The deaf, dumb and blind boy is 40 years old this summer! And to commemorate this unforgettable event, Ode Records presents the London Symphony Orchestra joined by The Who and other distinguished guests performing this classic album.
Considered the first album to be recognized as a “Rock opera,” Tommy is celebrating its 40th with this all-star production featuring; Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, Rod Stewart, John Entwistle, Merry Clayton, Steve Winwood, Richie Havens, Richard Harris, Ringo Starr, Maggie Bell, Graham Bell and Sandy Denny.
Tommy was originally released in 1969 as the first concept album in the history of rock & roll and went straight to #2 in the UK charts. In 1972 entrepreneur Lou Reizner presented the concert version of Tommy backed up by The London Symphony Orchestra and Chambre Choir with guest appearances. The piece landed Pete Townshend’s support because he saw it as the realization of what he had visualized when he wrote the original piece, with multiple instruments in mind.
This release of Tommy was performed by a 100-piece orchestra and was one of the more elaborately conceived albums of its era. It became a gold record, selling in excess of 500,000 units. Tommy hits all digital stores next week, but is available one week early on iTunes, so grab it now!
Download and share “I’m Free” (feat. Roger Daltrey) from the London Symphony Orchestra’s Tommy
TOMMY Tracklist (all tracks performed by LSO):
01 Overture
02 It’s A Boy – feat. Sandy Denny
03 1921 – feat. Graham Bell, Steve Winwood, Maggie Bell, Roger Daltry
04 Amazing Journey – feat. Pete Townshend
05 Sparks
06 Eyesight to The Blind – feat. Richie Havens
07 Christmas – feat. Steve Winwood, Roger Daltry
08 Cousin Kevin – feat. John Entwhistle
09 The Acid Queen – feat. Merry Clayton
10 Underture
11 Do You Think It’s Alright? – feat. Maggie Bell, Steve Winwood
12 Fiddle About – feat. Ringo Starr
13 Pin Ball Wizard – feat. Rod Stewart
14 There’s A Doctor I’ve Found – feat. Steve Winwood
15 Go To The Mirror Boy – feat. Richard Harris, Roger Daltry, Steve Winwood
16 Tommy Can You Hear Me? – feat. Maggie Bell
17 Smash The Mirror – feat. Maggie Bell
18 I’m Free – feat. Roger Daltrey
19 Miracle Cure – feat. Chambre Choir
20 Sensation – feat. Roger Daltrey
21 Sally Simpson – feat. Pete Townshend
22 Welcome – feat. Roger Daltrey
23 Tommy’s Holiday Camp – feat. Ringo Starr
24 We’re Not Gonna Take It – feat. Roger Daltrey
25 See Me, Feel Me – feat. Roger Daltrey
For More Information:
from Spinner.com:
Green Day’s 2004 opus ‘American Idiot’ is headed to the stage as a musical. The ambitious concept album, which won two Grammys, always seemed like more than just a record. And when I interviewed Green Day in the studio for Rolling Stone during the making of ‘American Idiot,’ the band was thrilled with the idea of having it follow in the tradition of the Who’s ‘Tommy.’ “I’d love it,” Billie Joe Armstrong said. “The whole thing was written kind of from that point of view musically. I think this record probably has more in common with ‘Rocky Horror’ than it does with ‘London Calling.”
The stage version, which follows “working-class characters from the suburbs to the city to the Middle East, as they seek redemption in a world filled with frustration,” according to a release, will debut in the band’s hometown of Berkley, California September 4 and run through October 11.
The play, which will also feature songs from the band’s upcoming ’21st Century Breakdown,’ is being directed by Michael Mayer, who also helmed ‘Spring Awakening.’ According to Armstrong, it was the combination of Mayer and the Berkley Rep that led to the stage production. “We are really excited to be working with Michael Mayer on this project,” Armstrong said.”We’d been thinking of bringing ‘American Idiot’ to the stage, but knew we needed to find the right partners. After meeting with Michael to discuss the possibility, he invited us to see ‘Spring Awakening.’ We were so impressed with that production, as well as his vision for ‘American Idiot,’ that we knew we’d found the perfect collaborator.”
I have no idea what Awards show this is, but damn its funny to see Keith Moon of The Who prance around on stage and accept the award for The Beatles. Enjoy:
The long awaited The Who: At Kilburn: 1977 will be available on DVD & Blu-Ray from Image Entertainment on November 18th. The landmark performance is finally being released from the vault and showcases the band with all its original members in top form performing many of their biggest hits. See below for links to the trailer and a link to promo shots. I have copies of the DVD available for release and giveaway, please let me know if you’re interested in featuring The Who: At Kilburn on Watch Mojo.
Check out the Trailer:
One of the greatest rock bands of all time, The Who defined modern music for the past four decades. Now after years of anticipation, some of their most unforgettable moments can finally be experienced with THE WHO: AT KILBURN: 1977, releasing on a two-disc DVD and single-disc Blu-Ray set November 18 from Image Entertainment.
Newly mastered in high-definition with state-of-the-art sound for a spectacular home theater experience, the December 15, 1977 Kilburn show at the Gaumont State Theater in North London was recorded before a select audience for Jeff Stein’s hit film about The Who, The Kids Are Alright, but only a few brief selections of what would prove to be legendary drummer KEITH MOON’s public swan song were ever seen in the finished feature. Captured on 35mm with six cameras and a 16-track audio recorder, the complete Kilburn show features Moon and the rest of the band’s classic line-up — singer ROGER DALTREY, guitarist/singer PETE TOWNSEND, and bassist JOHN ENTWISTLE–in top form with many of their biggest hits.
