Why am I watching this? Because you are about the same age (maybe a bit older) as I was when I first heard this in 1969. It is hard for me to feel the same awe I felt back then since I've been listening to this for 51 years. When I see your reaction, I get that back.
Exactly. It sounds like I'm about 5 years younger than you - but you said it, that is why I watch Daniel's reaction videos - they bring the music of my youth back to life!
To answer your question, child abuse was not openly discussed at the time this was written. It was considered a family's "dirty little secret" that no-one must find out about. And since it was still a time when corporeal punishments like spankings were still an accepted form of discipline for children, the line for where "discipline" ended and abuse started was fuzzy at best. It was very brave of The Who to shine a spotlight on this issue. It helped start conversations that eventually brought the subject into the light and helped change how children are treated. Your videos are the length they need to be...there's a lot going on in this classic! Keep doing what you do.
Well stated, Peggy. Child abuse was brought back into the spotlight again in the mid 80s with Suzanne Vega's song "Luka" which caused quite a stir when it was released.
Pete Townsend asked John Entwistle to write the song Uncle Ernie as it was too close to home for Pete. It was revolutionary for its day to deal with this topic.
@@MrUndersolo Me too, the shame is real. I was born in 1980 and it still wasn't talked about until the early `90's. I'm slowly trying to find my voice and speak up about the wrongs I suffered as a child through no fault of my own.
Since that sidebar mentioned Quadrophenia, I will take the opportunity to say you MUST do that album next! It is The Who’s masterpiece, their crowning achievement. As sparse and economic as the sound on Tommy is, Quadrophenia is its polar opposite- a towering mountain of orchestration and musical innovation. And as Tommy is quirky, childlike, abstract, and fantastical, Quadrophenia is mature, relatable, and universal in its subjects and appeal. It’s a rock opera as well, but 5 years after Tommy they were light years beyond in their power, scope and mastery. It is simply majestic. Do it! You will NOT be disappointed!🎸💥
I think a contributing factor that amplifies what you said is that Tommy is a total fantasy even if some of the events have a basis in Townshend's life such as what has been said about his being abused as a child. On the other hand, Quadrophenia, with the mods, the rockers, the GS scooters, the pills, and the fighting, was based on real life groups of people, events, and fashions of the time.
IMHO, I think the film changing the family from Tommy's to Frank's (Tommy's mom's lover) makes the perversion seem more credible. Ernie is Frank's brother, Kevin, Frank's nephew, etc. Tommy's dad was a war hero, and it doesn't seem likely he would be a murderer, let alone have family members like that.
@@OldGamer61 Excellent observation. Tommy's mother still cares about him and apparently has a deep seated guilt as indicated in the desperation in 'her' voice singing "Tommy, can you hear me?", but also frustration and anger before she smashes the mirror which breaks Tommy's self-imposed mental block from 1921. Tangent: I always thought that it was interesting that in the movie "Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome"* the heroic pilot that tried to save the children before running out of fuel, crash landing in a desert canyon (with a vital source of water), and then leaving in their care to the older children (who do "The Tell") to try to find help was named Captain Walker. Coincidence? I think not. *Also that Tina Turner portrayed The Acid Queen and Auntie Entity, ruler of Barter Town in both movies. =//=OldDudesStillRock
The fact the Tommy was able to be a champion pinball player while being deaf dumb and blind, is a precursor to his rise to becoming a messiah like leader (messianic)..as he is able to control his surroundings of the game, almost like a Jedi controlling :The Force" ,,if that makes sense... and he doesn't break the mirror.... his mother broke the mirror, cuz she is pissed he see's himself...but not her...
Pete Townsend asked John Entwistle to write Cousin Kevin and Fiddle About as he found it too emotional with experiences he had once had . He knew the songs had to be on the album but could not write them himself. No no one else broached this subject and the Who were slated for it at the time in certain quarters. Yes very brave to bring this subject out into open . The shock on your face was palpable!! Full marks again for your analysis .
