Click on it to enlarge, obviously.
I hadn't read that it in a while, so I was pleased to discover that it was still pretty funny; as you can tell, I really REALLY disliked the show.
I had forgotten, however, that the people who adapted the album for the stage had (to me inexplicably) turned the child-molesting Uncle Ernie into a sympathetic character. Given recent events, you gotta wonder how that will play if they ever stage a revival at (the apparently soon to be renamed as the) Trump Center in DC. 😎
In any event, I think the above has gotta go into the Steve's Greatest Hits book I've been nattering on about here for the last couple of years.
And while I'm on the subject -- actual news about that is coming soon. Possibly even next week; I'll keep you guys posted. 😎😎
17 comments:
Nice work. I saw the touring show in Cleveland, and was downright depressed at what they did to a good Who record. And the band was as you say, "like a wedding combo trying to play something for the younger folk". Nailed it.
Pretty sure I read that way back in the Before Times, it rings a faint but unmistakable bell. Reminds me of the difference between the original off-Broadway version of Hair and the Broadway version: the original was backed by a simple 5-piece band and the music actually rocked a little. The music was tamed for Broadway, cheesy horns were added, and some of the songs were cut. Both soundtracks are still available, so you can check out the differnces.
Steve curious - did you ever review Tommy, the movie ?
rob
Rob….probably reviewed the soundtrack album. I’ll go check…..
Re: Townshend
As the old saying goes (that I may have just imagined) "If we live long enough we run the risk of turning into everything we hated when we were young!"
Captain Al
Yes, I reviewed Tommy the Movie at the time. I’ll post it next week.😎
Move over, Rex Reed! A pan is as much fun to write as it is to read. I never saw the stage show, but 'Tommy' was one of the very few films I've ever walked out on (this was before I got Ken Russell- tho I still can't stand Baz Luhrmann).
Found the review, which was in the June 1975 issue. Gonna put it up on Monday.
Not 200 Motels - at least Fritz was amusing 😉
🍿 👍
Not sure how I can put this without it sounding bad, but get your book out as soon as you can. My snail mail pal Hollywood scenster Art Fein passed away yesterday but got his memoirs (Rock's in My Head) put down on paper about two years ago, published by Ira Robbins and Trouser Press.
Two friends who are 60s/70s musicians/scene veterans are now working on their memoirs as they approach 80. Should be many great stories.
Bob in IL
You know Steve, you might just want to continue this writing thing. You might
even be able to make a career of it.
Jai Guru Dave
Good advice from a Weasel.
Captain Al
Steve, did you ever review Zappa's 200 Motels (1971) album ?
While Zappa was basically "Straight Edge" you had to watch that movie with let's say a certain imaginative state 😉
rob
Rob to rob - while Stereo Review did publish numerous Zappa offerings they in fact never reviewed 200 Motels - found this info that covers every article from '68 onward.
I’ve never seen the Broadway production of Tommy, but there was one outcome of it that is one of my most cherished experiences - in summer 2001, Pete Townshend did two benefit performances for Des MacAnuff’s La Jolla Playhouse theater (about 500 seats, all of them great) and I was fortunate enough to attend the first of the two, just Pete and an acoustic guitar and a piano. He played for about 90 minutes then a short encore, (an abbreviated WGFA with his red Strat; , he had played the whole song acoustically earlier) and was very talkative all night - a “Storytellers” kind of show. Some witticisms (“This is a happy little love song - I write millions of ‘em”, just before Let My Love Open the Door ), some discussion of Lifehouse before playing the unutterably lovely Greyhound Girl (on 12-string to boot), some talk of his love/hate relationship with the piano, and sure enough, he messed up during The Sea Refuses No River, but persevered and brought it to a satisfying conclusion…just a special, once-in-a-lifetime show. I’ll forgive him the Broadway Tommy if it brought me this wonderful solo acoustic concert.
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