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Go To The Mirror! The Who To Reissue "Tommy" In Super Deluxe Style

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Tommy SDE

The amazing journey is about to continue.

Following the massive box sets accorded Live at Leeds and Quadrophenia, The Who have confirmed a Super Deluxe set of 1969's Tommy just in time for the holidays.  The 3-CD/1-BD set, due in the U.K. on November 11 and in the U.S. on November 12, will include a newly remastered edition of the original album on one CD, a second disc of previously unissued demos and outtakes, a third CD of a 1969 live performance (drawn from numerous shows), and a Blu-ray containing the entire album in 5.1 surround sound.  The remastered Tommy will also be available in digital and vinyl formats.

Tommy, The Who's fifth album, effectively added the phrase "rock opera" into the lexicon.  Chief songwriter Pete Townshend had previously experimented with extended song forms, most notably on 1966's "A Quick One While He's Away" from the A Quick One album.  But Tommy, produced by Kit Lambert, crystallized Townshend's lofty ambitions into an electrifying work that was as creative as it was accessible.  With Roger Daltrey in the title role of the "deaf, dumb and blind boy," Tommy combined muscular rock riffs with a rich array of characters that made the work so appealing to directors of both stage and screen.  Cinematic auteur Ken Russell brought Tommy to life in an exceedingly bizarre film version in 1975, and Des McAnuff worked with Townshend to give Tommy, Captain Walker, Cousin Kevin, Uncle Ernie and the rest stage immortality in 1993 via the Broadway musical The Who's Tommy.  Those weren't the only indelible incarnations of Tommy, though.  The band's Woodstock performance has gone down in history, and other memorable versions include the original 1970 Seattle Opera staging (with the young Bette Midler as the Acid Queen!) and Lou Reizner's 1972 symphonic concert event, preserved on its own two-LP set.

The 2013 Tommy reissue campaign will be available in a wide array of formats:

  • 3-CD/1-BD Super Deluxe Edition
  • 2-CD Deluxe Digipak Edition (CD 1 - Original Album, CD 2 - Live Bootleg)
  • 1-CD Remastered Edition (Original Album)
  • Deluxe 2-Piece Heavyweight Vinyl Edition (Original Album)
  • UVINYL website-exclusive vinyl version of live 'bootleg' album
  • Hi Fidelity Pure Audio Blu-ray standalone release
  • Digital Super Deluxe box set (Tracks from box set excluding 5.1 mixes, also available in Mastered-for-iTunes)
  • Deluxe Digital Edition (2-CD configuration, also available in Mastered-for-iTunes)

After the jump, we have more details including the full track listings for each disc!

The box set's second disc of 25 demos and outtakes premieres 21 tracks from Pete Townshend's archive.  A further three songs are repeated from the 2003 Deluxe Edition 2-CD set.  (Alas, that leaves 14 tracks from that set not repeated on the new box.)  A fourth previously issued track, "Young Man Blues" as performed by The Who, has only been released on the vinyl sampler The House That Track Built.

The third CD, drawn from various live performances of Tommy from 1969, consists of previously unissued material.  18 of the live tracks are taken from a live show at the Capital Theatre, Ottawa, Canada on October 15, 1969. Three others ("I'm Free," "Tommy's Holiday Camp" and "We're Not Gonna Take It") were lost due to tape reels being changed during the show, so the versions here have been taken from later shows dating from the same era.  The Blu-ray of the original album is presented in "Hi Fidelity Pure Audio."  It's as yet unclear whether this mix will differ from the (stellar) 2003 mix presented on the SACD and DVD-Audio formats.

The Super Deluxe box of Tommy will include an 80-page full color hardback book containing a 20,000-word essay by Richard Barnes as well as various photographs and memorabilia.  The slipcased box also makes room for a Tommy poster.

The various editions of Tommy are due from Geffen and Universal on November 11 in the U.K. and November 12 in the U.S.  You can pre-order the 2-CD, 3-CD/1-BD box and 2-LP editions below.  We will update with links to the standalone BD and UVINYL-exclusive "Bootleg" LP as soon as pre-order links are active.

