Heavy Rotation Album Cover Challenge #1 The London Symphony Orchestra Performs Tommy (1972)

English Chamber Choir / London Symphony Orchestra perform Tommy (1972)

Genre     Stage & Screen, Classical, Pop/Rock

“The album challenge is simple enough to post an album cover per day for 10 days, challenging a friend per day to take the challenge & not to unfriend me for it. HAHAHAHAHAHA. As promised, today's challenge is extended to fellow Methodist alum, Michael Williams. Thank you for offering to take the torch and run with it for the 10 day 10 album marathon!“





Thank you, old friend for challenging me! Music has always been a wonderful gift that continues to grow in value. I'm fortunate enough to now not only have recorded music in my life, but several friends who are musicians and to listen to them create and perform is one of the greatest joys I have the privilege of experiencing.

The first album cover that came to mind was the London Symphony Orchestra’s version of Pete Townsend's rock opera Tommy. I discovered this album in 6th grade, long before I started buying my own music, because of its unique cover (and started a lifelong tradition of buying music based on the cover art alone) and the booklet inside.

Hearing these rock and roll songs turned into lush symphonic pieces was a profoundly touching experience. So much so that when I finally heard the original album, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointment that their artistry did not match that LSO’s. It was also a little weird that Roger Daltrey sang almost all the parts, including the female parts.

Tommy is a massive concept album that tells the story of a young boy who witnesses a violent crime and retreats into himself, symbolized staring at his reflection in the mirror. Violently brought out of that world where all he saw was himself,  and he attempts to transform the world around him into that mirror self.Of course the rest of the world, once enamoured of Tommy and his story, rejects that narcissistic view and turn on him. He survives his converts rebellion and the ending is open ended. Does he retreat back into where he was before or does he attempt to accept the world beyond his (and ours)?