Also included in this release is another never-before-seen show and one of the band’s favorites, their 1969 London Coliseum performance, which comes with a wealth of additional bonus tracks and boasts the first-ever full live recording of their groundbreaking rock opera, Tommy. With a total of 29 classic The Who songs, this pivotal release has long been at the top of rock fans’ wish lists and has been regarded as a lost “holy grail” for followers of The Who since Moon’s passing. This release will occur in conjunction with major, high-profile airings of the Kilburn show as a Fall 2007 pledge drive title with heavy promotion on PBS.
Currently on tour through November 2008, THE WHO have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the UK Music Hall of Fame and won the first annual Freddie Mercury Lifetime Achievement in Live Music Award and a GRAMMY® Foundation award for creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording. Their albums Tommy, My Generation and Who’s Next have been inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame. If this picture doesn’t make you want to watch the DVD then the tracklisting which follows will….Awesome:
Track Listing:
Disc One:
Kilburn Songs: ” I Can’t Explain,” “Substitute,” “Baba O’Reilly (Teenage Wasteland),” “My Wife/Going Mobile,” “Behind Blue Eyes,” “Dreaming from the Waist,” “Pinball Wizard,” “I’m Free,” “Tommy’s Holiday Camp,” “Summertime Blues,” “Shakin’ All Over,” “My Generation,” “Join Together,” “Who Are You?,” “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”
London Coliseum Songs: “Heaven and Hell,” ” I Can’t Explain,” “Fortune Teller,” “Tattoo,” “Young Man Blues,” “A Quick One While He’s Away,” “Happy Jack,” “I’m a Boy,” “I’m Free,” “Tommy’s Holiday Camp,” “See Me, Feel Me,” “Summertime Blues,” “Shakin’ All Over,” “My Generation.”
Disc Two:
70 minutes of rare Coliseum bonus tracks and extended versions including the first-ever live recording of the rock opera Tommy: “A Quick One While He’s Away,” “Overture,” “It’s a Boy, ” “1921,” “Amazing Journey,” “Christmas,” “Acid Queen,” “Pinball Wizard,” “Do You Think It’s Alright,” “Fiddle About,” “Tommy Can You Hear Me?,” “There’s a Doctor,” “Go to the Mirror,” “Smash the Mirror,” “Miracle Cure,” “Sally Simpson,” “Tommy’s Holiday Camp,” “I’m Free,” “We’re Not Gonna Take It.”
LEGENDARY ROCK BAND “THE WHO” PARTNERS WITH VOLKSWAGEN TO RAISE MONEY FOR TEENAGE CANCER TRUST CHARITY
Volkswagen Provides Iconic VW Bus For Fundraising Contest
HERNDON, VA — Volkswagen is giving consumers the opportunity to get their hands on legendary rock band The Who’s Magic Bus—a unique Volkswagen Microbus T1 Panel Van from 1965, signed by Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend and specially branded with iconic images of the band and their famous target logo. The competition, in aid of Daltrey’s charity Teenage Cancer Trust, closes on July 8, 2008.
Roger Daltrey, who will perform with The Who at the Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on July 12th said, “As a long standing Patron of Teenage Cancer Trust, I am delighted to support this unique competition. Make sure you visit the website before July 8th to enter; you’ll be helping us raise essential funds so we can build more specialized teenage cancer units within the NHS.”
Participants can enter this contest by visiting: www.thewhomagicbus.com. Each entry costs $9.86 USD, with all net proceeds going to Teenage Cancer Trust. All entrants will receive a free download of a previously unreleased live performance of The Who’s famous hit, “Magic Bus.”
The iconic Volkswagen Bus, provided by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, has been specially designed by The Who’s art director Richard Evans, who has been working with the band for more than 30 years and has created several memorable album covers as well as tour designs.
“Our thanks go to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles for providing this vehicle and to The Who for supporting the competition,” said Simon Davies, Chief Executive of Teenage Cancer Trust. “Let’s hope this really will turn out to be a ‘Magic Bus’, and help make a difference to the many thousands of teenagers and young people diagnosed with cancer every year.”
Inspiration for the competition stems from the collaboration between Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and The Who, which culminated in a special live performance from the band at the 60 Year Celebration of the Volkswagen Bus in Hannover, Germany, in October 2007.
About Teenage Cancer Trust
Each day in the UK, 6 teenagers will find out they have cancer - that is around 2,000 new diagnoses every year. These young people often get a raw deal, receiving hospital treatment in inappropriate facilities catering for children or the elderly. Teenage Cancer Trust is a UK Charity, founded in 1990, that focuses on the needs of teenagers and young adults with cancer by providing specialist teenage units in NHS hospitals. As well as state-of-the-art facilities to keep patients occupied during long stays in hospital, the units provide an environment where teenagers can meet others in a similar situation. Units allow patients to build friendships and mechanisms to cope with their disease without being patronised or ignored and are staffed with professionals able to fully understand and manage the needs of the patients.
To date, TCT has built units in London, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Liverpool, Glasgow and Newcastle and would like at least 22 units to ensure every teenager with cancer has access. In addition to building units, TCT funds a nationwide Education team, teaching young people in schools, colleges and universities about cancer, prevention and healthy living. They also provide a conference for young people with cancer and training for medical professionals.
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Here’s the Who at its finest:
PLAY
