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The Who — I'm Free
Album: Tommy
Avg rating:
7.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1340









Released: 1969
Length: 2:38
Plays (last 30 days): 0
I'm free
I'm free
And freedom tastes of reality
I'm free
I'm free
And I'm waiting for you to follow me

If I told you what it takes
To reach the highest high
You'd laugh and say nothing's that simple
But you've been told many times before
Messiah's pointed to the door
No one had the guts to leave the temple

I'm free
I'm free
And freedom tastes of reality

I'm free
I'm free
And I'm waiting for you to follow me

How can we follow?
How can we follow?
Ooh...
Comments (105)add comment
 DelightedIdiot wrote:

One day Eric Speed and Mr. Shevlin our 12th grade English teacher are arguing about whether or not Tommy is a real opera. Mr. Shevlin looks like your stereotypical uptight, 1950's conservative American male. But he's got a way of relating to us kids. After all here we are, sitting in class, listening to a discussion about Pete Townsend's music writing abilities instead of disecting lines from Shakespeare. He's short and small but feisty, and always dressed sharp as a tack. A cross between Jacob Rees-Mogg (look him up) and Stephen Colbert. Mr. Shevlin loves classical music (search RP: Bolero - Maurice Ravel) and he is sure there's no way a rock n roll album could be an opera. He's never heard it. But it's rock n roll. How could it be? Eric dares him to listen to it and Mr Shevlin agrees. Next day, a friday Eric brings the luminescent blue album into class. Mr. Shevlin stuffs it into his leather briefcase and says he'll listen to it over the weekend and let us know the answer next week. Monday comes and we're all sitting at our desks waiting patiently for the verdict. Mr. Shevlin enters the classroom, briefcase in hand. He walks straight over to Eric's desk, unzips the bag and hands the album back to him. "No." is all he says. Eric is crestfallen. We're all disappointed. This is 1970 and we're looking for adult allies in the CounterCulture war. Mr. Shevlin was cool, but he was having no part of this. There was no such thing as a 'rock opera'.



gee thanks for that.
you time waster
One day Eric Speed and Mr. Shevlin our 12th grade English teacher are arguing about whether or not Tommy is a real opera. Mr. Shevlin looks like your stereotypical uptight, 1950's conservative American male. But he's got a way of relating to us kids. After all here we are, sitting in class, listening to a discussion about Pete Townsend's music writing abilities instead of disecting lines from Shakespeare. He's short and small but feisty, and always dressed sharp as a tack. A cross between Jacob Rees-Mogg (look him up) and Stephen Colbert. Mr. Shevlin loves classical music (search RP: Bolero - Maurice Ravel) and he is sure there's no way a rock n roll album could be an opera. He's never heard it. But it's rock n roll. How could it be? Eric dares him to listen to it and Mr Shevlin agrees. Next day, a friday Eric brings the luminescent blue album into class. Mr. Shevlin stuffs it into his leather briefcase and says he'll listen to it over the weekend and let us know the answer next week. Monday comes and we're all sitting at our desks waiting patiently for the verdict. Mr. Shevlin enters the classroom, briefcase in hand. He walks straight over to Eric's desk, unzips the bag and hands the album back to him. "No." is all he says. Eric is crestfallen. We're all disappointed. This is 1970 and we're looking for adult allies in the CounterCulture war. Mr. Shevlin was cool, but he was having no part of this. There was no such thing as a 'rock opera'.
1969 there was something in the air the year. So much great music in one year.
Tommy (London Symphony Orchestra album)

Studio album by London Symphony Orchestra, English Chamber Choir, The Who, Steve Winwood, Rod Stewart, Ringo Starr, Richie Havens, Merry Clayton


Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_(London_Symphony_Orchestra_album)


YouTube album playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoBEeJ4CEelAnuqqpu3__bzFwh41c9mCW
 markybx wrote:
Cranked +10 dB
 
Does this thing turn up to 11?
It's albums like this that make current albums (and artists) so lame....
 
 
How can we follow?
How can we follow?
Ooh...
Love the album but the album cover has always made me shudder.  TOO MANY HOLES!  It creeps me out.
 hayduke2 wrote:
this is damn good art and some fukkin' great Who!!!  
 