The LP The Who Sell Out is another concept LP (listening to the radio for an afternoon) and has many themes about the 5 senses that developed into Tommy. The last song on the LP, Rael, tells the story of his Dad going off to war. The Who released the song The Seeker just after Tommy and many believe it was left off Tommy, and would fit in after the mirror is shattered.
I think, and this is just me, the idea behind Pinball Wizard is that pinball machines were designed for you to lose and keep putting quarters in. Tommy is facing a life designed to beat him but beats it anyway, at its own game.
You're devouring Tommy! (Of course it's going to be a longer video; you're experiencing an incredible concept album/rock opera in full. So cool.) Can't wait til you get to Quadrophenia!! Tommy is awesome but in my humble opinion it's almost like this one is for the critics/other bands and Quadrophenia is for the fans first. "See Me, Feel Me/Listening To You" from Tommy is like Pete talking to God and "Love Reign O'er Me" from Quadrophenia is like God talking back. Rock on, Daniel. Just awesome.
"Tommy" has several highlights, but the overall album is hard for me to sit through. "Quadrophenia" is much much better. Townshend and Ray Davies remain the greatest rock lyricists in the UK.
@@mikephalen3162 I agree, parts of Tommy are hard for me to hear. I've only been able to listen to the whole album twice in my life. Listening with Daniel has been the first time in about 2 decades. I'm 58 now. The subject, in certain parts, is just too rough. ♡
I saw The Who perform Tommy in front of an audience of 2,600 at the Fillmore East in October, 1969. A ticket in 26th row cost $5. I still remember the back and forth between Daltry and Townsend when Townsend asks "How do you think he does it?"
No, child molestation was NEVER talked about back then. I was probably 5, circa 1962, my dad was stationed at Ft. Meade. We were staying with my grandmother in Baltimore city. I left a playmate's house and went down the alley to my grandmother's house. I wanted to play again and I wasn't allowed down there. I didn't find out until the 1980s that the child had been found (went missing an hour after I got home) molested, dead and nailed to a living room wall. When I was 15, someone made a pass at me and I shoved them off, family member. Told my mother and she blew me off. At 17, I started dating a Marine who had spent some time in Vietnam. Told him the story. When he found out I had the encounter with the family member, he went with me to my parent's (I moved out at 15 years old, we were on speaking terms by the time I was 17). He went down and cornered the guy (small guy, the Marine was over 6 foot tall) in a bedroom and picked him up and shoved him against the wall while I was in the bathroom. When I came out, I remember the hearing the Marine tell him "She and her mother may not know what you are, but I do. Never let me catch you again near them" (I had four sisters). I still did not make the connection. Later it came out he raped one of my sisters and molested the two youngest. My mother KNEW what he was, he had been arrested for molesting a child, completely random, on a playground. He was sentenced to see a shrink (early 70s). He moved to Georgia. At the time, they would only put you in jail if you were caught in the act 3 times. The stuff with the younger sisters happened and it all didn't come out until we started having children in the 80s and we wouldn't send our kids over to the relative's house. Bit long, and there is much more to the story. Still, my mother KNEW and was too ashamed to do anything about it. You just DID NOT talk about it.
@@TheScavenger71 Yeah, it did. I know by the 1980's myself and my three younger sisters were hell on wheels about the relative. When the 'pass' happened to me, I was pretty vocal to the guy about it. I was so naïve I thought it was just a pass. My mother told me I was imagining things. What hurt was finding out later he had been arrested and sent to counseling. I did not connect his pass at me with him molesting my younger sisters. One was only 5. Had no clue that stuff went on. The whole thing blew up and I moved out at a younger age. I'm not sure how I worked, paid rent and went to high school and finished it all up. But I did. At 18, I joined the Army. The Marine picked up on it right away. I'll never forget that guy being held up in the air against that wall. It was the last time I saw the relative. He tried to make connections a few years back. Would call me at 2 am pretty drunk. About six months after that started he went to a weekend getaway with some buddies and overdosed, dead as a doornail. I still have mixed feelings about the guy. I want to take him out myself at times and at other times I try and try forgiveness. I'm 64. It never stops. Rollercoaster.
