The Who "Tommy" (Side 1) Drummer First Time Reaction

Y'all asked for it.... (months ago).... So, here it is. For February, we will be working through "Tommy" from 1969! It's been requested for months and I kinda could never swing it. But, since I'm between a rock and a hard place with Who Wednesday, why the hell not... let's take some big swings! The amazing journey begins.
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#thewho #rogerdaltrey #keithmoon #petetownshend

[@L33Reacts]

What side of Tommy is your favorite? And if that's too broad, what's your favorite track in general from it?

[@realbser1956]

I just love the overture

[@jraben1065]

Yes, the "Overture" is also my favorite. Each musician has their moments to shine. Most importantly for me, Overture has several of Keith Moon's greatest drum fills. Those rolling drums flow through each fill with such expressive power. Moon's Overture drum fills sound like a boat going over Niagara Falls, beautiful and terrifying.

[@marthag9321]

​@@realbser1956❤❤me too Barry, it's so progressive, a bit of everything in it 🎉!!

[@davidwolf4677]

I like Side 4, but that might be because the rest of the record builds up to it. It feels complete.

[@jamesgabbert9375]

I used to listen to sides 3 and 4 over and over when I was a kid, but I think that "Christmas" is my favorite song.

[@SANPARR1]

Masterpiece - The Who turned rock into art, Tommy is one of the most important works in the history of rock.

[@Moz1011]

Love this album.

[@NeonPalm90210]

Amazing bro my mind is blown! Tommy just gets better ❤every passing year of my life. Especially with headphones… Epic! Long live the Who!

[@garyscharf9232]

I appreciate your genuine love for The Who. They have such a huge catalog of great music and most miss these amazing songs.

[@jraben1065]

So glad we have started "Tommy". It is clearly among the (five?) most impactful/transforming music Albums in the history of Rock-Pop. This was the first "Who Album" that many of us heard, back in the day, (I was 9 years old when Tommy came out). Although I was familiar with The Beatles, yet "Tommy" was a musical revelation to me, tremendously intriguing, so different, and even a bit frightening to a young child. Besides the Album's unique story-structure, The Who created a totally original sound landscape, immersing the listener in "Tommy's" unique musical world.

[@shirleybhs9zd6li5i]

Wow, this takes me back to my sophomore year of college. We had "Tommy" parties where we listened to it, back to back, over and over. Great "fuzzy" memories, lol. Love every bit of it, just too good. Thanks, L33. Hope you keep enjoying it. Blessings all. Peace

[@MATTHEW-rp3kq]

keith moon - the GOAT

[@darren6862]

No doubt.

[@ROUGHSEES]

Exactly.

[@bridgittetirman2645]

You *must* see the movie. It’s spectacular.

[@bostonwhofan]

If nothing else, he needs to watch the video of "Pinball Wizard" from the Tommy movie, with Elton John doing the lead vocals. The outfits the guys in The Who wore during that smashing performance are hanging on the wall of the Hardrock Cafe in Boston.

[@JB-Deadskins]

Elton John Tina Turner Eric Clapton And many more

[@ColeenU]

I love Pinball Wizard. Felt wonderful to hear this again. Warm hug. Good way to start my day.

[@goonbelly5841]

The roaring 20s was like the party decade between the first word war and the great depression.

[@davidwolf4677]

This was the second Who album I picked up in 1970, the first being ‘Live at Leeds’, which quotes some Tommy’s instrumental themes in the “My Generation” jam.

[@jraben1065]

Keith Moon enthusiasts may be disappointed that Tommy's drums are often so low in the mix. Tommy has some of Moon's best drumming, but it's often hard to hear. Moon himself was quite upset with the Album's mix, "It sounds like I'm playing on biscuit tins!". His actual drumming can be heard on KZbin "Moon's isolated drums, Pinball Wizard", and the drumming is quite a revelation. But the Album's subtle mixing does seem to work for the "story" of Tommy. And once in a while, Moon's power-drumming is out front. Like on "Overture" and "Underture", with some of Moon's greatest, most expressive drum fills.

