07-01-2016, 06:19 PM
Tommy (1969) was the first rock opera, I believe. A great if strange story of a spiritual journey, of a deaf, dumb and blind boy who became a guru, who was sexually abused, developed alternative senses, became a pinball wizard, got cured by the acid queen, dreamed of being a sensation, got a following, and then some followers deserted him because he imposed his own path to liberation on them. The opera had an instrumental overture, and a unique underture, which means I guess a musical picture of Tommy's inner life. The latter is a favorite of mine. It was also featured as part of "My Generation" on the Live at Leeds album. Like a number of Who and Pete's songs, it has the surf beat that Keith Moon brought into the group.