@@TheScavenger71 There's nothing to say. Compared to my younger sisters, what happened with me was nothing. As an older sibling, I've always thought "I should have done something". Fact is, I wasn't around, I moved and joined up. I knew he was a jerk, but did not make the connections. Believe your kids. That's the best advice ever.
Your videos are definitely not too long, especially when you are doing an entire side of an album, and you take the time to explore the songs with us. So many reactors out there just listen, ooh and aah a bit, say thank you and move along. It's nice to know they (hopefully mean it when they say) like your song, but you take the time to give us real reactions. And you are right, Fiddle About was definitely not the type of things that people would write about in their songs for many more years after. I'm really enjoying you enjoying this, and look forward to side 4!
That's what separates Daniel from all the others, except for Wings Of Pegasus. But Fil is a professional, older musician who puts out far less content. Daniel expands his journey almost every day, often several times a day, hours on end. His Legion notices and is loyal and appreciative.
Pinball Wizard was a single in 1969. Went Top 20 in the USA. Was A Top Ten hit here in Canada reaching #3.🎼🎶🇨🇦 I'm Free and See Me Feel Me. were also released as a singles. 3 great choices for singles off a Phenomenally successful incredible album. 🇨🇦🎼🎶
You MUST do THE WHO SELL OUT before WHO’S NEXT. THE WHO SELL OUT.........that’s entertainment, and also contains the seeds of a few Tommy musical motifs.
Loving your reaction to this. I remember as a teen in the 70s going to the cinema to see the film version, I came out having been totally blown away but lots of people were just not getting it, overheard one guy saying,"that was rubbish, there was no talking in it"... Err, obviously, it's a Rock 'OPERA'.! I loved it then and still do 😊
Hi from England I discovered your channel a couple of weeks ago and have enjoyed seeing your reactions to some the artists from the 60’s and 70’s I grew up listening to. It’s been great to have my opinions of artists like the Doors, the Byrds, Steely Dan, Don McLean, CCR, Gordon Lightfoot “validated” by your reactions. But now something unexpected is happening. You’re making me evaluate or re-evaluate stuff that my younger self either “didn’t like” or wasn’t really aware of and it’s a real voyage of discovery. I was 13 when Tommy came out and although I knew Pinball Wizard and various other snippets, and subsequently saw the film, I have never heard the original album in its entirety. Thanks for re-introducing me to some classic music. I look forward, with your help, to discovering and appreciating more music from my youth and hopefully some from yours too.
The Tommy movie is totally cheesy, I love it, but totally get how some would hate it. It's worth it just for Oliver Reed's 'singing' 😂 Incidentally Keith Moon and Oliver Reed became great friends and drinking buddies. When Keith heard that Oliver Reed had been cast in the movie Keith decided to pay him a visit at his house, by helicopter. When the chopper came to land on his lawn, Reed apparently ran out with a shotgun thinking he was about to be robbed😂
Hi Daniel, another nice reaction to the rock opera. I recommend you watch Elton's Pinball Wizard in the movie version by Tommy. It is sung much more powerfully and the singer is completely costumed. Can be found on youtube. ummer Keith Moon was a pretty crazy guy anyway and the role of Uncle Ernie suited him perfectly.
"Tommy" is about a guy who is traumatized in so many ways that he retreats inside himself so deeply that he is almost comatose except for his crazy ability to play pinball. He is such a miracle that he becomes a cult leader. This is what they mean by "his disciples lead him in and he just does the rest". Inside he is fighting to get out.
You also need to hear the song" I'm a boy." It's about a boy that his mother wanted a girl and she dressed him as a girl and all you wanted to do was be a boy and do what boys do like get dirty. Pete Townshend was ahead of his time in a lot of ways.
