TOMMY

[Pete si]

As COVID restrictions start to relax a little here in New York City it’s still not business as usual. So I have decided in order to maintain what’s left of my sanity I am going to undertake something I have tried to do many times throughout the years-learn the entire rock opera Tommy.

Each time I tried to do this, for one reason or another, I got frustrated and dropped it. Now I have all this time on my hands and no reasonable excuse to fail. I’ve printed out all the charts from WhoTabs, slapped a new set of Roto’s on my epic and I will be spending a couple hours a day working on this.

I’m using the Live At Leeds version. If I get 50% down I will consider it a success. Of course, there’s no way I would even think about getting it down note for note. John was a monster and these 70+ y/o hands in no way could ever match probably some of his best work.

So down I go to my little corner of the world to attempt one more time what I have been unable to achieve in the past. Thanking you all in advance for your support. (See below)

[BeenDown139]

back when i was a cub, tommy was one of the first things i learned to play on bass once i got my hands working together and was able to make them play what my ears were hearing.

an outstanding piece of music that stands the test of time. good luck.
the live at leeds version is my favorite - straight-up 3-piece arrangement, raw unbridled energy.  and loud as... heck!

[David Houck]

Have fun!

[StephenR]

Sounds like a great project. Good luck with it!

Must admit that despite the huge influence The Who had on my early musical development back in the 60s I have never bothered to learn any of John's bass lines. Occasionally I take a stab at playing along with some of the Tommy material but never spent time getting it right. One of my favorite Tommy sections live was when they went into "Sparks" after "Amazing Journey". I saw the band a number of times at the Fillmore East in 1969 and when they went into Sparks John would turn his bass up to deafening levels (well even more deafening than it already was), one of the easiest bass passages to play but the sheer volume was physically devastating... Tommy was such a great piece of live music it is a shame it took them so many years to release a live version.

[lbpesq]

I loved Live at Leeds.  Until this thread, (and a little poking around the net), I never knew they later released the deluxe version with Tommy added!  I’ll have to check it out.

Bill, tgo

[Pete si]

Sounds like a great project. Good luck with it!

Must admit that despite the huge influence The Who had on my early musical development back in the 60s I have never bothered to learn any of John's bass lines. Occasionally I take a stab at playing along with some of the Tommy material but never spent time getting it right. One of my favorite Tommy sections live was when they went into "Sparks" after "Amazing Journey". I saw the band a number of times at the Fillmore East in 1969 and when they went into Sparks John would turn his bass up to deafening levels (well even more deafening than it already was), one of the easiest bass passages to play but the sheer volume was physically devastating... Tommy was such a great piece of live music it is a shame it took them so many years to release a live version.

we must’ve crossed paths many times at that old movie theater!

[Pete si]

I loved Live at Leeds.  Until this thread, (and a little poking around the net), I never knew they later released the deluxe version with Tommy added!  I’ll have to check it out.

Bill, tgo

get the 40th anniversary edition. It’s the best engineered of the 3 out there.

[StephenR]

get the 40th anniversary edition. It’s the best engineered of the 3 out there.

I was unaware of this edition but have the earlier expanded editions. 40th Anniversary version includes the Hull show which I have as a standalone release, so I guess if you are going to get one expanded edition the 40th makes the most sense. One of the things that bugs me about all the expanded Live at Leeds releases is the tracking order. Live they would open with Heaven and Hell then a bunch of other songs before performing Tommy then end the show with Summertime Blues, Shakin' All Over, Magic Bus and My Generation. The released versions understandably lump all the Tommy material together so it is cohesive on the discs but don't give an accurate picture of the flow of the sets.

Hey Pete were you lucky enough to see the Fillmore shows with The Who and Chuck Berry? Got shut out of those and was severely disappointed.

[lbpesq]

The 40th Anniversary edition appears to be about $300 when you can find it!  Suggestions for second choice?

Bill, tgo

[BeenDown139]

Suggestions for second choice?

at the risk of possibly saying something offensive - youtube music subscription?

[StephenR]

If you don't mind getting the 40th anniversary set as a download it is available through iTunes for $29.99... not sure of the availability of the other reissues. I hate limited edition releases for just this reason.

[Pete si]

get the 40th anniversary edition. It’s the best engineered of the 3 out there.

I was unaware of this edition but have the earlier expanded editions. 40th Anniversary version includes the Hull show which I have as a standalone release, so I guess if you are going to get one expanded edition the 40th makes the most sense. One of the things that bugs me about all the expanded Live at Leeds releases is the tracking order. Live they would open with Heaven and Hell then a bunch of other songs before performing Tommy then end the show with Summertime Blues, Shakin' All Over, Magic Bus and My Generation. The released versions understandably lump all the Tommy material together so it is cohesive on the discs but don't give an accurate picture of the flow of the sets.

Hey Pete were you lucky enough to see the Fillmore shows with The Who and Chuck Berry? Got shut out of those and was severely disappointed.

Yes yes yes! I was at that show and I have the color slides I took to prove it. A week before that show chuck berry was at some club in New Jersey and I somehow ended up playing bass for him. I was terrible.
The Hull show was really bad. Keith was so wasted. You can hear how bad he was.

[Pete si]

The 40th Anniversary edition appears to be about $300 when you can find it!  Suggestions for second choice?

Bill, tgo

I have a subscription to Apple play. All three versions are available there. For $9.99 a month there’s an awful lot of music there.

[lbpesq]

Call me a Luddite, but I just can’t bring myself to buy mp3 music.   I have to have something that I can hold in my hands and doesn’t sound like the life has been sucked out of the music.

Now get off my lawn!

Bill, tgo

[DaveD]

I've played Sparks, Amazing Journey, Go To The Mirror Boy, Pinball Wizard and a few others from Tommy in a previous band. Playing those tunes with my Exploiter was religious and the crowds loved hearing those deep cuts. Good luck with the project. Happy to help if needed.