Looks like Paul McCartney with drumsticks.  ; )
Although I like this album, I still prefer the album done by The Who + the London Symphony Orchestra + Ringo Starr + Tina Turner + Ritchie Havens + ... + ... + ...
 calypsus_1 wrote:

Keith Moon. exam by ~Bitterkawaii
Jo  ©2006-2010 ~Bitterkawaii

best thing I've done for the exam so far, done in something like 2 1/2 hours. Keith Moon. Yay.

 
this is damn good art and some fukkin' great Who!!!   
Great track, although I still think it's weird hearing tracks from Tommy (or even more so from DSOTM) and other concept albums. 
8 rating today  
Cranked +10 dB
 Stefen wrote:
This is not the studio version which is on the classic album.

 
I was thinking the same...
This is not the studio version which is on the classic album.
  This is it....this is the one !!!  {#Crown}
Just listen to the drumming. Moon has to have a third arm! 
If I am not mistaken, this version of "I'm Free" is taken from the Tommy Soundtrack album.
Love the album cover.  I had this on vinyl, unfortunately it got lost in one of my many moves.
On a day like today, when I see the photos taken in Hong-Kong, to remember June,4th 1989, this song has a specila taste...
https://tinyurl.com/nxppj4x

( I don't know how to have a preview of the page in the comment - and the tiny url is because of the chinese characters in the URL address)

Love the funky meter coupled with the cosmic message: "I'm free from the chains of reality." 



Everybody in my church loves this song...
 

No, you're 3, because that's the rating I gave you.  (Sorry, just never been a fan of The Who for some reason....)


There are songs that grown on me, or that I learned to appreciate, but this is the kind of song that will never hit me as much again as it did in the beginning. 
 MaryM wrote:

My favorite version of the entire album is the London Symphony Orchestra, Ritchie Havens, Ringo Starr, etc.  I wore the grooves off the vinyl in high school!

 
Free download today - https://www.amazon.com/Performed-Orchestra-featuring-Townshend-Entwhistle/dp/B0026EEYDW?t=slicinc-20&tag=slicinc-20
 LMAO.............................so so true!!!!
fredriley wrote:
The song's always reminded me of the old UK sitcom Are you being served? as "I'm free!" was the catchphrase of the camp tailor in it, played by John Inman:



Irreverent, I know, but wtf - The Who have always sucked donkey to my ears. Sad but true.
 


 fredriley wrote:
TFFT! A nice  solid 1, so I can turn off my machine and go home. I was concerned that, with the fantastic run over the last hour, I'd just keep hearing great number after great number and never be able to mute the speakers. Luckily The Who come up trumps with the overblown sucko-barfo every time, so thanks Pete "just curious, me" Townsend and mates. Oh, and parkas were bloody awful to wear in the rain as they soaked it all up and tripled in weight, so that you felt like you were walking along with a sack of cement on your back. The passing of the Mod is not mourned by me.
 
Being a rocker, leather only doubled in weight. The mighty Cagoule was the answer.
 ofanansky wrote:
really too much Who lately
 
Listen to to drummer you muffin. Makes Ginger Baker look slack.
really too much Who lately
The song's always reminded me of the old UK sitcom Are you being served? as "I'm free!" was the catchphrase of the camp tailor in it, played by John Inman:



Irreverent, I know, but wtf - The Who have always sucked donkey to my ears. Sad but true.
 kilroyjoe3 wrote:
Is the rif from the Pinball Wizard the only one these guys can play??
 

It's the prevalent theme on this album.  I guess you haven't heard much of their other material.
 Balthazar wrote:

Completely agree. Remember when movie came out and I heard movie version, it was much much better for my ears. I like Tommy movie and soundtrack, but this original version gets 5 from me, never liked it.
 
My favorite version of the entire album is the London Symphony Orchestra, Ritchie Havens, Ringo Starr, etc.  I wore the grooves off the vinyl in high school!

Ooohh.. Bill's dog sing!  {#Daisy} Aloha
 andrewimft wrote:
Try Bargain, Love Reign O'er Me, You Better You Bet to name just a few.
 
Maybe he's referring to self-love songs....

Much better live. And the version from the "Tommy" soundtrack is even better. It should be noted that the soundtrack album is not the actual soundtrack of the movie. There were two separate recordings. This is most apparent in Jack Nicholson's solo. And, of course, the story is fleshed out, and altered somewhat for the film. Major difference (beyond the time period) is that Tommy's stepfather kills his real father, instead of the other way around. Townshend not only approved of the change, he said he wished he had originally done it that way. It allows Tommy's father to become a sort of "spirit guide", leading his son to to the light. But Tommy falters, led astray by his parents, and by believing that his way to enlightenment will work for everyone. After everyone turns on him, destroys all he has built, and his mother and step-father are killed, he finally achieves true enlightenment.


ahhh...tommy!
Listen to soundtrack version and then rate this one {#No}

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGa70tVYVKo


More Gracie please!

