Terra firma todd rundgren biography

American musician (born )

Musical artist

Todd Harry Rundgren (born June 22, ) is an American summit, singer, songwriter, and record director who has performed a assorted range of styles as unadorned solo artist and as first-class member of the bands Nazz and Utopia. He is household for his sophisticated and much unorthodox music, his occasionally spendthrift stage shows, and his next experiments with interactive art. Proscribed also produced music videos ride was an early adopter dowel promoter of various computer technologies, such as using the Info strada as a means of concerto distribution in the late s.^[2]

A native of Philadelphia, Rundgren began his professional career in greatness mids, forming the psychedelic congregate Nazz in After two adulthood, he left Nazz to pay one`s addresses to a solo career and at once scored his first US hold up 40 hit with "We Gotta Get You a Woman" (). His best-known songs include "Hello It's Me" and "I Apothegm the Light" from Something/Anything? (), which get frequent air constantly on classic rock radio station, the "Can We Still Quip Friends", and the single "Bang the Drum All Day", which is featured in many disports arenas, commercials, and movie trailers. Although lesser known, "Couldn't Unrestrainable Just Tell You" () was influential to many artists update the power pop genre.^[3] Cap album A Wizard, a Prerrogative Star remains an influence perpendicular later generations of bedroom musicians.^[4]

Rundgren is considered a pioneer hutch the fields of electronic masterpiece, progressive rock, music videos, personal computer software, and Internet music delivery.^[5] He organized the first reciprocal television concert in , meant the first color graphics writing- in , and created blue blood the gentry first interactive album, No Sphere Order, in ^{[2][6][dubious &#; discuss]} Also, he was one of nobility first acts to be conspicuous as both an artist sports ground producer.^[4] His notable production credits include Badfinger's Straight Up (), Grand Funk Railroad's We're spoil American Band (), the Newborn York Dolls' New York Dolls (), Meat Loaf's Bat Go of Hell (), and XTC's Skylarking (). He was inducted into the Rock and Cycle Hall of Fame in

Early influences and Nazz

Todd Harry Rundgren was born in Philadelphia^[8][2] prolong June 22, , the boy of Ruth (née Fleck; Apr 29, – April 6, ) and Harry W. Rundgren (–). His father was of Nordic descent and his mother was of Austrian and German swoop. He grew up in influence bordering town of Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania^[9] and taught child how to play guitar finetune little help. As a descendant, Rundgren was fascinated by king parents' small record collection, which consisted of show tunes settle down symphonic pieces, and especially near the operettas of Gilbert talented Sullivan. Later, he grew keen with the music of character Beatles, the Rolling Stones, glory Ventures, and the Yardbirds, renovation well as the Philadelphia force of Gamble & Huff, prestige Delfonics, and the O'Jays. Pocketsized the age of 17, misstep formed his first band, Specie, with then-best friend and roomie Randy Reed and Reed's last brother.

After graduating from Upper Darby High School in , Rundgren moved to Philadelphia and began his career in Woody's Wares barter Stop, a blues rock working group in the style of Apostle Butterfield Blues Band.^[13] Rundgren stayed with the band for load up months, and in the figure, they became the most typical group in Philadelphia. He discipline bassist Carson Van Osten passed over before they released the eponymic first album^[13] to form blue blood the gentry rock band Nazz in Overtake then, Rundgren had lost bore stiff in the blues and sought to pursue a recording growth with original songs in loftiness style of newer records infant the Beatles and the Who. As a member of character Nazz, he learned his artistry as a songwriter and song arranger, and was determined allure equal the artistry of authority Beatles.^{[nb 1]}

In , after status four demo discs, the Nazz were signed by Atlantic Archives subsidiary Screen Gems Columbia (SGC). They were flown to Los Angeles to produce their foremost album at ID Sound studio.^[17] Rundgren had no prior work hard experience and remembered that probity producer, Bill Traut, "just whipped through the mixes in swell day or two So Frenzied got it into my intellect, 'Well, he's gone now, consequently why don't we just disturb it again, more like high-mindedness way we want it?' Specialty engineer didn't mind if amazement went and just started diddling around on the board Evenly was pretty much trial take error." He took an speculative approach to the recordings, employing techniques such as varispeed folk tale flanging, and despite having thumb formal training, scored music charts for string and horn outlet. Engineer James Lowe, who Rundgren recruited for his involvement revive arranger Van Dyke Parks, alleged that Rundgren had become character de facto leader of Nazz, and that a producer's acknowledgement was wrongfully withheld from him.

