Thursday, December 2, 2010

Hello It's Gram


I'm pretty sure I have never seen discussion before, though if it's out there, one of you will let me know.

I am only just realizing Gram Parsons' influence on Todd Rundgren. It's not just that the "Something/Anything?" version of "Hello It's Me" has the same intro and groove as "Hot Burrito #2," or that "Bleeding" from "The Ballad Of Todd Rundgren" is also a twisted rewrite of "Hot Burrito #2," but that most of Rundgren's first two albums, though leaning more toward pop than country, have a similar feel to the Burritos' "Gilded Palace Of Sin."

Maybe it's all in my head,  but for now, I'm digging this revelation.



HOT BURRITO #2


HELLO IT'S ME


BLEEDING

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Fantastic notion. Todd did relocate west for a time after Nazz. All you mention are great albums that, by and large, still sound great today.

soundsource said...

very interesting

cmealha said...

Never listened to Gram Parsons but now I'll have to. Definitely see the connection.

Meanstreets said...

As the resident Burning Wood go to " Gram " guy.....I only have one comment Sal....

You are mixing up Todd Rundgren with the Louvin Brothers or Merle Haggard.....

Meanstreets said...

WE sure do preciate' the effort Sal, highlighting Gram & all, though it was a swing & miss...

See you at " Alejandro " on the 17TH at the Rubin Museum ?

Anonymous said...

I would consider it more of an influence from "The Band" whom he help record and hung out with then then Gram.

Sal Nunziato said...

The Band would be the obvious choice based on what you just said. The Band even appears on Runt. But that's not really what I am hearing, which is why I used the song examples I did.

Must be the influence both.

Anonymous said...

I have some pictures of Todd in a very similar Gram Parsons outfit. In fact, the first time I saw the pictures, I thought it was Gram.

Johnson said...

Oooo, I like this connection, Sal. I've long been interested in the Todd Rundgren/Laura Nyro connection, but this is a new one. I can see the thread you've revealed here!

Sal Nunziato said...

Hey Johnson,
Here's something worth reading if you're interested in the Laura/Todd connection.

http://initiation75.wordpress.com/2010/09/26/laura-and-todd/

Bombshelter Slim said...

jeez, I thought it was all a Paul Butterfield thing...

Signtopia said...

To be specific, the chord progression being played on the piano is the very same chord progression at the end of International Feel from the A Wizard A True Star album.....check it out.

Sal Nunziato said...

I'm embarrassed I didn't catch that, Signtopia.