[@robotronrichard]

WHO-ray for WHO Wednesday and the return of tropical shirts! Amazing album!!! Can't wait to experience the rest! Thanks L33! ☮❤🎶

[@marthag9321]

❤🎉❤ Tommy is incredible! Many scoff and say it's not good, but I love We're Not Gonna Take It!!!

[@dawnschneider187]

Wow, great reaction Lee! This is my favorite by The Who and it takes me back to my childhood. There is a movie called Tommy featuring this album with Roger Daltrey as "Tommy." My parents took us to see it... it was so bizarre, I was traumatized slightly. The music became my favorite by them though. Thank you for this, Lee, you are awesome.

[@nanlewis]

Oh YAY! I'm so glad you're doing this! This was mind blowing when it came out.

[@fd1930]

Good to hear this again, it’s been a while Glad Lee enjoyed it

[@mikeross14]

Pete isn't known as a lead guitar shredder! But he is the GOAT as a Rythym guitar Shredder!

[@NoviJimB]

LOVE this whole album. It's right up there with Quadrophenia for me. Quadrophenia was their ultimate album but this is close behind. And they had Who's Next in between! Also right up there, What an unbelievable era that was for Townshend. He was THE creative force in the band, where bands like The Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin, etc. had collaborations. And I'm not taking anything away from the contributions of Daltrey, Entwhistle and Moon - they all played a HUGE part in turning the songs into what they ultimately became. But Townshend came up with the concepts and wrote almost all of the songs. He was on another planet from 68-73 (he started writing Tommy in 1968). And besides those three albums there were a lot of other songs he wrote in that time frame - The Seeker, Naked Eye, Pure and Easy, Join Together,... Just amazing. Then throw in their incredible live performances back then - Leeds, Isle of Wight... The Beatles will always be my #1, but The Who is right up there with them, along with Jimi, Zeppelin and The Stones, my top five of all time. And I'm glad you noticed how good that guitar playign was. He is an underrated guitar player. Not on the level of someone like Hendrix, but really f-ing good. And he had a great voice, and yes, he played those keys (Entwhistle on all the horns), and he was one of the best songwriters ever. Not a bad combination. Thanks for playing this, I haven't listened to the album in a long time, just individual songs here and there. It's cool hearing it in order, like it is with Quadrophenia.

[@pollynicklas5220]

I saw this on the theater in the mid seventies as a teenager!

[@corawheeler9355]

This was so enjoyable .. thank you Lee

[@laurab68707]

One of the best Rock Opera albums ever. Amazing, amazing album!!! No favorite side for me, whole album is great.

[@joelliebler5690]

As a 9 year old listening to my brother’s album of Tommy I was blown away of what rock could be. Amazing music and had me visualizing what was happening!My brother took me to see The NYC Ballet Company which performed the play. Nothing was ever the same.The WHO ever more reigned as kings of rock to me!

[@stevejohnston8254]

Another excellent, thorough, insightful review. Its incredible that Townshend was able to create all this at such a young age - it’s intricate musicianship, soaring melodies, lyrics touching on themes like child abuse/bullying/childhood trauma (unheard of in rock at the time). The entire Amazing Journey/Sparks section is elevated to a monumental level when The Who do it live.

[@garyscharf9232]

The Live at Leeds version of Sparks in opinion is way better because it's much harder, but the live at Wight version is even harder. Well worth checking out.

[@bostonwhofan]

Here is the absolute best version of Sparks you'll ever see (crystal clear 4k video and audio)! Even if you don't want to watch the entire song, fast forward to the 3:40 mark in the video and you will see the awesomeness of absolute Who Heaven: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6jRq2tvjbakecksi=oFo6v9M8N9mclV2I I could never watch that version of Sparks too many times!

[@JB-Deadskins]

Isle of Wight is the most energy from a band on stage that I've ever seen.

[@bostonwhofan]

Pete Townshend was just 23 years old when he wrote Tommy. He was 24 when the album was released.