Nazz gained minor recognition with their debut single, July 's "Open My Eyes" backed with "Hello It's Me", both songs enclosed by Rundgren. They subsequently at large three albums: Nazz (October ), Nazz Nazz (April ), extra Nazz III ().^[21] In Go on foot , New York singer-songwriter Laura Nyro released her second manual, Eli and the Thirteenth Confession.^[22] When Rundgren heard the top secret, he was struck by "all the major seventh chords service variations on augmented and flopping chords", and it had peter out immediate impact on his songwriting, especially as he began make available compose more on piano. Filth elaborated:

I know for first-class fact that her influences were the more sophisticated side nigh on R&B, like Jerry Ragovoy deliver Mann & Weil and Carole King. and she also challenging her own very original contemporary very jazz-influenced way of impress things. It was that superabundance layer that made her painstaking. A lot of those chords she got from other mass. But beyond the elements time off her composition, I always gloomy it was the way she played her own material desert really sold it. I trip over her right after Eli skull the Thirteenth Confession. I in reality had arranged a meeting, evenhanded because I was so ridiculous with her and I needed to meet the person who had produced all this euphony. after I met her honourableness first time, she asked liability if I wanted to tweak her band leader. But dignity Nazz had just signed well-organized record contract and I couldn't skip out on the button, even though it was dulcet tempting.^[16]

The rest of the pin struggled to accommodate his varying tastes, and tensions between indicate the band members had in operation to build up in rectitude interval between recording their crowning and second albums as topping result of their shared live quarters.^[17] Tensions further increased over the recording of Nazz's subordinate album, as the other liveware bridled at the formerly unpretentious Rundgren asserting complete control archetypal the sessions as the producer.^[17] By the time Nazz Nazz was released, Rundgren and Front Osten had both left probity Nazz, so the track mixture was done without any comment from them.^[17]Nazz III, which categorized leftover tracks from the Nazz Nazz sessions, was likewise loose without Rundgren's involvement.

Production beginnings

After death Nazz, the year-old Rundgren succinctly considered working as a machine programmer, and then decided become absent-minded his calling was as straighten up producer. He moved to New-found York in the summer time off and involved himself with representation clubs of Greenwich Village, optional extra Steve Paul's Scene, and trip over a number of Manhattan musicians and fashion designers. Michael Economist, formerly the assistant of Nazz manager John Kurland, offered Rundgren a job as staff director and producer under Albert Grossman, which Rundgren accepted. Grossman, notable for his management of fixed rock acts, had just supported Ampex Records, a joint venture venture with the tape set of the same name, add-on built Bearsville Studios, near Woodstock. Bearsville soon became its relegate record imprint. Grossman promised impediment Rundgren that he would grasp the "highest-paid producer in goodness world", which later came true.^[26]

Rundgren said he was initially relegated to "various old folk artists that they had who wanted an upgrade: people like Ian & Sylvia, James Cotton, keep from other artists in Albert's stable." Shortly after producing the name album by Great Speckled Fall guy, he was promoted as Bearsville's house engineer. Accompanied by A name Robertson and Levon Helm strain the Band, he traveled harangue Canada to record Jesse Winchester's eponymous debut album. Immediately afterwards, he said, "the Band without prompting me to engineer their Stage Fright sessions. I think Jesse Winchester was a kind carry out run-through for that, because Funny was pretty quick to try the sounds and they go over that." Released in August , Stage Fright reached number 5 on the Billboard , justness highest chart showing the Visitors had to that point.^[29] Rundgren was dubbed Bearsville's "boy wonder".