Keith Moon. exam by ~Bitterkawaii
Jo  ©2006-2010 ~Bitterkawaii

best thing I've done for the exam so far, done in something like 2 1/2 hours. Keith Moon. Yay.



John Entwistle, The Who - "5:15" Live at Royal Albert Hall (2000)
 
"John Entwistle bass solo"


This song is very beautiful; lyrically and musically.{#Daisy}
interesting how the same song played by the same band can sound really lame in one version (this) and really
rockin' in another (off the soundtrack album).
Get your pitchforks and torches. I've always thought this sounded weak and cheesy. I frickin' HATE Tommy. All of it.
 fretman wrote:
Rock Anthems 'R' Us! With the exception of "Pictures of Lilly" I don't believe they did a love song...
 
Perhaps Pete Townshend had never been made aware that he was required to write love songs.  He did compose quite a few, however.  There are several on The Who Sell Out.

TFFT! A nice  solid 1, so I can turn off my machine and go home. I was concerned that, with the fantastic run over the last hour, I'd just keep hearing great number after great number and never be able to mute the speakers. Luckily The Who come up trumps with the overblown sucko-barfo every time, so thanks Pete "just curious, me" Townsend and mates. Oh, and parkas were bloody awful to wear in the rain as they soaked it all up and tripled in weight, so that you felt like you were walking along with a sack of cement on your back. The passing of the Mod is not mourned by me.
 fretman wrote:
Rock Anthems 'R' Us!

With the exception of "Pictures of Lilly" I don't believe they did a love song...
 
