The Who's TOMMY recordings

[Eos]

Posted: 10/22/11 at 1:15am

So, one of our regional theatres is doing TOMMY and I have fallen in love. I want the cast recording. Any suggestions on the best one? Yes, I know it's all subjective, but just wanting opinions.

Thanks in advance, all!

(Shameless self-promotion - http://stlouistheatresnob.blogspot.com/2011/10/whos-tommy-stray-dog-theatre.html)

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 10/22/11 at 1:33am

The OBC recording is terrific and has a lot of the music, never did the show so I don't know how close it is to the published score.

And listen to the WHO's original for it's raw energy, Dalton's vocals and Townsend's guitar.

The movie soundtrack is campy fun with some great work from Elton John, Tina Turner and Ann Margaret.
And Dalton was Hot.

[temms]

Posted: 10/22/11 at 1:41am

The Original Broadway Cast with Michael Cerveris is the only recording of the stage version I'm aware of, and it's a very good album produced by George Martin (who produced almost all of the Beatles' albums.)

However, it's a very different experience from the original album by The Who - some would say that the Broadway show is a complete travesty and an utter desecration of a rock classic. I wouldn't go that far, but I definitely prefer the more rock renditions.

There's also the film soundtrack with Jack Nicholson and Oliver Reed "singing" and some very '70s synthesizers. It also has Ann Margaret, Eric Clapton and Elton John, but I'm not crazy about it.

There's also the London Symphony Orchestra recording with Roger Daltrey and Ringo Starr among others, but I'm not such a fan. There's also a live recording of The Who playing it on tour in the '80s with Patti LaBelle and Billy Idol and Phil Collins - I'd stay away from that, too.

My favorites are the live versions the Who performed circa 1969 - the 2-disc "Live at Leeds" has a great performance of it. "Live At the Isle Of Wight" is good too, but I prefer Leeds.

I also have an LP of a Kokomo Indiana High School production from 1973 where the marching band participates. It's better than you might think, but not widely available (I found it in a pile of records in my choral conducting professor's office in college and he not only told me I could take it, he encouraged me to remove it.)

So, either the OBC, The Who original, or "Live at Leeds".
Updated On: 10/22/11 at 01:41 AM

[Eos]

Posted: 10/22/11 at 2:53am

*sigh* I love you guys. Thank you. Now I think I may go for the OBCR. I have this Alice Ripley thing... Plus, I figure the cast recording may have better orchestrations, but I'm just guessing.

Thanks again, guys! What a great show. I'm always so late to the party!

[Taryn]

Posted: 10/22/11 at 2:47pm

Live at Leeds is pretty superior in most ways except for a few numbers they didn't regularly perform in concert, like "Cousin Kevin," which I believe was dropped from the live act because of the complex harmonies being tough to get right.