The Who, Tommy (Geffen/UMe 006025 37473960, 2013) (Box set: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

CD1: The Original Album (2013 remaster)

  1. Overture 5.20
  2. It's A Boy 0.38
  3. 1921 2.49
  4. Amazing Journey 5.04
  5. Sparks 2.05
  6. The Hawker (Eyesight To The Blind) 2.13
  7. Christmas 4.34
  8. Cousin Kevin 4.05
  9. The Acid Queen 3.34
  10. Underture 10.01
  11. Do You Think It's Alright? 0.24
  12. Fiddle About 1.29
  13. Pinball Wizard 3.01
  14. There's A Doctor 0.23
  15. Go To The Mirror! 3.47
  16. Tommy Can You Hear Me? 1.35
  17. Smash The Mirror 1.34
  18. Sensation 2.25
  19. Miracle Cure 0.12
  20. Sally Simpson 4.10
  21. I'm Free 2.39
  22. Welcome 4.32
  23. Tommy's Holiday Camp 0.57
  24. We're Not Gonna Take It 7.06

CD 2: Demos and Extras

  1. Overture 4:07
  2. It's A Boy 0:41
  3. 1921 3:13
  4. Amazing Journey 4:47
  5. Dream One 3:09
  6. Sparks 7:38
  7. The Hawker 4:45
  8. Christmas 4:42
  9. Acid Queen 3:35
  10. Underture (Dream Two) 1:47
  11. Do You Think It's Alright 0:26
  12. Pinball Wizard 3:42
  13. There's A Doctor 0:24
  14. Go To The Mirror! 4:32
  15. Success 0:10
  16. Tommy Can You Hear Me 1:15
  17. Smash The Mirror 1:37
  18. Sensation 2:47
  19. Miracle Cure 0:11
  20. Sally Simpson 4:50
  21. I'm Free 2:27
  22. Welcome 3:26
  23. We're Not Gonna Take It 5:02
  24. Trying To Get Through 2:27
  25. Young Man Blues 2:47

Tracks 1-23 - Pete Townshend - original demos
Track 24 - The Who - studio demo/outtake
Track 25 - The Who - studio recording previously available on The House That Track Built  vinyl sampler
All tracks previously unreleased except 2, 11 & 12 - released in 2003 on Geffen CD B0001386-36, and 25

CD 3: Live Bootleg (all tracks previously unreleased)

  1. Overture (including Introduction) 7.00
  2. It's A Boy 0.39
  3. 1921 2.28
  4. Amazing Journey 5.07
  5. Sparks 2.49
  6. The Hawker (Eyesight To The Blind)1.54
  7. Christmas 3.11
  8. The Acid Queen 3.30
  9. Pinball Wizard 2.47
  10. Do You Think It's Alright? 0.21
  11. Fiddle About 1.12
  12. Tommy Can You Hear Me? 0.55
  13. There's A Doctor 0.24
  14. Go To The Mirror! 3.22
  15. Smash The Mirror 1.10
  16. Miracle Cure 0.12
  17. Sally Simpson 4.01
  18. I'm Free 2.12
  19. Tommy's Holiday Camp 0.48
  20. We're Not Gonna Take It 3.28
  21. See Me, Feel Me / Listening To You 7.51

Blu-ray:  Hi Fidelity Pure Audio Blu-ray disc (5.1 Mix)

  1. Overture 5.20
  2. It's a Boy 0.37
  3. 1921 2.49
  4. Amazing Journey 5.05
  5. Sparks 2.05
  6. The Hawker 2.14
  7. Christmas 4.34
  8. Cousin Kevin 4.07
  9. The Acid Queen 3.34
  10. Underture 10.05
  11. Do You Think It's Alright? 0.25
  12. Fiddle About 1.31
  13. Pinball Wizard 3.01
  14. There's a Doctor 0.24
  15. Go to the Mirror! 3.48
  16. Tommy, Can You Hear Me? 1.35
  17. Smash the Mirror 1.33
  18. Sensation 2.27
  19. Miracle Cure 0.12
  20. Sally Simpson 4.11
  21. I'm Free 2.39
  22. Welcome 4.32
  23. Tommy's Holiday Camp 0.57
  24. We're Not Gonna Take It 7.06

The Who, Tommy (Geffen/UMe) (2-CD Edition: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

CD1: The Original Album (2013 remaster)

  1. Overture 5.20
  2. It's A Boy 0.38
  3. 1921 2.49
  4. Amazing Journey 5.04
  5. Sparks 2.05
  6. The Hawker (Eyesight To The Blind) 2.13
  7. Christmas 4.34
  8. Cousin Kevin 4.05
  9. The Acid Queen 3.34
  10. Underture 10.01
  11. Do You Think It's Alright? 0.24
  12. Fiddle About 1.29
  13. Pinball Wizard 3.01
  14. There's A Doctor 0.23
  15. Go To The Mirror! 3.47
  16. Tommy Can You Hear Me? 1.35
  17. Smash The Mirror 1.34
  18. Sensation 2.25
  19. Miracle Cure 0.12
  20. Sally Simpson 4.10
  21. I'm Free 2.39
  22. Welcome 4.32
  23. Tommy's Holiday Camp 0.57
  24. We're Not Gonna Take It 7.06