[@realbser1956]

Sorrow, by The Pretty Things, predated Tommy so it’s technically not the first rock opera. Tommy is more famous for showing the world that you could have extended play, themed, rock music. It was a groundbreaking album.

[@Karl-t4u]

And " The Story Of Simon Simopath " by The British Band Nirvana predates S.F. Sorrow by 14 months making it the first rock opera.

[@mattwilpolt]

Yes, during "Overture" it is The Ox playing the french horn. Any time you hear horns on a Who song, John is playing them as he played a number of different brass instruments.

[@acb9231]

This is in a class by itself! Such creativeness, impeccable instrumentation, bravo to The Who! The fact that Pete Townshend penned this material is an anomaly! ✌️

[@Saged1]

When I was in 3rd grade this album came out. Our music teacher in school made this album our lesson for the year. How cool is that! Love your channel Lee

[@glenndespres5317]

That is WAY cool my friend!!!

[@chicagojon1972]

Looking forward to this!

[@chitownlee]

So glad you're doing this.

[@brianvernon249]

For some reason Tommy was everywhere in 1989. I was always impressed by Underture. Why: Timpani & electric bass. It’s all you need. Major Tom is Tommy’s Dad. Pete wrote all the songs save for a few “darker” songs that Pete just could not write. Cousin Kevin & Fiddle About were Entwistle’s John was not only a natural blonde but a fantastic French horn player, hence its prominence. Go To the Mirror! Will forever be my favorite song, but side one? The Hawker. Daltrey’s voice is superb on it. Edit: Tommy the Broadway the musical was better than the movie and is the only B’way show I’ve seen. The set production was quite top notch & a new song was added that wasn’t lame or boring. In later years the song 1921 would be shortened to 21, as that’s the mother’s age. I was always curious who played the keys live?

[@bostonwhofan]

I recently got to see Geddy Lee at the Orpheum Theater when he did a speaking tour promoting his book "My Effin' Life". While waiting for Geddy to take the stage some of his favorite songs from other bands played over the sound system of the theater. One of the songs was "Underture" from Tommy. It sounded so great on that sound system.

[@ROUGHSEES]

I am so glad you are finally tackling this. I bet by the end you will love it! This made my day today.

[@thruppence-ys9zp]

Gotta see if I can scare up this movie on the streaming services, haven't seen it since I saw it in the theaters

[@tbjfsu]

I was caught up in the music and was ready to start singing "Christmas" before the music abruptly stopped. Oh well, i can wait a week. Thanks for doung this, Lee- "Tommy" is an awesome album, such a pleasure to hear, and I know that you will enjoy it.

[@1QU1CK1]

I remember when this album came out, it was a world changer! I especially remember when this album was played for Jazz drummers to get their impressions of Keith Moon and the answers were revealing. "He's everywhere in the music." "Man, he contains the music!" and my favorite- "He plays beautiful... wild and free!"

[@xyz-yf2kr]

This was my grade 9/10 album :)

[@dawntucker5052]

Omg that was so good ❤ this album has always been a favorite 😊❤

[@scotstevens5263]

The movie came out in 1974-75 I think, anyway I had to see it. Five Times. Love Pete’s acoustic guitar on Its a Boy.

[@yes_head]

This album saved The Who. They desperately needed a change in direction, the 60s were coming to an end, and they were running on fumes financially. This album overnight changed their fortunes and left the competition (The Kinks, Small Faces, etc.) in the dust. It was the 'Sgt Peppers' of 1969. The main critiques often leveled at it is that it doesn't RAWK very much, with Pete leaning on acoustic guitar for much of the recordings. Plus the story is a bit confusing at times. Maybe not as much as 'The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway', but it does often have people running to interviews where Pete is asked to explain what the f*ck it all means. But those criticisms pale compared to the sheer magnificence of the compositions and the jaw-dropping ambition behind it all. Those who know The Who's 60's work obviously saw something like this coming ever since things like "A Quick One While He's Away" were laid down, but for most of the general public it caught them totally by surprise. Next thing you know The Who were invited to play at Woodstock and the rest is history. Lee, at some point you should check out the version of 'Tommy' from 'Live at Leeds'. They charge through it all in about half the time with barely any pauses. It's a pretty amazing journey. 😉

[@stevepas1]

Please watch the movie of this masterpiece❤

[@MATTHEW-rp3kq]

also A movie!!!

