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Tommy (The Who album)

Updated: 12/11/2025, 5:49:54 PM Wikipedia source

Tommy is the fourth studio album by the English rock band the Who, released on 19 May 1969. Written primarily by guitarist Pete Townshend, Tommy is a double album and an early rock opera that tells the story of the fictional Tommy Walker and his path to becoming a spiritual leader and messianic figure. Townshend came up with the concept of Tommy after being introduced to the work of Indian spiritual teacher Meher Baba, and he attempted to translate Baba's ideas into music. Recording of the album began in September 1968, but took six months to complete as material needed to be arranged and re-recorded in the studio. The Who promoted the album's release with an extensive tour, including a live version of Tommy, which lasted throughout 1969 and 1970. Key gigs from the tour included appearances at Woodstock, the 1969 Isle of Wight Festival, the University of Leeds, the Metropolitan Opera House, and the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival. The live performances of Tommy drew critical praise and revitalised the band's career. Upon its release, Tommy was acclaimed by critics, who hailed it as the Who's breakthrough. Several writers view it as an important and influential album in the history of rock music. In 1998, Tommy was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Subsequently, the rock opera was developed into other media, including a ballet in Montreal in 1970, a Seattle Opera production in 1971, an orchestral version by Lou Reizner in 1972, a film directed by Ken Russell and featuring Jack Nicholson and Oliver Reed in 1975, and a Broadway musical in 1992. Tommy has been reissued several times on CD, including a remix by Jon Astley in 1996, a deluxe Super Audio CD in 2003, and a super deluxe box set in 2013, including previously unreleased demos and live material.

Infobox

Released
19 May 1969 (1969-05-19)
Recorded
19 September 1968 – 7 March 1969
Studio
IBC and Morgan, London
Genre
Rock hard rock
Length
74:44
Label
Track (UK) Decca (US)
Producer
Kit Lambert

Tables

Retrospective professional reviews · Legacy and reappraisal
Source
Source
Review scores
Source
Review scores
Rating
AllMusic
AllMusic
Review scores
AllMusic
Review scores
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Review scores
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Review scores
MusicHound Rock
MusicHound Rock
Review scores
MusicHound Rock
Review scores
4/5
Q
Q
Review scores
Q
Review scores
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau
Review scores
Robert Christgau
Review scores
A−
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Review scores
Rolling Stone
Review scores
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Review scores
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Review scores
Tom Hull – on the Web
Tom Hull – on the Web
Review scores
Tom Hull – on the Web
Review scores
A−
Uncut
Uncut
Review scores
Uncut
Review scores
Review scores
Source
Rating
AllMusic
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
MusicHound Rock
4/5
Q
Robert Christgau
A−
Rolling Stone
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Tom Hull – on the Web
A−
Uncut
mw- 1969 chart performance · Charts
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Chart (1969–70)
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Peak position
8
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Chart (1969–70)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Peak position
6
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Chart (1969–70)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Peak position
5
UK Albums (OCC)
UK Albums (OCC)
Chart (1969–70)
UK Albums (OCC)
Peak position
2
US Billboard 200
US Billboard 200
Chart (1969–70)
US Billboard 200
Peak position
4
Chart (1969–70)
Peak position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
8
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
6
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
5
UK Albums (OCC)
2
US Billboard 200
4
1976 chart performance · Charts
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Chart (1976)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Peak position
50
Chart (1976)
Peak position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
50
2002 chart performance · Charts
French Albums (SNEP)
French Albums (SNEP)
Chart (2002)
French Albums (SNEP)
Peak position
143
Chart (2002)
Peak position
French Albums (SNEP)
143
2013 chart performance · Charts
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
Chart (2013)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
Peak position
181
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
Chart (2013)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
Peak position
175
Chart (2013)
Peak position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
181
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
175
Certifications · Certifications
France (SNEP)
France (SNEP)
Region
France (SNEP)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
100,000*
Italy (FIMI)
Italy (FIMI)
Region
Italy (FIMI)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
25,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)
New Zealand (RMNZ)
Region
New Zealand (RMNZ)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
7,500^
United Kingdom (BPI) release of 2012
United Kingdom (BPI) release of 2012
Region
United Kingdom (BPI) release of 2012
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
100,000^
United States (RIAA)
United States (RIAA)
Region
United States (RIAA)
Certification
2× Platinum
Certified units/sales
2,000,000^
Sales figures based on certification alone.^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales figures based on certification alone.^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Region
Sales figures based on certification alone.^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Region
Certification
Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)
Gold
100,000*
Italy (FIMI)
Gold
25,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)
Gold
7,500^
United Kingdom (BPI) release of 2012
Gold
100,000^
United States (RIAA)
2× Platinum
2,000,000^
Sales figures based on certification alone.^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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