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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 มี.ค. 2024
- An in-depth analysis of The Who's 1969 Tommy album. This documentary contains new sound mixes and 100s of newly cleaned up and colourised photos. Any money from the adverts goes to the copyright holders. So, donations to cover the costs of making this are welcome. (Note, I actually paid for the various software I use and that sitar player!)
www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted...
www.buymeacoffee.com/lrymill
SOME CREDITS:
Happy Jack & I'm a Boy
• Happy Jack/I'm A Boy (...
1921 Piano
• 1921 (Piano by Loren G...
This site was invaluable in helping me write this:
www.thewhothismonth.com/
Some of the live videos are from the great collection at:
/ @montysvault - เพลง
![Pink Floyd - Atom Heart Mother [Ossiach 1971]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/jsBwBryVcqs/mqdefault.jpg)
![Pink Floyd - Atom Heart Mother [Ossiach 1971]](/img/tr.png)
For those wanting to hear more of my ramblings (and some actual non-prog bands referenced) check out my recent interview with Scott at The Prog Corner: th-cam.com/video/EGRpJ3bLIfQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=e9JMGYcuCvNFDQKa
It’s well worth a watch. Lee is an interesting and talented video creator and this was an excellent Anglo American discussion ✅✅ Dave
Lee, if that is your Rael name, great to see your chat with Scott. It was really interesting. Love your documentaries. Cheers.
Gotta love Tommy! I hope I speak for many when I say a Quadrophia video would not be unwelcome!
My father new Pete and Roger when they were all teenagers playing in pubs and small clubs; my father was in a band with his cousin Dave "Cy" Langston. My father quit the music business shortly after The Beatles emerged, but remains a music lover to this day. He of course bought Tommy when it was released so it was an album I grew up hearing and have always held it in high regard as a great work. Having doubled back on my father's escape from the unstable world of performing arts and production, and having made my career in it, I found this investigation into the ablum's creation very interesting.
The most misunderstood band in my opinion. Much darker and more introspective than the 'classic rock' label they get thrown in. Excellent vid as always
I’m glad you mentioned S.F Sorrow! a lot of people don’t realise that, that record IS the first of its kind
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant documentary. Your timing with photos and musical
passages were both ear and eye candy for me.
The original 1969 album will always hold a strong place in my heart personally and musically.
Just the Overture/ It's A Boy alone is a spectacular musical achievement.
Thank you for putting in such incredible work for this video. It assures we why this period of The Who is my personal favorite of theirs.
I still hold that Townsend was and is one of the best songwriters in the classic rock era and think of “Tommy” as representative of an archetypal search for the self theme. This theme was revisited in “Quadrophenia” as well as Genesis’ “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway” (NB, that the main character was named Rael) and Pink Floyd’s (Roger Waters’) “The Wall” among others. Thanks for the video and all the research that went into it!
Yes, Tommy cetainly gets the (pin)ball rolling in this respect. From what I gather, the naming of 'Rael' in The Lamb was a complete co-incidence and not related to the Who song (although Gabriel is a champion bullshitter)
I've been a big Tommy fan since I was a child. I learned so much from your video. Thank you.
Just so good. Seeing a new posting is like an event.
The quality of production is on par or even better than
commercial docs out there. I’m pretty sure you could
make a doc on the history of peanut butter and it would
be entirely entertaining and informative. I would never
look at peanut butter in the same way. I also commend
your research. Every doc I’ve watched I have learned
something I didn’t know (and I know a lot!). I thank you
for that.
Watch out man... Those who know me know that peanut butter is my favourite food!
@@progessiverockstories
Stick with prog docs Lee. We love it!🙂
Brilliant video. I always think Tommy has been forgotten about. It has always been one of my favourite albums even though I don't consider myself a huge Who fan
Stunning. Absolutely stunning. Tommy was always one near and dear to my heart and nice to see it examined and evaluated in a fresh new way.
Brilliant work mate! We're lucky you're around.. thanks for all the effort!
Much appreciated. I can't imagine the research, editing, colourization, compiling, etc. that went into this project. My hat's off to you sir. Stellar documentary!
