, today it is a 4. I think it's a very cool concept and there are some great tunes on here as well :)

Good. Some filler but overall chad

I have no idea what a rock opera is, but this albums sounds good. There's a distinct sound carried throughout the album, and it's amazing how they tell a story across the album, although that has become a bit more common since this was released. 8/10

De ouverture leidt dit album prachtig in. Het is één van de zeldzame momenten die mijn aandacht weet te pakken. Het introduceert een levensverhaal. Maar eerlijk gezegd, volg ik dat verhaal nauwelijks. Vaak zakt het album naar de achtergrond. Als je dan jezelf dwingt meer actief te luisteren, merk je dat het wel goed in elkaar zit en pak je een element van het verhaal op. Na de opening heeft alleen Pinball Wizard de kracht om uit zichzelf mijn aandacht naar zich toe te trekken. Ik ben niet de enige. Dit nummer is een paar honderd miljoen maal geluisterd op Spotify, terwijl de rest een paar miljoen keer is geluisterd. Ergens op zo'n 3/4 ben ik het album echt wel zat. Tja, vier kanten vol, het is echt teveel van het goede. Daarmee lijkt het geheel onder een vergeetbare 3 te zakken. Maar dat voelt toch niet goed. Ik weet niet precies wat het is. Maar laat ik de uitschieters maar als smoes gebruiken om het naar 3,5 sterren te kunnen tikken.

Het is vakantie, dus ik pak er makkelijker het grote snobboek bij dan de wiki. En dan is het wel humor om te lezen dat de snob van dienst een halve rant afsteekt waarom dit album wat hem betreft zwaar overrated is. En dat een album van meer dan een uur sowieso te lang is. Hadden ze maar meer van dat soort criteria gehanteerd. De snob moest wel toegeven dat het album toch wel enigszins iconisch is geworden. Het is het in ieder geval het bekendste werk van the Who. En zelden is ook een ouverture een (voor ons) bekend nummer. Wat dat betreft wel mooi om dit album nu tijdens de top2000 te krijgen. Ik vind het wel aardig om een soort van verhaal in muziek voorgeschoteld te krijgen. Het maakt het wat draaglijker dat het ietwat gedateerd is. Maar nummers als Pinball Wizard blijven toch erg tof. Ik heb me ondanks de lengte er prima mee vermaakt. Drieeneenhalve ster

Outstanding early concept album

1st listen great rock opera

Doesn’t quite hang together as well as The Wall nor have as many outstanding songs that are able to stand on their own, but then again, these guys were the first and this had no template they were working from

Tommy, oh Tommy. I love this album and was obsessed with it for a while. It is far from perfect and even farther away from being The Who’s best album, but I love the Who and I have a soft spot for insane and stupid crap in art. Tommy’s main sin is that it bites off so much more than it can chew with its constraints that many of the attempted themes and concepts can go completely over your head and often do. This album might have even faired better as a triple so that it could flesh its themes out more. The main idea of the story is trauma, but hippie and celebrity culture, spiritual awakening, post-war England, religion, and exploitation are all incorporated to varying degrees of success and obscured by so much absurd metaphors and allegories, like a pinball cult. There are also a few weird sequencing issues, like Christmas and Cousin Kevin interrupting Eyesight to the Blind and The Acid Queen, leading many people to being confused as to what the point of The Hawker is as they don’t put together that the woman he’s singing about is meant to be The Acid Queen. Later versions would correct this, like the Broadway version and the Royal Albert Hall concert. Speaking of other versions, the studio version of Tommy is pretty lackluster when comparing it to the live versions available from the original Tommy tour. There’s the Leeds version, the Hull version, the Tanglewood version, the Woodstock version, and the Isle of Wight version off the top of my head, and I recommend all of them. However, none of these are complete performances of the album, as The Who never performed the entire album live until 1989 to my knowledge, which makes the story even harder to follow than the original. These live versions have the incredible energy that made The Who the greatest live band of all time, but the studio never captured that power until Who’s Next, the group’s following album. The tour for this album was where Roger Daltrey developed his raspy rock voice, which you can hear in snippets on the record, but most of it still sounds pretty tame. I realize I’ve spent much of this review criticizing, which makes my proclaimed love of this album seem odd, but rest assured, this album holds a special place in my heart. The music is great and has a deeply human, triumphant message (which is NOT ableist, Tommy’s deafness, dumbness, and blindness is a metaphor for trauma and how it cuts you off from the other people in your life and is explicitly a mental block as opposed to an actual disability). Also the actual double LP is absolutely sick, I got it from a friend’s grandfather and it comes with a book of these illustrations based on the lyrics. The gatefold is actually a trifold and has continuous 3-page design on both sides, it’s great. I don’t mean to be a vinyl purist, but I feel this album sounds much better on vinyl, the production is way cleaner than what I remember from listening on digital, but it’s been a bit since I listened to the album on streaming. 4/5

I liked the songwriting, was like a long ass story

Classic old rock Key change in amazing journey to breakdown is quite nice And the guitar riff at the end of the song Really nice transition into sparks The part see me feel me from 2:20 on Christmas is really nice Repeated motif on go to the mirror from Christmas really nice Vocal mix on were not gonna take u solid but lyrics damn

I actually enjoyed this far more than I expected. It was very over indulgent but the band are superb

Love the stereo separation. Great sounding instrument recordings. Good themes song wise. I don’t love the plotline of Tommy. This one has grown on me a lot over the years.

Strange lyrics, guess they were going for a over coming obstacles sort of thing, it has its hits and it has its misses.

Liked it more than expected! Love Pinball Wizard, but most of the non-radio tracks were pretty good, too. I know it's a classic, but the concept of it all never intrigued me. Excellent drumming throughout and Daltrey's vocals were also top notch. Didn't love all the songs, but it's a solid 4*. Happily surprised.

Really interesting concept album, I'll have to listen to it a few more times before I feel like I get it, but the drums and guitar are absolutely fantastic.

Some great individual tunes (“Christmas”, “Pinball Wizard”, etc), but the whole rock opera/ “narrative” (those quotes are for ironic effect, btw ;) ) set up just doesn’t come together for me.

Wow, this is a lot darker than I ever thought it was. It’s brilliant in the sense that it tells a very complex and artistic story that encompasses a lot of deep psychological concepts. The music is great too…. It’s also one of, if not the first, rock operas. It really defines a sub genre and sets the bar pretty high for what storytelling can be in music.

Solid album and band.

What an adventure! My first venture into this rock opera. But I'll admit I skipped every overture, underture, left and right true and that seemed to elevate my experience

Amazing Journey The Acid Queen Pinball Wizard Go to the Mirror! I'm Free We're Not Gonna Take It

The Who is unique for it's time. Took me forever to realize Keith Moon didn't play a hi-hat. His style really defines the band at their best: bombastic. Maybe not my favorite Who album, feels dated. I'd rather listen to Rolling Stones from this era.

I adore See Me, Feel Me...and I forgot it was part of the last track rather than a stand alone. Ambitious and the quintessential rock opera.

Mom: No son, we have opera at home The opera we have at home:

Overall Rating - 4.29/5 (8.58/10). Great album. If the content is disturbing, so is a lot of Classical Opera. They structured it like a Classical Opera, and it works.

Surprisingly easy to listen to.

Reminds me of our misspent youth…overwrought and dramatic…fantastic!

Fun! ★★★★

22/11/2025 Take the album for what it was without the exceptional length. It was good. Spotify listeners: 7.2 million

I really wanna give this album credit for the ambition of it. I think it was one of the first, if not the first, album to try to tell a cohesive story through its runtime. Without this album there’s probably no The Wall, or really any other really plotted concept albums. And that’s really respectable, but also I didn’t love a lot of this album. It’s got its great moments undoubtably, and I’d say I liked the album a lot, but it’s drunk its own koolaid a little bit. It’s 25 songs, and it’s almost 80 minutes, and it really doesn’t need all that time. There are songs you can trim or cut entirely and it would be a better listening experience. I still liked it though, it’s just better in theory than in practice. Favorites: 1921, Eyesight to the Blind (The Hawker), Sally Simpson

Great collection of songs, not the most coherent concept but still enjoyable

Piiiitkä levy, mut tää on jo sitä parempaa Whoota jos vertaa siihen ekaan mikä tässä generaattorissa tuli! Eihän tuolla hirveesti mitään isoja lekoja muuten oo ku omasta mielestä ehkä koko Whon tuotannon paras biisi Pinball Wizard.. Nostetaan nyt kuitenkin hövelillä tuulella tää neloseen

I have it, and know it by heart.

