AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

The Who Offer a Good Night at the Opera

By Mike Gormley

Free Press Staff Writer

An opera is a musical drama, and "Tommy," The Who's latest album, is just that, but the music is rock. It is the first real "rock-opera."

"Tommy," the story of a deaf, dumb and blind boy, who, through a series of natural and supernatural events becomes, first, a national figure, then a saint and spiritual leader, has been criticized. It's too far out, impossible some say. It is however neither too far out—all you have to do is allow your imagination freedom — nor is it impossible if you ask the question 'why not?'

"Tommy" will become a milestone in the history of rock for one reason — it tells a story. The album isn't just a collection of tunes for dancing. It isn't a record of weird noises for freaking out or for taking a trip without using drugs. It does allow the mind to expand by simply stirring the listener's imagination There is a story to follow, just like in any book in print. It may be weird and far out, but it's a story. You can picture Tommy any way you want and you can picture his surroundings.

It's been said by many people, including this writer, that books are becoming unpopular because people, in this modern space age would rather see and hear what's going on in a story, as in films or TV. What we forget is that people may get tired of not being able to use their own imaginations. Records are the answer to hearing and getting involved in the story while at the same time using your imagination. "Tommy" is the first major step towards allowing that form of 'literature' to evolve.

THERE IS A book that accompanies the album, Peter Townshend, composer of "Tommy" and lead guitarist for The Who commented on its use. "It is important, not necessarily because it has the words to the songs because most of those words can be heard on the record. But the book is important because you can see who is saying what at any particular time. It is difficult to tell the difference between my voice and Rogers (Roger Daltry, lead singer in the group). We all sound the same actually."

In the recording world, packaging of an album is important. A bad cover can cut sales in half or keep a possible number one seller sitting around number 25 in the nation's sales.

"Tommy" will have no problems there. The art work, done by Mike McInnerney, a friend of Townshend's, is abstract. The album actually has three covers which, when opened all the way depict The Who caught in a web-like conglomeration.

Even if The Who has released this album not as an opera but simply as an ordinary collection of songs like most other albums, "Tommy" would still be a best seller. The

The Who, l to r, John Entwhistle, Keith Moon, Roger Daltry, Peter Townshend, take a laugh break between tunes.

production is tight, among the best.

The only difficulty is the length. Four sides all at one time, totaling almost two hours without a let-up, makes it difficult to listen to all at once. Because of the storyline, however, you feel compelled to listen to the whole thing at one time. And that's a lot of listening.

HOWEVER, if you can pass over the hurdle of length, The Who and whoever is responsible for putting the thing together worked out the album to its finest detail. If you aren't inclined to listen to the whole opera but simply enjoy one or two cuts, each song is spaced and written so it's possible. "Pinball Wizard" is a single hit record and can carry its own lead, but also fits into the opera.

Peter Townshend told me, "the original idea for 'Tommy' came from the mini-

opera on our second album. But then the single "Happy Jack" broke in the U.S. so we had North America and the Continent to contend with. We just didn't have time to do it."

Now the opera is about to break. "Pinball Wizard", off the album, has been one of the fastest selling records in Detroit for the past two weeks and orders for "Tommy" are phenomenal, according to Decca Record's Detroit office.

It will probably be a while before we find out what The Who do to follow up "Tommy." But the opera has put them on a plane of originality beside The Beatles. It will be interesting to see if they can stay