Tommy vs. Sgt Pepper

[SicilianMother@xxxxxxx]

Comparing the Beatles and the Who is not quite apples and apples, for a few 
reasons.

Ok........Pete Townsend is not John Lennon and John Lennon is not a Pete 
Townsend.

Pete perfected the Rock Opera.   The Beatles answer to a rock opera would be 
Sgt. Pepper.  But, if you criticize "Tommy," I can think of the very same 
criticism to Sgt. Pepper.  Kinda of cartoony.  (When I'm 64),  Very shallow 
at some points..........(heck, the list is long, starting with song "Sgt. 
Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band", "Mean Mr. Mustard).  But in both, it has 
its classics..........i.e.. Long and Winding Road <Beatles.....Listening to 
You/See Me, Feel Me, Sparks <----Who (notice I don't dare put Pinball 
Wizard).

Anyway, I think Pete and The Who were the master of Rock Opera's.   Again, 
that is what Tommy is.  It isn't an album of songs.  It is a story being 
told, beginning to end by music.  Tommy is totally different, I think we all 
agree, then Quad........But, Pete changes and changes and changes.......if 
they were the same or equal (Tommy and Quad)  we might as well call them Rock 
Opera part one and Rock Opera part two........I am not sure if I am making my 
point clear or not.  I am taking the criticism from the listers of the Tommy 
movie and and comparison of the Beatles and the Who and saying that you can't 
say one is better than the other unless you set the same standards for both.  
But you can't.  The BEST is what the listener deems the BEST.  For some 
people, that may be the Beatles........who I do love.  But, for me it is and 
will always be THE WHO.

Johanna