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The Who tommy MFSL

The Who : Tommy on MFSL

Innovation is defined as the creation of new and original ideas. Under that definition Tommy is one of the most innovative recordings of all time. What makes Tommy so innovative? How many other recordings do you know that are labeled a Rock Opera? What makes any series of music and opera? An opera is basically any series of music that has both tragedy and happiness a a compilation of songs that cumulates in a crescendo.

Some of the Who’s most famous recordings including Pinball Wizard and See Me, Feel Me, Touch Me are featured on the recording that set the Who apart from other ledgendary bands like the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. This unique songwriting ability of Pete Townshend and the power vocals of Roger Daltery make this opera come to life. The story unfolds with Tommy the dead, dumb and blind boy that is able to find himself in the game of pinball. These songs are now immoratalized in rock and roll lore and will forwever be characterized as a uniquely the Who.

Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MFSL) brilliantly chose recordings to feature on their now famous gold ultradisk concept. All of the recordings the company chose to feature initially were compositions that featured an amazing array of sounds and character. These recordings were able to be eloquently featured using the gold ultradisk. Using the gold substrate allowed the recording engineers to add many more bites of information that the tradition substrate or even their first substrate made out of aluminum.

Tommy was no accident that it was chosen as the first album featured from the Who on a MFSL CD. The complexity of the recording made it a perfect fit for use in the MFSL format.

If you look at the songs, titles and lengths you can see what makes Tommy a rock opera. Starting with It’s a boy and 1921 through Pinball wizard and ending with Were Not Going to Take It. The scope of emotions and run the gamet with this masterful recording.

The Song list Tommy includes:

1. "Overture" – 5:21
2. "It's a Boy" – 0:3
3. "1921" – 2:49
4. "Amazing Journey" – 3:25
5. "Sparks" – 3:46
6. "Eyesight to the Blind (The Hawker)" (Williamson) – 2:13
7. "Christmas" – 4:34
8. "Cousin Kevin" – 4:07
9. "The Acid Queen" – 3:34
10. "Underture" – 10:09
11. "Do You Think It's Alright?" – 0:24
12. "Fiddle About" (Entwistle) – 1:29
13. "Pinball Wizard" – 3:01
14. "There's a Doctor" – 0:23
15. "Go to the Mirror!" – 3:49
16. "Tommy, Can You Hear Me?" – 1:36
17. "Smash the Mirror" – 1:35
18. "Sensation" – 2:27
19. "Miracle Cure" – 0:12
20. "Sally Simpson" – 4:12
21. "I'm Free" – 2:40
22. "Welcome" – 4:34
23. "Tommy's Holiday Camp" – 0:57
24. "We're Not Gonna Take It" / "See Me, Feel Me" – 7:08

This recording has been remade many times, but never with the success of the MFSL format. That deaf, dumb and blind kid sure plays a mean pinball.