Tommy Remastered

This review is for the Super Deluxe Set. This is a great set, but there are some problems. For instance, it was disappointing to read the live tracks were "all recorded in 1969" but from the first chord of I'm Free it was clear to anyone familiar with the band that it was a post-Tommy movie version. Too bad; the 1969 material was a bit more aggressive and raw than any other live Tommy I've heard from that era (and I've heard a few). There is a typo in the book too, leaving a "y" off of Anyway Anyhow Anywhere (so far as I've read). Someone wasn't giving the amount of attention this set deserves; this is a bit sloppy. The original mix remastered is fine, nothing revolutionary. I prefer the 1996 remix as it has more depth and dimension, however the original mix does have one thing I miss in every other: during the Overture the part where the organ comes in...very strong as are the drums...and no other version has that powerful moment. The demos sound amazing, as good as the bootleg is, this is better and with songs not included on the bootleg. Nice to have a remastered studio Young Man Blues at last, too. There was room for more cuts on this disc, so it's a mystery why we didn't get Cousin Kevin Model Child or any other relevant tracks.Now...the 5.1 mix. I was very surprised to find this is NOT the mix from the Deluxe Tommy set (2003), which I have on both SACD and DVD-A. I prefer the SACD sound between them; it seems a bit brighter and cleaner. This Blu-Ray version has the music newly remixed into 5.1. I have described listening to the original 5.1 mix as being "almost a religious experience." Still, there were things I wasn't happy about...for one big one, Pete's voice was mostly in the rear channels and sounded distant (too much reverb!). Also, Smash The Mirror sounded disjointed and too wide open (the secret of a great 5.1 mix is to sound like the original only in a way that allows the listener to hear more than they have before...for another example of that being ignored try Abraxas by Santana...horrible mix!). On the other hand, they augmented some of the sounds...for instance, the mirror smash in Smash The Mirror and they added pinball table sounds to the fade of Pinball Wizard.This mix sounds more like the original mix. They decided to isolate each instrument for the most part into a single channel...for instance, the drums are in the left rear channel. The bass is in the left front channel. The guitar is (for the most part) in the right front channel (except for instance on Pinball Wizard, where the acoustic guitar is in the right back channel and the electric in the right front channel...generally if there are two guitars the second is in the right rear). The right rear channel also gets piano and reverb and other tidbits but it the most passive channel. Vocals in the center channel, for the most part. Pros: the bass is revealed to a great extent; I was hearing subtleties I hadn't in 44 years of listening. Also, Pete's voice is in the center and very present as it should be. I have always advocated a Who mix with the instruments set as the band plays live, and this is it for the guitar and bass. Cons: the drums sound great, clean and powerful, but would have been better served with a wider range to work with...also in most systems the rear channels are not the same quality speakers as the front. The only other complaint I have is for Eyesight To The Blind, which (IMHO) has too much reverb on the rhythm guitar.Other than that (with only a single listening), this mix is IMHO superior to the earlier one. Not perfect, but closer at least I believe.The books is nice (albeit in need of a more astute proofreader) and the packaging similar to the Quadrophenia box. I guess we'll be getting a Who's Next box in the future...which could be great, given a full concert from the tour other than the Young Vic shows and a good 5.1 mix.So yes, buy it, you'll be happy with it. And...enjoy.

I liked the extra tracks and the presentation of the boxset.

I forgot how much I enjoyed this music. It is one of the first 8 tracks (yes, I go that far back) I bought, and enjoyed on my 21st birthday vacation.

Ok Who/Pete Townshend fans, time to shell out for "Tommy" AGAIN... Yes all, you have purchased the LP's back in the day, you bought the CD in the 80's, you bought it again in 1996 as part of the remaster program and you bought in 2003 for the "Deluxe" version which included some demos and outtakes. But, buy it again as this version is beautiful and sounds good. The Demos disc has been a real highlight for me and hearing Pete sing all the tracks has been really fascinating. So far I've played it more than Tommy itself! The live disc is also good to have but not essential since live Tommy from the 60's has been out before. The book is absolutely gorgeous and informative with the really nice photos and artwork (along with all lyrics) but a nice essay from Pete would have been nice also. The Blu-ray disc is pretty cool. I did not make it through the entire disc due to time restraints but it is great - I really enjoyed it.One complaint I have is that this is allegedly the definitive "Tommy" but you will have to hold onto your 2003 "Deluxe" version as it includes a few outtakes not included here.