Loved this. The overture really set the mood and the through story is interesting. I'm gonna do some reading about the album and give it another albun because I think there is so much to explore. The album is creative, it's experimental at moments, it pushes some musical boundaries for the time period. Also I've never heard of an "underture" before but that made me laugh, and the musical interlude was so cool. Feels like a trailblazer kind of album. I want to know more about Tommy

First off, 'Overture' is fucking rad- what a journey- what an open. Sounds like the sgt peppers of rock and roll. Man, the recording and sound of those horns are so satisfying- analogue, mellow and colorful, so pleasing. Variation of sonic elements and creativity of these songs is excellent. The pacing and variety of this album laughs in the face of cookie cutter, replicable song formulae. This is a Rock and Roll symphony. From one movement to another, taking to you to different sonic planes, a 3 minute radio song to a ten minute psychedelic cruise on an analogue ocean. This shit got me writing like a pitchfork critic vying for his daily bread. The songwriting on this record is pleasantly varied, flows organically and ebbs/flows in a way that stirs emotion. The expression feels organic and authentic. Many of the elements used are exceptionally creative, I'm listening to the fantastically strange staccato backing vocs on 'Christmas' as I write this. Bring back this sound man! I need more eight track tape records in 2025. The soft colour of everything is perfection. Old school meet new school. Fuck digital bro. Really enjoying how warm and dark certain elements of the mix are. The god damn analogue saturation. OOF. The overall analogue tape colour of the production is extremely enjoyable. The hard panning of elements is intriguing, reminiscent of George Martins mixing with the Beatles. Mf is hard panning the entire drum set to the left channel. Wild. Cant get phase issues if the entire kick is only on one side - right? Conceptually, love the idea of a rock opera. Been listening to the music mostly this pass through- but would love to follow the narrative on a second listen. Sucker for a concept album. Particularly narrative surrounding more esoteric spiritual type shit, Gurus, Woodstock, Hippies, Rock and Roll, exemplifies the 60s-70s. I will be listening to this many more times.

### **Tommy** – *The Who* (1969) **In-Depth Review: Lyrics, Music, Production, Themes & Influence** --- #### **Overview** Released in 1969, *Tommy* is The Who’s fourth studio album and the first full-length rock opera. Composed primarily by Pete Townshend, it tells the story of a "deaf, dumb, and blind boy" who becomes a messianic figure after discovering a supernatural talent for pinball. Inspired by Indian spiritual master Meher Baba and the structure of classical opera, *Tommy* was a radical departure from traditional rock albums of the era. --- ### **Lyrics** **Pros:** - **Economical storytelling**: The lyrics are sparse yet evocative, often functioning like operatic recitatives. Lines like *“Captain Walker didn’t come home / His unborn child will never know him”* convey deep emotional weight in just a few words . - **Thematic depth**: The album explores trauma, abuse, spiritual awakening, fame, and disillusionment. The recurring motifs (*“See me, feel me, touch me, heal me”*) act as both narrative anchors and emotional crescendos . **Cons:** - **Narrative opacity**: The story can be difficult to follow without external context or repeated listens. Some critics argue the plot is “thin” or “reprehensible,” especially in its handling of abuse and disability . - **Problematic themes**: Modern listeners have raised concerns about the portrayal of trauma, particularly in tracks like *“Fiddle About”* and *“Cousin Kevin”*, which depict abuse in a stylized, almost theatrical manner . --- ### **Music** **Pros:** - **Genre fusion**: *Tommy* blends hard rock, psychedelia, vaudeville, and classical structures. Tracks like *“Amazing Journey”* and *“Sparks”* showcase dynamic shifts and instrumental virtuosity . - **Instrumental brilliance**: Keith Moon’s drumming is explosive and jazz-influenced; John Entwistle’s bass is melodic and aggressive; Townshend’s guitar work ranges from delicate acoustic passages to thunderous power chords . **Cons:** - **Inconsistent pacing**: At 24 tracks and over 75 minutes, the album can feel bloated. The *“Underture”*, while ambitious, is often cited as unnecessarily long and meandering . - **Melodic unevenness**: Some songs serve more as narrative devices than standalone compositions, leading to moments that feel underdeveloped or repetitive . --- ### **Production** **Pros:** - **Innovative for its time**: The use of recurring musical motifs, layered vocals, and studio effects (like phasing and reverb) creates a cohesive sonic world. The *“Overture”* and *“Underture”* act as orchestral synopses of the album’s themes . - **Live energy in studio**: Despite its conceptual nature, the album retains The Who’s raw live energy, especially in tracks like *“Pinball Wizard”* and *“I’m Free”* . **Cons:** - **Technological limitations**: By modern standards, the production can sound muddy or flat. The mix sometimes struggles to balance the dense instrumentation, particularly in the more chaotic sections . --- ### **Themes** **Core Themes:** - **Trauma and silence**: Tommy’s muteness is both a metaphor for childhood trauma and a critique of societal neglect. - **Messianism and exploitation**: The album critiques how society idolizes and then abandons those it elevates. Tommy’s cult-like following and eventual rejection mirror the rise and fall of 60s counterculture icons . - **Spiritual seeking**: Influenced by Meher Baba, Townshend weaves in ideas of inner enlightenment, though these are often subverted by the narrative’s cynicism . --- ### **Influence** - **Genre-defining**: *Tommy* is widely regarded as the first true rock opera, paving the way for albums like *The Wall* (Pink Floyd) and *Jesus Christ Superstar* . - **Cultural impact**: It spawned a 1975 film (dir. Ken Russell) and a 1993 Broadway musical, both of which expanded the narrative and introduced the story to new audiences . - **Legacy debate**: While some hail it as a masterpiece, others see it as a flawed blueprint—ambitious but uneven. Its influence is undeniable, but its artistic success remains divisive . --- ### **Final Verdict** | Aspect | Rating | Notes | |--------------|--------|-------| | **Lyrics** | 8/10 | Poetic and thematic, but narratively opaque. | | **Music** | 8.5/10 | Brilliant musicianship, but pacing issues. | | **Production**| 7.5/10 | Innovative for 1969, but dated today. | | **Themes** | 9/10 | Deep, dark, and still relevant. | | **Influence**| 10/10 | A cornerstone of progressive rock and concept albums. | --- ### **Pros & Cons Summary** **✅ Pros:** - Groundbreaking concept and structure - Musically ambitious and instrumentally rich - Emotionally resonant themes - Landmark influence on rock and musical theater **❌ Cons:** - Narrative can be confusing or alienating - Some tracks feel like filler - Problematic handling of abuse and disability - Overlong and occasionally self-indulgent --- **Bottom Line:** *Tommy* is not a perfect album, but it is a **necessary** one. It’s a flawed, feverish, and often brilliant piece of rock history that demands engagement—not just passive listening. Whether you see it as a mess or a masterpiece, it’s impossible to ignore.

Never listened to this because I hate Pinball Wizard, but it was a cool record, and when PW dropped in it was actually exciting to hear, the same way when No One Knows starts during Songs for the Deaf

Obviously great, but I’m personally not super into it and respect it more than love it myself.

That would have been absolutely amazing if I had heard it at Woodstock. I think I'll watch the movie as a result of listening to the whole album but it's not as mind-blowing in the 2020's as I imagine it was back in the day.

Didn’t necessarily think I would but I still really like Tommy!

I love this album. Listening to it, there is some parts that could have been cut out, especially in the back half.

8/10

A very expansive record and totally deserved its status as a classic, although there's no deniable it definitely came from the 60's, but every song grew on me, which some parts are cheese-y, but it's all packaged and cohesive. It paved the way to a lot of extensive concept albums from bands like Dream Theater and Pink Floyd. How coincidence the album of the day happened to be the album I felt like listening to.