[@1953jazzman]

Hopefully, you'll relate to this deeply so you'll understand why so many of us crusty old geezers hold this album in such reverence and esteem! Enjoy!

[@RandyHall324]

One of those albums that "changed everything", at least for 12-year old me when I discovered it. Haven't listened to it all that recently, but man, it's aged well!

[@RichardSchaefer-zx9ig]

Great reactions to side 1 of the Who's "Tommy". To hear some acoustic from Pete Townsend check out The Secret Policeman's Other Ball, it's Monty Python + w live artists Pete + Sting as I recall.

[@AirDOGGe]

Once you learn this album then it will be time to watch the TOMMY movie. Just a mind blowing trip. Rock on L33.

[@newodkin]

S.F. SORROW by the Pretty Things also preceded TOMMY and is likewise as brilliant.

[@Karl-t4u]

And " The Story Of Simon Simopath " by British band Nirvana predates S.F. Sorrow by 14 months making it the first rock opera.

[@robinbradbury6493]

This was such an ambitious undertaking that Townshend had a nervous breakdown trying to top it. That nervous breakdown was a project called Life house and was scrapped, but turned into Who's Next. Another unbelievable masterpiece.

[@marystager8604]

Perfection ❤

[@sharondavid-melly1498]

Versatile & soulful Who 🔥

[@timjefferson2137]

Liked. Commented. Love Tommy!

[@clydedavison4442]

I am embarrassed to say i have been a who fan for awhile but have never listened to 'Tommy' all the way through. Sounds great! Thanks Lee! Good luck with the fight against 'The Man'. Lol ( wink).

[@robertacolarette1594]

When Tommy came out I was totally immersed in it playing it on my record player in my rec room. I thought I was experiencing a revolution in music. I was fascinated. The Overture and Underture I liked best.

[@glenndespres5317]

This is awesome. So good to revisit such a classic piece. Can’ wait for more. Listen carefully to arrangement or whatever it is in Cousin Kevin. The lyrics are dark and whatever that descending scale is, works so well to bring the chill to it.

[@Ben-sq6un]

compare it with the Live versions from Live at Leeds, and a good filmed concert from 1970 at Tanglewood MA. Raw energy/power/chemistry. also Sparks which this goes into.

[@Richard2003]

Saw them a couple of times. First in 71. I still have the album. Used to get high in college to this a lot.

[@robinbradbury6493]

This record changed my life.

[@michaelwebster8389]

You should watch the movie. It's gloriously weird, with some truly brilliant moments.

[@robinbradbury6493]

I was obsessed with the Ken Russell movie Tommy (which you need to see because...it's TOMMY!) and wanted the soundtrack album. My mom bought me this by mistake and I recognized Daltrey's voice from the movie. I had no idea that this movie was based on a rock album and starred the lead singer. I was 12 years old. I love this band.

[@dawntucker5052]

Finally ❤❤❤ you are going to love this ❤

[@P.Galore]

This is a Masterpiece.

[@JB-Deadskins]

I don't know why they say Capt Walker killed the lover. In the movie, it's just the opposite. And the story makes more sense that way, because the lover doesn't realize who this man is that just entered his bedroom in the middle of the night.

[@lakephillip]

In 1975 The Film of This Came out, I was lucky to attend the World Premiere, which was in Chicago, because Ann-Margret is from Chicago, she was at the theatre, and did a Q & A; and co-starred with Roger Daltrey, and Oliver Reed, Jack Nicholson. It is visually bizarre, but makes the plot clearer, it introduced Quintaphonic Sound. Everyone does their own singing. The Who have several Cameos, and Eric Clapton does Eyesight to The Blind., Tina Turner, is The Acid Queen. Keith Moon(Uncle Ernie). They moved the plot to VE day WWII and then when Tommy grows up, 20 years later.

