Pinball Wizard is an old classic and obviously the big single from Tommy. But as such and probably unfairly, as with most tracks that suffer from overexposure, its automatically one of the least interesting to me. But that classic opening acoustic riff is pretty stellar. And John's bass, especially live, being used as a sort of second electric guitar is also worthy of mentioning. And its still a great track despite the overexposure. Dogs Part II. Throwaway nonsense, don't care, doesn't belong in the middle of a discussion about Tommy. Sorry.
I got a kick out of a couple Pinball Wizard "first reaction" videos (College Students and Jamal). Some people question if some of these channels are really first listens, but these two in particular are pretty obvious Tommy virgins. They both wonder about the origin of the song... "There's got to be a story behind it... there's no way it's real--a deaf dumb and blind kid played a mean pinball." "Don't say no way, dude." "This is amazing if this is a true story...They're saying he's deaf and blind...his sense of smell just has to be incredible." (Note: I don't mean to make fun of them; I really enjoy seeing folks getting their first exposure to Who songs)
Only four tracks needed. John in the left speaker, Pete in the right, Keith in the middle and dog(s) barking (also centered).
There’s a Doctor A narrative link – tuneful and effective. Even the links are memorable on this record..
Go to the Mirror! Here’s where story wise we get down to some nitty gritty. It’s quite a vital moment in the tale this – “his eyes react to light.. he hears but cannot answer”. If there was any doubt, it establishes that Tommy is physically well, but something inside is just not connecting. This moves the narrative along at a pace, and fittingly it’s also musically one of the strongest cuts on the album, boasting one of Pete’s most effective riffs. No wonder this all became such a large part of the Overture. There’s not a moment wasted here, the heavy “Go to the mirror boy” segment hinting at a frustration that will later prove pivotal. We also catch glimpses of Tommy’s internal world, with the “See me, feel me” repeats. And I doubt there can be many more thrilling, uplifting moments in The Who’s discography than where “what is happening in his head” leads into into our first full taste of “Listening to you”. Goosebumps, mate. Something I’ve often wondered about “Tommy” is whether questions posed lyrically are actually answered. Just as the question “How can he be saved?” could be answered by “See me, feel me” in “Christmas”, “What is happening in his head?” could in theory be answered by “Listening to You”. Not that Tommy is literally listening, but that in his isolation (ie in his head) he is actually at one with himself – the lyric/hymn being addressed to God, or to the one true self. This seems to tie in with the gazing into the mirror too—anyway, just speculation. Special mention for Keith who is an absolute star on this track, leading the charge with extraordinary (even for him) panache.
Reference Guide Who are The Who The High Numbers live Oct 20 1964 July 1964 Zoot Suit / I'm The Face Oct 1964 Country Line Special Jan 1965 I Can't Explain / Bald Headed Woman I Can't Explain (Shindig) - Live 72 May 1965 Anyway Anyhow Anywhere - live / Daddy Rolling Stone - correct version / Anytime You Want Me - acapella Oct 1965 My Generation - Smothers Brothers - live 1965 - 1966 - 1967 / Shout And Shimmy / Out In The street Apr 1966 My Generation Out In The street - 1966 tv I Don't Mind The Good's Gone - US mono La La La Lies Much Too Much My Generation - US mono The Kids Are Alright Please Please Please It's Not True I'm A Man A Legal Matter The Ox Instant Party/Circles - Correct Version Leaving Here Lubie (Come Back Home) - alt. version Mar 1966 Substitute/ Circles b-side - Substitute US single version Waltz For A Pig Instant Party Mixture Mar 1966 A Legal Matter/ Instant Party Aug 1966 I'm A Boy/ In The City - I'm a Boy (alt mono) - I'm A Boy (original stereo) - I'm a Boy (alt stereo) - Im A Boy live Charlton 74 - promo clip Nov 1966 Ready steady