Another of those risque themes was in 'Pictures of Lily' - a perfect, catchy little mid-sixties pop 'story'-song that I loved in my early teens when it came out, but of course back then I had no idea the pictures in question were naughty ones, that 'helped [him] sleep at night'! :-)
Can never get enough of how you see for the first time music which I have experienced since the beginning. When we were listening to them time was not such a hang up.
Thanks Daniel! I’ve owned this record since it came out and now just understand the real story! Played thousands of games of pinball like everyone in the mid to late 60’s until foosball became popular! We usually hit all the bowling alleys and pool halls!
"Always gets a replay" is likely meaningless to many younger listeners. In the old days when pinball was pretty much the only gaming entertainment device and everyone wanted to play, you'd put your quarter on the table to call "next." Sometimes there'd be several quarters lined up, waiting their turn to play. Many machines would also have a feature where, after you've played your balls, a "match" number would come up, and if the last two digits of your score matched you'd get a free replay, and all the people waiting their turn would just have to wait a bit longer.
At least in the US and Canada match and other free play mechanics were deemed illegal as a form of gambling from the mid 40s into the 1970s. Free balls and by the late 60s into the 70s free play mechanics were tied to a total score achieved or special target enabled and hit making them a game of skill thus not gambling, this is the time period of Tommy, always achieving a replay would be supreme skill. The match feature began to appear in the mid or late 70s when the gambling laws had moved on, about 5-10 years after Tommy was released.
@@Diomedene Yes, I remember early '70s strangeness with pinball and gambling, but not sure if it applied to the UK. I also seem to remember actual pinball machines that were kinda like horizontal pachinko machines, in that there were no flippers, you just shot the ball and it when where it went, but I think you got a pay-out from it. I never played that version, as you had to be 18, so I'm not really sure if it was actually legal or not.
@@submandave1125 Yep, flippers weren't used in pinball machines until 1947, they were a mostly successful attempt to add an element of skill again due the gambling issue. I'm also not sure about the UK but virtually all machines were made by either Bally (mentioned in the song) or Gottlieb (both machines in the movie are Gottliebs) who made their machines for the American market.
A bonus legal anecdote: I recently watched a documentary about the 1976 case that made pinball legal in New York City. At one point in the trial the proceedings were moved to a local pinball machine where a champion player racked up replay after replay. The lawyer then pointed out to opposing counsel that if pinball is indeed a game of chance he should be able to perform similarly.
Also on the legal side, I had to verify my memory was real, and found that bingo-style pinball machines (no-flipper ones) were declared legal by SCOTUS in '74 and enjoyed a degree of popularity in Tennessee until the state legislature explicitly outlawed them in '82.
"I thought I was the Baily Table King But I just handed my crown to him…") Baily refers to the manufacture of pinball machines, later known as a contender of the slot machines as in the "Baily" hotel in Vegas.
@@1nelsondj‘Pinball Wizard’ - 4 player Bally machine Originally issued to go with the release of The Who's single 'Pinball Wizard' off the album 'Tommy.' One of the first four player machines around! Later they produced one with Elton John theme.
Thanks for tackling this album's meaning. The music is great. The story isn't fully told in the lyrics. Also, some of the songs seem to be out of order in the timeline of the story, which adds to confusion. I think Tommy feels he is enlightened by his experiences, but it's so self centered. He focuses on himself in mirrors. When his mom shatters the mirror, it breaks him free. Now he wants others to be enlightened, but only in his way of understanding enlightenment. You'll see that as the story continues.
The concept of a Rock Opera, and Tommy in particular was panned at the time by some critics as pretentious. But I think it was ambitious and way ahead of its time. Watching part of this live, like if you do a search for The Who's "Live at the Isle of Wight" from 1970 is totally awesome!