[@davidpeters44]

What a treat, thank you!

[@mfournier8033]

Please do an album play through of Quadrophenia. The Who made an amazing film to accompany the album.

[@yenlard6683]

He already did 👍

[@thomassanchez-oo6sb]

Check out Tommy live from 1989!!!!!!with special guest!!! In LA🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@KenHunter-lt8wm]

First time listening to the album in a long time (though I'm very familiar with it), and what hits me is, suddenly here is the mature Who, fully formed, with Pete's writing and all the arrangements flowing and working now. A big step forward from the previous two albums, where despite some wins, there was also (personal opinion!) a lot of failed experiments and mis-steps. To my ears anyway, almost suspect they did a Robert Johnson like deal at some dark crossroads, such is the leap in quality. And it builds and gets better throughout the album. Superb production too. The drums seem mixed perfectly to me - very clear in my speakers anyway. The expanded deluxe edition of Live at Leeds has a 2nd CD with the full performance of Tommy. Live, the songs are a lot heavier and stripped to their essentials, and the Who at that time were unsurpassed I think. I swear it is almost a spiritual experience to listen to. And when they power into the final See Me Feel Me / Listening to You, I often seem to find myself with something in my eye that needs rubbing.... 🤣😂😂

[@martinduner1844]

The third album to ever come into my possession. The two before were Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" and Ekseption's "Beggar Julia's Time Trip".

[@soulhealer20]

Townsend uses brilliant textures in his music and this is a perfect example.

[@RalphSpoiledsport]

Rockin' Video! too bad you gotta wait a week for side two.

[@gilbertgiuliani.4452]

It was also a great film check it out showed it as a projectionist at the Druid in Damascus MD in the mid. 70s lots of great musicians of the time and actors

[@jeanphilippebaye1713]

The album "Tommy" is a masterpiece of the Who's career. Pete had already written a mini rock opera in 1966 and, perhaps, "SF sorrow" by the Pretty Things gave him the desire to create a whole work while knowing that in 1967, we find the beginnings of Tommy with titles such as "Glow girl" "Real" for example. Tommy is a rather calm work compared to the live performances. I particularly like the "Tommy" tour in 1989 with Simon Phillips on drums and also a multitude of guests like Elton John, Phil Collins, Patty Labelle or Stevie Winwood on a great version of "The Hawker" accompanied by a bass like John Entwistle. Let's not forget the version with Eric Clapton in the 1975 film and on the soundtrack. For those who are interested, I'll allow myself to provide a link to a version by a group of young musicians covering this title in the rhythm and blues style of the 60s, in the style of the mods: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmnOnIR7erB0rrMsi=4cUrBgoDvF3J5iQp

[@porflepopnecker4376]

Great album! Although it pains me to admit that I like the movie soundtrack album better. I saw that movie about ten times at the theater when it came out.

[@intergalacticpro5316]

The pinball song was put on by Pete as a goof. A reviewer held back a 10 out of 10 but said if Pete put a song about pinball he would reconsider the rating.

[@ukesrule58]

I LOOOVVEE the OVERTURE

[@Rickhorse1]

Days of Future Passed was 2 years before Tommy.

[@robertspitz9832]

Listening to Tommy in "Teenage Waste Land" in the summer of 1970.

[@yenlard6683]

The live versions of Tommy blow the album version away. Lee…please check out some footage from Isle of Wight or Woodstock. It’s pretty epic.

[@rodneygriffin7666]

Poor Tommy😓.