Masterpiece

i’m glad this site finally forced me to listen to this!!! been a blind spot that i should’ve covered years ago. and it’s pretty damn cool. the music actually doesn’t do crazy much for me but the work as a whole is undeniable. and it has pinball wizard

And lo, ‘Sgt. Pepper’ begat ‘Tommy’, which begat Prog Rock, which begat ‘The Wall’. ‘Tommy’ is a good album, way better than I expected. For 1969 it sounds surprisingly modern, ahead of its time, and incredibly polished. The 74-minute runtime flies by. I like it a lot. Does it all hang together perfectly as a unified whole? No, but it’s still a major achievement, a must listen, and miles ahead of what most of their contemporaries were dishing up during the same era.

Fett

Bueno

I'll admit, I'm pretty critical of The Who, but I appreciate the concept behind this album and I really appreciate the skill and unique style of Entwhistle and Moon. Still maintain the other two are overrated though.

I've heard this album many times, but probably not at all in the past 20 years or so. Yeah it's a little weird, but it's still a great, distinctive album.

The Who have a super classic sound that transports you back in time. The second live disc makes you feel like you are in the crowd experiencing the moment. This is not my favorite genre of music, but I would always stop to listen to the Overture!

Amazing. Always.

I saw the movie when I was probably too young, but it started my life long love for The Who. This album is ground-breaking and it was at the top of my Who chart until I discovered and dug into Quadrophenia, which is apparently not part of this 1001 album list. I’m shocked! Shocked I tell you!

7/10

Its The Who. Classic Rock. Solid.

Good jams. Bizarre story.

fun story telling and great sound

A bit conceptual, even for me, but all great music.

this was a really good concept album that went through themes of struggle, transformation and growth, some bangers too

Great production. Wanted to go with 3 first but 4 it is.

Great

Better than Coldplay

People love this album. I don't. It's got its moments of greatness, but it's not Quadrophenia.

Yeah this one is really damn good. They have so many offerings on this list and I got two in a row (in a 5 day span where I had two Pere Ubu albums and two The Who albums with one random in-between). This one was much better than The Who Sell Out. Still doesn't quite reach a 5 for me, but it's close.

Quite a cohesive concept album. Pinball Wizard is famous and was the best song on the album. The song before was unpleasant. Leaning to Four, but maybe too generous.

I can die without listening to this album, but not bad "Im Jesty Acid Queen"

An unforgettable album certain to ruin anyone's day. Tales of misplaced sexual energy and misuse of power jump perspective nearly every song through an impressively choked gamut of sinister characters. I am reminded that evil can come from anyone, and especially those we collectively most trust and idolize. Difficult to stomach but relentless messaging that I choose to interpret as an important reminder to stay aware. Being welcome is not the same as being safe, and though I was more comfortable learning that from Little Red Riding Hood the lesson here is more visceral. There are no allies here, not even Sally's parents. The musical themes are repeated beautifully and carefully, and I appreciate the placement of Tommy's Holiday Camp with its mustache twirling fanfare and We're Not Gonna Take It with its recursion of the cast bringing the story full circle by taking a step back from the overindulgence of the earlier tracks to remind us of Uncle Ernie & crew's unsalvageability, not that we needed it. The only thing more chilling than Uncle Ernie is his possible ubiquity. Were I to hear this album again, it would be too soon.

oodness that was a dark experience. This might be only album where I actively hate every song but one, and I still want to give it 5/5 stars. This is not a musical album, this is dark musical theater you can listen to instead of watch. I was ready to write this album off as a 1/5 stars, this music sucks, about 7 songs in. But I started getting invested by "Christmas" immediately followed by "Cousin Kevin". Towards the latter part of the album, I couldn't focus on the other stuff I was doing, I was just sitting there listening to this musical. I'm still not convinced a good way to write a musical is via a feature length album, but I have to give it to The Who for how innovative that is in 1969. Each song by itself was awful though with the sole exception of Pinball Wizard (which has a much darker twist to it now that I've heard its full album). However, I really don't think The Who cared about making the music all that good. I'm hard pressed to believe there's a single person on the planet that thinks "Fiddle About" is a good song for its music as opposed to its importance to the albums story. The numerous 20-30 second songs spread throughout the album seem to cleanly separate the "acts" of this "show", and summarize the next steps in the story for people not paying close attention, a really nice touch (even though the songs suck).

ADOREI! É um álbum muito bom, bem construído, bem completo, várias nuances.

Notevole

Ik denk dat Tommy mijn favoriete plaat van the Who is. Ik vind dit één van de weinige écht geslaagde concept albums met een overkoepelend verhaal. De nummertjes zijn kort, pittig en hebben ook wel iets theatraals zonder in een progrock straatje te belanden. Melodieën en riffs komen terug over de plaat en je gaat als luisteraar langs verschillende moods. Er zitten wat prikkelende dingen in, maar vooral zijn er ook gewoon heel wat sterke liedjes - opzichzelfstaand. Dus, vet om weer eens helemaal van start tot finish te hebben geluisterd. 8/10 Highlights 1921 Pinball Wizard Go to the Mirror! We're Not Gonna Take It

Classic rock, realized that it's a concept album which tells a story

Good. Does not sound like anybody else.

It was better than Who's Next but not as good as Live at Leeds. It's surprising how much I prefer a live album of a certain artist over studio albums - it never happens besides The Who, interesting. I am sure Tommy was a great inspiration for The Wall for example, which is a great thing. Anywho, this is a GREAT album, but it's not as perfect as many people say.

I already knew this album, but I was glad to give it a refresh. I enjoyed it far more this time than the last, partly thanks to this list and the new perspective it gave me. I don’t care much for "rock operas" in general. It’s a nice concept on paper, but I think it’s almost inherently doomed to fail - mainly because it’s usually too long, which dramatically increases the chances of having a ton of filler or weak songs. You also need a lot of time on your hands to appreciate them : it's meant to be listened as a whole, it makes little sense to just play a couple of tracks ; but not everyone has the the time or the mental space to sit through 75-90 minutes of music. Very few bands can pull it off – even the masterpiece that is The Wall is a weak link in the otherwise perfect discography of Pink Floyd. However, The Who kind of did it right. They obviously drew a lot from The Pretty Thing’s S.F. Sorrow (Pete Townshend denied it, but I don’t believe it for a second), another contender for the "reasonnably well-done rock operas" hall of fame. The Who added a layer of professionalism to the more dilettante approach of SF Sorrow, but also lost a bit of the crazyness in the process. Tommy is better structured (less LSD, probably) but also less spontaneous. I couldn’t care less about the "story", to be honest ; but I really loved the construction and the overall mood of the album. It’s musically very competent and well-balanced, alternating quiet, psychedelic and dynamic moments with gusto. The long psychedelic tracks like Underture are my favorites, and the short instrumental intermissions are very well done, giving the listener time to breath between the songs. There are a lot of awesome tracks, especially towards the end, and almost no bad song, which is remarkable. And I love the cover art ! I probably won’t listen to this record very often despite its obvious qualities, mainly because it's too long and convoluted (even a bit chaotic at times) for a casual listen. But it is indeed a landmark album. 8/10

This one was a nice surprise. Didn't expect much as my previous experience with The Who was mostly My Generation so this album felt like a Christmas present.

I haven't listened to this since high school. I always knew this was a rock opera but I never knew the story it was trying to tell. I read the Wikipedia synopsis and I seriously didn't realize how INSANE this album is. Tommy gets tortured by his cousin and sexually abused by his uncle and then the next song is about how good he is at pinball?!? Wtf?? Honestly makes me enjoy this album much more than I thought I would after writing it off for so many years. Easily the most interesting album released by the Who. Favorite track: Pinball Wizard 3.5/5

My brother had this album so i knew it very well. I enjoyed listening to it again. It always amused me the 10second songs to keep you updated on the story line. I bought the soundtrack track album from a 2nd hand record store recently but definitely prefer the original album.

Can someone send me a link to the acid The Who were on when they made this?