CD 2: Live Bootleg (all tracks previously unreleased)

  1. Overture (including Introduction) 7.00
  2. It's A Boy 0.39
  3. 1921 2.28
  4. Amazing Journey 5.07
  5. Sparks 2.49
  6. The Hawker (Eyesight To The Blind)1.54
  7. Christmas 3.11
  8. The Acid Queen 3.30
  9. Pinball Wizard 2.47
  10. Do You Think It's Alright? 0.21
  11. Fiddle About 1.12
  12. Tommy Can You Hear Me? 0.55
  13. There's A Doctor 0.24
  14. Go To The Mirror! 3.22
  15. Smash The Mirror 1.10
  16. Miracle Cure 0.12
  17. Sally Simpson 4.01
  18. I'm Free 2.12
  19. Tommy's Holiday Camp 0.48
  20. We're Not Gonna Take It 3.28
  21. See Me, Feel Me / Listening To You 7.51

The Who, Tommy (Geffen/UMe - 2-LP Set) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

The Original Album (2013 remaster)

  1. Overture 5.20
  2. It's A Boy 0.38
  3. 1921 2.49
  4. Amazing Journey 5.04
  5. Sparks 2.05
  6. The Hawker (Eyesight To The Blind) 2.13
  7. Christmas 4.34
  8. Cousin Kevin 4.05
  9. The Acid Queen 3.34
  10. Underture 10.01
  11. Do You Think It's Alright? 0.24
  12. Fiddle About 1.29
  13. Pinball Wizard 3.01
  14. There's A Doctor 0.23
  15. Go To The Mirror! 3.47
  16. Tommy Can You Hear Me? 1.35
  17. Smash The Mirror 1.34
  18. Sensation 2.25
  19. Miracle Cure 0.12
  20. Sally Simpson 4.10
  21. I'm Free 2.39
  22. Welcome 4.32
  23. Tommy's Holiday Camp 0.57
  24. We're Not Gonna Take It 7.06
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Joe Marchese

JOE MARCHESE (Editor) joined The Second Disc shortly after its launch in early 2010, and has since penned daily news and reviews about classic music of all genres. In 2015, Joe formed the Second Disc Records label. Celebrating the great songwriters, producers and artists who created the sound of American popular song, Second Disc Records, in conjunction with Real Gone Music, has released newly-curated collections produced by Joe from iconic artists such as Johnny Mathis, Bobby Darin, Laura Nyro, Melissa Manchester, Chet Atkins, and many others. He has contributed liner notes to reissues from a diverse array of artists, among them Nat "King" Cole, Paul Williams, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield, B.J. Thomas, The 5th Dimension, Burt Bacharach, The Mamas and the Papas, Carpenters, Perry Como, Rod McKuen, Doris Day, Jackie DeShannon, and Andy Williams, and has compiled releases for talents including Robert Goulet and Keith Allison of Paul Revere and the Raiders. Over the past two decades, Joe has also worked in a variety of capacities on and off Broadway as well as at some of the premier theatres in the U.S., including Lincoln Center Theater, George Street Playhouse, Paper Mill Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, and the York Theatre Company. He has felt privileged to work on productions alongside artists such as the late Jack Klugman, Eli Wallach, Arthur Laurents, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. In 2009, Joe began contributing theatre and music reviews to the print publication The Sondheim Review, and in 2012, he joined the staff of The Digital Bits as a regular contributor writing about film and television on DVD and Blu-ray. Joe currently resides in the suburbs of New York City.

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Comments

  1. I will most likely buy this, but shouldn't something called a "Super Deluxe Edition" include all tracks from every prior release? I know they've done this before between the original expanded editions of certain albums & the subsequent "Deluxe Editions," but at these high price points we should get truly definitive versions (ie. the "Last Time You'll Need To Buy This" edition).

    Reply

  2. I'm getting tired of this. Every year about this time, the majors announce details of "Super Deluxe" versions of seminal, iconic albums from the classic rock era, boasting remastering and/or remixes, extra (but not all known) demos, live concerts, quality, hardcover books with never-before published photos and newly-commissioned essays, and the big selling point, a 5.1 mix DVD or Blu-Ray version of the classic album in question. That all of the above (excepting the book) could fit on a single Blu-Ray is often remarked upon, but quickly ignored in all the excitement. Look, I love the Who, and Tommy, but I'll be skipping this. I have the SACD Hybrid version, and that is enough for me. Anyone who wants to hear a live version of Tommy, can get that on Live at Leeds, Live in Hull, or the Isle of Wight, and while I'd like to hear the demos, I don't need to hear them that much to justify forking over the bucks this set will require. If it's deeply discounted on Pop Market in a few years.....