[@-R.Gray-]

It doesn't hurt to know that aspects of Tommy's journey have parallels in the life of Townsend's favorite guru Meher Baba. Baba was leading a normal, secular life, when at 19 he was struck in the area of the "third eye" by this old lady/mystic. He went into this state where he couldn't function normally for quite a while (corresponding to Tommy's deaf, dumb, and blind state) and after being brought back to normal consciousness by another guru, suddenly had a wealth of intuitive spiritual knowledge. Knowing about this parallel story, I get the feeling that playing pinball when you are physically blind, and having an intuitive sense that others don't have, is like knowing the future karmic results of your actions during the game. His opponents would be blind to this other dimension.

[@xyz-yf2kr]

Moon was a drummer conductor :) No backseat background for him.

[@EvanWeber1234]

Wow, you’ve never heard this dude, that’s crazy

[@johntarnowski9086]

🤘😎🤘

[@xyz-yf2kr]

Pete Townshend has written and composed so much good music. Have a listen to Quadrophenia and Psychoderelic too

[@tecreates2384]

You should WATCH Tommy!

[@montyweaver3196]

after the 2nd part you should react to the movie - it is subtly different (set after ww2 instead of ww1 for instance) but is start filled and has many spectacular scenes including having Aretha Franklin and also Pinball Wizard sung by Elton John

[@bobmessier5215]

Tommy wasn't always deaf, dumb and blind. He was traumatized by seeing his father killed by his stepfather and then told that he never heard and/or saw anything and to say nothing more about it.

[@chitownlee]

Pete sings a lot on this album.

[@Kuesel68]

Funny, that's the CD in my car at the moment :D It was a very important album at that time like The Kinks Village Green but much more successful. Nevertheless it is far from the perfection Quadrophenia will be.

[@dandare42]

A combo of the orchestral touches and the raw power of the Who's live act would have made Tommy perhaps the greatest album ever. Pretty damn good as it was. They toured behind this in 1969-70 and had honed their craft so well that they put on blistering performances of Tommy that were better than the studio work. Who's Next was the 1st studio release that properly captured the aura of their stage act as ones prior sounded lifeless by comparison, wrongly mixed or just simply produced poorly on inferior equipment (namely Shel Talmy's grimy approach on the first two LPs). I guess the Tommy 20th anniversary reunion shows sought to do that in 1989 but by then, Moon was long gone and the band wasn't in their prime. Too bad they couldn't have put on just a single show or series of gigs backed by horns/strings too. As it is, the three instrumentalists churned out a Tommy set that made this LP sound puny by comparison.

[@jellyrollnorton]

"Sparks" on the movie soundtrack is equally good. Dunno offhand if The Who did it for the movie, too. But it’s very similar with a bit more pizzazz.

[@bostonwhofan]

You have to watch this live version of Sparks in crystal clear 4k from 1969. IMO, this is the greatest live version of Sparks that exists - even better than the Live at Leeds or the Isle of Wight versions: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6jRq2tvjbakecksi=Xs6Vy0zlI2xiCC5Z

[@IvorPresents]

First heard it at a record store, coming hone from school. Had to buy it., Very theatrical. you nailed it. Days of Future past was brilliant, bur this was an Opera. with rock music, everyone with a guitar was on it. the movie in my mind was better than Ken Russel's take.

[@trevorward8496]

The movie is a classic anne Margaret jack Nicholson elton John Eric clapton

[@krypticalenvelopment]

to me; the best tune in the opera is "Amazing Journey>Sparks" - always better live - here is a clip of "the who" playing this from 1989 - Entwistle was extraordinary on this night kzbin.info/www/bejne/mp-Xm3WGZbp4kKssi=H9-mU9ZPeAOtspwH // the most fun tune of the opera (to me) is Sally Simpson kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIermX1niNZkldEsi=XJZvMGHqykF1z-y7 - in 1989 they revisited TOMMY extensively as a 20th anniversary celebration - fun times

[@fredblassie]

The difference between the studio and the stage. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6jRq2tvjbakeck

[@pierretoureille7359]

Milestone LP! Here's a picture of the first Who show I attended: dgpuo8cwvztoe.cloudfront.net/uploads/Archives/Images/Exhibits/Whitestone_J1577color_TheWho_color.jpg