The Importance of Tommy, The Who's Rock Opera

The Who's Tommy was released in 1969 and was the band's breakaway album. Only Who's Next sold more copies. Until Tommy, rock music dabbled a bit in storytelling. The Beatles' masterpiece Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was a lot more than just a collection of songs. There were coherent themes - loneliness and getting older - and songs flowed one into the other.

The Beatles' Abbey Road took Sgt. Pepper one step further - songs really flowed in and out and the album ends with a long medley.

Tommy was the first rock opera. For 1969, Tommy had a coherent story - a boy who goes through a tough childhood, "sees the light" and becomes a modern day rock star/messiah. Tommy gains redemption by becoming a pinball wizard - a satire on how silly things create fame.

Tommy has an overture, underture, good guys, bad guys and a clear ending - just like opera and musicals.

The final mix puts singer Roger Daltrey on top of the sound and the instruments in the background. The electric guitar, bass and drums are following Daltrey's lead. The art of Tommy is amazing and connects to the story - the young man reaching out from the dream world into reality.

Tommy brought The Who a slew of hits -

Pinball Wizard
I'm Free
See Me, Feel Me / Listening To You

Even the lesser known songs are classics - Overture is one of my favorite instrumentals. Sparks is a soft song on the album, but is loud and in your face when performed live.

Was Tommy pretentious? You bet. And it opened the door for other bands to go even further. While Tommy made The Who the favorite of the elites, The Who were always a favorite of the working class - the policeman and fireman loved them in the famous Concert For New York City.

As time passes, Tommy ages. It sounds more like light rock in 2018. But when a musician wants to tell a story, he or she will take notes from Tommy!