Anybody who thinks Todd Rundgren didn't do anything good after 1974 is an IDIOT.

[bbernardini]

I'm listening to a board tape of one of the shows from the tour for his "Nearly Human" album in 1989, and it's BRILLIANT. (Specifically, it was "Parallel Lines" that drove me to post this.)

[taterguy]

1. He screwed Liv Tyler's mom after 1974

That was probably pretty good for him.

[bbernardini]

2. True, 'dat.

And his wife is a lovely woman as well. I shared Oreos and water with her about 12 years ago in Philadelphia.

[XNASA]

3. I was just checking out some Todd on YouTube yesterday.

And I was really enjoying it too. Much of it was post-'74.

[edbermac]

4. He didn't do anything good BEFORE 1974 either!

:rofl:

[Throd]

10. I second that motion!

[vi5]

5. I'm a music junkie who has no idea who Todd Rundgren is...

beyond the guy who has that "I don't Want To Work" song and also sang for the band Utopia (who I also have no idea as to one single note of any song they played). And I also knew a guy in college who was obsessed with Todd Rundgren/Utopia yet still managed to go 37 years without knowing anything more about the dude or his music.

[bbernardini]

6. How can you be a music junkie and know nothing about Todd Rundgren?

Seriously, you need to look into his work. He's tied with Frank Zappa for first place in my "most influential musicians" list.

[darkstar]

7. Must be in the air...almost posted a pro-Todd screed

last night after a youtube marathon and subsequent google fest.

He should be famous for only one of these things: singing, songwriting, guitar playing, and producing. The fact that he does all--and much more--and is still a backwater name among music geeks is amazing.

Since I'm on a biiiig TR kick, I may wind up keeping this kicked for weeks w/ my Todd blogging.

BTW, have y'all seen the liars DVD? From an objective, non-fanboy perspective, IMO he may be singing the best of his career. Seriously in control of pitch, comfortable in lower and mid registers, a different approach to his head voice, etc.



Finally, a little review of Todd the techno-dweeb's achievements *outside the studio*:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/music/2004/06/toddrundgr...

1978: The first interactive television concert, broadcast live over the Warner/QUBE system in Columbus, Ohio.

1978: The first live nationally broadcast stereo radio concert (by microwave), linking 40 cities around the country.

1979: The opening of Utopia Video Studios, a multi-million dollar state-of-the-art facility. The first project produced by Todd there is Gustav Holst's The Planets, commissioned by RCA SelctaVision as the first demonstration software for their new Videodisc format, the precursor to the DVD.

1980: Creation of the first color graphics tablet, which was licensed to Apple and released as The Utopia Graphics Tablet.

1981: Time Heals, the first music video to utilize state-of-the-art compositing of live action and computer graphics (produced and directed by Todd), becomes the second video ever to be played on MTV (after Video Killed the Radio Star).

1982: The first live national cablecast of a rock concert (on the USA Network), simulcast in stereo to over 120 radio stations.

1982: The first two commercially released music videos ever, one of which was nominated for the first-ever Grammy awarded for "Best Short Form Video" in 1983.

1992: The release of "No World Order", the world's first interactive record album.

1994: The release of "The Individualist", the world's first full-length Enhanced CD.

1995: The world's first interactive concert tour.

1998: Launches PatroNet, the world's first direct artist subscription service.

[bbernardini]

8. I saw the "Liars" tour from the front row...

It was INCREDIBLE. Nice to see a fellow Todd fan who doesn't "pooh pooh" his more electronic experiments like "Liars."

[darkstar]

9. Saw tour at Hard Rock, New Orleans

Thought I'd refer everyone to DVD as referent to TR's current voice.

And more TR techno-dweebery was in evidence on Liars tour as well. No amps on or even rack gear on stage (whole band used laptop sims), designed the LED lighting cans, and the fold up set/scrims/lighting trusses. Entire show was towed in trailer behind tour bus. Crazed.

"While My Guitar Gently Weeps".....

:hi:

[Radical Activist]

11. How about naming one song he's done

that people here might have heard. Why hasn't anyone on this thread done that yet?

[bbernardini]

12. Bang The Drum All Day, Hello It's Me, I Saw The Light, Can We Still Be Friends...

It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference
Couldn't I Just Tell You
We Gotta Get You A Woman

[Left Is Write]

13. I'm quite fond of "Hammer In My Heart" and "Libertine."

[darkstar]

14. Some youtube from 1973, both from same show

and same album, Something/Anything

Hello It's Me (pure pop vocal confection, live vox and piano)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsezr0qiFIc

Black Maria (blues based rocking out on strangely familiar guitar)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4vmlB7L6mQ

[Radical Activist]

16. he needs to flick the butterflies off his eyes

that's really kind of ugly.

[boston bean]

15. I love todd rundgren,