Tommy (London Symphony Orchestra album)

Tommy
Studio album by London Symphony Orchestra, English Chamber Choir, The Who, Steve Winwood, Rod Stewart, Ringo Starr, Richie Havens, Merry Clayton
Released	October 1972
Genre	Classical
Label	Ode Records
Producer	Lou Reizner

Tommy is a 1972 album by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Measham, of arrangements by Wil Malone. The project was conceived by Lou Reizner, initially with Rod Stewart singing Roger Daltrey's main role. As Pete Townshend and Daltrey became more involved Stewart's role was reduced to singing "Pinball Wizard".^[1][2]

The studio version of the orchestral Tommy was issued in boxed-set LP format. It featured original artwork and photography, which used a pinball as its main motif, was designed by Tom Wilkes and Craig Braun and won the Best Album Package Grammy in 1974.^[3][4]

Tracklist

1. "Overture" The Chamber Choir, Pete Townshend, London Symphony Orchestra

2. "It's a Boy" The Chamber Choir, Sandy Denny

3. "1921" Graham Bell, Maggie Bell, The Chamber Choir, Roger Daltrey, Steve Winwood

4. "Amazing Journey" The Chamber Choir, Pete Townshend

5. "Sparks" The Chamber Choir

6. "Eyesight to the Blind" written Sonny Boy Williamson II, sung The Chamber Choir, Richie Havens

7. "Christmas" Pete Townshend, London Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Choir, Roger Daltrey, Steve Winwood

8. "Cousin Kevin" The Chamber Choir John Entwistle

9. "The Acid Queen" - sung The Chamber Choir, Merry Clayton

10. "Underture" The Chamber Choir

11. "Do You Think It's Alright?" Maggie Bell, Chamber Choir, Steve Winwood

12. "Fiddle About" Chamber Choir, Ringo Starr

13. "Pin Ball Wizard" Chamber Choir, Rod Stewart

14. "There's a Doctor I've Found" Chamber Choir, Steve Winwood

15. "Go To The Mirror Boy" narrated Richard Harris, Chamber Choir, Roger Daltrey, Steve Winwood, Wil Malone

16. "Tommy Can You Hear Me?" Maggie Bell, Chamber Choir

17. "Smash the Mirror" Maggie Bell, Chamber Choir

18. "I'm Free" Chamber Choir, Roger Daltrey

19. "Miracle Cure" Chamber Choir

20. "Sensation" Chamber Choir, Roger Daltrey

21. "Sally Simpson" Chamber Choir, Pete Townshend

22. "Welcome" Chamber Choir, Roger Daltrey

23. "Tommy's Holiday Camp" Chamber Choir, Ringo Starr

24. "We're Not Gonna Take It" Chamber Choir, Roger Daltrey

25. "See Me, Feel Me" (Finale from "We're Not Gonna Take It") Chamber Choir, Roger Daltrey

References

1. Mark Wilkerson Amazing Journey: The Life of Pete Townshend 1411677005 2006 - - Page 200 "In October, 1972, a version of Tommy featuring the 104-piece London Symphony Orchestra, along with a 60-voice choir ... ...featured vocal performances by Steve Winwood, Rod Stewart, Ringo Starr, Richie Havens, and all four members of The Who, ... performances: Roger's singing was arguably at its peak during this period, and Merry Clayton's take on Acid Queen is ... Reizner complied; Stewart's role was reduced to singing Pinball Wizard while Daltrey got the opportunity to take another shot at Tommy in the recording studio. “When The Who originally did it – as with most recordings – it was a little hurried "
2. Elizabeth L. Wollman The Theater Will Rock: A History of the Rock Musical 2006 0472115766 - Page 161 Despite a few accusations of pretentiousness in the press and among fans, Tommy was a big hit in both the UK and the ... sold so well that a second version — recorded by the Who with the London Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Choir, ...
3. Kristopher Spencer ilm and Television Scores, 1950-1979: A Critical Survey 2008 0786452285 Page 314 "... an all-star production on Ode Records with the London Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Choir, starring the Who's Roger Daltrey ... Packaged like a classical opera with a full libretto, the orchestral version of Tommy is overblown and lacks the raw energy of the original on MCA. Still, the extravagant production is suggestive of the piece's dramatic possibility, "
4. Mike Segretto The Who FAQ 21480392529 014 Lou Reizner organized two performances of the version of Tommy he recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra to benefit the organization.