Really enjoy your reactions and so happy that you're doing this album. You'd love Pinball Wizard from the Tommy movie - a reaction to that video would be amazing. Keep up the good work and God bless.
Mesmerizing. Intriguing. Fascinating. Engaging. Hypnotic. Spell binding. Messianic stories make for some of the best hero’s (amazing) journeys, in the Joseph Campbell tradition. There is a powerful gesture of forgiveness which is beautiful and bittersweet which often goes unnoticed until subsequent interactions with this profoundly brilliant story of the power of the human spirit to transcend life’s slings, arrows, crises of consciousness USING the power of music and lyrics to tell it!
Also a good movie trivia question, along with "In what movie did Elvis Presley and Mary Tyler co-star as rock & roll doctor and a nun?: Change of Habit (1969)
From Wikipedia: Townshend accepted a caution from the Metropolitan Police (the Met) as part of their Operation Ore, a major investigation on child pornography conducted in 2002-2003. The Met stated that "it was established that Mr Townshend was not in possession of any downloaded child abuse images". Townshend was placed on the sex offenders register for five years in 2003 after admitting he had used his credit card to access a child pornography website.[144][145] Townshend initially claimed that he accessed the images as research in a campaign against child sexual abuse;
Gilbert and Sullivan seemingly influences parts of this very British light opera; but with a dark theme~ And you are doing an epic job of Reacting. The Who should be proud of you, Dethstrok 9.
"Go to the Mirror" is SUCH a turning point musically and emotionally, it still makes me sit up and adrenaline surges (even after seeing The Who in the 70s and again just a few years ago). I enjoyed watching your take, Daniel.
Thanks so much for taking me through this. Even though I've seen The Who live, and have seen the movie Tommy (directed by the brilliant Ken Russell), I've never listen to the original Tommy album all the way through. This is my first time, thanks again. I saw The Who in concert December 2, 1975, in Des Moines, Iowa. I was front and center, and it was an awesome show, they are one of the more spectacular live bands. This was when Keith Moon was still alive. I feel very lucky to have seen them up close, in a huge auditorium.
I saw The Who twice and was lucky enough to see Keith Moon about a year before he died. The second concert had Kenny Jones as the drummer so I bought a Keith Moon tribute tee shirt at the concert. I have "outgrown" the shirt but it still hangs in the closet.
Thanks for such a thoughtful, in-depth analysis, Daniel. I would strongly advocate doing Who's Next (and potentially doing it before Quadrophenia since that is the order in which they were recorded). Though there were ambitions for another concept album with Who's Next, that was ultimately abandoned. However, Who's Next has their most famous songs and is often cited in various publications (e.g., Rolling Stone) and the Grammy Hall of Fame as one of the greatest albums of all-time.
We love pinball at our home. I'm blessed to have wonderful in laws. One of my father in laws hobbies is repairing and restoring pinball machines. We are lucky enough to have received a more advanced multi ball (up to 3 at a time) Dungeons and Dragons machine from them for Christmas more than a decade ago. Definately wish you and everyone else could go down to their basement and play some good oldfasion pinball as the 4 of us can... truly a nice way to unwind
I was going to suggest the same. You'll recognize all the musical themes used throughout the opera. An overture summarizes and prepares you for what is to come.
I love seeing your reactions, indeed, positive reactions to this legendary album (by my all time favourite band). You get it, which is awesome, and seeing how much you're enjoying it is wonderful.
Pinball Wizard was probably one of my first exposures to The Who when I was a pre-teen. Neil Peart (Rush) has said he was a huge fan of The Who and you can see the inspiration not only in the drumming of Keith Moon but in the conceptual lyrics, although Peart's subject matter was more science fiction, dystopian themes, or mythology.
@@Yesquire0 Not just Rand, which inspired 2112 and Anthem, but also mythology in Cygnus X-1, The Necromancer, and By-Tor and The Snowdog. And you can throw in some Tolkien influence in there too. Neil said his lyrics reflected what he was reading at the time and he had an affinity with the classics, one of his favorites being Jack London. "Red Barchetta" put a dystopian spin on a short story A Nice Sunday Drive(can't recall the author, but he's credited in the Moving Pictures liner notes).