His work for the Band was followed by a second stamp album for Winchester (which was corroboration shelved for two years) current the album Taking Care leverage Business by the James Yarn course Blues Band (). This game resulted in Rundgren meeting Cotton's keyboard player Mark "Moogy" Klingman, who in turn introduced Rundgren to keyboard player Ralph Schuckett, both of whom worked mostly with Rundgren over the later few years. Rundgren was back produce Janis Joplin's third sports ground ultimately final album, Pearl (), but plans fell through, laugh the two artists could band get along with each other.

Solo career

– Bearsville era

Runt and Ballad of Todd Rundgren

Following a calm where he thought he would never return to being far-out performing artist, Rundgren approached Grossman with the idea of what would become his debut solitary record, Runt. Although his communal attitude for any project was to "make the record [I] wanted to make and bolster hope the label can draw attention to a way to promote it", Rundgren ensured that any trouncing to Grossman would be minimal: "I didn't get an valid advance for Runt. I belligerent asked for a recording expenses to pay the studio overheads. I had no idea act much money I even challenging in the bank. If Uncontrollable needed cash, I would demonstrate up at the accountants gleam they would just give regard hundreds or thousands of dollars."

Released in mid, Runt was clump originally credited to Rundgren finish to his anxieties about primary a full-fledged solo career, put up with instead bore the moniker "Runt".^[33] The album featured a brilliance sound and songs inspired infant Laura Nyro. It was authentic with the year-old bassist Thoroughbred Fox Sales and his year-old brother Hunt Sales on drums.Nazz engineer James Lowe returned on behalf of the sessions and recalled think it over Rundgren seemed "more able face really lead a group. In case you go back and prick up one's ears to it, it's very cosmopolitan material, especially for a chap so young." Lead single "We Gotta Get You a Woman" reached number 20 on description Billboard charts. As he brace yourself a follow-up LP, he draw near Halfnelson, the debut album surpass the band that would posterior become Sparks. Members Ron avoid Russell Mael later credited Rundgren with launching Sparks' career.

Rundgren's diligence reputation grew substantially as tidy result of his success surpass Runt, and for the foremost time in his life, significant began using recreational drugs. In the early stages this was limited to grass. He said that the painkiller gave him "a whole disparate sensibility about time and margin and order" that influenced goodness writing for his second recording, Runt. The Ballad of Chemist Rundgren. The material was chiefly piano ballads and still large based on Nyro's template, nevertheless a more conscious effort next to Rundgren was made to purify his music and choice sketch out subject matter, and to see himself from his influences. Out June , The Ballad snatch Todd Rundgren bore two singles, "Be Nice to Me" trip "A Long Time, a Future Way To Go", neither always which repeated the success competition "We Gotta Get You great Woman". While initial reviews deserve Ballad were mixed, it came to be regarded as singular of the greatest singer-songwriter albums of the era.

Something/Anything?

In late , Rundgren was recruited to blockade Badfinger's third album Straight Up, a project George Harrison difficult to understand abandoned to organize the Concurrence for Bangladesh, in London. Magnanimity album was a hit mushroom its two singles were by the same token successful, although Rundgren was categorize credited for the first ("Day After Day") and thus frank not receive production royalties adoration that single. Rundgren said wind the song "didn't sound some like what [Harrison had] done" and speculated that the aid to Harrison "may or hawthorn not have been something resolved, just some by-product of precise general Beatle hubris".^{[nb 2]} Probity Straight Up sessions lasted fold up weeks in September, after which Rundgren returned to Los Angeles to work on his position solo album, originally planned primate a single LP.

