''The Smithereens Play Tommy'' is the tenth studio
album
An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...
by
Carteret, New Jersey
Carteret is a borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the borough's population was 25,326.
History
Carteret was originally created as the borough of Roosevelt on April 11, 1906, from portion ...
-based
rock band
A rock band or pop band is a small musical ensemble that performs rock music, pop music, or a related genre. A four-piece band is the most common configuration in rock and pop music. In the early years, the configuration was typically two guita ...
The Smithereens
The Smithereens are an American rock band from Carteret, New Jersey, United States. The group formed in 1980 with members Pat DiNizio (vocals & guitar), Jim Babjak (guitar & vocals), Mike Mesaros (bass guitar & vocals), and Dennis Diken (drums & ...
, released on 5 May 2009 by
E1 Music
MNRK Music Group (pronounced "monarch", formerly known as Koch Records and eOne Music) is a New York City-based independent record label and music management company. It was formed in 2009 from the music assets of Koch Entertainment, which had b ...
. The album features the band covering highlights from
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist and singer John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered ...
's 1969 concept album, ''
Tommy
Tommy may refer to:
People
* Tommy (given name)
* Tommy Atkins, or just Tommy, a slang term for a common soldier in the British Army
Arts and entertainment Film and television
* ''Tommy'' (1931 film), a Soviet drama film
* ''Tommy'' (1975 fil ...
'', creating an abridged version of the original story. The Smithereens edited the original album's 24 selections down to 13 songs, with a total running time of 41 minutes, compared to the original's 75 minutes.
It is The Smithereens' fourth cover album in a row, following two albums devoted entirely to Beatles songs (''
Meet The Smithereens!
''Meet The Smithereens!'' is the seventh studio album by Carteret, New Jersey-based rock band The Smithereens, released in stores on January 16, 2007. The album features the band covering The Beatles' 1964 American album, ''Meet the Beatles!''.
...
'' and ''
B-Sides The Beatles
''B-Sides The Beatles'' is the ninth studio album by The Smithereens, released September 2, 2008 on Koch Records. The album features the band covering Beatles B-sides released in America in 1964 and early 1965. '') and an album of Christmas-themed songs (''
Christmas with The Smithereens
''Christmas with The Smithereens'' is the eighth studio album by The Smithereens, released 9 October 2007 by Koch Records. The album features the band covering nine Christmas-themed songs along with three originals.
Critical reception
AllMusi ...
'').
The album cover is illustrated by
William Stout
William Stout (born September 18, 1949) is an American fantasy artist and illustrator with a specialization in paleoart, paleontological art. His paintings have been shown in over seventy exhibitions, including twelve one-man shows. He has worke ...
, who also designed
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist and singer John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered ...
's
bootleg
Bootleg or bootlegging most often refers to:
* Bootleg recording, an audio or video recording released unofficially
* Rum-running, the illegal business of transporting and trading in alcoholic beverages, hence:
** Moonshine, or illicitly made ...
albums ''Who's Zoo'' and ''Tales from the Who''.
[''The Smithereens Play Tommy''](_blank)
Officialsmithereens.com. Retrieved on 5 July 2018.[''Trademark of Quality Bootlegs – Part Two''](_blank)
Williamstout.com. Retrieved on 5 July 2018.
Critical reception
Allmusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
's
Mark Deming
Mark may refer to:
Currency
* Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark, the currency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
* East German mark, the currency of the German Democratic Republic
* Estonian mark, the currency of Estonia between 1918 and 1927
* Finn ...
rated the album three stars out of five, saying that, "the feel of the album is pretty close to
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist and singer John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered ...
's version," and that "guitarist
Jim Babjak
Jim Babjak (born November 17, 1957) is an American guitarist and ex-banker. He is the lead guitar player and co-founder of The Smithereens. Babjak has written and sung several songs for the band. He also is the leader of the band ''Buzzed Meg''.
...
may lack
Townshend's epic vision and sense of flourish, but he gets the crunchy bash of this music right, and drummer
Dennis Diken
Dennis Diken (born February 25, 1957) is an American drummer, DJ, author, music historian, and founding member of the band the Smithereens, which he formed in 1980 with Pat DiNizio, Jim Babjak, and Mike Mesaros in Carteret, New Jersey. Besides ...
and bassist Severo Jornacion find a way to pare down the style of the most manic rhythm section in rock history while achieving some approximation of their power and musical sense". Deming added that, although lead vocalist
Pat DiNizio
Patrick Michael DiNizio (October 12, 1955 – December 12, 2017) was the lead singer, songwriter, and founding member of the band The Smithereens, which he formed in 1980 with Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken, and Mike Mesaros, from Carteret, New Jersey ...
's "deep, moody tone" doesn't match
Roger Daltrey
Roger Harry Daltrey (born 1 March 1944) is an English singer, musician and actor. He is a co-founder and the lead singer of the Rock music, rock band The Who.
Daltrey's hit songs with The Who include "My Generation", "Pinball Wizard", "Won't Ge ...
