Tommy is a 1972 album by the London Symphony Orchestra and English Chamber Choir, conducted and directed by David Measham, performing arrangements by Wil Malone of The Who's 1969 album Tommy with additional arrangements by James Sullivan. The project was conceived and produced 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".Elizabeth L. Wollman The Theater Will Rock: A History of the Rock Musical 2006 0472115766 – p. 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, ...
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.Kristopher Spencer, Film and Television Scores, 1950-1979: A Critical Survey 2008 0786452285 p. 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, "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. The art was by Richard Amsel, Robert Heindel, Jim Manos, Alex Gnidziejko, Wilson McLean, Doug Johnson, David Edward Byrd, Robert Grossman, Charles White III, Richard Harvey and Mark English.
Though it yielded no hit singles, the album fared well on Billboard's Top Pop Albums chart, debuting on 9 December 1972, peaking at #5, and remaining on the chart for 38 weeks.
On 9 December 1972, Reizner presented a concert version of the orchestrated Tommy at the Rainbow Theatre, London. There were two performances on the same evening. The concerts featured the Who, plus a guest cast, backed by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Measham. A second run occurred in mid-December with some different singers. In March 1973 Reizner and Measham took the concert version to Australia, performing with Keith Moon as Uncle Ernie, and a cast of Australian singers and musicians.
Track list
Guest soloists in order of appearance Narrator: Pete Townshend Nurse: Sandy Denny Lover: Graham Bell Father: Steve Winwood Mother: Maggie Bell Hawker: Richie Havens Acid Queen: Merry Clayton Tommy: Roger Daltrey Cousin Kevin: John Entwistle Uncle Ernie: Ringo Starr Local Lad: Rod Stewart Doctor: Richard Harris
Charts Chart (1972/73)PositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)4United States (Billboard's Top Pop Albums)5
References