The Who's Tommy Orchestral

by Roger Daltrey

Overview

The Who's Tommy Orchestral is perhaps a bit of a convoluted title but it's not as much of a jumble as the billing of "Roger Daltrey with members of the Who Band and Orchestra Conducted by Keith Levenson." The title and credit explain the 2019 album, which splices together performances given in Bethel, New York and Budapest. Prior to the 2018 tour that provided the source material for this record, Daltrey told Rolling Stone "We stay faithful to the record. We treat it with the respect that you'd treat a Mozart opera." This is more or less true. Daltrey and his supporting musicians don't bother to rearrange or reinterpret the original Pete Townshend compositions, and the presence of members of the Who Band does give this volume and muscle, qualities that are often absent in orchestral renditions of rock material. What the orchestra does add is a considerable dose of pomp and circumstance, a subtlety that can push this version of Tommy toward the stuffy. Then again, the orchestra isn't as interesting as Daltrey. Baring a reduced range but considerable vocal control, Daltrey seems engaged with material that he's been singing for half-a-century, and that kind of commitment is what distinguishes an album that otherwise feels a shade too familiar. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	06/14/2019
Label:	Polydor / Ume
UPC:	0602577635267

Tracks

1. Overture
2. It's a Boy
3. 1921
4. Amazing Journey
5. Sparks
6. Eyesight to the Blind (The Hawker)
7. Christmas
8. Cousin Kevin
9. The Acid Queen
10. Do You Think It's Alright?
11. Fiddle About
12. Pinball Wizard
13. There's a Doctor
14. Go to the Mirror!
15. Tommy, Can You Hear Me?
16. Smash the Mirror
17. It's a Boy [Refrain]
18. I'm Free
19. Miracle Cure
20. Sensation
21. Sally Simpson/Gospel Piano (Interlude)
22. Welcome
23. Tommy's Holiday Camp
24. We're Not Gonna Take It

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Roger Daltrey   Primary Artist,Vocals
Loren Gold   Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Simon Townshend   Vocals,Guitar
Jon Button   Bass,Vocals (Background)
Frank Simes   Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Keith Levenson   Conductor
Budapest Scoring Orchestra   Orchestra
Scott Devours   Drums

Technical Credits

John Entwistle   Composer
Pete Townshend   Composer
Richard Evans   Sleeve Design
David Campbell   Orchestral Arrangements
Richard Whittaker   Mixing,Additional Production
Bill Kelly   Photography
Keith Levenson   Producer,Liner Notes
Andrew Bannister   Label Design
Roger Daltrey   Producer
Keith Moon   Composer
Gareth Johnson   Mixing
Sonny Boy Williamson II   Composer