    Reply

  4. It would be nice if, someday, they release the unedited band performance of "Pinball Wizard" that features a guitar solo that has been cut from every released version of the track. I'd also like to hear the "Quadrophenia" outtake "Bank Holiday" which has repeatedly evaded release. (It should have gone on the expanded "Odds and Sods," but that wouldn't have left room for the pile of previously released B-sides that were redundantly included there.)

    At this point, a Super Deluxe "Who's Next" seems inevitable. I hope it includes all of the "Lifehouse" leftovers that were released in the early '70s ("Relay," etc.) but have, to date, never been released all in one place.

    Reply

  5. I wish the 2 CD set was the "Demos and Extras" and "Live Bootleg" discs. I already own "Tommy" 3 times on CD and my original LP from the 70s. And multichannel does nothing for me. But I'd love to hear the demos and especially the version of "Young Man Blues" included here. And live Who is always welcome. But after the onslaught I was hit with this week (Beach Boys, Sly and the Family Stone, Dylan deluxe) I'm feeling a little shy of committing to more boxes.

    Reply

    • Looking again at the price on Amazon- $165 for three CDs and a Blu-Ray? I know the price is bound to come down a bit, but that seems way too high to me.I won't have any misgvings about not getting this unless the price drops to about $80 or $90.

      Reply

  6. I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I'm still waiting for a complete album box set from the Who on CD. I'd prefer that said box set contains the original mono mixes of their first few albums, in addition to stereo for those who want that as well.

    Reply

  7. Like the others on here I to also own many version's of tommy including the sacd which sounds great,I guess the one benefit is at least they are breaking the set up so you won't have to buy the entire set.Maybe the record companies have finally listened a little over fans not willing to put out that kind of money just to get a disc or two of material. P.S. "maybe"

    Reply

  8. I own more versions of "Tommy" than almost any other CD I own. I mean, I love the album, but when is enough enough? Based on the contents I've read about here, I have less than zero interest in this box. Let the diehards and collectors spend their cash; I'd rather spend mine on stuff that offers actual VALUE. From my perspective, I see very little value in this set. That's why I buy infinitely fewer of these "Super Deluxe" sets than I used to. Too many baubles and trickets, too little substance. But SOMEONE must be buying them, because the record companies seem to be releasing them at a furious pace!

    Reply

  9. Wonder what's with the 1-vinyl edition Amazon is presenting ($17.41/£5.84). 75 minutes music squeezed in on one album?

    Reply

    • Looking into that, Magnus. There's no mention of a single-vinyl edition in the press release, other than the UVINYL-exclusive LP of the "bootleg" disc. We'll pass on any more information we discover.

      Reply

  10. Only way they get me to re-buy Tommy again is if this box set comes down about 50% or they release the Blu-ray by itself. I too have the deluxe sacd 5.1 version. As for the live bootleg, I already have the live Isle Of White cd which is pretty much dominated by songs from Tommy. I am not one of those that need a bunch of different versions of the same songs live.

    Reply

  11. Well don't I feel stupid... in re-reading above there is a stand-alone Blu-ray pure audio disc. I've been impressed with the pure audio discs I've gotten so far (especially Supertramp's Breakfast In America). Pencil me in for that.

    Reply

    • Hi Colin,

      The Blu-ray is still mentioned on The Who's own website (http://thewho.com/blog/story/5852/) as coming, and indicates it will be part of Universal U.K.'s new High Fidelity Pure Audio series. (See here for another example - the coming VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO BD.) It's indeed curious that order links haven't yet been provided, but I wouldn't give up hope yet. We'll try to ascertain more info as to the release date. Thanks!

      Reply

  13. Howdy, Joe - here's a quick update: I have found a couple of links to the standalone Blu-ray, but not sure how "available" it is right now.

    Amazon Canada - "ships in 5 to 8 weeks" - http://www.amazon.ca/Tommy-Blu-ray-Audio-Who/dp/B00EQ25DK0/

    Amazon UK - Out of stock; other, non-Amazon sellers claim to have it: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tommy-Who/dp/B00EQ25DK0/

    Amazon Germany - to be released on Nov. 15th, according to my very, very limited German language skill 🙂 : http://www.amazon.de/The-Who-Tommy-Blu-ray/dp/B00EQ25DK0

    There is no listing on Amazon.com for that ASIN (Amazon's version of a UPC code); maybe it won't be released in the States? That would be a shame…

    Best,

    Colin

    Reply

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