I want to add that you brought to light the fact the Who were rehearsing Tommy to be able to do it live before the final mixes were even completed on the album. That speaks volumes of the brilliance of Pete Townshend and the Who. The Beatles never achieved that with Sgt. Pepper's.
Sgt. Pepper wasn't designed to be played live - the opposite in fact. The Beatles will always be the greatest - even Pete acknowledges this. Glad you enjoy the docs, and you're right that an absolute ton of work goes into the creation of them. I think some people just think I click a button or something and they just 'appear'!
Great documentary, Rael! You took Tommy to a whole new perspective!
Also, nice to hear our wicked Uncle Ringo at the end!
These scousers get everywhere
Yes!!! Here we go!!!!!!!!
Very very very good job .And Tommy masterpiece total Long live The Who
And this was released right after I got back into my Who phase, fantastic work man!
I'm astounded by the coinciding of your videos with my newfound interest in the bands you make documentaries of. These are all great
I am tracking what you listen to... yes *you* specifically. 😵
Just bloody great this, and popped up just as i was thinking yer tube was going flat.
Great work. There is a lot on here i hadn't heard and never knew the background to, despite growing up with this album and being hugely influenced by it. Thanks so much
Very nicely done. I have always loved Tommy & The Who
Heard this album as a kid. It blew my mind!!!!!
I commend not only your enthusiasm, but your precision on these little mini-docs you do. Haven't missed one yet, even though I'm a supremely casual fan of Yes and ELP at best, though I do respect both. Tommy is like your Genesis videos, in that both groups are both truly in my wheelhouse. Well done, as always. Take another like, and keep up your good work. Cheers to you.
This is an interesting documentary although I'm saddened that the underrated Kinks don't get a mention as they (with Zappa, The Moody Blues and the Pretty Things) pioneered one of the first concept albums: 'The Village Green Preservation Society'. They also released a rock opera at about the same time as Tommy in 1969 that was (ironically) called 'Arthur' (not about the pinball champion girl mentioned here) but about the breakup of a family unit due to Arthur's son emigrating to Australia with his family. It was initially intended to be a story (kitchen sink type dramatization) that ITV had commissioned Ray Davies to write but sadly never got made. I think it's a shame that a lot of musos who ponder on famous 60's bands don't do documentaries about The Kinks as they were a really important innovative band from that time.
Yes, in retrospect I could have discussed the concept album origins more. The problem I have is the documentary script expanding into other areas too much. For example, I didn't even mention the Tommy film and stage adaptations here... however, some may be thankful for this. I agree the Kinks don't get the credit they deserve. In a way they are 'The Who' that never made a 'Tommy'
@@progessiverockstoriesand you just came up with your next episode!
@@georgeprice4212 Or Family - Music in a Doll's House 😃
@@zootallures6470 or even S. F. Sorrow!
@@georgeprice4212 👍
I enjoyed that immensely, an excellent well put together docunentary.
A beautiful, enlightening presentation, as always.
As always, an excellent documentary on an amazing album(s). Thanks.
I loved the 70s. By far the greatest decade of rock n roll ever. How times have changed. When I think about the WHO I remember Keith Moon. Thanks for sharing
An excellent analysis. Thank you for your hard work. "Never mind the weather, when you come to Tommy's the holidays forevaaar" 👍
Yet another beautiful documentary!.. congratulations.
great video man...thanks for sharing this stuff...
Thanks Rael - love this 💖
Excellent...you tied it together eloquently.
Great documentary as always! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Lee. Simply an amazing piece of work that is right up there with your very best work - indeed it may have assumed that #1 position.
This is not an album I have related to over the years but this is clear and concise and extremely interesting.
I can only doff my cap to you and I strive to make my content even 1/10th as good as yours then I will be a happy man indeed.
Congratulations on yet another brilliant production. All the very best. Dave✅✅
Cheers m'duck. The best thing is, I read your comment in a Stokie accent! 😂
Aw hell yeah! I've always felt a deep connection to the story of Tommy. I think it's the whole image of a child disconnected from the world on an internal self-discovery journey. In fact, I think in a way I'm still a deaf, dumb, and blind kid on an amazing journey.