Interesting concept for a rock opera that was enjoyable nearly all the way through. 8/10

Classic, the inspiration of so much art 30 years later...

Great album!

Думал, что задушусь от британской рок-оперы почти что на полтора часа хрона, но нет... это было весьма весело, а лучшими треками так вовсе оказались 10-минутные проговые бэнгеры.

4 out of 5. Very possibly my favorite album by The Who. It feels like a real journey. Good way to end another week of this challenge.

What is happening in his heeeaaaad? UIuuuuuh...I wish I kneeeeeew

Enjoyed this lots more than I expected, even though it's a bit silly. 4.5

Fun album, loved the variety and strangeness. What a drummer

448/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

All I can say about this one is that he sure plays a mean pinball.

This was a 3.5 but I believe I need to listen to it more times to fully appreciate it :)

Brownie points for being the first rock opera, but not as good as Who's Next

The mother of all rock operas and concept albums.

My parents had the London Symphony Orchestra version of Tommy when I was a kid and I used to listen to it all the time. I was too young to really get some of the implications (Fiddle About - *shudder*). It may just be familiarity or nostalgia, but I like that version so much better than the original (or the film version despite Elton and Tina Turner making an appearance). I think the story fairs better with different vocalists doing the various roles and the richness of the fuller orchestral accompaniment. That being said, I still like Tommy. It's probably my favourite individual concept album (as a series, the many albums that make up twenty one pilots Dema storyline, would be my favourite concept overall). The orchestral version would have got a 5 from me, and knowing it exists means this can never score as highly. I would say 3.5, but in a world with no half stars: 4/5

I do enjoy this but I think I prefer the movie's soundtrack to the studio album

Really liked it, had no fucking idea what was going on but what I did pick up was interesting and the sound was really well done. 4 stars

Classic album am one of the most ambitious undertakings to bust out a rock opera instead of "just" a concept album. Love several songs and has some bangers. Packed with ideas and originality. Great album but more of an every 5-10 years listen for me.

The first album that comes to mind when you think of Rock Opera

Classic Who

Solid album that is one of a small group of albums that I know of that the group of songs tell a story and each individual song tells a chapter of the story. The album as a whole has a clean clear sound. Recordings quality really seems to have improved around this time when compared to the mid 60s. I will give this album a spin for sure in the future, even though I enjoy a lot of music from this era and style, this was my first time listening to a Who Album front to back.

A good album that works together very well, especially towards the beginning. I think it does get bogged down a bit in the concept, but it's still a very impressive achievement. A few tracks were misses for me, but it is generally a great sound with a few standouts. Favorite tracks: "Underture," "The Acid Queen," "Pinball Wizard"

Ah, the rock opera. There is no denying the singular ambition of this record. Unlike other concept albums that preceded it - SF Sorrow and Sgt Peppers as noteworthy examples - “Tommy” has a plot that (sort of) holds together via a narrative flow throughout the whole album, though it is an oddly bizarre story. There are also some great musical moments spread across the record - including “Pinball Wizard”, “The Acid Queen”, and “Go To The Mirror.” The problem lies in reconciling the plot with the music. It sometimes feels like songs are inserted for plot purposes, which weakens the record as they can come across as filler musically. Because of that, the albums doesn’t quite reach the heights it aspires to, particularly when compared to the much tighter “Who’s Next” which was relieved of the narrative constraints when the Lifehouse project was flushed. But Tommy is still both a unique artistic achievement and a (mostly) solid collection of songs, even if it doesn’t quite reach the heights it sought to.

My first Rock Opera experience. I really enjoyed the whole album. It looked quite daunting at first when I saw the album was 3.5 hours long but half that time is repeats recorded live. I enjoyed the story of the album. It had good early rock vibes

This was clearly a very ambitious project, and pretty ahead of its time when it was released. A little lengthy, but otherwise a good album. Pinball Wizard is obviously a standout.

I wish more bands went wild with musical concept albums while retaining their sound. Doesn’t make me want to watch the movie but was a fun listen.

Good album, some of the songs were quite strange though. Better listened to in one go, rather than listening to the songs separately.

Cool but didn't really pull me in

It’s been so long since I’ve listened to this album. My dad owned it back in the ’90s and would always play it in his truck. I even remember seeing the movie a few times, but my memory of it is pretty vague. What I’ve always loved, though, is the premise of this concept album, I mean, a deaf, dumb, and blind kid who grows up to be a pinball wizard, and then becomes a spiritual leader? Who, in their right sober mind, could have ever come up with a story like that?!

I must think that ‘hard rock’ means something completely different than what it actually does, because if this is a hard rock album, I’m a little confused. This sounds more like a normal rock album to me. But I may be mistaken. Nevertheless, I did enjoy listening to this album, though it was better for background music than actually vibing to music. The instrumentals were pretty good, as well as the lyrics, but it just wasn’t that groundbreaking to me.

a groundbreaking concept album with several notable songs that made it onto the radio. I have seen the movie "Tommy" several times but had never listened to the entire soundtrack. Quite good!

It’s very ambitious and certainly a timeless piece of art. Gets a little self indulgent at times. It’s more of a show than a record in that sense. Great performances though. Moon is way calm down in this.

Rock Oper

How to love a terrible album. Tommy is a complete mess. Full of narrative catastrophe and over ambitious musical experimentation. It’s utterly disjointed and often deeply problematic. I also happen to love this album a great deal. There’s a strangeness to this work from start to finish that has always kept me coming back. The band’s sound is consistently good - even occasionally great with tracks like Pinball Wizard and See Me, Feel Me. But I think that it’s the ridiculousness of it all that stops me from hating on its clunky execution. I don’t think any of this is supposed to be taken seriously, and there’s some fun to be had in that. My mind calls back to ‘A quick one, while he’s away’. The Who’s tongue in cheek mini-rock opera. In kind, that story’s tale of the hero’s girl falling into the clutches of Iver the evil engine driver has that same sense of humour as Tommy’s deaf, dumb, and blind kid enlisting the services of a sex worker named “the Acid Queen” to cure his condition. “Watch his body rise” indeed! A flawed work. But perhaps the most deserving of a place on this list out of all of The Who’s albums. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

very solid

Is Quadrophenia better? Maybe. Is this ludicrously overblown, a bit crass, and too long? Definitely! Do I really like it? Absolutely!

I’m gonna be honest I highkey fell asleep while listening to this… whoops

Crazy concept for an album I didn't know they had hands like this in the 60s

ommy is a bold, messy, often brilliant attempt to turn rock music into something theatrical, spiritual, and mythic. It’s a rock opera in the truest sense — full of recurring motifs, strange characters, and a central figure who somehow becomes both a messiah and a pinball wizard. Pete Townshend swung big with this one, and even when it stumbles, the sheer ambition is hard not to admire. Songs like “Amazing Journey,” “Sparks,” and “I’m Free” still carry a real sense of lift and momentum, with Keith Moon and John Entwistle holding everything together like a manic rhythm section with divine purpose. That said, Tommy is far from perfect. The storyline is fragmented, sometimes uncomfortable, and often barely makes sense unless you’ve got a lyric sheet and plenty of patience. Some of the songs feel like narrative filler rather than inspired writing, and there’s a theatrical awkwardness to parts of it that can be hard to ignore. But taken as a whole, it works

As far as rock operas go, this is one of them.

Absolutely love.

Interesting narrative, kept my interest despite the length. My only complaint is I felt some of the songs barely fit into the story.

Is this a rock opera? I have no idea! The songs are great. The album is fantastic, I listen to it over and over again. The film is outstanding; I've seen it more than once. Okay, you who don't like it, I give the album four stars.

69/1001. We all love how the Who brought art and rock together as so called "rock operas" in concept albums. We all hate how the Who brought art and rock together as so called "rock operas" in concept albums. For me this one leans a bit more on the love side, it is 69 (year and my 69th generated album) after all. And I remember Tina Turner kick ass as the acid queen in the film version, plus they are calling my name. I might imagine buying this LP.

