The Who
1968
January. The Who Sell Out [LP; UK #13]
Over the spring and summer of 1968, Pete Townshend develops the idea of an opera, with the encouragement of manager-producer Kit Lambert. The story of a boy who loses his abilities to see, to hear, and to touch, or at least he appears that way. The cause is psycho traumatic and the "cure" comes from an act of ego annihilation.
19 June. "Dogs" / "Call Me Lightning" [Track 604 023, charts, UK #25]
22 September. The Who begin recording Tommy at IBC Studios, Portland Place.
23 October. "Magic Bus" / "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hide" [Track 604 024, charts, UK #26]
November. Direct Hits [compilation LP]

Entwistle, Daltry, and Townshend with Kit Lambert
1969
7 March. "Pinball Wizard" / "Dogs" [Track 604 027 released, charts 19 March, UK #4]
2 May. The Who perform the British premiere of Tommy in Ronnie Scott's Club, Soho
9 May. The Who perform the American premiere of Tommy in the Grande Ballroom, Dearborn, Michigan.
16 May. The Who perform at the Fillmore East. When a plainclothes policeman tried to announce (while the Who are performing) that there is a fire next door, Pete Townshend punched him and threw him off stage. Townshend was charged with third degree assault. Read my Oxford blog on the event AND the responses, which include comments from Dan Mulhearn (the policeman) and an attendee at the concert.
23 May. Tommy [Reaction 613013-14; 2LP; UK #2]
The choice of the name "Tommy" was not arbitrary. The story begins vaguely at the end of the first world war, during which British soldiers adopted the name "Tommy" after an orientation booklet that used as its example a fictional "Thomas Atkins."
Tommy: Notes & Quotes
Side One Side Two Side Three Side Four
Overture / It's a Boy Christmas Do You Think It's Alright Miracle Cure
1921 Cousin Kevin Fiddle About Sally Simpson
Amazing Journey The Acid Queen Pinball Wizard I'm Free
Sparks Underture There's a Doctor I've Found Welcome
Eyesight to the Blind Go to the Mirror Boy Tommy's Holiday Camp
Tommy Can You Hear Me We're Not Gonna Take It
Smash the Mirror
Sensation
1970
4 April. "The Seeker" / "Here for More" [Track 604 036, charts, UK #19]
May. Live at Leeds [UK3]
8 August. "Summertime Blues" / "Heaven and Hell" [Track 2094 002, charts, UK #38]
September. "See Me, Feel Me" / "Overture from Tommy"
 
1975
19 March. A film version directed by Ken Russell opens in the US featuring Roger Daltry as Tommy and Oliver Reed, Ann Margaret, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, Paul Nicholas, Jack Nicholson, and others as well as members of the band.
26 March. British premiere.
 
1992
July. The Who's Tommy, the premiere of a stage production of Tommy opens in San Diego.
Sources
Barnes, Richard. 1996. "Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Boy." Liner notes to Tommy.
Marsh, Dave. 1983. Before I Get Old: The Story of the Who. London: Plexus Publishing Limited.
McMichael, Joe and Jack Lyons. The Who Concert File. 1997. New York: Omnibus Press.
Welch, Chris. 1995. Teenage Wasteland: The Early Years. Chessington, Surrey: Castle Communications PLC.
Wenner, Jann. 1981. Pete Townshend. (Originally published 1968). In The Rolling Stone Interviews, 1967-1980: Talking with the Legends of Rock and Roll (edited by Peter Herbst): 32-43. New York: St. Martin's Press / Rolling Stone Press.
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  26-nov-17