The Who - Tommy (1975 Film)
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Free Music Notes for Tommy (1975 Film)
Free Music Review: Glad to see the Tommy Soundrack Getting Some Love
Hit: 5 Stars
Rock, for all its anti-elitist tendencies, still manages to be very contemptuous of outsiders. Anyone not connected with a major band or who hasn't earned the right credentials are always tagged as "not rock." Thus every rock musical from Hair to Jesus Christ Superstar, to Rocky Horror gets dumped on as being fakes, and the scores dismissed with the ultimate put-down: "show tunes."
Tommy escaped that fate as an album (who can charge The Who with being inauthentic?) but not so the movie or its soundtrack. Over and over you read "The movie was cast with non-singers!" Hmm... Daltrey, Townshend, Moon, Entwistle, Clapton, Turner, Arthur Brown: all rock stars. Paul Nicholas played Jesus in the original London cast of Superstar, Ann-Margaret in the first half of her movie career was primarily a singer. All the arguments really boil down to Oliver Reed in a leading role and Jack Nicholson in a cameo. Two voices. As it happens, I get a kick out of them both.
I think it's a great cast, but what really knocks me out is the sound. It's very close to The Who's albums Who's Next and Quadrophenia in its use of synthesizers, and I like it a lot. Plus, it's just a very powerful sound, with intense energy.
This is pretty much the polar opposite to the original album, which is very quiet and generally low key, itself often attacked for its poor production and lack of energy. I'd rather call it "meditative." Two very different takes on the material, both superbly realized, in my opinion.
Free Music Review: Better than the original
Hit: 5 Stars
The who redid Tommy 6 years after it's original version. This one shines because of re-workings that sound better.
For example. You can SLEEP through the original version of Sparks. but on here The Who rocks and blasts you away.
I know, Oliver Reed, Ann-Margaret & Jack Nicholson can't sing very well. But it adds to the story. I would rather that the "Characters" sang their parts instead of just the lead singer. For example the Michael Jackson Character "Uncle Ernie" as the song fades out (quite comically) says "Oh You're Such a GOOD LITTLE BOY"
I have to say once Jack Nicholson sings it sigingfies the end of the better part of the cd set.
DEFINATE HIGHLIGHTS:
1- Sparks
2- Amazing Journey
3- Fiddle About (Keith Moon is HILARIOUS)
4- 1951/What About The Boy (The buildup into the latter song is PHENOMINAL!
5- Eyesight To The Blind (Clapton)
6- Pinball Wizard (Elton John)
7- Cousin Kevin (School Bully song)
Lowlights:
1- Acid Queen (Maybe because im not a big Tina Turner fan)
2- Anything AFTER the Jack Nicholson song)
If you haven't seen the movie i reccommend it. As good if not better than the movie version of The Wall.
Please read and rate all of my reviews
Free Music Review: Not for the weak of heart...,
Hit: 5 Stars
Okay...,this is one those things you're either going to love or hate. If you buy this CD expecting another Who album then you'll hate it. If you're looking for a truly original intrepretation of Pete Townsend's rock opera (that means there's a story involved) then you'll love it. Sure, the singing isn't your usual rock star stadium type Roger Daltrey wailing, because the characters wouldn't sound like that..., People constantly complain about vocal style/ability of the movie soundtrack and it drives me up the wall. It's a STORY with CHARACTERS! Tommy's mother wouldn't sound like Ann Wilson, she would sound like Nora Walker. Ann-Margret manages to convey the essence of Nora Walker and develop her character through her her ability to pack her singing with a wallop of emotional punch. Sure, it's over the top sometimes, but this is director Ken Russell's intent. The same thing goes for the wonderfully sleazy Oliver Reed as Frank Walker. That's the way Frank Walker would sing! The Acid Queen, on the other hand would sound like Tina Turner. Are you following me? I have to tell you I saw the Broaway production of Tommy and absolutely hated it. The 'chorus' was embarrasingly bad-it reminded me of 'Up With People', and the story was difficult to follow. I find the movie soundtrack to the definitive recording of Tommy.Free Music Review: Its A Sucess Mrs. Walker
Hit: 5 Stars
First off, you will hear many bad reviews for this album because it is constantly compared to the original. People would realize how good the album was if they stopped comparing it to The Who's original. The album has some catchy songs by some great artist. We go from Oliver Reed's jumpy and campy (and dare I say good) "Bernie's Holiday Camp" to Eric Claptons errie "Eyesight To The Blind" to Turner's dark "Acid Queen".The highlights are:
Sally Simpson: This song is the story of a groopie who goes a little two far and winds up ruining her life. It is performed by The Who and is a true rock classic.
Amazing Journey: This dark and eerie songs talks about how you view things differently in sollitude. The excellent poetry was written and performed by Pete Townsend.
Smash The Mirror: This song is performed angerly by Ann-Margerat and gives her a chance to reach her high vocal point. It is perhaps her greatest work ever.
I'm Free: Far superior than The Who's original, this version allows Roger Daltrey to reach his vocal high point. It accomplishes more and you have to hear it to understand.
Free Music Review: objectivity?
Hit: 5 Stars
Ok it's not the who!!! ,It was written by Pete ( webber/rice anyone.......not) In isolation the piece stands up to any scrutiny but that is to miss completely the whole concept of this masterpiece. Ken Russell is a genius for avante garde film making which makes this a marriage made in heaven. This is the perfect accompaniment to a truely groundbreaking genre. Has such great music ever been married to, and in some cases such awful singing? I think not! I personally worked backwards on this one. I saw the film (which at 14 left a life long impression, thanx Pete!!) and I then went back to the original "Who" recording and , although this may sound blasphemous, I found the original rather dull! The wonderful tapestry of the multicoulered textures of the movie soundtrack just aren't there. Anyone familiar with today's multi-layering/tracking can't identify with the nakedness of this whole project. Watch the film, absorb the genius of the creator and then judge......And if you still don't rate it, go buy n'sync