Thursday, February 14, 2019

Bad Kitty Music #7: Todd Rundgren

TODD RUNDGREN - A WIZARD, A TRUE STAR 1973. 
Sometimes when a person makes a record that becomes a hit, he or she makes money (for example Something/Anything). Always, the record company makes money. But when it comes to make a follow up, the artist can usually call the shots, and negotiate from a position of power, and make all sorts of demands. “I want a die cut jacket!” “Yes sir, Mr. Rundgren, sir.” “I want a die cut sleeve, too!” “Yes, sir, Mr. Rundgren, sir.” “I want the whole first side to run together as one big sound smear, HAHAHA!” You get the idea. But that sort of freedom can often yield truly ambitious records. Neil Young’s Time Fades Away comes to mind. If you are ready to get a faceful of one of the 70s oddest sonic architects at the height of his powers, I recommend a trip to the North Haven Record/CD Show - February 2019 on Sunday, the 10th. Todd was and is a top shelf goofball, and this record may make your brain hurt.

John G.


Bad Kitty Music #6: The Rockets

Bad Kitty Music #5: Rush

Bad Kitty Music #4: Dr. John

Bad Kitty Music #3: Terry Reid

Bad Kitty Music #2: Roy Buchanan

Bad Kitty Music #1:  Bobby "Blue"Bland


9 comments:

Anonymous said...

No comments yet? What's up with that?

What a wonderful, wonderful record. It takes me for a rollercoaster ride every time.

Randy

Anonymous said...

I think of it as his Zappa album, mainly because of whiplash tempo shifts.

FurryBootsCityBoy said...

"Does Anybody Love You?" - one and a half minutes of magic.

buzzbabyjesus said...

I downloaded the remaster and gave it a good listen. I think I got through it twice. Nothing exceeds like excess, and "A Wizard A True Star" has that in spades. Someday I'll try again, but it sounded like mess to me.

neal t said...

By far his best. A desert Isle disc for me. Proof + he belongs in HOF.

Gene Oberto said...

After the arrow from the “Zen Archer” split my skull and entered my cerebral cortex, my brain still explodes every time I listen to this. Many psychic voyages listening on some past Koss headphones. AWATS opened me up to what music had never been before and what it could be in the future. Todd dropped the mic on this one and has never tried to replicate his stunning achievement on AWATS.

wardo said...

Still fascinating. Here's my take:

https://burnwoodtonite.blogspot.com/2019/02/bad-kitty-music-7-todd-rundgren.html

Sal Nunziato said...

Wardo,
You reposted my link. Post yours.

wardo said...

Hi! I'm a moron! Let's try this again...

https://everybodysdummy.blogspot.com/2010/04/todd-rundgren-4-wizard-true-star.html