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TOMMY - AS PERFORMED BY THE LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA & CHAMBER CHOIRVarious Artists (Concept albums & Themed compilations)Various Genres2.83 | 22 ratings |
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fuxi
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This particular set was my first introduction to TOMMY; I borrowed it, back in 1975, from the same guy
who introduced me to the incomparable WHO's NEXT, to the YES ALBUM, THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII,
AQUALUNG, A PASSION PLAY, THE ALCHEMIST (by Home) and Neil Young's best-known solo albums. What
a summer of discovery that was! (The guy in question was merely the elder brother of someone who
wasn't even a close friend of mine.)But what a dud version of TOMMY this is! It intrigued me at the time, because it seemed a little similar to one of my old favourites, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (which rocks much harder) and because, well, you know, 'Pinball Wizard' has such a great opening. Even when performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. However, let's face it, Pete Townshend's original material is not at all suited to Big Orchestra treatment (no matter how superb a rocker Townshend may be), especially if there's hardly any trace of an accompanying rock combo. Most of the music here sounds so pompous that it falls flat on its face; it's like all the weakest moments from JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH combined and (almost) endlessly multiplied, but without any honky-tonk pianos or bubbling synths, of course. Perhaps the most ridiculous (and pseudo-operatic) moment comes when you get the entire London Chamber Choir anxiously intoning: 'Hooow can he be saaaaved?' ad nauseam. No, this set now has curiosity value only. Do you really want to hear Rod Stewart as the Pinball Wizard, Ringo Starr as Uncle Ernie and Sandy Denny as the Acid Queen? (Accompanied by a gigantic orchestra, and by nothing else?) Then, and only then, should you check this one out.
fuxi |
1/5 |
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