Saturday, May 24th, 1969

New Musical Express carries a review of Tommy titled "Who's Sick Opera" calling it a "disappointment"

 

Transcript: (unverified)

WHO’S SICK OPERA

THE WHO: TOMMY (Track stereo 613 013/4; 75s ld)

I REALLY was looking forward to this “pop opera,” which has occupied Pete Townshend’s mind for so long. Really I was. But what a disappointment, even though I tip it for the NME LP charts.

Admittedly the idea is original, even though other groups seem to be jumping on the bandwagon now, but it doesn’t come off. Running for over an hour, it goes on and on and isn’t totally representative of the Who; maybe it’s time for a change in style, but if this is it, I long for a return to the old days.

Beautifully packaged in a tri-fold out sleeve, the double album also includes a twelve-page brochure containing the words of the songs and pictures to illustrate the numbers.

Pretentious is too strong a word; maybe over-ambitious is the right term but sick certainly does apply. One line goes: “Sickness will surely take the mind.” It does. RG.

Tracks: Overture, It’s A Boy, 1921, Amazing Journey, Sparks, The Hawker, Christmas, Cousin Kevin, The Acid Queen, Underture, Do You Think It’s Alright, Fiddle About, Pinball Wizard, There’s A Doctor, Go To The Mirror, Tommy Can You Hear Me, Smash The Mirror, Sensation, Miracle Cure, Sally Simpson, I’m Free, Welcome, Tommy’s Holiday Camp, We’re Not Gonna Take It.