New Documentary on The Who’s “Tommy” Released

It may feel like all the stories about The Who’s legendary 1969 concept album Tommy have all been told, but Sensation — The Story of Tommy, reveals the full history and cultural impact of the rock album-turned-film, then Broadway musical, about a “deaf, dumb and blind” pinball-playing messiah figure.

The film, a documentary that aired on the BBC in Aug. 2013, includes previously unreleased footage (including band member interviews) from a 1969 feature on German television, as well new interviews with Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey and archive interview footage from bassist John Entwistle.

The film also connects with everyone from the album’s engineer to its artwork creator and checks in with journalists who talk about the record’s lasting influence. The influence is significant — Tommy has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide since its release.

You can get an idea of what you’ll find in Sensation in these two teaser videos.

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Photo Stills from Sensation — The Story of Tommy:

Sensation — The Story of Tommy is available on DVD, Blu-ray and digital format.