A rock musical in album form. Following the story of Tommy- and I must say; for a deaf dumb and blind kid. He sure does play a mean pin ball. An interesting and enjoyable listen. But also quite long. Sally Simpson a new song which was good

A little long

Seen the film Heard the hits Not bought the t-shirt Now for the album... It would have made a great album if all the bits cut out

Classic. But I’ve heard it toooooo much in my life. I tire of it.

Way better than I anticipated. Enjoyed this.

While feeling disjointed and meandering at times, the fact that Pete wrote this in his early 20s is pretty mindblowing, and overall the first 'real' rock opera comes off as a triumph (IMO). Not entirely my cup of tea, but maybe that's just because I listened while not on drugs. Adding an additional star solely for Keith Moon's drumming.. RIP you legend.

Listened Jan 2021. Some undeniable classics and more fun than your usual rock opera. It's not one I would revisit it often but at its best, it's peak Who.

An incredible journey

The Who! Ja gewoon heerlijk ablum. Zal niet helemaal objectief zijn, maar ik luister hier erg graag naar. Om dan toch een kanttekening te plaatsen; het is weinig varierend. 4 reten. FAV: Pinball Wizard

I loved this album. Listened to it 3 times through one time being 2017 live version. I’ve always loved Pink Floyd and Rush both of whom frequently authored rock opera like albums with a story - I really slept on the Who, admittedly in part because of the east county San Diego dirtbag culture that surrounded KBG101 classic rock station growing up - the station constantly blasting “who are you” out of tailgating stereos before and after padres games. Anyway - this was great. 4/5

Cet album s’écoute bien! J’ai du gros love pour Sally pauvre elle 😢

J'avais vu le film passer il y a quelques années à artv ou à télé Québecm la naissance de l'opéra rock qui culminera à mon avis 10 ans plus tard avec the wall.

Bon mais je ne sais pas ce que je pense des opera rock. Trop de symbolismes pour moi? Trop besoin d’écouter les paroles? Anyway en tout confidence, l’album dure 1h14 et je n’ai pas vu le finir hier.

it gets plus points for being one of the first, if not the first? well known rock operas. it's long, and i only really truly love one song, pinball wizard. but in general i like this, it's an easy listen in the background. gonna give it a 4 still.

Classic

Not listened to this. I found it surprisingly good. Some tracks are obviously well known, and it was good to hear them in context.

Even though The Who are pretty much my favorite classic rock band, I've always passed this record over. Not that I don't like it, and I've definitely listened to it before, just it never really grabbed me like their later records. Regardless, this is still a massive record from The Who, the one that I feel basically cemented the sound they'd be known for with Keith Moon absolutely destroying the drums and Townsend coming into his own as a writer. It's not quite them at their full power (Their next record, Who's Next, would be them achieving that, with Quadrophenia after being their magnum opus), but Tommy is them coming damn close. Definitely as a rock opera, I feel this album has some of the same issues that The Wall by Pink Floyd has, mainly that as a listening experience by itself it isn't 100% satisfying as some of the tracks do feel like they need a visual component (It's A Boy, There's A Doctor). I will say though, The Who being more straightforward rock helps to make a lot of these songs listenable on their own, whereas The Wall's prog rock sound kinda forced it into a stage play sound that requires a visual component. But this album has great tracks like Pinball Wizard, Go To The Mirror, I'm Free, etc. Overall, an extremely strong record that barely misses the 5 for me, but they'll get there with their next record (also, I'll mention this in every The Who review, but whoever decided Quadrophenia didn't belong on this list needs to be shot).

Gets good at cousin kevin.

Good stuff.

Not the strongest concept album but sure does have a pretty dark and harrowing story of Tommy Walker. Poor dude watched his assumed dad get clapped, copes and develops psychosymatic symptoms. Then gets dosed early in life, then molested. Tries to heal a nation the best he can and is rejected, yet doesn't give up. Just sings his song. 4 star album on precedent. Great album and allowed the who to transcend mod pop songs and create a cohesive universe.

Would say this is like 7.5 7.8 out of 10 some of the drum overtures are great.

I lied it

Not their top album

𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 is ambitious, theatrical, and undeniably groundbreaking — but also, let’s be honest, a bit too long. Still, when it hits (like 𝘗𝘪𝘯𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘞𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘥 or 𝘐’𝘮 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦), it delivers pure rock opera magic. A flawed epic, but an epic nonetheless.

This isn't an album; it's a story. One I thoroughly enjoyed, and one I recommend listening to if you're wondering how Tommy turned out. Favorite Track: "Pinball Wizard".

It’s really good and really bad at the same time in the same songs

I remember the first time I heard Tommy I was expecting Baba O’Riley or My Generation. I was confused because I got neither. Though there is some debate about who wrote the first Rock Opera. Tommy was in the Top Five originates, and the first successful one. Period. It is a concept album like no other, which makes to hard to find singles when taken out of context. It really was the Who proving their musical chops (hear the break about 3 min I to Amazing Journey, which it was). Knowing the size of those four personalities I am surprised this album exists at all. Once you get to Pinball Wizard there is a powerful climax to the album. But some other songs I appreciated more were Go to The Mirror! and Tommy, Can You Hear Me! Overall, this was a masterpiece! However, it does run into the problem of accessibility.

Random thoughts: * I own this on CD and have watched the movie at least once. * I vaguely remember this being a slog to get through but on this listening I realized it is way more catchy than I realized. The instrumental tracks are super solid. * Pinball Wizard might be one of my top 10 all-time tracks! I absolutely love this song. I can't get enough. * I'm Free and Overture are great tracks and really caught my ear. * I'm not sure I really understand what Pete Townsend is trying to say through this art. But it is a fun time capsule. * This inspired one of my all-time favorite pinball machines. Seriously, drop some quarters in if you ever encounter it. Such a cool machine.

Pinball Wizard and I’m Free

Great album

Very unique and interesting concept album

Crisp and clean. I loved the movie and I love this album. I could listen to Keith Moon for hours.

Influential concept album.

I remember going to see a very community theater rendition of Tommy the musical with the whole family in maybe Merriam or Roeland Park. I think it was for your birthday, Dad? I didn’t really know what to expect but enjoyed it! This isn’t my favorite Who album, but definitely a solid 4.

Second time listening to this and can’t believe how many decent tracks I missed the first time I listened. Don’t have anything new to add, fantastic concept. Christmas is probably my favorite. Rating: 4.5

Rock opera! Nobody does rock operas anymore. Cowards! Umber never seen it performed; it would hold up today as a tale of abuse, cults, pseudoscience and so on. It’s a comprehensive tale told through great music and probably could only have been made in the 60s. Listen for more than “Pinball Wizard”. It’s a masterpiece.

Ég elska mörg lögin í þessari rokkóperu en ég hef aldrei gert heiðarlega tilraun til þess að hlusta og pæla í henni og söguþræðinum. Ég verð að segja að það eiginlega stútaði plötunni. Mér fannst ekki það spunnið í söguna sem er sorglegt en samt sem tónlistarafrek toga ég hana úr 3.5 upp í 4

Concept album about a severely abused child shutting down his senses to cope, regaining his composure by becoming a pinball god, gets a cult following, and then has his cult kill him. Sort of art pop sort of rock (vaguely alt-rockish). It lacks much relistenability (albeit a few songs like 1921, Pinball Wizard, and Sally Simpson are great tracks on their own). Honestly, I very much suggest giving this one a listen if you enjoy concept albums as it is a fun listen in the musical sort of sense.

Interesting concept album with some solid tracks. I liked this one.

Solid concept album. Tina Turner's version of The Acid Queen from the movie is so much better than Roger Daltry's. Also, who can't love Elton John in massive Doc Martin's as the Pinball Wizard who Tommy beats! Favorite songs: Pinball Wizard, Overture, Christmas, Go to the Mirror! Least favorite songs: Underture 4/5

Brilliant.

Rock opera

Tommy can you hear me?!👂🏻🪞🇬🇧

This album flows from song to song very well. A strong album. This album is worth a listen, even if you aren't a big Who fan.