Squeezebox?
Played this over and over and over and over and over...
So what? I'm 4 {#Smile}
It is nice when they play pure rock and roll, and not that opera {#Puke}rock
Art_Carnage wrote:
The version of this song from the "Tommy" film soundtrack is much better. This version seems lifeless after hearing that one.
Completely agree. Remember when movie came out and I heard movie version, it was much much better for my ears. I like Tommy movie and soundtrack, but this original version gets 5 from me, never liked it.
Angloray wrote:
More recently, does this song bring back fond memories of "Freaks and Geeks" for anyone else?
Brings back fond (and not-so fond) memories of living "Freaks and Geeks . . . "
fretman wrote:
With the exception of "Pictures of Lilly" I don't believe they did a love song...
Try Bargain, Love Reign O'er Me, You Better You Bet to name just a few.
More recently, does this song bring back fond memories of "Freaks and Geeks" for anyone else?
kilroyjoe3 wrote:
Is the rif from the Pinball Wizard the only one these guys can play??
And you can play 2001 better ones?
Art_Carnage wrote:
The version of this song from the "Tommy" film soundtrack is much better. This version seems lifeless after hearing that one.
I don't know the soundtrack version, but the Who did an outstanding take on this on their 20th anniversary Tommy tour. The roar that Daltrey perfected later in his career really gave this an intensity that's missing on this studio version.
Townsend's acoustic work has always struck a chord with me (pun intended!). The BIG RAWK of Who's Next is probably their signature sound, but the subtleties in Pete's accoustic playing showcase his mastery of the instrument, IMHO. I'm Free is a great case in point.
I'M FREEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! OH YEAH!!!!!!!! Too bad 10 is the highest rating
interesting seque from "For a few dollars more" .... nice.. why RP is so cool!
Rock Anthems 'R' Us! With the exception of "Pictures of Lilly" I don't believe they did a love song...
optimusprime10 wrote:
is this the theme song for the next version of CSI? "CSI:SI/SE - on the set of the sports illustrated swimsuit edition"
Um yeah, I know, right? I really dont want to associate a 60s cool band's music with momentarily hip crime shows on CBS.
Eastcoast is clueless!
In 1969, they released the rock opera Tommy. Eastcoast would have been 4yrs old...Mr Rodgers might have said somthing negative about The Who and he picked up on it. But in support of Eastcoast his ratings prove he KNOWS classic rock.
eastcoast wrote:
I would have to say that the early Who is plain and simply BORING!!! Give me Sister Disco any day.
This is early Who?
kilroyjoe3 wrote:
Is the rif from the Pinball Wizard the only one these guys can play??
Merely a recurring motif, it's an operatic thing. ;)
federico wrote:
kitsch
Any song by Abba is kitsch. Most disco is kitsch. This song? Not so much.
is this the theme song for the next version of CSI? "CSI:SI/SE - on the set of the sports illustrated swimsuit edition"
I would have to say that the early Who is plain and simply BORING!!! Give me Sister Disco any day.
Is the rif from the Pinball Wizard the only one these guys can play??
I saw the Who do this and much of Tommy at the Hollywood Paladium in 1969. As you may know, that venue is quite small, and one wall was virtually all Marshall amps and speakers. The music was phenomenal and the stage antics, including a guitar destruction, were memorable to say the least, but my hearing was impaired for three days.
Moldy Oldie...
kitsch
It is apparent that no one today can come close to matching Moonie's shimmering wall-of-sound style of drumming -- and few if any can match PT's guitar wizardry or songwriting, either. Love this -- many thanks!
Art_Carnage wrote:
The version of this song from the "Tommy" film soundtrack is much better. This version seems lifeless after hearing that one.
Hmmmm. Beg to differ on that one. . . .
Art_Carnage wrote:
The version of this song from the "Tommy" film soundtrack is much better. This version seems lifeless after hearing that one.
Funny thing..I always think the opposite. I really dislike the film sound tracks compared to the Who originals
I am free! Cheers to no suffocating, sickening, fettering relationships!!!
Wait...is this RP I'm listening to?
this is just plain great!
The version of this song from the "Tommy" film soundtrack is much better. This version seems lifeless after hearing that one.
In high school, our stage band went on a field trip to perform at the county "boys village" detention center. Once done, on the way out of the building, some of the guys in the band started singing "I'm free..." Just plain mean. I'm ashamed to admit I joined in.
SCprof wrote:
Brings back long ago memories but also more recent (10 years ago) seeing this live on Broadway. There's nothing quite like sitting in orchestra seats in a theater on Broadway and hearing electric guitar!
i totally saw TOMMY on broadway in 1993 at st james theatre. WOW. i was only 15. imprinted in my memory!! AWESOME.
Drummer4soul wrote:
Dang, WHO doesn't have this on vinyl?
Me. I only have the movie score. On vynil, as well.
Brings back long ago memories but also more recent (10 years ago) seeing this live on Broadway. There's nothing quite like sitting in orchestra seats in a theater on Broadway and hearing electric guitar!
I just have to say... There should be a law against using great songs in ads/commercials. Just gives me this unwelcome (though welcome by ad agencies, I'm sure) association with a product. Ok, getting off of my soapbox now. L
dolfan wrote:
"If I told you what it takes to reach the highest high, you'd laugh and say nothing's that simple." Oh how true.
I clicked on here to quote exactly that line.
"If I told you what it takes to reach the highest high, you'd laugh and say nothing's that simple." Oh how true.
Rock and Roll at it's finest!
amazing acoustic guitar work.... and what words can describe Keith Moon?
Dang, WHO doesn't have this on vinyl?
timandjuliet wrote:
I was introduced to the movie soundtrack first (My brother took me to the movie as a Confirmation present!) and I've always preferred it to the original.
Other way 'round, for me. First heard the "concept album" way back when and, while I was happy to see it get the attention of having the movie based upon it, I always much preferred The Who's original musical interpretations to those in the movie.
I was introduced to the movie soundtrack first (My brother took me to the movie as a Confirmation present!) and I've always preferred it to the original.
Tommy was the first CD I bought when it was time to upgrade my album collection
jschmeau wrote:
I'm guessing this song would be a favorite no matter how you old are when you first hear it. The timelessness is inherent.
Of course, but it's a fact that when asked about their all time favorite popsongs, people often choose the ones they remember from their puberty.
The smile on my face when this came on was from ear to ear! 8)
Johray63 wrote:
No not quite. Let's say songs like that remain special.
I'm guessing this song would be a favorite no matter how you are when you first hear it. The timelessness is inherent.
Your playing some great stuff tonight! While I'm sitting here working on my new template - Thanks!
Still stands the test of time, especially since I always seem to turn it up whenever I hear it.
Watching Roger on the History Channel (Extreme Hisory) is fun...He'll eat most anything. The best part so far has been watching him sho a guy how to use a spoke shave/draw knife, while relating how they made their own guitars back when he was a kid. :)
YYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY THANKS FOR PLAYING THIS MASTERPIECE.....
I'm FFFFRRRRREEEEEEEEEEE!!!
Originally Posted by KevDog: Mostly true, but somehow I got over Saturday Night by the Bay City Rollers (still remember seeing them sing it live on Howard Cosell's short-lived Ed Sullivan-style variety show). But hey, the Who ain't the Bay City Rollers, or vice versa.
No not quite. Let's say songs like that remain special.
A song I love since I was about the age of 12. And you know what it\'s like with songs you start loving when you\'re about that age; you\'ll love them from then on.