THE WHO TOMMY LIVE
Audio is The Who - Leeds 1970 [2014 Mix]
Video is Bethel NY 1969, London 1969, Lenox MA 1970, IOW 1970
Timecodes are in the comments
The Who performed two University dates for the purpose of recording a live album, having lost the patience to sort through the tapes recorded on the North American 1969 tour. The first gig, at the University of Leeds Refectory, in front of an audience of 2,000, showcased The Who’s live act at its finest. The original album featured only six songs, half of which were covers, live songs from Tommy wouldn't officially come until years later. Kit Lambert manager of The Who was keen for Tommy to be taken seriously and wanted The Who to perform at opera houses.
The main source of footage used (London 1969) was released as bonus footage with the 1977 Kilburn footage.
The album was mostly composed by guitarist Pete Townshend, and is a rock opera that tells the story of Tommy Walker. Tommy is traumatized from witnessing his father murder his mother's lover; Tommy's parents then compound his shock by denying the experience. In reaction, Tommy becomes dissociative ("deaf, dumb and blind"). As a way of coping with his trauma, Tommy dissociates further through playing pinball and he gains a following because of his savant skill. After a numerous amount of other trauma and misguided attempts to heal Tommy, a doctor prescribes him a mirror so he can confront himself. Instead, Tommy becomes self-absorbed and comes to think of himself as a messiah figure. When the mirror is smashed by his parents in frustration, Tommy then breaks out of his dissociative state, and as a result more people become infatuated with him. Tommy with the help of his Uncle Ernie, who molested him and is only interested in money, starts a holiday camp and tries to lead his followers to believe that the only path to healing is going through what he experienced, becoming dissociative, playing pinball and giving up drugs and alcohol; which then his followers eventually reject him and his teachings.