@@kennethtilton6137 I just couldn't resist snarkily tying Rand's work to science ficton, dystopian themes, and mythology. I wasn't trying to describe Rush's lyrical output.
You've mentioned the bass several times through these reactions; John Entwistle was an amazing bass player! You should listen closely to the bass in all of The Who's music.
In college i played alot of pinball and was VERY good at it. Fear not - Tommy has a positive ending. Now, when you do " Quadrophenia " be prepared for a masterpiece. I consider it the Who's greatest achievement.
I will add a musical (instrumental) reaction and analysis. I have seen the movie. It's sometimes difficult to follow. This time, listing to it with you, I am minimizing your screen and only listening, something I have never done. Starting with the overture, knowing a lot of about the songs, I was hearing some of them referenced in the overture as they should be. But at the very very beginning of the overture, I was taking in the chord progressions and recognizing they were very similar two some of the songs. I am not professionally trained in music but I was trained mostly in high school by professionals. About the time was your age, I already had a few piano lessons and had been playing trombone in concert and marching bands, orchestra and jazz ensemble, plus got to be part of "All County" and "All State" bands as well. I'm one of those "perfect pitch" types where I can hear a song and know what key it's in plus if I want to, could go to the piano and play either progression of cords, the main melody or the bass line. I got to conduct concert band once, and almost got to conduct a field marching band (football halftime show) and just do a bunch more musical stuff in my life. Taught myself tuba and trumpet and played taps at some military burials. I wrote all that just to say, that during the overture on side one, and most of side three, I found myself, not just tapping the beat, but was with one finger, then my whole arm imagining an orchestra in front of me that I was conducting. This album is that good. The two main songs on side 3 Pinball Wizard and See Me, Feel Me have such incredible chord progressions that no average off-the-street musician would be able to pull off. Thank you for being out wherever you are, doing this and giving me a chance to experience this album a little differently. Looking forward to side four.
Hi Daniel, I agree with you that there is something wrong getting so much into "Fiddle About", but as perverted as it is, it is so catchy... There is some wicked quality to this songwriting. I think this is one of bassist John Entwistle's ones. He apparently had a morbid sense of humour and wrote some eccentric songs for the band. And going through this album with you is certainly interes...erm, intriguing :-)
Elton John backed up by The Who singing Pinball Wizard os probably the second most memorable moment in the movie. And The Who trashing their instruments at the end, in true Who stylie, is just pure class.
I give The Who credit for having the balls to present the idea of a "rock opera" or "concept album". All of the music of The Who is well worth listening to, but, in general, they got better as their skills as musicians and songwriters increased over the years. Tommy shows them on the cusp of greatness, but the need to tell the story of Tommy produced a lot of throwaway songs to match the content of the story. Pinball Wizard might be their best song, ever.
Right- though the who were firmly in the greatness category by tommy. Actually, many of the great classic rock bands were reaching heights at this time- raising each other. We've never seen anything like this since, methinks.
I must have heard this Rock Opera thousands of times, not including live performances, but to listen along with someone's first time is a whole new joy in itself. The see me, feel me part in Go to the Mirror is sung by Pete.
The Who were my FIRST concert I attended by myself. Hitched 400 miles (round trip) to see them. Powerful stuff. Biggest snowfall on record on the return trip. 1971. I was eighteen years old.