Who Disguises Circles (Instant Party) - Circles Batman Bucket T Barbara Ann 1966 recording session Dec 1966 Happy Jack/I've Been Away Dec 1966 A Quick One Run Run Run - mono Boris The Spider I Need You - US link Whiskey Man - US link Heatwave Cobwebs and Strange Don't Look Away See My Way - US link So Sad About Us A Quick One Apr 67 Pictures Of Lily / Doctor Doctor June 67 The Last Time/ Under My Thumb Dec 1967 The Who Sell Out Armenia City In The Sky Heinz Baked Beans Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand - alternate Odorono Tattoo Our Love Was I Can See For Miles - live Someone's Coming I Can't Reach You Medac Relax Silas Stingy Sunrise Rael Extra tracks The Radio Jingles Rael 2 Glittering Girl Melancholia Jaguar Early Morning Cold Taxi Hall Of The Mountain King Girl's Eyes Sodding About Glow Girl Great Shakes Mar 1968 Call Me Lightening/Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Jun 1968 Dogs/ Call Me Lightening Jul 1968 Magic Bus/ Someone's Coming - Magic Bus orig. stereo Sept 1968 Magic Bus - Who On Tour Oct 1968 Direct Hits May 1969 Tommy Overture/It's A Boy/1921 Amazing Journey/Sparks Eyesight To The Blind Christmas Cousin Kevin The Acid Queen Underture Do You Think It's Alright Fiddle About Pinball Wizard There's A Doctor Go To The Mirror Dogs pt2 b-side
Pinball Wizard: 9/10 Finally, The Who's first bona fide classic rock radio hit - deservedly so, I must say, as it has a great verse melody & rhythm, and of course those crashing chords of Pete. I knew and loved that song for ages, but since my band decided to cover it (also years ago), my opinion slightly changed. The "look behind the scenes" showed the fragility of that oh-so strong song, and also some weak spots. These are only nuances, it's not that I dislike it - in fact, I still think it's great. In the album-context of Tommy, I think it works fine and there's absolutely nothing to lament, as it lifts you up from dreadful Ernie with a sad starting chord which turns more and more into a positive and strong (and flamenco-styled) guitar figure. Then, there's the ending introducing a variation of the "how can we follow?" ending part from "I'm Free", so everything's fine. But as a single itself, I think it feels more like a fragment than a real song. I mean... that ending is... irritating, or unfitting to what I'd call a single - in fact, we changed it when we played it! I also think the song feels rather rushed, like there was no time to work it out a little bit more - which it deserves! IMHO, the Elton John version does the song more justice than the original, it's just worked out with more care - don't get me wrong, it's not that I prefer piano over guitar! However, it's OK that it was chosen a single because it works great as an appetizer for the album - at least it did that job on me!
I'm suddenly reminded that there was a straight-edge hardcore punk parody band called "Crucial Youth." I knew one of the members in college. He told me that they were going to release a rock opera called "Timmy" on a 7" record. I can't find any evidence that this actually ended up happening, but I so want it to be true. Maybe it's just a rare release?
Love Dogs Pt 2! The last studio song I like... After this, it's all too serious and thoughtful... I prefer thoughtless!
Pete does his patented Gibson launch during the filming of Pinball Wizard: According to The Story of Tommy, a female fan was injured by a flying bit of smashed guitar and had to be taken to the hospital "There was blood everywhere", Pete said. She reportedly said it was an honor to be smacked on the head by Pete's guitar...he gave it to her by way of an apology. It's kind of odd that though The Who played live for the scene, the song in the movie soundtrack is done by Elton's band.
One of my favorite songs on the album. In fact, side three of this album is amazing IMHO (side one being the best though).
There's a Doctor---Good tune used as a short narrative piece....Nice piano groove and vocal..... Could of been made into a really good full length tune. Go to the mirror---Epic sequence.......Orino addressed it perfectly IMO.