Most concept albums share the traits of dragging in moments and playing too long, and this one does check those boxes to some degree. I did enjoy it playing in the background working around the house. There are a few tracks that have stood the test of time and stand on their own. Couple that with Pete’s age at the time of writing and this is a unique and impactful work. While I think arguably their strongest album shows up “Next” in their timeline, I give this one the round up. 3.5/5

350 albums in and we finally get our first Who record. And on the same day they announce their farewell tour. Hmmm. I’ve always dug the Who. And what I do like about Tommy was it was written and recorded to be played live. Other mammoth amazing records around that time like Sgt Pepper’s or Pet Sounds stand out for other obvious reasons. But Tommy stands out for its live performance factor. And while forming a storyline centered around a deaf mute and blind man playing championship pinball seems thinly plausible and pretty silly, the quality of many of the songs survives due to the unique ability to stand out on their own while always serving as a connecting thread into the main storyline.

It's alright, I can see why it's a classic. Its definitely something where you have to listen to all tracks in one sitting to get the most out of it. There are moments where it's brilliant but then everything else in between is a bit boring to me. That being said, there's some great musicianship here. You can tell they've put a lot of effort into it. Keith Moon especially does a great job on this. I wish I could rate albums from a scale of 1 to 10 instead 1 to 5 on this site, because then I'd give it a ~7.5 out of 10. I'll have to round it up to a 4/5. I'll be sure to check out Tommy, the movie when I come across it. Fav tracks: Pinball Wizard, Christmas Least fav tracks: Welcome, Fiddle About, most of the short tracks.

Among the many pleasures of listening to this album, possibly the greatest is hearing The Who’s legendary drummer Keith Moon giving it absolutely full beans on pretty much every track. Then there’s the fact that the track listing includes an ‘Underture’ as well as an ‘Overture’. And the opening to Pinball Wizard? One of the greatest rock intros of all time…. Ok – all the trigger warnings: Contains murder, physical and sexual abuse of a child, strong drug references, religious extremism and PTSD. But what’s a rock opera without tragedy? This original album lacks the guest performance highlights of the later soundtrack (Elton John, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton, Oliver Reed and Ann Margaret all brought something extra) but for inventiveness, innovation and some banging tunes the ’69 version still bags three stars on its own merits – with a bonus star for ‘Moon the Loon.’ RIP Keith

An epic but a great one, with a story weaving through the tracks and a timeless style that keeps you hooked

Excellent!

A lot of firsts on this listening journey, and this was my first listen to an album by The Who. "Tommy" is an album that tells the story of the remarkable life of Tommy. A fun idea and a story open for interpretation. The album is a good listen and I could see myself listening to it again, but it didn't blow me away on my first listen.

Iconic album, and group. Great music. Sound of the 60’s, 70’s.

no one is writing full length rock operas anymore. this album is insane and has its problems, but what a time for bizarre creativity. and roger daltrey was smokin in the movie so that has to count for something

Boring review alert! Ok so it's a little theatrical for me, but I feel like thats something I usually like. The music alone I would give a 2.5 rounded to a three. However, with having a story I give it a 3.5 rounded to a 4. I need to explain this for my future self because I think I'll come back and disagree.

Not really a fan of concept albums, but there is some great work on this one. The Who is an all-time great band.

Still an incredibly strange album, even after hearing it for years…. Enjoy the majority of it though…

Very good album

Rock opera! So cool, so different from what I knew The Who from

Man, I haven't listened to this album in maybe 15+ years, which is pretty crazy to think about. I'm not sure if Tommy or Who's Next was the first album by The Who I heard, but I did buy this on CD, probably sometime in high school. It was likely one of if not the first concept album I had heard. I definitely did enjoy it and gave it frequent listens, although maybe not quite as much as Who's Next. Not long after I started college I moved on from most of the "classic rock" type stuff I dabbled in, and have hardly looked back on The Who since, as I talked about when reviewing their debut. Still a great listen, and kind of wild to think how I almost completely abandoned this band, not because I didn't like them anymore, but more because I was just overwhelmed with other new stuff that I considered more interesting, or at least different/newer/more exciting. As I said before, I definitely am overdue on a deep dive of The Who. This is yet another understandably classic album, and I definitely enjoyed hearing it again after all these years. While I credit Bowie's Ziggy Stardust with first opening the door to progressive rock concept type stuff for me, this album may have actually preceded Ziggy back in my formative listening years, and it is far more "progressive". Honestly, a bit of a mystery as to why I basically abandoned listening to The Who so many years ago.

Only had heard Pinball Wizard before but I really liked the overall album. Good concept album and good music. Can’t wait to compare it to The Elder when it comes up.

Great to hear this again but really needs the wonderfully weird film to fully appreciate it as all the component parts can be disjointed if you don’t know the story.

Ambitious and sprawling and for the most part it works. Pinball Wizard is a classic. Sparks is a great instrumental. Very influential, although sometimes not for the best. Still, this definitely belongs. I still think Who's Next is better.

Ok, but very long

Tommy has been on my to-be-played list a long time for now and I love that this app brings me to just do that. The story is what makes this album feel so special to me and of course the way it unfolds in the course of listening to album. I love just losing track of time while listening to it, feeling for Tommy and what he had to go through, and knowing how many later albums we love were inspired by this masterpiece. The story of Tommy seems like a tragic version what people imagine what the 1960s were like when they weren't born to live in this time, but no matter what it feels like there are more than just a couple Tommys out there.

Solid album, probably one of the best rock operas.

Great album!

Yeah I mean all-time classic but am I going to be listening to it repeatedly on CD? Probably not

A classic album but it is insanity that this is on here and Quadrophenia isn’t.

I wasn’t expecting to like it but I did!

bombetta

Bell'album, prog il giusto. Poi un concept album, come piace a me. Purtroppo ascoltato in due tornate che è bello lungo. Dopo aver letto il concept è folle, che scrittura, che follia. In totale approvato, da prendere un giorno magari anche in vinile.

Enjoyed this album 8/10

We love a rock opera! The story is weird to me and that’s why I took off a star. I think it takes a weird left turn. But other than that. I love this album

Super excited to get this record! I'm a big fan of progressive rock - my favorite band of all time is Coheed and Cambria but also love bands like Pink Floyd, Rush, Dream Theater, and so many others. A lot of bands I love are heavily influenced by The Who and this record has the only song I know by them on it - "Pinball Wizard". The album has a fair bit of downtime songs that are meant to be used as intermission-type songs and there's several songs that are less than a minute long, so the album looks a lot longer than it actually is. I felt like a sped through this one! Standout tracks are "Eyesight to the Blind (The Hawker)", "The Acid Queen", "Pinball Wizard", "Smash the Mirror", and "Sally Simpson". Side note: Keith Moon is an amazing drummer and I think him and Entwistle hard carry this record. This was a fun one and I have to thank The Who and this album for being so influential on a lot of my favorite music.

One of the great concept albums. A little biased since the Who was one of my favorite bands back in high school.

it is calming me. I remember times there's not exist me, and they was good. Good times. Which was never exist.

Funny. Ive heard so many cuts from this but never the whole rock opera. Really good!

