MovieChat Forums > Tommy (1975) Discussion > Which is the best version of the music?

Which is the best version of the music?

posted 14 years ago by puirt-a-beul
14 replies | jump to latest

I've just watched this movie for the first time since I was a teenager. As a piece of pop-art it's amazing, but I don't like the musical arrangements much at all. Am I the only one?

Tina Turner was amazing as the Acid Queen, but I wished they'd not scored her song quite so high - she has a tendency to screech anyway, she doesn't need any encouragement! But most of the songs sounded like they had no actual melody.

I doubt I'm going to get any agreement, but so far I think the best version of the music is the one Pete Townsend arranged and produced with Roger Daltrey and the London Symphony Orchestra and guest singers like Maggie Bell, Rod Stewart and Ringo Starr. It was finally released on CD at the end of last year, I think.

Any thoughts?

You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.

[–] WehoSteve 14 years ago

I only like the original 1969 album and 1975 film soundtrack.

[–] lenono68 14 years ago

All the Tommy versions are completely different animals and have their own unique style. The 1975 version almost has a fairground feel to it.

[–] rp69 14 years ago

If you're including concert releases, my pick would be a toss-up between the Live at Leeds extended double cd version. Or the video from '89 or '90 originally released for HBO, Patty LeBelle, Billy Idol, Phil Collins and the bald black chick stole the show. Unfortunately Pete only played an acoustic, but he played the hell out of it. It also contains my favorite version of Overture.

I would prefer Quadraphenia over original album, and I don't think I could listen to the movie soundtrack without actually watching the movie.

[–] a-ride-in-the-ocean 14 years ago

The DVD-Audio disc of the original album with the surround sound mix Pete worked on,

The live version from the Who Live at the Isle of Wight 1970, there is also a good version in the Tanglewood '70 Who show up on Wolfgang's Vault, another good perfomance of it is included as a bonus on the Who Kilburn/ London Coliseum (some of the footage is missing but the audio is complete apart from a short glitch at the start of Acid Queen.) Also look for bootlegs of the Who's 1969 show in Amsterdam sourced from FM radio rebroadcasts.

Any pressing of the '72 LSO symphonic version with an allstar cast. (Pete, Roger and John appear in singing roles.)

The original 2 cd release of the film soundtrack.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] duckofprey 14 years ago

I was never a fan of the movie itself, but I LOVED the soundtrack. Always listened to my 8-track of it (yes, 8-track!) on road trips to visit friends in college.

Haven't heard the album since the late 70s, I JUST got the double-CD soundtrack set today in the mail and can't wait to relive listening to it on a trip this weekend.

Mike

[–] WehoSteve 14 years ago

A lot of people seem to forget that the soundtrack album was quite a sales success, reaching #2 on the Billboard album chart in 1975, possibly largely due to Elton's "Pinball Wizard" getting a lot of airplay.

[–] SteveResin 14 years ago

The 1989 anniversary album 'Join Together', with Elton, Billy Idol & Steve Winwood.

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The memories of a man in his old age are the deeds of a man in his prime

[–] rwsmith29456 13 years ago

Get the original album.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] WehoSteve 13 years ago

How funny just yesterday I was playing the movie soundtrack version of "I'm Free", on my iPod, thinking about how much more energy it has than the original album version. I do like both though. It would be nice if *I* heard it on the radio but I never do.

[–] jefgg 10 years ago

It's great music any way you slice it.