As with Ballad, much of the newer information was written or conceived botched job the influence of marijuana. In spite of that, by this time, he challenging also begun experimenting with Stimulant. He recalled, "my songwriting procedure had become almost too second-nature. I was writing songs formulaically, almost without thinking, knocking [them out], reflexively, in about 20 minutes." The use of Stimulant also helped him focus unease the process as he upset up to 12 hours marvellous day to beat the three-week deadline. To keep up decency pace, he installed an eight-track recorder, mixer, and synthesizers cause somebody to his living room so ramble he could continue recording pinpoint leaving the studio. For birth first time in his lifetime, Rundgren recorded every part moisten himself, including bass, drums, instruction vocals. About "an album essential a half" was completed that way. He then decided tote up stretch the project into unembellished double LP and quickly prerecorded the last few tracks and musicians, live in the studio.

Something/Anything?, the first album officially do under the name "Todd Rundgren", was released in February , shortly after Bearsville had sign-language a long-term distribution deal join Warner Bros. Records. The manual included many songs that would become his best-known. Included centre of straightforward pop songs are considerable jams and studio banter, much as the spoken-word track "Intro", in which he teaches integrity listener about recording flaws be thankful for an egg hunt-type game operate calls "Sounds of the Studio".^[4] Magazine ads depicted a clear Rundgren daring the reader be carried "ignore me".^[50] The album sterile at number 29 on probity Billboard ^[51] and was certificated gold in three years.^{[page&#;needed]} Deduct single "I Saw the Light" peaked at number 16 describe the Billboard Hot ^[53] "Hello It's Me", which followed distinguishing in , reached number 5.^[53]

According to music critic Colin Larkin, Something/Anything? has since been "rightly regarded as one of integrity landmark releases of the specifically 70s".^[54] "Couldn't I Just Disclose You" was influential to artists in the power pop brand. Music journalist Paul Lester known as the recording a "masterclass advance compression" and said that Rundgren "staked his claim to powerpop immortality [and] set the finish ball rolling".^[55] Musician Scott Miller's book Music: What Happened? calls the song "likely the maximum power pop recording ever made," with lyrics "somehow both muscular and lighthearted at the identical time," and a guitar alone having "truly amazing dexterity instruct inflection".^[56] In , Something/Anything? was ranked number on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the " Greatest Albums of All Time".^[57]

A Wizard, a True Star, Todd, and Utopia

Subsequent albums, beginning information flow A Wizard, a True Star and the spin-off group Paradise, saw a dramatic shift purge from straightforward three-minute pop.^[58] Name the success of Something/Anything?, Rundgren felt uncomfortable that he was being increasingly tagged as "the male Carole King". "With lie due respect to Carole King," he said, "It wasn't what I was hoping to fail as a musical legacy mind myself." Now relocated back nurse New York and experimenting form a junction with a host of psychedelic charlie, he began to think go off the writing on Something/Anything? was largely formulaic and borne strip laziness, and sought to make happen a "more eclectic and go into detail experimental" follow-up album.^{[nb 3]} Coronet music tastes also started simulate lean toward the progressive tor of Frank Zappa, Yes, spell the Mahavishnu Orchestra. In , while giving a commencement talk at the Berklee College custom Music, he described the make a copy of as:

my act claim tyranny after having achieved lucrative success. I threw out separation the rules of record formation and decided I would worrying to imprint the chaos hem in my head onto a lean without trying to clean consent to up for everyone else's help. The result was a abundant loss of about half have available my audience at that theme This became the model preventable my life after that.^[62]

The sea loch and structure of Wizard was heavily informed by Rundgren's panacea experiences. It was envisioned importance a hallucinogenic-inspired "flight plan" bump into all the tracks seguing seamlessly into each other, starting manage a "chaotic" mood and close with a medley of wreath favorite soul songs. He said: "With drugs I could a moment abstract my thought processes pound a certain way, and Hysterical wanted to see if Hilarious could put them on boss record. A lot of masses recognized it as the mechanics of a psychedelic trip—it was almost like painting with your head."^[26] Rundgren and Moogy Klingman established a professional recording factory, Secret Sound, to accommodate prestige Wizard sessions. The studio was designed to Rundgren's specifications celebrated was created so that prohibited could freely indulge in increase experimentation without having to harrowing about hourly studio costs, though he maintained that the release still felt "kind of fast through because the studio wasn't finished". Some of the all over the place influences on the album fixed musical theater, jazz, and funk.

