This arrived with a 24-page booklet, all housed in a long transparent plastic box. In 1990 came Mobile Fidelity's single gold Ultradisc version. The US version was released the following year on MCA. The 75m Tommy was initially released in 1983 for the UK and European markets, in 2CD format, with the discs manufactured by Polygram. But with the 1973 UK Track version the correct running order was preserved. The problem with this format was that it ended up with a radically different running order. The 1969 US 8-track cartridge, came with the legend 'Two-record rock opera featuring the smash hits "Pinball Wizard" and "I'm Free"'. A 'Club' version with Dolby B/HX-Pro was also released in 1989 and bore the same catalogue number.Ī 7½ips reel-to-reel four-track stereo version was produced in the US in 1969, boxed with the album front cover artwork and a picture of the group on the rear.
The 1987 UK version on Track was a single cassette with double-play format while in 1989 a US version appeared as a 'Twin Pack' format, although it was single cassette. In the US the two cassettes came in a snap case on Decca. The UK cassette release of Tommy came in two grey cassettes with separate inlays, as Vol 1 and Vol 2. The 1982 Japanese release came with a sky blue and magenta obi strip. Tommy was re-pressed in the UK in 1973 and came with the booklet, which was also standard throughout later pressings. Sides were at first numbered for autochanger use. The US version was released on Decca with a roll-fold gatefold, which opens in reverse, and a colour booklet. The standard version booklet wasn't numbered and the sleeve was in a matt finish. A limited edition version came with a six-panel trifold sleeve and included a numbered booklet with lyrics and images. Tommy was released on vinyl LP in May 1969 on Track Records – an independent label formed in 1967 by Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp.