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Originally Posted by Severian
Arthur and Tommy are only alike in the sense that they're concept albums. Aside from that, I don't think the two records share much. They have a totally different sound, feel, story... Just my opinion.
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I disagree. Seems you havenīt listened Tommy enough. Of course theyīre stories not complitely same, but anyway both tells the story of one person. Times of both stories are after war. Both are kind of growing stories, the main characters try to go to something better. Even Arthur could have happened more in the reality than Tommy, there is also imaginational elements in Arthur (Shangri-la).
But the most similarities are musical. Even both bands have already had experimental elements in their music, I think in these albums both really break the limits of ordinary pop songs structures. They both go towards musicals, even classic music structures. Also both use very great way horns. You could have put this song in the middle of Tommy, if it had sung By Daltrey or Townshend, I think no-one has noticed anything:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt0IXkIVvo4
Even both albums have interesting instrumental outro in the middle of album (the Kinks the end of Australia, The Who Underture). Also, I find the sound little bit same even the Who had clearer (I think those little bit muddy sounds of Kinks are also great). If you compare the sound of Who Sell Out & Tommy and Village Green & Arthur, there has happend lot of progression in both bands sounds and into same direction (lot clearer sounds).
I donīt know had Davies heard Tommy at all when making Arthur, but he was accused to plagiarism then. Even I read Pretty Things was accused to plagiarism from Tommy althought S.F Sorrow was released earlier than Tommy. Anyway I think there are no plagiarism, all those three albums have similarities but theyīre just great in their own. If you havenīt heard S.F. Sorrow, I think itīs really time to listen it.