Album was in great condition and as described….very happy all around

The 5.1 mix done on the BluRay in this 2014 set differs significantly from the 5.1 that Townshend mixed for the 2003 SACD. On this version, ol' tinnitus ears has entrusted the mix to a couple of presumably younger sound engineers. The new 5.1 mix has the bulk of the drums mixed almost exclusively to the left rear speaker...almost, There is some stereo drum spread to the right rear speaker and echo in the other speakers and some bass drum punches through the subwoofer. On both the old and new 5.1 mixes, other percussion - such as timpani - is heard from speakers not relegated to Keith's drum kit. On the 2003 5.1, the drums are blended more evenly in stereo between the front two speakers. There is much more bottom in the 2003 5.1 mix. it is also louder and therefore very "big" sounding. The earlier mix is better if you like your Who record to sound BIG. On the other hand, this newer mix is more discrete - less blended and the sort of thing that one might like out of 5.1 where different parts are more identifiable in their spacial placement. The old mix is also has wonderful discrete instrument placement but with more of the band projecting from the front speakers. Both old and new 5.1 mixes reserve the center speaker for most of the lead vocals.The new 2013 Super Deluxe stereo mix sounds to me to be very similar if not the same as the 2003 Deluxe stereo mix. The 1996 stereo mix is quite different with the drums focused much more to the center and therefore producing a bit more punch. For that reason, among the stereo versions, I prefer the 1996 mix.Value-wise, I think this new set is fair. The book is substantial, quite informative and interesting reading. The official bootleg live recording is reportedly from two mics on stage. It's not on the level of an excellent soundboard recording but its better than an ambient audience recording. I never heard this live recording so it was of value to me. The demos and out-takes are excellent but all but a handful of those cuts have been available for years.

This is a great box set, the surprise is what I like the best about it. The remastered album is great, the demo album of Pete Townsend singing the songs is good, but I don't like it as much as I thought I would.The big surprise is the 5.1 disc, I put in my DVD player and listened through my surround sound system, and couldn't believe how great it sounded and how much I enjoyed it.The live disc is really great, with a great sound and the great energy of a live concert.So this was a surprise, what I thought I really wouldn't care about I like the best.

Same as above. Just brilliant music to crank up in the car and sing your heart out to.

bellissimo cofanetto su tommy e demos, molto bello in cd e blue ray, straordinario

Para coleccionistas y fanaticos de corazón, una excelente crónica de la primera obra maestra de Pete Townshend y the Who; el libro ensayo por Richard Barnes relata los cimientos místicos del origen de Tommy, con la influencia de la filosofía oriental de Meher Baba instalada en un reducido círculo artístico del oeste de Londres; continúa con el difícil proceso debido a la fragilidad del grupo en esa época y la influencia cultural en la estructura de la ópera; el segundo disco incluida en esta colección contiene los demos y maquetas de Townshend que conformaron ese proceso de 5 meses con un par de canciones terminadas por la totalidad de la banda que no fueron enlistadas en el álbum original. Existen cantidad innumerable de fotografías y memorabilia de la época que ilustran el viaje asombroso y complementan la nueva remasterización y mezcla del álbum original que tiene un sonido más puro pero a la vez más tenue de la re-mezcla del 2003; sin embargo no se deja de disfrutar debido a la compañía de un disco blu ray con esta nueva mezcla en 5.1 para el deleite las cuerdas y metales de Tommy; para finalizar la crónica delMejor amigo de Pete, se mencionan y se demuestra con un cuarto disco de Tommy en vivo durante la gira de Norteamérica de 1969 durante la cual se interpretó elDisco de una forma cruda y ruda; de regalo final se incluye un póster de uno los conciertos fundamentales de esta gira en el coliseo de Londres en diciembre de 1969. Un tesoro único para los amantes del hermano mayor y espiritual de Quadrophenia

una gran set box obligada para cualquier amante de la musica y gran version de el dvd incluido dts 5.1

Tommy had a tremendous impact at the time of its release and rightly so.With hints of what to expect on their earlier albums The Who Sell Out and A Quick OneHowever, in my own personal opinion this impact was short lived with the follow up releases of Live At Leeds and Who's Next gaining more of my attention.And the fabulous Quadrophenia, released four years later was also played far more extensively than Tommy.Although.......and here comes the glaring contradiction Tommy witnessed live on stage is undeniably a 'tour de force' and has remained so, to some extent for 45 years.Revisiting the live versions and experiencing the raw power of the Live at Leeds and Live at Hull versions undeniably showcases the true impact of one of the first 'Rock Operas'.This 'Stunning Limited Edition Super-Deluxe Box Set' provides everything, the Remastered Original Album in HD, Pete Townshend's Demo's, The 5.1 Album Mix and The Live Bootleg from 1969.The Deluxe hard-back book provides an insight into the development of Tommy along with extensive photographs, notes, hand written song lyrics and memorabilia.The convenience of the CD format (as opposed to having to change each side on vinyl) now allows me to truly enjoy this ground breaking piece of music as I really should have done on its release.Live at Leeds and Who's Next are still the best the Who have produced but Tommy definitely has a place in history, 'live' or otherwise and to me 45 years later it now sounds so much more coherent.I will now pay Tommy the respect it deserved but wasn't given on its original release.This Box Set will take pride of place alongside my Quadrophenia, Super Deluxe Edition and Live At Leeds 40th Anniversary Special Edition awaiting to be joined by the Who's Next Super Deluxe Edition Box Set.