A Wizard, a True Star was released in March At Rundgren's behest, no singles were procure from the album, as without fear wanted the tracks to enter heard in the context be required of the LP. Its release coincided with the success of ethics "Hello It's Me" single, which gave Rundgren a reputation although a ballad singer, in mottled contrast to the content passion Wizard.^[68] Although critical reception pull out the album was mixed,Wizard became highly influential to musicians expansion the ensuing decades.^[62] In , music journalist Barney Hoskyns christened the record "the greatest publication of all time a reeling, intoxicating rollercoaster ride of feelings and genre mutations [that] even sounds more bravely futuristic outstrip any ostensibly cutting-edge electro-pop come across made in the 21st Century."^[69] In , Pitchfork's Sam Sodomsky wrote that the "fingerprints" reminisce Wizard remained "evident on arousing auteurs to this day".^[4]

In high-mindedness weeks following the album's emancipation, Rundgren produced Grand Funk Railroad's We're an American Band innermost the New York Dolls' self-titled debut album, which were mid the most significant LPs ransack the year. The former book reached number two on high-mindedness US charts, while the blast became a seminal forerunner detail punk rock, although Rundgren on no occasion became known as a "punk producer". Rundgren also prepared trim technologically ambitious stage show occur a band later to eke out an existence known as Utopia Mark Raving, consisting of Tony Sales, Doorway Sales, keyboardist Dave Mason, spell synthesizer specialist Jean-Yves "M Frog" Labat. The tour began shore April and was cancelled name only a couple weeks add to the road.

Once Rundgren was reach the summit of with his production duties, stylishness began formulating plans for more than ever improved configuration of Utopia, nevertheless first returned to Secret Sell to record the more synthesizer-heavy double album Todd, which was more material drawing on jurisdiction hallucinogenic experiences. This time, good taste had also formed a tendency with religion and spirituality, measure books by authors such rightfully Madame Blavatsky, Rudolf Steiner, give orders to Jiddu Krishnamurti. Originally scheduled matter release in December , Todd was delayed to the twig February due to a group shortage caused by the grease crisis.

During the making of Todd, Rundgren took note of influence "fusion jazz sensibility" between character musicians Kevin Ellman (drums) perch John Siegler (bass). Rundgren chose them, along with Klingman ray keyboardist Ralph Shuckett, to remedy the new configuration of Nephelococcygia. This line-up performed their pass with flying colours show at Central Park hook August 25, , sharing rank bill with the Brecker Brothers and Hall & Oates.^{[nb 4]} Utopia played more shows from start to finish November and December, performing question from Something/Anything? and Wizard end a solo opening set by virtue of Rundgren on piano playing hit it off to a pre-recorded track. View December 7, Rundgren appeared be oblivious to himself on The Midnight Special performing "Hello It's Me" size dressed in jarringly flamboyant glam attire to the chagrin publicize some of his bandmates turf Bearsville executive Paul Fishkin, who recalled that Rundgren looked "like a fucking drag queen".

Skies embarked on their first of use tour between March and Apr , after which Rundgren arrive Hello People's The Handsome Devils and Hall & Oates' War Babies.^{[page&#;needed]} The band's debut draw up came in the form have a high regard for the LP titled Todd Rundgren's Utopia (November ). It imperfect Rundgren's first full-fledged venture demeanour the progressive rock genre. Nephelococcygia released several more albums mid and Although they gradually rebranded toward a rock-pop sound, Todd Rundgren's Utopia remained their maximum album chart showing at release Keyboardist Roger Powell recalled delay Bearsville wished Utopia would suppress "just gone away", however, "Todd's contract called for a identify with number of albums over tidy certain number of years, and above he decided that every another album would be a lone album and the next give someone a jingle a Utopia album."

Initiation, Faithful, professor Hermit of Mink Hollow

A Mage, a True Star included "Rock N Roll Pussy", a consider aimed at former Beatle Trick Lennon. In , Rundgren advocate Lennon were embroiled in dinky minor feud over comments Rundgren made in the February recalcitrance of Melody Maker magazine.^[81] Farm animals the article, he accused Songwriter of striking a waitress make fun of the Troubadour in Hollywood keep from called him a "fucking idiot" proselytizing revolution and "acting near an ass".^[82] In September, prestige magazine published Lennon's response, guarantee which he denied the impost and referred to the artiste as "Turd Runtgreen": "I have to one`s name never claimed to be spruce revolutionary. But I am lawful to sing about anything Unrestrainable want! Right?"^[83] Later, Rundgren alleged, "John and I realized surprise were being used and Berserk got a phone call outlander him one day and phenomenon just said: 'Let's drop that now.'"^[81]

Initiation () showed more groundwork with synthesizers, and displayed justness musical influence of the advanced jazz fusion of contemporary realization such as the Mahavishnu Strip and Frank Zappa. Once adjust the original LP issue gnome Rundgren pushing the medium jab its physical limits, with class side-long suite "A Treatise vagueness Cosmic Fire" clocking in kid over 35&#;minutes.^[84][85]

Released in May , Faithful saw Rundgren celebrating queen tenth year as a salaried musician. The album featured skirt side of original songs put forward one side of covers comatose significant songs from , counting the Yardbirds' "Happenings Ten Days Time Ago", the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations", and two Lennon-penned Beatles songs. The arrangements hill the covers were intended register sound as close to decency originals as possible, and Rundgren's original songs were written type a reflection of his brutal influences. He cited the ticket "The Verb 'To Love'" renovation the point in which recognized made the conscious decision build up stop writing superficial love songs and "seek out all pristine kinds of subject matter lay at the door of write about". Despite the need of sales and promotion expend Faithful, lead single "Good Vibrations" received regular airplay on Denizen radio.

Following the completion of Faithful, Rundgren spent two months nervousness an eastern spiritual retreat, catastrophe Iran, Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bali, Thailand, Japan, see Hawaii. He also opened Welkin Sound Studios in Lake Embankment, New York, just outside call upon Woodstock, and bought a constituent nearby, as well as include adjoining property to be infatuated over as accommodation for artists who used the studio. Say publicly Lake Hill complex on Mink Hollow Road remained Rundgren's join for the next six seniority. In the interim until sovereignty next solo effort, he reliable three albums with Utopia. Description first, Disco Jets, was undiluted tongue-in-cheek collection of instrumental discotheque tracks left unreleased until Ra (February ) was a idea album based on Egyptian erudition, which prefaced a lavish excursion involving an extravagant stage be appropriate with a giant pyramid discipline Sphynx head.Oops! Wrong Planet (September ), recorded immediately after integrity tour, signaled the start prepare a more pop-oriented direction back the group.^[92]

By late , Rundgren was in the midst catch the fancy of separating from then-girlfriend Bebe Buell and their infant daughter Cardinal Tyler. Rundgren recalled leaving culminate home in New York Municipality and sequestering himself at Mink Hollow, "after I discovered think about it I didn't want to inhabit any longer with Bebe, scheduled any sense of the discussion A fortunate by-product of being so out of everything skilful the time and always stare the odd man out quite good that you have plenty delightful time for self-examination." He spontaneous the songs on his uproot solo album to be ideal on piano with minimal hall, apart from the bass, drums and voices. In that think logically, he stated that the songwriting process appeared to be "fairly conventional".^[95]

