OPERA SELLS AGAIN

Townshend and 'Tommy' on Top of World

BY MIKE GORMLEY

Free Press Staff Writer

Kit Lambert, manager of the Who and producer of several of the group's albums, was screaming with joy and what seemed to be relief as he talked on the telephone from New York. "I've worked with these guys for six years", he exclaimed, as excited as if The Who had just signed their first recording contract.

The reason for Lambert's delight is the fact The Who and their million-seller rock-opera, "Tommy," have made record industry history. The album has been in the top 100 for a year, spending some of that time as number one, then dropping to number 93 over a period of 42 weeks. Last week, it took off back up the charts and presently sits at number 32. That's a 61-point jump, the first time a group of artists has sent an album up the top 100 a second time without ever having left it.

It was obvious The Who's Peter Townshend didn't expect the album to regain favor with the people. "Live At Leeds," just released about a month ago, was number eight in the nation, and "Tommy" was almost forgotten. The group performed parts of the album on the tour because they didn't have enough material for a full concert without it and, as Townshend said, "The people haven't forgotten 'Tommy,' it's still on their minds." He just didn't know how much they were thinking about it.

THREE WEEKS ago Townshend said he didn't think they had followed up 'Tommy' yet. "Live At Leeds" could have been done two weeks after "Tommy" had been initially released, according to Townshend, and it still would have done well. "It's a side album, something we wanted to do even before 'Tommy.' People have always said there's a mile of difference between our recorded sound and what we do live. So we've always wanted to capture a live sound."

"Live At Leeds" is top ten, "Tommy" is doing it all over again and The Who are presently working on a new album. It will obviously go top ten whenever it's released.

As far as the third album is concerned, "We're half way through it," Townshend said three weeks ago. It's quite possible they are much closer to the finish now. "We aren't pretending that it's possible to make an album of the impact of 'Tommy' commercially. But we have said that we wanted it to be good rock. We've kind of experimented in the same way we did with 'Live At Leeds'. If it's not good enough we won't put it out."

The Who, according to leader Townshend are hoping that they will be part of or stimulate the next major thing in rock. Could that be "Tommy?" It's possible this present surge for the album will make it so big it will start something. "We see ourselves as one of the few groups that can really stop rock from going under. We can withstand any amount of abuse or criticism. A lot of people missed what we were getting at with 'Tommy'. We were trying to open a new door for rock and allow it to breathe a bit."

THE ABOVE statement shows that Townshend, and probably the rest of The Who, believe rock is, in fact, going under—dying.

One of the feelings Townshend has about the death of rock is, "American kids are willing to pay for their dope but not for their music. I see that as one of the most cock-eyed things I've ever come across. They want their music free but they're willing to pay any price to get stoned."

His feelings are backed up by the incredible number of people who gate-crash rock festivals, destroying the reputation of supposed peace-filled events, destroying rock music since it gets blamed for the battles that take place and financially destroying the people who bring rock music to the public. The promoters won't do it if they lose money. Some are willing to break even, but none are happy with going deep into debt.

AS IF BEING involved in what is probably the hottest rock group in the world at the moment isn't enough, Townshend is spending some time with another group that could be as great. The group is Thunderclap Newman, fondly remembered for "Something In the Air" that sold extremely well around the world and has been featured in two films, "The Magic Christian" and "The Strawberry Statement." Townshend produces that group, but obviously and admittedly doesn't spend enough time with them.

"They have an album out called 'Hollywood Dream' released many months after 'Something In The Air' was a hit," Peter said. "With the album I'm absolutely starting all over with the group. You see, at first I had these three friends who were looking towards me, not really for help, but for something. When I brought them together it was so fantastic and 'Something In the Air' was so sensational I just worked on with the group. But then The Who did three lengthy American tours and I had no time to work with them. Three members of the group started to get into their own things, like solo albums, writing etc. So I actually had to re-form the group when it came time to do the album.

"The title of the album comes from a song written by Speedy, the group's drummer. It's called that because Speedy has never been to America and he has the long distance view which has to do with glamor. At the moment the Hollywood dream is over and he wrote the song about film stars in long black cars, the Klu Klux Klan, the Tate murder, etc. In a way it's light hearted but at the same time it has kind of a deep reflection of the American way.

"I find it very difficult to write songs that really reflect the mood of America," Townshend says. "I'm much too into it and part of it now."

The Who, left to right, Roger Daltrey, Keith Moon, John Entwhistle and Peter Townshend, have sold $7 million worth of the rock-opera "Tommy." Now they're going to do it again.

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