For me , they’re never too long . People can always f/fwd, although I don’t know why they would, seeing that’s what your channel is all about - you , discussing the music and trying to work out what it means to YOU. I sometimes think some lose site of that. I’m here for #2 reasons: revisiting songs of my youth thru different eyes of , my then same age , me .A concept that in itself is mind blowing; that of watching my younger me , 17 in ‘69, but of the opposite sex, and a Believer , reacting to music of my time! )..... And the other reason I’m here is to watch the ‘Evolution of Daniel’, for me the most interesting of all, coming from an educators background . It’s like watching someone being fast tracked thru life. I hope our ‘of the times’ music doesn’t skew you off course too far.There’s only one thing left to say here ,and that is , Thankyou Daniel for taking me with you on this multi faceted journey of yours, and allowing me to discover things I missed.🥰
Although I LOVE Quadrophenia, I think I will agree with you here. While Quad is Pete looking back upon the band's early years, Tommy is straight from his creative mind. I love them equally, for different reasons. Does that contradict my first sentence? I am a man of contradictions. :)
You must watch the movie. Yes, it suffers from the silly excesses of the drug-fueled 1970s, but the silliness actually serves the story. The guest stars who sing many songs are awe inspiring in their roles. Tina Turner (and her amazing legs!) as the Acid Queen... Eric Clapton as the Preacher... JACK FRIGGIN NICHOLSON as the flirtatious Doctor! And Elton John as the Pinball Wizard -- O My G-d!!
Pinball was to the 60's and 70's what gaming systems are today so it's not as random as it seems. I'd assume it's the record company suits wanting to connect to the what the kids were doing, which in hindsight they were right about since it is still the most recognized song from the album.
I'm glad you played pinball wizard. It was a top 40 hit, and you can hear why, but I'm glad because in the "Context" of Tommy it makes sense. Stand Alone and some of the Lyrics can give you trouble.
Your videos should be as long as they need to be - some of us enjoy your analysis, it’s a USP for your channel, as long as what you are talking about is interesting who cares how long they are.
Their ambition was greater than their reach, but that actually makes it better. The physical limitations of a 'pop' group (hah!) trying to express those age-old intimations of a transcendental, spiritual world make the longing even more powerful.
Both Cousin Kevin and Fiddle About were written by bass player John Entwistle. John had a number of solo albums which at first hard a dark aura to them. His first solo album "Smash Your Head Against The Wall" (1970?) had some reflections about dying with a slow version of "Heaven and Hell" ("Why can't we have eternal life and never die?) "Ted End," (He's much better off where he is now. Rest in peace Teddy) and a song that was supposed to be the devil singing called "You're Mine." (Who'd drown a cat? Who'd do a thing like that? if you would, you're mine) There was a song about drinking too much (Everything is spinning round, got to get up off the ground) so I am sure you get the idea. His second album "Whistle Rhymes" (1972) was a little less dark although some would argue it was just as dark but in a different way. He didn't write as much about staying alive but had songs like "I Wonder" (I wonder what would happen if the moon fell down would it leave a white circle where they painted around?), "I Found Out" which is about a guy who finds he has been betrayed at every turn, "Apron Strings" about anger at dead parents with a great guitar solo by Peter Frampton, (If I said I'm sorry that you're gone I'd be lying. I feel more sorry for myself, I'm crying) "I Feel Better," (When I'm feeling blue, I stick a pin in the picture of you beside my bed and I feel better) and ending with a song called "Nightmare." After Whistle Rhymes he gradually moved away from the darker side but still kept his cynical sense of humor. (Peg leg Peggy, she really knows how to hop) When I saw him live with his band Ox in 1974 someone shouted out they wanted to hear a song from one of his early albums and he said "We don't play that any more." Entwistle continued to be a first rate song writer but the dark stuff that he wrote gave us a glimpse into a side of humanity that is rarely written about. He talked about the devil without being Satanic like you will hear with certain bands and sometimes he made you feel sorry for the subjects of his songs such as "I Found Out." In my view, "Smash Your Head Against The Wall" and "Whistle Rhymes" are two albums that you could react to in their entirety because even though they don't tell a story like Tommy or Quadrophenia each album has a definitive thread that runs through them. (Welcome to the late 60s and early 70s my friend)
When they where filming the pinball wizard segment for the film version of Tommy they accidentally step fire to Southsea Pier. Later before they did some concerts for the teenage cancer trust they did 2 warm up gigs in the guildhall. Roger Daltry said sorry for the pier and we witness Pete Townshend smash up his guitar on stage and sadly it one of the last gigs that John Entwistle played before his death
I think the character of "Tommy", rising up to become a cult leader, can also be seen as analogous to the career of The Who themselves and especially songwriter Pete Townshend. When The Who performed "Tommy" at the legendary Woodstock-festival in 1969, Townshend would be seen almost like a spiritual leader for the younger generation. Likewise the character in Pink Floyd`s "The Wall" can be seen as analogous to the career of pink Floyd themselves and especially of Roger Waters.