Maybe you've just 'seen the light'?
@@progessiverockstories All I know is listening to Tommy, I get the music.
Nice job on the video boss! Best band ever. The Who.
Great concise summary-learned things I should have known through reading most Who biogs and band related books!
Great video well researched lots of photos I've never seen and recordings, nice
This is so interesting. It’s helping me write my essay on romantic authenticity and modern authenticity in the album. Super helpful and fascinating, thank you!
and i thought this day couldnt get any better!
This begs the question.... what on earth have you been up to?
Yet another excellent video of yours ! I always love to watch them before or after listening to the subject album.
as for the generated images, I know you've already said you won't use them anymore, but I really enjoy the way you use them and make them fit with your montage. But it's your choice and I'll respect it.
Thank you again for your amazing work, and see you in the next one !
Yeah, I remember that time I said I was going to take a break from making these videos!
A couple of weeks ago I finally got myself the album, this week I watch the movie and now you are doing a documentary on it? Now that's one crazy coincidence 😁 but in all seriousness: great job as always.
Similar comments are often made here. Sadly, it's no cosmic-coincidence.... It's your phone, computer, TV all logging and listening to what you are doing. 🤐
Very nice... thanks for sharing..
Como siempre, un magnífico análisis de una obra maestra. Gracias
Ah so this was the hidden documenatry referenced in the interview with Scott! Fantastic work yet again
Yes, I think next time I'll rename my folder 'NEXT VIDEO'.
Excellent, very insightful and thorough documentary! And in less than 30 minutes! I wouldn't I have minded if it were longer. I have to pick and chose my prog - can't take a steady diet of it, but I subbed and liked, in hopes of boosting your place in the algorithm. You deserve it! A treatment of Quadrophenia and Life House would be most welcome! And I will check your Yes and other work, and ELP. Thank you!
The Overture from Tommy is the ultimate surf music instrumental.
....worthy subject matter for your treatment........Tommy is a fantastic album......
Great video about a great album! We need Quadrophenia next
Oh brilliant! I was hoping you were working on a new video.
what an incredible body of work Pete has given us
Well done " This is the best "Story of Tommy" documentary ever !. Whatever happened to the pinball girl ? Another question: why "Cousin Kevin s Model Child" was excluded from the album ? That song features a "attitude" that its funny and at the same time, pushes Cousin Kevin s character very well. Really interesting to portrait the unreleased tracks. And the photos and art. Amazing.
What a video!
I hope you make a video about The Lifehouse sessions and its eventual rebirth into Who's Next.
The Who " A Quick One"( Happy Jack) LP first mini opera.
I have been thinking about the concept album genre a lot lately, and this video pops up on my YT algorithm. Talk about timing! Yes, the who is credited with "Tommy" being the initial concept album, but the Moody Blues had an earlier one- "Days of Future Past," which is great. The Who followed up with "Quadrophenia" in 1973. I think the Pink Floyd album, "The Wall" would qualify, and let's not forget the Frank Zappa album "Joe's Garage, Acts 1, 2 and 3. The FZ one was three vinyl records, each an act,
Your videos are fantastic
To Me; going back to re-evaluate "Tommy" looking for flaws is kind of like going back to the memory of Your "First Love" and using today's eyes to look at them. It was a ground breaking album, there was no bar before it. The bar it set is pretty high. The arms race of audio production back then was super hot. A lot of brilliant musicians and technicians were pushing the envelope, everyone of them hit a klinker at some point.
Why You ask? I escaped a horrible human when I was 7, I injured My hip escaping as well. For multiple reasons I never reported it. I hid it all including My injury. I'm 57 now, I've been working on getting right for like a decade or so. "Tommy" is an artistic expression of Mr. Townshend own PTSD, more than a decade before PTSD was an official diagnosis. I can't tell you how many times after another horrible day in middle-school I'd put the headphones on and be able to release so much anxiety.
