Search - The Who, Joseph Church, Michael Arnold :: The Who's Tommy: Original Cast Recording (1992 Broadway Revival)

Listening to this, you get the music...

Lawrance M. Bernabo | The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota | 02/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The evolution of the rock opera "Tommy" from album to film to Broadway musical has been about as wild a trip as what happens to Tommy and the Walkers. For me it was always the Ken Russell film version that was the big mistake, while I find this musical version to be superb. First, I think the narrative device of having the four-year old and adult versions of Tommy able to confront one another does a fantastic job of unlocking the story and making a lot of the symbolism work. Second, I love the harmonies that exist in this version. Just compare the various versions of "Go to the Mirror" or "Sally Simpson" with what we have here. I think all of my really favorite parts on this album involve Marcia Mitzman as Mrs. Walker harmonizing with someone else. It reminds me of listening to Peter, Paul & Mary sing Bob Dylan and realizing how good his songs were musically despite that vocal affectation. For my money, "Tommy" has never been sung any better than what is preserved on this original cast album.I think a lot of the credit for how great this "Tommy" sounds goes to producer George Martin, as Townsend himself points out in his liner notes. To quote the man: "this 'Tommy' is a bridge between the old, respected and beloved traditions of music theater and the relatively new and experimental world of rock-and-roll." That might be the rub, because the number of people who are truly comfortable in both spheres is certainly a minor subset of those who love each of those two art forms respectively. Yes, there is a fundamental magnificence to the original double-album of "Tommy" by the Who, represented by the sheer audacity of telling an entire music story sung by Roger Daltrey and the obvious attempt to strive for greatness by Pete Townsend. But this musical version represents this pivotal piece of rock and roll history in full flower."

Broadway Rock!

V. M. Fay | New Jersey | 05/29/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Now, I want to make sure that everyone understands that this is NOT The Who. This is a Broadway soundtrack, and not a rock album. Having said this, this is one of the best mixes of Broadway & Rock there is. The story of Tommy is finally told by Pete Townshend the way he wants it told, and not the butchered Ken Russell story. The band really cooks, and do a great job of updating the Who's original ideas. There's even a brand new track (I Believe My Own Eyes) that fits quite nicely into the soundtrack. Of course, I did see the show on the stage in its initial run. I was blown away by the visuals, and couldn't wait for the CD release. Once I got it, I couldn't take it out of my player. If you haven't seen the show, then you really are only getting half the picture, which is a shame. Now, if you are a fan of The Who's original album, and don't care for the Broadway style, then stick with the 1969 album, because this IS a show soundtrack. Otherwise, I say give it a chance."

Townshend's TOMMY!

Robert | Adelaide, South Australia | 02/05/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Some say that the Broadway production lost the intention of the rock opera and butchered it to pieces. I say this is just one more recording / interpretation of TOMMY and part of a creative process. To think it started initially as a concept recoring, then a film (another bold and different interpretation) then a concert in the UK. Finally the show made it to the LaJolla Playhouse in California, USA where Des McAnuff created a new technicolor playground for Tommy. That production made its way to Broadway, to acclaim from all types of media, MTV did a feature on the musical a rare occurence for a Broadway show. That production is the one that has been recorded brilliantly on a two disc set which contains the full score.What is most astonishing is the sheer talent of Mr. Townshend as a composer and lyricist. This may be labelled as "The Who's TOMMY" but in all honesty it is truly the brillance of Pete Townsend. His additions to the score earned him a Tony Award for best score, and well deserved. The most surprising addition to the score is the song "I Believe My Own Eyes" written as a duet to show the strain of the marriage between Tommy's parents. Townsend himself was surprised how "Broadway" sounding it was. This recording I believe to be the definitive version, though you may not agree with me. I think now the amazing journey is complete."