The String Quartet Tribute to the Who's Tommy (2002)

About this title: Performed on viola, cello, and two violins, this string-quartet tribute to the Who's Tommy doesn't include the entire rock opera, instead choosing ten representative tracks, including "Overture," "Pinball Wizard," "Tommy Can You Hear Me?," and "Christmas." "Overture" and the accompanying "Underture" work particularly well, as does "I'm Free," with its resonating cello. The album is perhaps best listened to as proof of Pete Townshend's ambition as a songwriter -- while many string tributes to pop albums suffer in the translation, Tommy, in many ways, was translated itself, from opera to pop. ... read more

Tracks:

1. Overture [Townshend]
2. Amazing Journey/Sparks [Townshend]
3. Christmas [Townshend]
4. Underture [Townshend]
5. Pinball Wizard [Townshend]
6. Tommy, Can You Hear Me? [Townshend]
7. Smash the Mirror [Townshend]
8. Sensation [Townshend]
9. I'm Free [Townshend]
10. Welcome [Townshend]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.