There's A Doctor. I'm instantly reminded of a skit on Second City Television with Martin Short. "Give me a "C," a bouncy C." This is such a quick track solely created to set up a major plot point but I can't help but smile when I hear that bouncy piano. A minor piece but still great. Go To The Mirror. Begins immediately with one of the major musical themes of the album. Featured prominently in the Overture, and unless i'm mistaken, returns here for the first time on the record. But also the return of other themes. (See Me, Feel Me & Listening To You) Keith is absolutely on fire in this track, though his drums are slightly back in the mix so its not immediately apparent. Which is why yet again I'll say listen closely to what Moon is doing. It is endlessly entertaining. Oh and in the film version, listening to Oliver Reed "singing" 'Ooooooh. i wish I knew' is something to behold. Laughably, horribly, horrendously something to behold. Anyway, these are both fantastic tracks. Especially Go To The Mirror which to me is the highlist of an already incredible side 3.
I'm not sure if I prefer Elton's to the original (they're both great), but it was certainly a highlight of the film.
Dogs Part Two: 6,5/10 Adquate B-side material at its best; the band is having fun on a very loose structure, centering around an accentuation in form of imitated dog's barking. Far from being essential, doing stuff like this always helps calming down tensions. As for the inspiration, maybe it was The Beatles' "Hey Bulldog", released some months before Tommy, who knows...
Well, it's the B-side to "Pinball Wizard". And this is not a Tommy dedicated thread, it's a song-by-song thread, so "Dogs Part Two" is of course part of it and would have appeared sooner or later anyway.
Actually, I wouldn't say I prefer Elton John's version on a subjective level - it's just that I think Elton got more out of the composition and rounded it out quite effective. Soundwise, I prefer The Who's raw and unpolished sound over the slick mid 70ties production on the soundtrack version any given day (and still, Elton's piano rocks this number really good!).
There's A Doctor/Go To The Mirror!: 9,5/10 Oh yeah, this is great stuff. Some of the album's finest hour! The groove is an easy swinger on one hand , but with a full-bloodied (hard) rock riff on the other, both melting in a way only The Who can - and Daltrey sings great here! "Go To The Mirror!" is composed of several, sequential elements and drive on the story - which I, at this point, don't understand: The boy visits a doctor who analyzes the situation rather correctly (part I), Tommy's inner self is to be heard ("see me, feel me..." interjectional part) then he tells Tommy to go the mirror (part II)(does he? And why? What's there to see?). And then, the final part III with the "listening to you..." chorus (listening to what? Music? How does it help? What does it have to do with the mirror?). I never was able to find out what's happening here and gave up a long time ago. It might all have to do with Meher Baba's philosophies, but if so, it's so crypted that I can't put it into a plot working for Tommy. It also doesn't help that the several "See me, feel me" incarnations throughout the album are sung by Rog AND Pete in no logic manner. It feels they simply chose from version to version who's voice would suit it better in that moment and not per given "role". I'm not exactly asking for an explanation, but maybe I just missed something and it's all much easier and obvious to you all... However, musically, it all works greatly, and I love it, and I'm in total Tommy-mode at this point of the album.
Never said it was. I find it to be a distraction smack dab in the middle of a Tommy discussion. No offense to Orino intended, he's been doing a fine job. I'm just a little frustrated with the participation level in this thread. Finally an album I'm passionate about! But oh wait, nobody's posting much and when they do its about superfluous nonsense like Dogs part 2. I'm about ready to ditch.
What are you talking about? The amount of posts concerning Dogs part 2 is next to nothing compared to those about the rest of Tommy. And just because you don't like a song doesn't mean it's "superfluous nonsense". Don't like it? Listen and comment about something else.
Yes sir. I'll get right on that sir. Is there anything else about my posts you'd like to nitpik sir? Because that's the only kind of interaction I ever get from you sir. It must be my fault sir, I'll try to do better. Sir yes sir!
