Tommy (Half Speed Masters)＜限定盤＞

前作からのトータル的なアルバム作りを昇華させ、ロックとオペラを融合させた画期的な作品としてバンドのキャリア上においても重要な位置付けとなる1969年発表4thアルバム。代表曲「ピンボールの魔術師」(Pinball Wizard)収録。バンド付のエンジニアであるJon Astleyがオリジナルマスター素材から本企画の為にリマスターし、Miles Showell(Abbey Road Studios)によりハーフスピード・カッティングによるラッカー盤作成された、Abbey Road Studiosシリーズの帯と認定書付。オリジナルジャケットを再現したリイシュー企画。

The full-blown rock opera about a deaf, dumb, and blind boy that launched the band to international superstardom, written almost entirely by Pete Townshend. Hailed as a breakthrough upon its release, its critical standing has diminished somewhat in the ensuing decades because of the occasional pretensions of the concept and because of the insubstantial nature of some of the songs that functioned as little more than devices to advance the rather sketchy plot. Nonetheless, the double album has many excellent songs, including "I'm Free," "Pinball Wizard," "Sensation," "Christmas," "We're Not Gonna Take It," and the dramatic ten-minute instrumental "Underture." Though the album was slightly flawed, Townshend's ability to construct a lengthy conceptual narrative brought new possibilities to rock music. Despite the complexity of the project, he and the Who never lost sight of solid pop melodies, harmonies, and forceful instrumentation, imbuing the material with a suitably powerful grace. ~ Richie Unterberger