This Doc earned a sub, I've been a Who fan for a long time. I'm always ready for an unflinching documentary that wasn't approved by a PR department.
I'll stick with my own (c) "Industrial Revolution" description, but your "arms race" is equally as fitting!
I'll never forget my first Tommy viewing on film. Blew my mind.
Great stuff as usual. I was hoping to hear something said about the movie, alas that wasn't the case. Oh well, may be another episode?
Pete, Jerry, Bob and John are my favorite music guys of all time
I really like the way Lord Sitar's I Can See For Miles leads into Meher Baba.
Glad someone has spotted it. However, the actual sitar playing under the "See Me, Feel Me" vocal (when Baba appears) was played specifically for this documentary.
Tommy and Sell Out are my two favorite Who albums. I'll throw Live at Leeds (deluxe edition) in there as #3.
I'd swap Sell Out for Who's Next (or Numbers) but I'm certainly with you on that Deluxe Leeds - what an incredible recording!
@@progessiverockstories I also have Sell Out and Who's Next deluxe editions. Oops, I almost forgot Odds and Sods deluxe edition! They're all great.
My own young teen take at the time was that the Tommy story followed on from a Quick One While He’s Away. Possibly even that Tommy’s father was Ivor the Engine Driver. I was expecting this would be covered in the video - A Quick One only gets a brief mention - but perhaps others don’t have the same idea as my 13 year old self did.
That sounds like Ringo Starr singing Uncle Erney. Great documentary
15:30 - Bill Wyman as a "perfect mentor and guiding hand for a young girl". Made my day...
I must admit to having a wee snigger myself. 😂
Fine work on this one, Rael! The Who is at least tied with Genesis (and maybe above them in some respects) as my favorite classic rock band. Although I love Tommy, I'd love to see you take a look at Quadrophenia as well as the aborted Life House project and resulting Who's Next album.
i love every Who song , pete is Genius, he stands alone as far as i'm concerend!
SF Sorrow is still much underappreciated, but Tommy in overall performance, both musically and vocally, is almost unequalled in rock history.
Extra, extra-I watched the video! Extra!
Tommy's appeal is still primarily due to his catchy songwriting and flawless vocal delivery. While by no means a prototypical prog-rock album as some people claim sometimes, Tommy represented a significant advancement for the rock-opera concept album as a festive subgenre of British 'Rock'-as a a distinct genre, with capital R and no *roll*. Anyway, in 1973, Townshend will achieve his definitive masterpiece in this subgenre with Quadrophenia.
Tommy is still a really fine album; it's simple, frequently acoustic, and has some catchy, clean melodies as well as heartfelt "crescendo" moments. However, if one really wants from the whole thing a loud, rocking monster that roars and rocks, the 1969 album itself comes a little too soft due to the lack of electric guitar, so the 1975 soundtrack, for which Townshend rewrote the complete opera, would be an accurate rendition in this instance.
15:21 Jeez… keep that girl as FAR AWAY from Bill Wyman as possible.
Con Tommy al Rock empezaron a verlo como un Arte.
Do you realize how encapsulated this content is in "a quick one while he's away"? The musical signatures are EVERYWHERE. Watch circus of rock performance of same name. Townsend et al we're prophets. Like so many others of their time. Thanks for a great vid❤
Yep, that Circus performance is off the scale.
Bravo✨
I used to get a little confused by the anachronism of Great War references and Pinball machines put together but then I learned that pinball machines were invented in the 1930s!
And Sally Simpson housband, rock musician.
This is really good. Pete has been very vague about things like Quads, never going into the full detail of it. I know it's to do with a very old habit The Who have in dealing with the press (Roger just this week denied an interviewer talking about how he knocked Pete unconscious) It's good to see the actual progression leading up to this album and puts some of the otherwise out-of-context songs like Heaven and Hell into something that makes sense.
Cheers. I was in two minds when writing the script about how much of it was about the 'build-up' to Tommy and not so much about the tracks themselves. Yes, Heaven and Hell does make more sense in this context. Glad you enjoyed it.
