Amazing Journey
| "Amazing Journey" | |
|---|---|
 The inner cover’s illustration of the song created by Mike McInnerney | |
| Song by the Who | |
| from the album Tommy | |
| Released | 23 May 1969 |
| Recorded | 19 September 1968 – 7 March 1969 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 5:04 |
| Label | Polydor |
| Songwriter | Pete Townshend |
| Producer | Kit Lambert |
"Amazing Journey" is a song by the English rock band The Who, written by guitarist and primary songwriter Pete Townshend. It is featured as the fourth track on their 1969 rock opera album Tommy. This song is also thematically connected to the subsequent instrumental track, "Sparks", with the two sometimes being paired up as a single song.
Background and composition
According to Townshend, the story, themes and elements of Tommy, were inspired by the teachings of the Indian guru Meher Baba, whose philosophies and mysticism led to the creation of the song. The meaning behind the song deals with the "Amazing Journey" being a metaphor for the spiritual rebirth and inward-turning nature that Baba and the character of Tommy went through. [1] The rock opera itself was originally intended to be titled “Amazing Journey”, with Townshend stating the song to be "the absolute beginning" of the opera and summarised the entire plot of ‘’Tommy’’ in one song.[2]
The song's composition consists of the band's basic instruments, alongside Daltrey's layered vocal harmonies and a looping chirp-like tape effect featured in the opening. Being the pinnacle of Tommy's psychedelic instrumentation and themes, the song is most known for its ethereal beginning followed up by its pulsating and explosive conclusion as found in the instrumental climax. The track segues into "Sparks" as the two are closely linked in the album's plot.
It is also notable that the instrumental climax of "Amazing Journey" shares a very similar chord progression to the one found in the song "I'm One", which is found on the Who's second rock opera, Quadrophenia.
Plot
After witnessing the death of his mother's lover at the hands of his presumed-to-be-deceased father, Tommy, now ten years old, becomes blind, deaf and mute. Now left with nothing but his sense of touch, Tommy forms an imaginary and psychedelic world in his inner psyche.[3]
Lyrics and themes
The lyrics of the song describe Tommy’s transcendent and otherworldly perception as a boy with no connection to the outside world. Despite this isolated existence, Tommy’s inner psyche is one made of music as well as a “tall stranger” who could be interpreted as a manifestation of higher consciousness or as foreshadowing to Tommy becoming a spiritual leader after he is cured. Above all, “Amazing Journey” represents Tommy’s spiritual awakening through his psychedelic perspective.
Reception
Although “Amazing Journey” was not released as a single, it was praised by critics and became known as one of the key tracks of the rock opera. The song’s combination of narrative and lyrical ambiguity along with its hard rock psychedelia are the basis for this praise. ‘’Rolling Stone’’ highlighted the song as “a standout, foundational track in the band's catalog”.[4]
Live performances
"Amazing Journey", as well as "Sparks", quickly became iconic in the Who's live performances as a result of their 1969-1970 tour where they would play the entirety of Tommy. The two songs would also be played in conjunction during several of their live performances. The most notable of the live versions appeared on Live at Leeds and Live at the Isle of Wight.
In popular culture
"Amazing Journey" is featured in the 1975 film adaptation of Tommy, this time sung by Townshend. The film's portrayal of the song consists of a montage of young Tommy being taken by his mother (Ann-Margret) and stepfather (Oliver Reed) to a carnival, during which he has psychedelic visions of his late father. The song is also the namesake for the 2007 documentary Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who.
Personnel
- Roger Daltrey – lead vocals
- Pete Townshend – electric guitar
- John Entwistle – bass guitar
- Keith Moon – drums
Bibliography
- Townshend, Pete (2012). Who I Am. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0062127242.
- Atkins, John (2000). The Who on Record: A Critical History, 1963–1998. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-0609-8.
- Marsh, Dave (1983). Before I Get Old: The Story of The Who. Plexus. ISBN 978-0-85965-083-0.
References
- ^ Townshend 2012, pp. 211–219.
- ^ Marsh 1983, p. 318.
- ^ Atkins 2000, pp. 121–122.
- ^ Randall, Mac. "Tommy (Deluxe Edition)". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 22, 2004.