I listened to the album all they way through twice. I listened to the music, to the words. I heard the story within. Yea, I was only eight, but even at that young age I had a way of grasping things my peers didn't. I was reading, comprehending, understanding beyond them since I was a toddler. It's just the way I was. And now I had discovered something else that they would not quite get.
It wasn't until the second listen that I figured out there was a full story going on and not just random songs. I played it again, sometimes skipping over songs ("Go to the Mirror"), sometimes playing a certain tune twice ("Acid Queen"). On the third listen, my cousin (who was supposed to be babysitting me at the time but had disappeared with his friends) came back and was stunned to see I was listening to the album, and not for the first time.
For the next few hours, he sat down with me and went over the whole story, one song at a time. I remember him saying "I can't believe you get this" about ten times. We talked about wicked Uncle Ernie and Cousin Kevin and how I thought in the end Tommy reminded me a lot of Jesus.
It wasn't until five years later when we went to see Tommy the movie together that we talked about it again, and on a deeper level. Hey, to a 13 year old, a rock opera is about as deep as it gets.
By the way, we both hated the movie (with the exception of the Cousin Kevin/Uncle Ernie scenes). The vision of Ann Margaret rolling around in baked beans haunts my dreams to this very day.
And that was the first album I ever fell in love with.
Song selection:
"Tommy Can You Hear Me?"
"Cousin Kevin"
"I'm Free"
"See Me Feel Me/Listening to You"
"We're Not Gonna Take It"
Article comments
1 - J. P. Spencer
One day, I want to meet you, case of beer in tow, and talk about this album with you. I finally have met someone else who appreciates this masterwork as much as I do.
And yes, I too hated the movie for the most part. Ken Russell will be Ken Russell, unfortunately.
2 - Dawn
Very nostalgic and well written piece, Michele.
I only wish my first had been something as wonderful as Tommy, but alas, it was Houses of the Holy from my older sister's record collection.
I thought the album cover was cool, had no idea what was inside it. I did stumble on Who's Next soon after though and played "Baba O'Riley" about a thousand times. Ahh, the joy of discovery.