5 Facts About The Who's Tommy and Its Length

Tommy runs about 75 minutes across two LPs. This made it one of the longest rock albums of the 1960s.

The album’s length was unusual for its time. Most rock albums in the 1960s were under 45 minutes.

The double-LP format was rare for a rock album in 1969. Tommy helped popularize the format for ambitious concept albums.

The length allowed for a full rock opera narrative. Each side of the vinyl told a distinct part of the story.

Tommy’s length set a precedent for future rock operas. It showed that rock albums could be as long and complex as classical works.