Posted on 10/08/2010 9:08:19 AM PDT by Reaganite Republican
Todd Rundgren -dob 6.22.1948- is a multi-talented American musician, singer-songwriter and record producer who still tours on a limited basis, up-to and including earlier this year.
Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind -absolutely adored by critics- and supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Rundgren went on to produce a diverse range of recordings as solo artist and during the 70s/80s with the band Utopia.
He has also been successful as a producer and engineer on the recorded work of other musicians. Todd Rundgren engineered and/or produced Stage Fright by The Band, We're an American Band by Grand Funk Railroad, Bat Out of Hell by Meat Loaf (now ranked as the 5th biggest-selling album of all time), and then later Skylarking by new-wavers XTC in 1986.
As a musician, best-known hits include Hello It's Me -written when he was just 16- I Saw the Light which still enjoys heavy rotation on classic rock/adult contemporary radio stations, Just One Victory is long a concert favorite, and Bang the Drum All Day has become an anthem in many American sports arenas, commercials, and movie trailers.
It always surprised me when I first moved to California in 1990, nobody really seemed to know much of him... more significant back east, perhaps; but I always thought of Rundgren as a towering talent, and an incredible composer. You couldn't ask for more originality, wildly experimental actually... a true genius.
He was also a pioneer of the "power pop" genre in the early 70s along with Badfinger and Raspberries... great stuff, despite the WTF stage act and sailor pants, lol.
And a feature unique to Burt Sugarman's Midnight Special show was actual live performances, not lip synching... but Todd here makes light of the fact that although he's singing live, it's to a taped musical track... albeit one he himself played all instruments on:
Todd Rundgren- Real Man 1975
(clip only) -here-
More/links at Reaganite Republican -here-
I wish I could find my vinyl copy of "Utopia". It's not available anymore.
I lost a copy of that too... probably why they’re worth so darn much, lol
Todd is the one great I rally wished I had seen... I never did, a shame. Him and Elton John... saw just about everybody else
Worked sound for him once. Very nice guy.
I saw Elton at the Chicago Theatre years ago. It was just him in a tux and tails, a grand piano, and a guy who played percussion instruments. He played for 3-1/2 solid hours. It was one of the top 5 shows of my life.
Rundgren was awesome. The band rotated playing everyone elses instruments during the show. Incredible talent and ability.
I put Todd up there with the greats I've seen like Zappa and Santana.
Too bad he’s a certifiable moonbat. He played here recently and after the interview a few days before the show I decided...ummm nah.
Gave my copy to my sister in 1978. She still owns that. Pretty incredible album.
He did a fantastic job producing XTC’s Skylarking. Andy hated him during the sessions, but came around years later to admit Todd did a fine job.
Proud to say my favorite guitar teacher, Jeese Gress tours with him now.
I’ll also give this guy props for having a successful career through the 70s and 80s when a lot of musicians were having one or two successful albums and then blowing their brains out on coke.
Saw him do a solo show once in New Haven - sang the old Al Green "Mercy, Mercy, Me" while picking a 12-string -pretty cool.
All-time Rundgren fav. is "Caravan" - don't hear it any more, though.
He also did a great job producing the Patti Smith Album "Wave".
I WANT MY NAZZ ON RED VINYL BACK!
Pretty awesome.
Awesome. I’ve been a Todd fan since forever. I was able to see him in Tokyo 10 years ago and get my picture with him too. Great guy and great music!
The song sequencing on Skylarking was a point of contention between Rundgren and Partridge, IIRC. But it was a masterful job. I can’t imagine the songs in a different order.
Andy’s is freaking lib. One of the reasons I stopped listening to XTC. SkyLarking? I stopped listening to them around No Thugs in Our House which was Andy Patridge singing about the poor persecuted Pakistani muslims in the UK circa early 1990s (?). Thanks but no thanks Andy.
Another Labour Party stooge like Paul Weller (Jam), annoying Damon Albarn (Blur), Jerry Dammers (The Specials). Weller is so down with the struggle and workers that the multi millionaire screwed over his Jam bandmates.
Utopia had a funny Beatles aka Rutles take off album. A lot of talent but nothing ever really came together.
Check his videos on youtube... with Daryl Hall... drinking martinis!
It’s sol great to be surrounded by like-minded conservative rockers. If they could only see us now. Where is the FR rockers music room forum? I have so much to talk about. I can’t count the times I’ve fallen in love with the music threads here.
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