I didn’t make it all the way through but yay for rock operas

"you've phoned me so we can listen to and comment on 'Tommy' together but MY CD PLAYER IS FUCKING BROKEN." Keith shouted from the other side of the phone. (for the back story of Keith, please see my review for other albums by The Who.) "You better move it to somewhere else. i've done that once and it functions as usual." "well... OK." it finally works, "And-- Here we fucking go!!" "the overture is so fucking long." i muttered. Keith responded with unsatisfaction: "Just pretend that you are listening to the soundtrack for a musical. then it won't feel that long." "erm, Keith? can you come to my home so we can watch the movie version? it's better with a bunch of stars singing it." "You need to accept the original version, cause it's the original version." "You literally said nothing useful!" "Seems the classic motif is coming up. the 'See me, feel me' part always send shivers down my spine when I was watching the movie. and similarly, in their concert videos." "Well, who the fuck doesn't get shivers because of Pete's songwriting?" "can I say that for 'The Acid Queen', Tina Turner's version is better?" "well, i have to admit that her voice is more powerful and suitable for the song. And the arrangement is better!" "Dude why the Underture is ten minutes long?" "it's meant to be like that. i can't do anything with it. i actually skipped that track on first listen. And sometime I still do that too. and well? the CD player still works but the remote is broken. I guess that we should spend the 10 minutes wisely." "It's finally building up. and, three minutes to go." "it's always building up and then going down. like the tide." "can we listen to 'Love, Reign O'er Me' in the last 3 minutes?" "well, it's only 3 minutes. You can tolerate it, can't you." "i... hope so." "And maybe there's a reason why your name is Sally, as in 'So, Sally can wait'. and why do you fail to wait for a song to end?" "oh yeah we are finally through this... two more tracks to go and it's THE song!" (two more tracks later. Keith began to play air guitar to "Pinball Wizard".) "YEAHHHHHHH! although i am not a who fan I absolutely LOVE the song!" "WOOOOO HOOOOO!" "The motif is returning and the 'listening to you' part is adding in... Tommy is ready to regain his senses. Don't you remember the part in the movie, when during 'I'm Free', Roger runs on the beach like that gamer youtuber that is pretty famous for being single for a long time?" "Yeah, I remember that in a vlog, he was running alongside the beach shouting 'I long for freedom! I want to fall in love!'. I love his videos and he is finally married recently..." "yeah, FINALLY." "Wait a minute, the plot of the movie is THAT different from the album? and 'i'm Free' don't come in until two songs later?" "wait a sec you dont know that? you should check out the wikipedia page for that before you listen!" "Why I am laughing sooooo hard when 'I'm Free' begin playing?" "cause you are just fully in the 'I long for freedom! I want to fall in love!' mode." "Shut up." "'Tommy's Holiday Camp' is the cheesiest minute of music that i ever heard." "Cant disagree." "Well, I don't like the first half of 'We're Not Gonna Take It', cause it's pretty political." "erm... but it's still a good song, isn't it?" "you... are pretty right." "And it just fades out at the end? I always thought that there would be a grand finale!" "Yeah! Post-listening reflection time!" "Can I say that although this is an influential album for one of the first rock operas, Quadrophenia is still better?" "of course! So, what's your score? I don't think that it deserves a 5 solely judging by musicality but i'm still giving it a 5." "A 4. there's weak points but the whole album is still strong." "Well... OK. A 4. So, we've agreed on each other!" 4/5

This was an Amazing Journey. The Sparks were flying. You’ll want to listen to this. You’re Welcome.

All right lads, next album is gonna be a fucking rock opera. Ok. What’s it gonna be about? A deaf, dumb, and blind kid. I don’t know, mate. Seems a bit odd for a rock & roll album. But wait, he also crushes at pinball. Fucking brilliant. Let’s make it a double.

The first rock opera? The story is kind of out there but the songs tell the story well.....and the songs are good. I enjoyed this one and would gladly spin it again.

Pinball Wizard must be one of the finest songs with a story, just beaten by The Killing of Georgie and In The Ghetto. Alrite?

No one needs to tell you that listening to this album is worth is for the rhythm section alone, but I'd like to shout out Townshend's guitar tone; an often overlooked aspect of this band. Townshend was always an idol of mine because he proved you didn't need to be a virtuoso to write compelling riffs and arrangements. Anyway, this is a rock opera, and if there's one thing all rock operas have in common, it's that they're divisive. You're here, you're taking on this list as an experiment, so take the 75 minutes and listen. Maybe you won't like it, but at least you can say with certainty that you don't like it. Personally I have a lot of issues with this album. I don't think many of the instrumentals do much to enhance the experience, and the story is pretty surface level when compared to similar albums like The Wall. But god damn, there's no other band in the world that could've made this. Hell, there's just no other band like The Who.

I remember my parents having a VHS copy of the rock opera of Tommy and always being like what a weird looking movie haha but little did I know that it was such a cool thing! I really enjoy The Who and this was a cool concept album and had some really good songs! Would definitely listen again!

No fue la primera Ópera Rock (S.F. Sorrow de The Pretty Things,) ni su mejor álbum pero es una gran disco, y sobre todo marcó una época. Compuesto con una base autobiográfica y con canciones que son básicas en su repertorio. La película contó con una magistral Tina Turner, Clapton, Jack Nicholson etc.

Tosi vahvaa Who:ta! Elementeissään.. Toki haluatko elementtejä syödä... Vai kompleksempia hiiliatomijuttuja... Typpeä mukana..m protein...

I rate Pinball wizard a 5 star because the guitar is good and the beat is good ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. I rate smash the mirror 5 star because the guitar is good and the beat is good ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. I rate were not going to take it 5 star because the guitar is good and the beat is good ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.

I like this song because I like the beat. I would recommend this song I like this song because of the weird sounds. I would recommend this song I like this song because it has cool beats. I would recommend this song

Do you want to listen to some music that has a lot of guitar? Well in Pinball Wizard you can! I rate it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐. I recommend this song. Do you want to listen to some music that has a lot of drums? Well in Smash The Mirror you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐⭐. I recommend this song. Do you want to listen to some music that has a lot of guitar? well in Were not going to take it you can! I rate it ⭐⭐⭐. I kind of recommend this song.

I like this song because i like the beat and the electric guitar and the drums . the second song was good to but i like the first song better the third song was my favorite i like what i says .

The cover is strange looking because of the weird shape. I thought "Pinball Wizard" was good. I thought the lyrics were interesting but in a good way. The music and singing was great. "Smash the mirror" was good but it was short. I liked the smashing mirror at the end. I liked "We're Not Gonna Take It" because it had a good message. The harmonies were good and so was the music. I would definitely recommend this album.

The "story" was a bit weird and contrived, but the music was good. Very nice how they used the overture theme through different songs, really tied the album together. I can imagine this was a revelation in 69

Enjoyed this much more than “Who’s Next”, despite being less refined. Cool vocal harmonization and a more psychedelic experience. I was blown away by “1921” and is the standout track here by far.

This hasn’t held up over the years - there are some great song but others are just ok. I would give it a 3 1/2 if I could but. It’s get the extra 1/2 stars because I keep thinking about some of the songs hrs later. Highlights are Overture, Can You Hear Me, I’m Free and We’re Not Going to Take it Anymore.

Super ambitious. Not as intense as the wall but I can imagine Pink Floyd taking some inspiration from this. I found the earlier songs quite troubling to listen to given the story, but it's told well. I got a bit bored towards the end and do think this is too long. Solid 4, with extra props for ambition.

I really quite enjoyed this. Heard about it so many times, but this was listen #1. Unexpectedly orchestral and cohesive. The Who seem to have been lost to the mainstream of oldies, but they had something gear for awhile and ‘Tommy’ was in their pocket.

I was a long haired early 20s idealist during one of final teaching practicums in Halifax. One of my grade 11s found out I was a fan of the who and made me the greatest who mix of all time. I listened to it for years. I remember playing it on repeat when I visited Windsor castle one May weekend when I moved to London. Many of these songs were from Tommy and I forgot how much I love the who. This album is ambitious and messy but overall is a great listen.

70s rock is always a good listen

Hampered by connective tissue rather than a solid body of music telling a story. Judged by the hits, it’s a great album with a good ratio of stuff I’d listen to again versus filler material. Compare “Tommy’s Holiday Camp” to Les Miserables’ “Master of the House.” If you don’t think that’s a fair comparison, don’t call it an opera.

Classic (and as a theatre nerd, I was already familiar with), but definitely absurd and overly-long at times.

Cool but long

Out of all The Who albums, I've probably listened to this one the most. It is definitely the most unique and I love the story-telling aspect of this, following Tommy's life journey as a deaf/dumb/blind boy to adulthood. A tad ridiculous concept, admittedly, but I enjoyed it as a kid and still do as an adult. Songs like Cousin Kevin, Acid Queen, Pinball Wizard, Go To The Mirror, and I'm Free can stand out on their own in any album. I always loved the instrumental Overture/Underture that set the stage for each Act. When I listened to this, it felt like watching a stage show or musical. I can understand why this might be a polarizing album. It is pretty long, filled with arguably too many "skits", and can get a little repetitive. I know all of this and still really enjoy the album anyway. My heart says this belongs in the 5 category, but I feel like my bias might be pushing that score up. This album has some flaws and I found it difficult giving this a 5 while overlooking those flaws on re-listening to this with a different perspective (and this being my first listen in maybe like 5 years or whatever). I'll put this as a High 4.