's singing style, the songs suit "the dark, dramatic feel of DiNizio's instrument, and Babjak and Diken contribute lead vocals on a few tunes that demand something lighter". However, Deming concluded that the album is "little more than an oddity for Smithereens completists and Who fans obsessive enough to want every cover version of their favorite band's work. In short, this gets an A for effort but a C− for practical utility".
Will Layman of ''
PopMatters
''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, fi ...
'' rated the album 5 out of 10 and said "The Smithereens, packing dosed-up guitars that ring with power and full-throated singing, are up to the task of playing ''Tommy''. The band, in short, sounds a whole lot like The Who. ... Loyal to the original to a fault, this record does too little to distinguish itself". There were a few exceptions, though, according to Layman, ""
Acid Queen
''Acid Queen'' is the second solo studio album by Tina Turner. It was released in 1975 on the EMI label in the UK and on United Artists in the US. Although it is a Tina Turner solo album, the first single, " Baby, Get It On," was a duet with Ike ...
" is absolutely outstanding, with DiNizio sounding just like himself ... remaking the tune not only in the vocals but also in how the arrangement is layered in the brief bridge. And there are flashes in other songs".
[Layman, Will.]
The Smithereens: The Smithereens Play Tommy
. ''PopMatters
''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, fi ...
''. 2 June 2009. Retrieved on 5 July 2018.
In his review for ''Musoscribe'', Bill Kopp said that The Smithereens' reinterpretation of ''Tommy'' "in fact improves on it in a number of ways. First, the ‘Reens strip away the album’s lesser tracks. ... Second, The Smithereens answer the question posed in
he album's
He or HE may refer to:
Language
* He (pronoun), an English pronoun
* He (kana), the romanization of the Japanese kana へ
* He (letter), the fifth letter of many Semitic alphabets
* He (Cyrillic), a letter of the Cyrillic script called ''He'' ...
liner notes
Liner notes (also sleeve notes or album notes) are the writings found on the sleeves of LP record albums and in booklets that come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for cassettes.
Origin
Liner notes are desce ...
: "What if the ''
Live at Leeds
''Live at Leeds'' is the first live album by English rock band The Who. It was recorded at the University of Leeds Refectory on 14 February 1970, and is their only live album that was released while the group were still actively recording and p ...
'' or ''
Who's Next
''Who's Next'' is the fifth studio album by English rock band the Who. It developed from the aborted '' Lifehouse'' project, a multi-media rock opera conceived by the group's guitarist Pete Townshend as a follow-up to the band's 1969 album ''T ...
''
raWho had recorded a proper, all-out rock studio version of ''Tommy''‘s best songs?" Kopp added that "''The Smithereens Play Tommy'' isn’t meant to replace your well-worn copy of the Who album, and it shouldn’t. But this loving and energetic tribute does serve as an enjoyable rethinking of that set. The Smithereens are well suited to the challenge of covering an iconic work without losing their own identity in the process".
[Kopp, Bill.]
Album Review: The Smithereens Play Tommy
. ''Musoscribe''. 29 September 2009. Retrieved on 5 July 2018.
Track listing
All songs written by
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend (; born 19 May 1945) is an English musician. He is co-founder, leader, guitarist, second lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the Who, one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s.
Townsh ...
, except where noted.
Personnel
;The Smithereens
*
Pat DiNizio
Patrick Michael DiNizio (October 12, 1955 – December 12, 2017) was the lead singer, songwriter, and founding member of the band The Smithereens, which he formed in 1980 with Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken, and Mike Mesaros, from Carteret, New Jersey ...
– lead vocals, guitar, production
*
Jim Babjak
Jim Babjak (born November 17, 1957) is an American guitarist and ex-banker. He is the lead guitar player and co-founder of The Smithereens. Babjak has written and sung several songs for the band. He also is the leader of the band ''Buzzed Meg''.
...
– guitar, harmony vocals, lead vocals on "Amazing Journey", "Christmas" and "Go to the Mirror", production
*Severo "The Thrilla from Manilla" Jornacion – bass
*
Dennis Diken
Dennis Diken (born February 25, 1957) is an American drummer, DJ, author, music historian, and founding member of the band the Smithereens, which he formed in 1980 with Pat DiNizio, Jim Babjak, and Mike Mesaros in Carteret, New Jersey. Besides ...
– drums, percussion, harmony vocals, lead vocals on "Pinball Wizard" and "Sensation", production
;Technical
*
Kurt Reil – production, engineering, mixing
*Arnold Mischkulnig – mastering
*
William Stout
William Stout (born September 18, 1949) is an American fantasy artist and illustrator with a specialization in paleoart, paleontological art. His paintings have been shown in over seventy exhibitions, including twelve one-man shows. He has worke ...
– front and back cover illustration
*Paul Grosso – creative direction
*Andrew Kelley – art direction
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smithereens Play Tommy, The
2009 albums
The Smithereens albums
The Who tribute albums
Concept albums
Tommy (rock opera)