After you have uploaded the final piece of this you should listen to "The Who -- See Me, Feel Me -- Live at Woodstock 1969". Yes, The Who played most of Tommy at Woodstock. The started the set 5 AM in the morning and by the time they got to the end of Tommy the sun was rising and that is what you can see in the video I suggested.
If you are liking this so far, you will be blown away by QUADROPHENIA! It is Pete's MASTERPIECE as a writer, and the band is at their creative and musical peak as far as performing. Especially the Bass & Drums! (John & Keith) 🔥🔥🔥
Pinball Wizard was purportedly written and added to the album near the end, or after, the principal recording was completed in the studio. The story goes that Townshend was trying score points with a local music reviewer named Nik Cohn. Cohn was a pinball fanatic and Townshend was hoping that he’d write a positive review of the album.
You know, a few of these songs are improved by having the actors on the film soundtrack sing them. I think that's especially true of the more dramatic elements, like Tina Turner's version of "Acid Queen," the Uncle Ernie song "Fiddle About" and I am also very fond of Elton John's version of "Pinball Wizard." I think as a whole, this original version is the pinnacle. But check out that soundtrack...
From songfacts.com: This was the last song written for Tommy. Townshend wrote it when he found out influential UK rock critic Nik Cohn was coming to review the project. Townshend knew Cohn was a pinball fanatic, so he put this together to ensure a good review. Cohn gave it a great review, and pinball became a main theme of the rock opera.
I'm loving seeing you absorb the story as it unfolds. Your disappoint in 'Fiddle About' is probably because there's no fiddle, Lol. Keith Moon plays Uncel Ernie in the film version, with glee. The Doctor is played by Jack Nicholson. Elton John was offered the role of the Pinball Wizard but turned it down. Then it was offered to Rod Stewart, he asked Elton if he should take it and Elton said no. Then Elton changed his mind and took it himself, Rod was pissed off at him for years. I wonder if Tommy can play pinball because the ball itself is shiny like a mirror?
Yes, Daniel and I had or have this in common. We had a bowling alley where I grew up. In the alley they had a Skier Pinball Machine. We would Play this for a couple of hours winning free games on the dreaded quarter too start the quest.lol In the Movie Elton John played the Champion Pinball Wizard. Of course Tommy was Roger Daltrey... Onward Coming to the Conclusion...
The parents didn't know about Uncle Ernie and the others till they left him there, But their Def, dumb & blind child became a pinball prodigy in his teens and suddenly they were rich and had to go to events to guide his lucrative career. Tommy was more an object without his pinball machine and sometimes difficult to move about. and there was all that money, they were desperate to find a cure for what they inflicted on him. But enjoyed the wealth the child created. Someone had to? But they prayed for the cure!
This was Townshend's first concept album. Quadrophenia was the second and Lifehouse was supposed to be the third, but the pressure became so great he had a nervous breakdown. Never released as a complete until a few years ago when Townshend revisited the project (30+ years later) and completed it. Some of the original material for the Lifehouse project was released on, Who's Next and some of it on, Odds And Sods.
Between Pinball Wizard and Go to the Mirror you hear the sound that sold Gibson SG Specials with P90 pickups. I SO wanted my guitar to sound like that!