Suggestions for content ( because its so well done with intelligent reflection and reading between the lines). The key exploratory albums and the development & progression of Supertramp, Roxy music esp.Country Life, Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, Kate Bush, Tangerine Dream, Kraftwerk, XTC, Bowie, 10cc, Queen ( 1st 3 albums), Brian Eno, Captain Beefheart, Roy Harper, Pink Floyd, Mike Oldfield, Barclay Janes Harvest, Nektar, Van Deer Graf Generator, Renaissance...only if you have an idle 10,000 hours.
I'll add these to the list! I admit I am playing safe somewhat by sticking to the 'holy-trinity' of Yes, Genesis and Floyd. The docs I really want to make would be on Stephen Stills but I don't think anyone here would watch it!
I think SF Sorrow was probably an influence but I also kind of somewhat buy Pete's protestations cause The Who already did two mini operas and the mentioned I'm a Boy and abandoned Quads and Pete was dropping hints about working on Tommy in interviews in 1968, I think it's possible he was mostly musically in his own bubble. I'd imagine knowing he's a fan he was paying attention to what The Kinks were doing with story songs and concepts at the time.
Listening to these tracks that were not released into the album, particularly Heaven and Hell, was interesting. I think H&H would have fit well as the end of Tommy right after Listening to You, but perhaps it’s best if it was left as such
...and to think, out of the ashes of Pete's magnificent , Glow Girl' could have come the story of 'Tammy' !
LIVE AT LEEDS is my favorite, the ordinary version, i like the bonuses,but the original is the real deal
i would love to see an u.k video from you
In my opinion, Pete Townsend is the greatest over-all talent rock has ever produced. Another great job, rael.
If you consider that Lennon and McCartney had _each other_ for both support and competition and that Pete was effectively alone, there is a strong case of putting him top. Certainly in what became known as rock. I think, however, The Beatles will always stand alone, beyond comparison, so Pete's second certainly!
the Beatles were a pop band, the Who were a classic rock band, love both but if you go deep its gotta be the Who!@@progessiverockstories
Rites of Spring was the first concept album 😅
What about the Moody Blues' Days of Future Passed? That was a year before S.F. Sorrow.
I think SF Sorrow is considered more an 'Opera' because it has an actual story (characters etc). However, I admit, there is a lot of grey-area with claims as to "who first did what".
15:30 oh my lord
👍👍👍👍👍
Fascinating and well researched as always, but the inclusion of AI graphics are a disappointment. How was the Magic Bus comp botched, though?
It's track selection is awful and it is mis-leadingly titled as a 'live (on tour) album'. It bombed at the time. I take your point about the AI....
"Hey Hey, We're The Monkees"? 22:45
Ha! Well spotted!!
not a word for i'm free!
Schade, daß keine deutschen Untertitel verfügbar sind. Ich mag deine Retrospektiven seit langem sehr gerne aber dem Liverpooler Akzent kann ich nicht folgen😂😢😢
Den Beatles gelang es gut, auch wenn sie so sprachen!!
Elmer Gantrys Velvet Opera any one?
Probably not here. But you're correct in that there are many bands who were doing similar things around the time (and before).
This narrator needs to do his homework.....The Pretty Things S.F. Sorrow was not released until December 1968 and Double album Tommy was released in May '69. How does one right after hearing a album, rip it off and releases a double album in five months??? Esp. when the "stolen" never charted in the UK albums??? Shocking Blues 'Venus" also has that same opening Acoustic Guitar riff as Tommy and Old Man Going, is THAT a ripoff as well? You might as well say as well that Pete stole from the riffs from 'My Green Tambourine" by The Lemon Pipers to put in Tommy's Overture as well. The Kinks started off Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) during WW1 and ended with '60s British disillusion as well - did Ray Davies rip off The Pretty Things??? No, it was The Start of the declining of The UK and the start of much of the world's problems as they knew it then. S F Sorrow was not the first rock album to have a story interwoven into it. The Small Faces 'Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake' Happiness Stan holds that honor - it came out in April '68, eight months before S F Sorrow.
