1972-12-21 – The Pittsburgh Press
The Pittsburgh Press, Thurs., Dec. 21, 1972
ROCK WORLDS
"Tommy" Hits Town Again
When the news hit town that "Tommy" was back to lure a new crowd of followers the ooooo's and aahh's could be heard for miles.
For good reason, too. The London Symphony Orchestra was handling the music, while gobs of top rock talent supplied the opera's characters.
Not much hoopla is needed to excite folks about the likes of Rod Stewart, Richie Havens, Roger Daltrey, Stevie Winwood, Ringo Starr, Richard Harris, Pete Townshend and others.
All things considered, the only thing keeping the massive production from overrunning Pittsburgh is the equally massive price — and in a few weeks that may not bother people either.
How does this "Tommy" sound? Well . . . great, terrible and a few adjectives somewhere in between.
The Rock opera gets off to a brilliant start with the "Overture's" french horns leading the way. The original rhythms and structures prance along, splattered with chimes, cymbals, strings and a brief, solemn "See Me . . . Feel Me" choral interlude.
The orchestral strains softly die out, and, a second later, tympanies boom out "Tommy's" tragic opening scene.
The remainder of side one comes across as refinement, though, pure and simple. Traffic's Stevie Winwood as Captain Walker, and the Who's Pete Townshend (the narrator), for instance, replace Roger Daltrey's original work very nicely, hitting most of the same notes with the same high pitched, nasal whine (though maybe on key just a bit more often).
One exception: the symphony's arrangement of "Amazing Journey" stands out as probably the LP's best — vividly portraying the little boy's detached world with fire-and-brimstone accuracy.
But things don't always work out so nicely.
Case-in-point: you haven't lived until you've heard Rod Stewart's glorious vocal rasp backed by four million of the sweetest violins this side of Shirley Temple!
Other strange stuff: Richie Havens, minus his rhythm guitar, with the same ethereal backup ("Eyesight To The Blind"); Stevie Winwood vocally fighting his way from underneath a murderous mountain of strings ("Christmas").
On top of that, the casting isn't the greatest in the world.
Richard Harris speaks his part ("Go To The Mirror Boy") more like a half-baked Hamlet than an honestly confused physician. And Ringo Starr proves for the umpteenth time that he can't sing, act or otherwise impersonate a performer. His "Uncle Ernie" is unbelievably terrible.
As side four rolls around, you realize there are some pretty hefty spots after all, mainly those by the rock opera's original star, Roger Daltrey. No longer shrill or timid, Daltrey's Tommy has become a powerful character, very much in the vein of Ian Gillan's Jesus in "Superstar."
The joyful discoveries of "I'm Free" are just a sample. "Welcome" reveals Tommy's soft, warm side.
In "We're Not Gonna Take It," the fiery messiah comes alive, only to be totally destroyed by his followers' rejection. Here, Daltrey makes you feel Tommy's final pitiful state, right to the bone.
A monumental work-of-art? No, I can't say this "Tommy" is. But the super-production has its triumphs on a small scale. There's a few excellent symphony pieces, a standout vocal performance now and then, and Daltrey's title characterization.
The big thing is that it exists, underlining — and paying tribute to — the fact that "Tommy" was rock music's first opera. And in many minds (like mine) still is the best.
The Top 45s Dec. 21-27
Last Week PITTSBURGH 1 Me & Mrs. Jones– Billy Paul 2 Papa Was a Rolling Stone– Tempts. 3 "Stone In Love With You"– Stylistics 3 If You Don't Know Me– H. Melvin 6 Summer Breeze– Seals & Crofts 9 Can See Clearly Now– Johnny Nash 7 I'd Love You To Want Me–Lobo 4 Am Woman– Helen Reddy 15 "Something's Wrong– Austin Roberts 10 Funny Face– Donna Fargo 18 Clair– Gilbert O'Sulivan 13 Superfly– Curtis Mayfield 12 You Oughta Be With Me– Al Green 14 "Why Can't We Live– Timmy Thomas 15 I'll Be Around– Spinners 19 Superstition– Stevie Wonder 16 Ben– Michael Jackson 18 The World Is a Ghetto– War 8 Oh Babe– Hurricane Smith 20 Merry Xmas, Darling– Carpenters
Last Week NATIONWIDE 1 "Me & Mrs. Jones– Billy Paul 5 "You Oughta Be With Me– Al Green 2 If You Don't Know Me– H. Melvin 4 I Am Woman– Helen Reddy 5 Never Rains In S. Calif.– Al Hammond 8 Clair– Gilbert O'Sullivan 7 Ventura Highway– America 13 "Rockin' Pneumonia– Johnny Rivers 3 Papa Was a Rolling Stone– Tempts. 10 Stone In Love With You– Stylistics 11 Funny Face– Donna Fargo 16 Superfly– Curtis Mayfield 12 "Something's Wrong– Austin Roberts 14 "Keeper Of The Castle– Four Tops 18 Sweet Surrender– Bread 9 Can See Clearly Now– Johnny Nash 17 Crazy Horses– Osmonds 15 Living In The Past– Jethro Tull 13 Corner Of The Sky– Jackson Five 20 Walk On Water– Neil Diamond
*Songs showing significant sales increase
The Top LPs Dec. 21-27
Last Week PITTSBURGH Weeks On Chart 3 Godspell– Original Cast 7 4 Summer Breeze– Seals & Crofts 12 3 360 Degrees– Billy Paul 6 2 The World Is a Ghetto– War 4 15 Machine Head– Deep Purple 35 14 Homecoming– America 2 7 Superfly– Curtis Mayfield 15 8 Catch Bull At 4– Cat Stevens 10 9 Big Bambou– Cheech & Chong 7 12 Ziggy Stardust– David Bowie 2 8 Seventh Sojourn– Moody Blues 9 32 Space Oddity– David Bowie 11 18 Tommy– London Symphony 7 11 Rhymes & Reasons– Carole King 2 15 For The Roses– Joni Mitchell 7 17 Living In The Past– Jethro Tull 3 17 Close To The Edge– Yes 11 9 One Man Dog– James Taylor 7 15 Lady Sings The Blues– Diana Ross 2 13 Caravanserai– Santana 7
Last Week NATIONWIDE Weeks On Chart 7 Seventh Sojourn– Moody Blues 4 2 Rhymes & Reasons– Carole King 4 3 All Directions– Temptations 11 4 Catch Bull At 4– Cat Stevens 5 11 Living In The Past– Jethro Tull 5 10 Still In Love With You– Al Green 6 4 Summer Breeze– Seals & Crofts 7 8 Close To The Edge– Yes 9 19 One Man Dog– James Taylor 7 10 Caravanserai– Santana 10 11 Rocky Mt. High– John Denver 4 12 Superfly– Curtis Mayfield 9 13 Phoenix– Grand Funk Railroad 6 12 Ben– Michael Jackson 12 16 The World Is a Ghetto– War 9 16 Volume 4– Black Sabbath 10 17 Guitar Man– Bread 3 18 Crazy Horses– Osmonds 9 19 Live– Barbra Streisand 7 20 Homecoming– America 1
