Tommy vs. Quadrophenia

Quadrophenia. I still tresaure my vinyl copy with the photo booklet.

The story theme of Tommy was great, and my perception of Tommy will always be hugely enhanced by the wonderful movie adaptation by Ken Russell.

Quadrophenia - much more refined and consistent. Something doesn't quite fit on Tommy for me, even though I love the themes and most of the songs...

Storyline and the way it's told; Quadrophenia. Music; Tommy, which I went with since I usually consider the music more important.

I love the Overture from Tommy, but overall, it seems to have to much info for an album. And I heard an interview with Roger Daltrey, where he said that Quadrophenia was a much better album musically, than Tommy. I would tend to agree with him.   

Quadrophinea!

The Dark Elf wrote: dennismoore wrote: @The Dark Elf, About your point about Who's Next: No way, no how, so sorry dude. Who's Next is a single album masterpiece.  Quadrophenia is a double album masterpiece. 2 beats 1        Okay, I suppose you've got me there.

I was always good at math.

Quadrophenia & Who's Next.  Two of the greatest recordings ever. I am a huge prog fan but we could cause some real trouble/damage around here.  What do you think of this thread idea?:

Quadrophenia & Who's Next: My two Who records will kick any of your two records all across town, even if one IS Close To The Edge!

I am almost tempted, but then I love YES so much this may  cause a war between my brain's two hemispheres


Edited by dennismoore - April 10 2012 at 21:11

dennismoore wrote: The Dark Elf wrote: moshkito wrote: QUADROPHENIA was more of it, but in the end, by that time, it had lost its luster, although there are some outstanding musical passages in there that are an absolute treat in music ... but we no longer "cared" about music anymore ... and there were no "hits" in that album ... which was trashed senselessly by reviewers ...   It is an amazing tribute that this PA Board can recognize the immense work in QUAD and how important it was ... at the expense of not knowing/understanding, the immense value ... of the other work as well.   If you only knew how incredibly pretentious your post sounds. "we no longer 'cared' about music"? Speak for yourself, or better yet, don't generalize your platitudes. Also, many of us are quite aware of the enormity of Tommy in context with the era it was released; that does not mean, however, that Quadrophenia cannot be considered a better, more cohesive album. On the contrary, I consider it a far more mature, complex and satisfying composition than Tommy. That being said, I still think Who's Next is better than both of them. @The Dark Elf, I think moshkito is writing in 3rd person like he is an historian or something, I see his point but it does seems a bit condescending. About your point about Who's Next: No way, no how, so sorry dude. Who's Next is a single album masterpiece.  Quadrophenia is a double album masterpiece. 2 beats 1

Snow Dog wrote: dennismoore wrote: Snow Dog wrote: Everyone knows that Quadrophenia is superior.   Yipes!  Where is this "everyone" committee?    I preferred Tommy. After all it has prettier tunes and nice melodies and some nice musical interludes. I found Quadrophenia a hard listen by comparison. However it slowly gave more and more eventually surpassing Tommy in masterliness. Soon as I realised this and knew I was right.....I knew that everyone had to agree with me.

Understood.

Also, I guess it depends on the order or when one hears them. I first heard Tommy from the 1975 soundtrack record, then I heard Quadrophenia, Quadrophenia struck me as utter perfection (modern rock or prog or whatever label one uses), for the simple reason that from start to finish each track was strong, of all the great bands of the times, non had made and album so strong, and Quadrophenia was a double album!   4 sides, amazing to this day nobody has done that.   After hearing both the soundtrack Tommy & Quadrophenia, it was quite hard to hear the original Tommy with Roger's monotone singing.  I wish the Who would have done all the songs on the1975 remake and then offered the guest versions(Elton John , Tina Turner, Clapton, etc..) on 45s or another release.  I still think the Who versions on the 1975 soundtrack are one thousand time better then on the 1969 Tommy.






Edited by dennismoore - April 08 2012 at 09:31

The Dark Elf wrote: moshkito wrote: QUADROPHENIA was more of it, but in the end, by that time, it had lost its luster, although there are some outstanding musical passages in there that are an absolute treat in music ... but we no longer "cared" about music anymore ... and there were no "hits" in that album ... which was trashed senselessly by reviewers ...   It is an amazing tribute that this PA Board can recognize the immense work in QUAD and how important it was ... at the expense of not knowing/understanding, the immense value ... of the other work as well.   If you only knew how incredibly pretentious your post sounds. "we no longer 'cared' about music"? Speak for yourself, or better yet, don't generalize your platitudes. Also, many of us are quite aware of the enormity of Tommy in context with the era it was released; that does not mean, however, that Quadrophenia cannot be considered a better, more cohesive album. On the contrary, I consider it a far more mature, complex and satisfying composition than Tommy. That being said, I still think Who's Next is better than both of them.