Album A Day: The Who – Tommy

Artist: The Who
Album: Tommy
Release Date: May 23, 1969

If you forced me to pick an absolute favorite album of all time, 99 times out of 100 I think I’d say Tommy. It’s hard for me to explain what exactly it is about Tommy that makes me love it so much, but it’s been a favorite since the first time I heard it (I believe this was my sophomore year of high school). I think it might have to do with the fact that this was the first album I remember hearing that took one idea or story and stretched it out through its entire length. Moreover, compared with the dime-a-dozen rock I was listening to at the time, The Who were a true rock n’ roll band, and Tommy drove that point home beautifully. The idea that orchestral instruments could compliment loud as hell guitar, drums and bass was new and astounding in my mind, and the idea of full blown instrumental tracks packed between huge rockers like “Pinball Wizard”, “We’re Not Gonna Take It”, and “Amazing Journey” made the stuff I had previously called brilliant seem just a little bit weak in comparison. Tommy really was an eye opener for me, and it helped pave the way for me to discover dozens of the other bands and album I now call favorites.

The Who – Pinball Wizard [iTunes] (YSI)

==TJ==