Classic Quadrophenia hits the top spot of the classical chart – or that would have been the headline if the album had been eligible for the official classical chart.  As it is, in the first week of release, it reached No.32 in the overall album chart with sales figures that would guarantee the top classical spot several times over.  In comparison, the actual classical No. 1, Andre Rieu’s Magic of the Violin features at number 100 on the overall album chart.

As we know (click here to read more) the album is not eligible due to the original music being rock.  The current rules state that

each album will be judged on the works performed on the album – and that these works must be composed by recognised classical composers and/or in a publicly-recognised classical idiom or form

Additionally, a spokeswoman for the Official Chart Company said that “There’s nothing unusual here, classical covers of pop/rock works have never qualified for the Official Classical Charts, and the rules are agreed in committee with the music industry (including the band’s label). Classic Quadrophenia will be treated like any other album of contemporary music recorded in a classical style.”

However, supporters of the album point out that in 2003 The Queen Symphony, also performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, was included in the Classical Chart. Composer Tolga Kashif used the melodies of Queen hits such as Radio Gaga, We Are The Champions and We Will Rock You and the release reached No.4 in the Classical Chart.

On the face of it this would seem to be unfair but I suspect the answer lies in the amount of new material penned for each album.  To qualify for the classical chart, 60% of the music needs to be classical (as judged by the current rules) and The Queen Symphony, while using several Queen songs as a base, has a lot of new additional music written by a recognised classical composer.  Classic Quadrophenia on the other hand, is an orchestrated cover of a rock album.

The question I’m asking today is: Is this fair?  Should the classical chart open the doors to new forms of classical music, creating new classical classics (as it were) or would that lead to classical music being sidelined in it’s own area?  What if it were Alfie Boe’s next classical album (hypothetical album!) that were kept off the top spot by an album that may not be strictly classical?  We know Alfie’s thoughts on this as he tweeted this week (amongst others)

Classic Quadrophenia apparently is not eligible for the Classical charts. It’s moments like this that prove the classical industry is still run by narrow minded arseholes.

but I don’t know the answer and I’m not sure there is a right answer so please help us out with your thoughts – please leave a comment!

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When it’s not eligible for the official classical charts – that’s when!  What am I talking about?  Of course it can only be Classic Quadrophenia.  Hotly anticipated, the classical reworking of The Who’s 1973 rock opera which features Alfie Boe as Jimmy, was released this week and walked straight into controversy over its ineligibility for the official UK classical chart.  The record label would have been well aware of this but a little bit of controversy in the form of the composer, Pete Townshend, getting shirty never hurt anyone.  It certainly didn’t hurt sales with the album shooting up the amazon classical chart (currently sitting at no. 2 and 3).

Never one to shy away from controversy himself, Alfie also waded into the row via twitter saying “Classic Quadrophenia apparently is not eligible for the Classical charts. It’s moments like this that prove the classical industry is still run by narrow minded arseholes.”

So, why is Classic Quadrophenia not eligible for the official classical chart?  Taking a look at the rules, available on the Official Chart Company website, it states that

each album will be judged on the works performed on the album – and that these works must be composed by recognised classical composers and/or in a publicly-recognised classical idiom or form

A spokeswoman for the Official Charts Company said: “There’s nothing unusual here, classical covers of pop/rock works have never qualified for the Official Classical Charts, and the rules are agreed in committee with the music industry (including the band’s label).  Classic Quadrophenia will be treated like any other album of contemporary music recorded in a classical style.”  The rules go on to further state that soundtrack albums are not eligible either.  So, it would seem that the problem is not the orchestration but the fact that Pete Townshend is not recognised as a classical composer and that the work is a classical reworking of a rock album.  Interestingly, the album will qualify for the US billboard classical chart next week.

So why does the classical chart on amazon allow Classic Quadrophenia?  The key to the disparity between the two charts is the phrase (in regard to the official chart) “rules are agreed in committee with the music industry (including the band’s label)”.  Amazon, on the other hand is a retailer and can do what it likes.  Audiences and artists may rage against this apparent unfairness but if the music industry as a whole has agreed the rules then I don’t see it changing anytime soon.  That’s not stopping Alfie though – today he tweeted this message:

Please would you all get behind this campaign and RT to make a change and support our view on Classic Quadrophenia?

Click here to go to Alfie’s twitter account.

Still, in the meantime, lets enjoy the music – here’s Alfie singing Love Reign O’er Me:

Classic Quadrophenia is available now:

thanks for reading and sharing

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