Dislike Tommy

["Citywatch Ltd" <email@citywatch.prestel.co.uk>]

> I don't like Tommy

Well, I'm afraid I have to agree.  Even when played live I feel it 
lacks a certain edge.  I think Tommy would have been "better" if it 
had been shorter - I agree that the Overture is the best bit.  If you 
listen to "A Quick One" played live, there is so much more energy 
there, as if they really enjoyed playing it.  All the members of the 
'oo have been quoted as saying they were thoroughly sick & tired of 
Tommy by the end, so maybe it is just boredom that produced the 
slightly lacklustre performances.  I'm not saying that ALL of Tommy 
is no good, on the contrary, I think Amazing Journey/Sparks is 
absolutely bang on, but, again, IMO, those two pieces could be 
described as self contained (in fact, I think Amazing Journey was 
written quite a long time before the rest of Tommy, along with 
Sparks, obviously (cf. "Rael")).  As for the studio version, I guess 
recording/engineering techniques just weren't up to the job in 1969 
(or whenever).  Whether it is the equipment or the engineer that is 
to blame, I don't think Townshend was atall pleased with the end 
result.  To sum up then, for me Tommy is OK, with some classic bits 
(Pinball Wizard, Sparks), but overall is too long and rambling, and 
is possibly played live on autopilot sometimes.  Please feel free to 
totally disrespect my arguments.

Phil
Phil@Citywatch.co.uk
=========================
Citywatch Ltd
Tel: +44 171 403 7706
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Web: www.citywatch.co.uk