"...Amazing Journey..."
Some albums like Pink
Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon", Elton John's "Goodbye Yellow
Brick Road" and Steely Dan's "Aja" have been subject to a
mind-blowing amount of CD and Audiophile reissues in the UK, USA and Japan –
and it seems like The Who's 1969 double-album Rock Opera "Tommy" has
been the same.
But which one do you splash
the cash on? Well from my itsy-bitsy seagull perch in sunny but pooped upon Margate, I'd argue that although the 2CD Deluxe Edition has that fab live set
on Disc 2 as a genuine bonus (recorded in Canada and initially thought lost) - if you're on a budget and still want
uncompromising quality - then this humble 2013 Single CD Remaster for under six
quid is the proverbial dogs dangly bits. Here are the acid queens and pinball
wizards...
UK released Friday, 11
November 2013 - "Tommy: The Original Album 2013 Remaster" by THE WHO
on Polydor/Universal/Track Records 3747403 (Barcode 602537474035) is the
original 1969 double-album reissued and remastered onto 1CD and plays out as
follows (74:58 minutes):
1. Overture [Side 1]
2. It's A Boy
3. 1921
4. Amazing Journey
5. Sparks
6. Eyesight For The Blind
(The Hawker)
7. Christmas [Side 2]
8. Cousin Kevin
9. The Acid Queen
10. Underture
11. Do You Think It's
Alright? [Side 3]
12. Fiddle About
13. Pinball Wizard
14. There's A Doctor
15. Go To The Mirror!
16. Tommy Can You Hear Me?
17. Smash The Mirror
18. Sensation
19. Miracle Cure [Side 4]
20. Sally Simpson
21. I'm Free
22. Welcome
23. Tommy's Holiday Camp
24. We're Not Gonna Take It
Tracks 1 to 24 are the
double-album "Tommy" - released 17 May 1969 in the USA on Decca DSXW
7205 and 23 May 1969 in the UK on Track Records 613 013/4. Original copies came
with a 'libretto' booklet featuring lyrics and drawings pertinent to the 'Rock
Opera' – all of it is reproduced in the 24-page CD booklet with added reissue
credits. Pete Townshend wrote all the songs except "Cousin Kevin" and
"Fiddle About" by John Entwistle, "Tommy's Holiday Camp” by
Keith Moon and "Eyesight To The Blind" aka "The Hawker"
which is a cover of a Sonny Boy Williamson song. It peaked at No. 2 and No. 4
respectively on the UK and US albums charts.
THE WHO was:
ROGER DALTREY – Lead Vocals
and Harmonica
PETE TOWNSHEND – Guitars,
Keyboards, Lead and Backing Vocals
JOHN ENTWISTLE – Bass,
French Horn, Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Lead and Backing Vocals
KEITH MOON – Drums, Tympani,
Gong, Tambourine, Lead and Backing Vocals
Two things jump to mind –
the fabulous new 2013 sound that feels like a real improvement on the overly
loud 1996 initial effort and the underwhelming 2003 SACD effort. This latest audio
restoration return to the original tapes by JON ASTLEY and MYLES CLARKE now
sports a rather beautifully balanced feel between poise and power – much like
the music itself. The acoustic guitar strings rattle and the riffs punch like
they have been unleashed and on faves like the five-minutes of "Amazing
Journey", the gorgeously rich acoustic/drums ten minutes of
"Underture" and the gloriously bombastic finisher "We're Not
Going to Take It" – you want to press replay to go back to the start -
take me away once again baby (surely the best compliment a Remaster can be
given).
The other thing that jumps
to mind once you've settled in with the reissue is that while the booklet at
24-pages is aesthetically pleasing to look at – it's a damn shame that an essay
on the double-album's history and impact wasn't included – especially given
Tommy's astonishing 50-year legacy. I can remember as a kid pouring over every
nuance of this beasty and every time it felt like you discovered something new.
There is no sense of that impact on this singular CD version which is a
shame...still to the good bits...
The opening strums of
"Overture" leap out of the speakers, as does that familiar
acoustic/electric guitar melody - horns too. "It's A Boy Mrs.
Walker..." Townshend sings and the clarity is fabulous as is that segue
into "1921" which as I recall dipped a little on the SACD version
I've had. Entwistle's Bass notes threaten your living room on
"Sparks" while their cover of Sonny Boy Williamson's "Eyesight
To The Blind" (changed over the years to "The Hawker" from the
original label name) hears Daltrey and Moon right up in yer face. Side 2 opens
with "Christmas" where children wake up 'excited' but Tommy doesn't
know what day it is - silent and unaware of anything. The deeply sinister
"Cousin Kevin" is the first of two Entwistle compositions - the other
is "Fiddle About" - both featuring abuse of the deaf, dumb and blind
kid. I remember I had the picture sleeve single of "Acid Queen" when
Merry Clayton covered it for the 1973 double-remake of Tommy - it was issued as
a 45 in the UK on Ode Records with "Underture" as its flipside (ODS
66301). Here the Who original remaster feels huge, as does
"Underture" in all its instrumental glory. By the time we get to
"Pinball Wizard" (the obvious single) - I'm sold on this 2013 version
- fantastic song that stills packs a whack (sure plays a mean pinball for sure).
And on it goes to forgotten album gems like the ego-trip song "Sensation",
the blue Rolls Royce tune "Sally Simpson" and the unexpectedly pretty
"Welcome" - finally stomping its legend status with "I'm Free"
and that massive finisher "We're Not Going To Take It" where Tommy is
aware and advising you to put in your earplugs...
For sure in 2020, "Tommy"
is of its 1969 time and truth be told, I probably return more to their 1973 double "Quadrophenia" because in my mind anyway, the music is even better. But what a great urge-splurge this
early studio double-album was and still is. Re-visiting "Tommy" has been a joy and
revelation.
See me, feel me, touch me - well
I think this latest variant allows a punter to do just that – and for not a lot
of wedge either...