Although Townsend has admitted to nicking off the Kinks, I have never heard him mention The Pretty Things as an influence,. Or any other British music act from the '60's onward, (Even the Rolling Stones who the British music press tried to link them to.) After I heard all of that trash I just quit watching
I am aware there are a few other concept albums building up to Tommy and in retrospect I wish I had mentioned them in the documentary. SF Sorrow seems to be the one most consistently cited by Who writers as _possibly_ influencing Tommy. Note the word 'possibly' and my doc also references the cross-polination of ideas at this time.
(i.e they were all influencing each other)
There is no doubt Townshend was aware of SF Sorrow and is on record (in print) as liking it. The fact that in later interviews he completely *denied hearing* it perhaps only serves to underscore it's possible influence. I would suggest that with the Pinball theme itself arriving late into the album's production, it was like Pete had stack of jigsaw pieces that he arranged at the last minute (early spring 69) to create the final album. A month earlier or later the studio and you could have had a totally different Tommy.
C'mon Pete. Just admit it. You had known who everyone was when S. F. Sorrow came out. Tommy is a great album but I stand by The Pretty Things, and who gives a damn but Pete. Just. Admit. It.
the 1st prog rock album.
Good, you'd left the movie out- as should have....
I had the displeasure to see that turd about 3 weeks ago- for the 1st time.
Makes me glad Genesis left The Lamb 'as is'....
And Pete put his heart into the Tommy soundtrack. Only to have it squelched by Tina Turner's joke of an appearance & Jack Nicholson singing something/anything. The production spared no expense, clearly. Sadly, it's still laughable. Sadly.
🚬😎👍
I couldn't disagree more. I've been a fan of the album since the early seventies and I like the film just as much. But I am a great Ken Russell fan too. I was still in my teens when I saw the film on the big screen and was astounded by the Tina Turner sequence with the Iron Maiden / Syringes. Her performance really brought the song to life. The joke part was the Elton John cameo sequence but that is a powerful scene too. Two different art forms brought together in a wonderful way, in my opinion
I disagree with your assessment of the movie, which I think it is fantastic! However I am glad that I left it out here because I wanted the focus to be on the record solely, which I think is criminally overlooked. I agree with you about the Lamb, we really dodged a bullet with that one. 😅
I'm a big Ken Russell fan. I think he did well to stick to the story while adding some of his trademark outrageouness.
Can't understand half of what the narrator says.
I love THE WHO, but TOMMY was never my thing, the same with SELL OUT, just too pompous. But i like QUADROPHENIA,it's their last great record. But i must admit, the last one is surprisingly good
this is no in-depth analisys.......it's just a list of songs that are not on it
Shut up you tit.
I found a copy of 'S.F. Sorrow' in a charity shop (for 50p!) and I am sad to relate that I found it awful. I know it's sort of regarded as a 'classic' today, but I just thought it was a bit of a mess.
I agree. It's shit.
Yet another triumph. Your hit rate is astounding and an embarrassment to most mainstream broadcasters. BTW the Arfur story absolutely stinks of PR. Total invention IMHO.
I think you're correct. I didn't want to discuss it too much in my doc, but the guy in question (Nick Cohen) is a champion bullshitter by all accounts.
I really like your content, but I advise against the use of ai artwork in your videos. Most of the data that is used for ai art generators are taken from sources without consent. I get it if you can’t afford to pay an artists for illustrations but I don’t think ai is a good substitute.
In defence, it isn't _all_ AI, a lot of the images are the actual Tommy artwork, just re-edited to fit your screen ratio. Also, it's difficult to make a 30-minute video and fill the screen without it just being endless pictures of the band or live shots. However, you make a fair point and others have now commented on this, so I have to accept it as a failed experiment.
i recognize all of the art from the original release, with a little reworking, yes, but very little.
Ok, Myrtle. Simmer down.
Ok. Whats wrong if you made the docu in Parts? Part 1. Part 2, Part 3 to accomodate your contents? s@@progessiverockstories
@@progessiverockstoriesI think you implemented it very well. You use it very artfully.