'Tommy'

Tommy is regarded as "great" because -- and only because -- it's by The Who, who are amazingly overrated and because it's a so-called "rock opera." Meaning, all the songs were written and recorded in a way that followed a plot and told a story.

If those same songs were release by the Dave Clark Five as kind of a regular, hodgepodge of songs, seemingly unconnected, then it would be considered the worst possible rock albums of all time.

As it is, it's "great." Not to me. But it's a general consensus. Those songs stink. It's a dumb story told by a dumb band.

The most disappointing aspect of the album is the relative lack of any production value. This album was done in 1969 and by then recording technologies and breakthroughs were already going through the roof. The Who, being a gigantic rock band, could afford anything they want. This was a rock opera, why not go the entire nine yards? Instead, they got Keith Moon banging on those drums and Pete Townshend strumming away at his acoustic guitar and that's about the end of it.

If a real band with a real producer had come in in 1969 and really had their way with that album, then I might be playing a different tune here. I don't want to hate the album, but I'm not buying into the hype. Consider the album for its songs and not for its context, then you'll see my point.