A great concept album that’s well executed. The music is great too, although a lot of the pieces are there simply to move the plot along. Undeniably influential on rock operas and concept albums that followed (eg, the Wall).

Megavet album, is soms wel iets te lang om weg te luisteren maar het concept van het album is echt geweldig

Niet echt mijn ding, maar zit wel goed in elkaar.

Chef's kiss

This Rock Opera album is a classic. It is a heartbreaking story of Tommy growing up to be a community leader. The story telling, music, and overall package is genius and entertaining.

Some of this is really good but some of it just has me questioning who it was for. Tracks like The Acid Queen and Go To The Mirror! are great, but Fiddle About and is just odd, at least Cousin Kevin felt like it was thought out and added to the album. This could probably be half as long, but the highs are high enough to drag this up to a 4.

I had listened to this before and enjoyed it, I also got told to watch the movie and honestly....I dont remember a thing about it

Brilliant. It has its lower points now and then but overall a fantastic rock opera

i love the concept of the album, the way it tells a story through the songs the music is fine, there were some standouts, but overall i just wanted to find out what's gonna happen to tommy 3,5

honestly goes hard considering it was released in 1969 (!!!) and I think they were attempting something quite empathetic and progressive for themes of abuse of power and disability rights, even though it probably isn't handled in as nuanced of a way as I hope it would now. Idk. Haven't honestly thought hard about it for a very long time. Keith moon truly was such a legend though, those fills are to die for and pinball wizard is even better than I remember. 3.5 but have to round up because you cannot deny how good some of those motifs are

I really appreciate the impact on music that this album had, but it's not something I necessarily need to listen to over and over. It was enjoyable, and I liked it. Four stars.

Lenge siden jeg har hørt denne! Det er noe så deilig magisk med disse gamle rocke-operaene med korte sanger og litt awkward overganger. Liker stemningen veldig godt, og det er litt å bli sugd inn i storyen. Og Underture er fortsatt like hypnotiserende som alltid. Beste sanger: Underture, Pinball Wizard (så klart) og Tommy Can You Hear Me?

I hundrevis av år har operaer hatt overturer, men det var først da rockeoperaen ble oppfunnet at vi fikk den første underturen. Dette er vel selve den originale rockeoperaen, og den første jeg har hørt der jeg klarer å skjønne historien uten å google. Likte det mye mer enn forventet. Historien har noen kule øyeblikk (og noen absurde svært lite PK øyeblikk). Musikken er veldig klassisk rock, men løftes av kul tromming og akustisk gitar. Favoritt: go to the mirror, pinball wizard

It's called a classic for a reason. Not much else to say.

I thought this was boring when my parents used to play it but now I like it a lot. Much more artsy and nerdy than I’d given these guys credit for.

I like a good concept album even if it's not my favorite musically.

It was good. I like The Who a lot. I feel like this album is not the one I would pick that was one of their most influential since it doesn't include the intro to CSI on it, which probably introduced hundreds of thousands to The Who. Pinball Wizard still hits though.

great album but was probably more worth it to just watch the film

I love some of these songs, but I don't need the whole meal.

This felt like watching a movie. It was quite long for an album, but I really appreciated the story telling as an operic album. Pinball Wizard is a great song and one I'm surprised wasn't more familiar to me despite it's age and reputation. My favorite outside of that is Probably Eyesight To The Blind, or maybe Sally Simpson. This was a fun listen and The Who feel ahead of the game with their rock.

It has been a very long time since I heard this. Still a pretty good album, not perfect but definitely good enough.

This rocks. I couldn’t fully follow the story the first listen through, but I will be returning to this one.

Best: Pinball wizard or Overture Worst: Eyesight to the blind (the hawker) Liked songs: 84%, 16/19 (no songs under a minute) High 4, 90/100 I'm a known sucker for a good concept album/rock opera, and if there ever was one, Tommy is it. I don't always like criticizing concept albums for their length but Tommy does definitely drag at times, and I think a lot of it could've been cut to make it a single album without compromising the story too much. For example, really don't think you need cousin Kevin and uncle ernie in two separate songs; definitely could've combined them. Other than those ocassional drags, the music is really solid. Songs like we're not gonna take it, Pinball wizard, and Overture truly show the highlights of the music, and there aren't really too many lowlights. The story is also fantastic, and really is very detailed and very unique. The concept is also relatively tight, and no song is really wasted (unless you count the repition of some ideas). Overall, love the album, though it falls just below a 5/5 for me because of the length and the dragging of some songs.

This was more interesting than expected, but... I probably won't listen to it again.

I like all of the well-known songs by The Who when heard individual, but for some reason was not expecting much from this. Turns out I loved it! I do have a soft spot for soundtracks and concept albums, especially those that follow a life, Pink Floyd's "The Wall", and W.A.S.P's "The Crimson Idol" being particular favourites. I really enjoyed this.

PINBALL WIZARD will always satiate the nostalgia urge. CHRISTMAS is such a perfectly weird song. Guitar paces this super cool strange hypnotic harmony. And then later with SALLY SIMPSON and I'M FREE. This album has style changes that don't stray from the story line, but rather direct the listener to ride along with Tommy's journey.

I liked this. Many of the songs had similar motifs which gave everything a sense of continuity and flow. I'd listen to this again. 4/5

Meni je ovaj album dosta kul, iako mi je malo predug bio za slušati u komadu. Generalno mi je druga polovica bolja, a bilo mi je i dosta zanimljivo prepoznati samplove drugih bendova koji su ih koristili. Baš mi je onako Beatles meets Deep Purple meets The Beach Boys 😁 Solidna četvrtka od mene 4/5, 8/10.

I was told this was THE first major rock opera concept album. Honestly, I was very busy and did not get a change to listen carefully, but what I heard was great! I will definitely try to listen to this again when I have the time to fully appreciate it.

The WHO is a band I have a love hate relationship with. I think they are good but they also have that Rock sound of the 70s that can get on my nerves. However unlike someone like Led Zeppelin I think The Who have a great vocalist and better songwriter. The 60s Who will always be my favourite and Tommy is still a great album among their other albums. “a Quick One”’ and “The Who Sell Out” being favourites of mine Now for a double album this has to be one of the best and has one of the best over arching story. I will say the story may out weigh actual songs but the key moments are here This probably could use some more listens in the future but for what it is and what it accomplished I’ll have to give it a 4/5

Jesus that album is a wild ride! I haven't seen Tommy for 25 years, and kind of forgot you know? 4 stars before I put it away for another couple of years.

If you're into rock operas, Tommy should be near the top of the list as one of the best. When I first heard this in it's entirety, I was blown away. The creative genius of Pete Townsend is driven on this double album and musically it's one of my favourite Who records. Listening now, I'm not as keen on this album, it's still a classic, but not perfect. The whole story concept of Tommy, the deaf, dumb, blind boy is creepy and weird at best. I found the story so strange and it made it even worse (almost ruined for me) when I saw the film. I actually heard the soundtrack version, as a young teen, before hearing this album and besides Elton John's version of Pinball Wizard, I hated the songs and the performances. The original album is so much better and turned me around my opinion on Tommy, but I wish this wasn't a concept album. I prefer to listen to the songs as individual tracks and try to block out the story and it is what it is, a great memorable album from the Who.

I listened to this on the plane and I forgot to write down what I thought. I think there were a few songs I didn’t like but also others I think I’ll listen to again.

7.5/10 - I thought were not gonna take it was the other song. I absolutely love Pinball Wizard it is just such a good song. The other songs were not as good but go to the mirror and we're not gonna take it were pretty good. I enjoyed the whole album and I enjoyed reading the story as it went on.

This is the first time I ever listened to the whole album, and it's really good. I enjoyed the story arc.

#425. This is definitely the kind of thing where you could only like it if you already like it. I doubt anyone could be convinced into liking The Who or the concept of a rock opera by listening to this album, probably the opposite would occur. That being said, I already liked it, so I like it. 4/5: silly, but it somehow works.

That was quite enjoyable.