Happy Birthday Todd!
All Todd Rundgren fans know that today is his birthday, and I wanted to look at some of the songs from some of the albums that he has released over his long career.
He has taken some interesting paths in his musical career, but fans stay with him because there is true genius in his work.
Here are seven great songs from seven incredible Todd Rundgren albums…why seven? WHY NOT.
“The Verb To Love” From “Faithful!”
“Faithful” is one side of classic songs Todd “covered” faithfully, and the second side is simply one of his greatest collections of songs ever, including this 7-minute ballad.
Here is a great live version of the song, performed with Utopia, from 1977:
Read all about the album that produced this incredible song by clicking on my “Faithful” story here:
“The Want Of A Nail!” From “Nearly Human”
“Nearly Human” is Todd at his most commercially accessible, with classic songs like “Parallel Lines” and “Fidelity” – and of course the roof-raising “I Love My Life!” at the end…but the album announced its lofty intentions from he very beginning, with “The Want Of A Nail.”
Here is the original music video, showing the song being performed in real time in the studio with a group of musicians and singers:
You can see more videos from that album here:
https://johnrieber.com/2014/08/26/todd-rundgren-is-nearly-human-todds-6-fingered-masterpiece/
“Can We Still Be Friends” From “Hermit Of Mink Hollow”
This album from the late 70’s had an “easy ” side and a “hard” side, but it is a collection of songs that are beautifully written, with haunting melodies, perhaps no more than on this big hit single.
Here is the “Can We Still Be Friends” music video with the dancing ballerina, and Todd on piano:
You can see more about this album here:
“Hello, It’s Me!” From “Something / Anything?”
His biggest hit ever, and still performed flawlessly live on tour. It’s his remake of the original song he wrote in Nazz, and I love his live “Back To The Bars” version with Stevie Nicks and Hall & Oates doing backup vocals.
Here is a great live performance from the 70’s:
Here is my look at this four-sided masterpiece:
“Compassion” from “Healing”
His most spiritual album for me, with one side of the album a three part song called “Healing” which is one of the most beautiful and uplifting pieces of music he’s ever created.
The song “Compassion” was the single from the album. Here is a great, vintage live version:
You can see more about the album here:
“Just One Victory” From “A Wizard A True Star”
His misunderstood-at-the-time classic, culminating in what has become his anthem: my son is now a huge fan of the “AWATS” album, as he is listening to my original copy, and he fell in love with “Just One Victory”.
Here is a great live performance from last year, showing how great Todd’s voice and on-stage enthusiasm still is:
Here is a story I posted about how influential “AWATS” has become:
“Sons Of 1984” From “Todd”
Finally, the album that started it all for me…this was the first Todd album I ever heard, and I was hooked, from the opening “How About A Little Fanfare / I Think You Know” through “The Last Ride”, “Izzat Love”, “Heavy Metal Kids” and all the rest…
He recorded it live at Wollman Rink in New York in 1974…
“Back when I was young, my hope was strong
But the time blew it all to hell
If I thought I knew what was good for you
I would have gone and done it for myself
Worlds of tomorrow
Life without sorrow
Take it because it’s yours
Sons of 1984”
This 2011 live performance shows how Todd involves the entire audience in this anthem…
Happy birthday, Todd – so many more great songs and albums, both solo and with Utopia…but here are seven examples of why he has so many fans for life!
