It was an astonishingly bold concept by the producer Lou Reizner to present the Who s rock opera Tommy as a dramatised, all-star extravaganza. Originally released as a double LP in a slipcase with lavish, illustrations, this was the first ever coffee table album. And it proved a huge best seller when first released in 1972 and helped on its way by the hit single version of Pinball Wizard , sung with gusto by Rod Stewart on the album. Among the other guest performers accompanied by the mighty orchestra and choir are Pete Townshend, Sandy Denny, Richie Havens, Stevie Winwood, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, Maggie Bell, Ringo Starr and even movie actor Richard Harris. This important CD re-issue serves not only as a tribute to the genius of the Who and composer Townshend, but as a memorial to Lou Reizner, a pioneer of multi-media projects, who died aged just 43 in 1977. Includes a separate, fully illustrated, full colour, 36-page libretto with the storyline and characters of the Tommy saga, song lyrics and illustrations.