The Who’s classic rock opera, Tommy, has been remastered and will be released in a variety of formats on November 12 via UMe.
Tommy was originally released on May 23, 1969 to mostly critical acclaim and was the first work called a “rock opera.” It peaked at number 4 on the U.S. charts and 2 in the U.K. and spawned three hit singles, Pinball Wizard (1969 / #19 U.S. / #4 U.K., I’m Free (1969 / #37 U.S.) and See Me, Feel Me (1970 / #12 U.S.). In the U.S. it is 2-times platinum (over two-million sold) and gold in the U.K.
The Limited Super Deluxe Edition includes three-CDs and one-audio Blu-Ray. The first disc contains the newly remastered version of the original album with a second disc of demos and alternate takes
The third disc is mostly from a live performance of the opera from the Capitol Theatre in Ottowa, Canada on October 15, 1969. Three of the songs, I’m Free, Tommy’s Holiday Camp and We’re Not Going to Take It were not on the original recordings as they were played while the tapes were being changed. Performances of those songs are from a later show. As discussed at length in Pete Townshend’s autobiography, the tapes were all supposed to be destroyed but were kept by longtime Who sound man Bob Pridden, despite Pete’s instructions.
The fourth disc in the set is an audio Blu-Ray disc with a 5.1 mix of the original album.
Also included in the box is an 80-page hardback book featuring rare-photos and memorabilia, a 20,000 word essay by legendary Who aficionado Richard Barnes and a rare facsimile Tommy poster.
The regular Deluxe Edition includes the original album and the live set while the single disc only contains the original album.
Track List:
Disc 1 The original album (2013 re-master)
- Overture
- It’s A Boy
- 1921
- Amazing Journey
- Sparks
- The Hawker (Eyesight To The Blind)
- 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
Disc 2 Demos & Extras
- Pete Townshend – original demos
- Overture
- It’s A Boy
- 1921
- Amazing Journey
- Dream One
- Sparks
- The Hawker
- Christmas
- The Acid Queen
- Underture (Dream Two)
- You Think It’s Alright?
- Pinball Wizard
- There’s A Doctor
- Go To The Mirror!
- Success
- Tommy Can You Hear Me?
- Smash The Mirror
- Sensation
- Miracle Cure
- Sally Simpson
- I’m Free
- Welcome
- We’re Not Gonna Take It
- The Who – studio demo/outtake
- Trying To Get Through
- The Who – studio recording
- Young Man Blues
Disc 3 Hi-Fidelity Pure Audio – Blu-ray disc (5.1 mixes)
- Overture
- It’s A Boy
- 1921
- Amazing Journey
- Sparks
- The Hawker (Eyesight To The Blind)
- 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
Disc 4 Live Bootleg
- Overture (including Introduction)
- It’s A Boy
- 1921
- Amazing Journey
- Sparks
- The Hawker (Eyesight To The Blind)
- Christmas
- The 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
- I’m Free
- Tommy’s Holiday Camp
- We’re Not Gonna Take It
- See Me, Feel Me / Listening To You
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