Hermit of Mink Hollow was released in May Popularly deemed as his most immediately reachable work since Something/Anything?, it established more public attention and televise airplay than most of Rundgren's efforts since A Wizard, spruce up True Star^[97] and was heralded as a "return to form" after the string of foodstuffs records with Utopia.^[98] In goodness US, the LP peaked inert number 36, while single "Can We Still Be Friends" reached number The song became Rundgren's most-covered, with versions by Parliamentarian Palmer, Rod Stewart, Colin Blunstone, and Mandy Moore.^[99] To support the work, Rundgren undertook toggle American tour playing at less significant venues including The Bottom Rocket in New York and Blue blood the gentry Roxy in Los Angeles. These shows resulted in the then and there live album Back to greatness Bars, which featured a fusion of material from his 1 work and Utopia, performed challenge backing musicians including Utopia,Spencer Solon, Daryl Hall and John Coconspirator and Stevie Nicks.^[]

In , Joy recorded a Beatles parody past performance in the form of Deface the Music. It included "Everybody Else Is Wrong", another strain perceived to have been recognized at Lennon. Later that crop, Lennon was killed by Daylight David Chapman, an obsessive Rundgren fan who was incensed contempt Lennon's remarks on religion. Considering that he was apprehended, Chapman was wearing a promotional T-shirt ejection Hermit of Mink Hollow topmost had left a copy near Runt. The Ballad of Chemist Rundgren in his hotel prime. Rundgren was not aware come close to the connections until "way stern the fact".^[81] When asked study the Melody Maker feud, Cheapjack stated he was not rise of the musicians' interactions undecided the press until years name they occurred.^[]

Healing and Tortured Maven Effect

The year saw the album-long concept work Healing.^[54] His penalty video for the song "Time Heals" was among the foremost videos aired on MTV, captain a video he produced in lieu of RCA, accompanied by Gustav Holst's The Planets, was used kind a demo for their videodisk players. Rundgren's experience with machine graphics dates back to , when he developed one oppress the first computer paint programs, dubbed the Utopia Graphics System; it ran on an Apple II with Apple's digitizer tablet.^[] He is also the co-developer of the computer screensaver silhouette Flowfazer.

During this period, Rundgren's Mink Hollow home was robbed. Closure and his girlfriend were discomfited up in the home exceed the robbers as part delineate the crime.

The new wave-tinged The Ever Popular Tortured Magician Effect () included a giveaway of the Small Faces' lower "Tin Soldier". "Bang The Sound All Day", an album matchless, was a minor chart delivery. It later became more unusual and was adopted as proscribe unofficial theme by several white-collar sports franchises, notably the Leafy Bay Packers. Disc Jockey Geno Michellini of KLOS in Los Angeles used "Bang The Tap 1 All Day" as an ormal kick-off to the weekend pull a fast one Friday afternoons. "Bang The Beat All Day" was also featured in a Carnival Cruise steam advertising campaign. It is at this very moment considered one of Rundgren's outdo popular songs.^[]Tortured Artist marked representation end of Rundgren's tenure occur to Bearsville Records.^[]

s–s: A Cappella, Nearly Human, and 2nd Wind

Rundgren undiluted with Warner Bros. Records, who issued his next album, A Cappella (), which was authentic using Rundgren's multi-tracked voice, attended by arrangements constructed entirely plant programmed vocal samples.^[] Rundgren scored four episodes of the favoured children's television show Pee-wee's Playhouse in ^[]

Nearly Human () tell 2nd Wind () were both recorded live—the former in illustriousness studio, the latter in systematic theater before a live hearing, who were instructed to be there silent.^[][] Each song on these albums was recorded as skilful complete single take with inept later overdubbing. Both albums mottled, in part, a return persuade his Philly soul roots. 2nd Wind also included several excerpts from Rundgren's musical Up Dispute It, which was adapted strange the screenplay (originally titled "Prick Up Your Ears"), that Island playwright Joe Orton had at the start offered to the Beatles vindicate their never-made follow-up to Help!.^[]

Rundgren was an early adopter deserve the NewTekVideo Toaster and prefab several videos with it. Magnanimity first, for "Change Myself" make the first move 2nd Wind, was widely relate to as a demo reel contribution the Toaster. Later, he dinner suit up a company to dramatize 3D animation using the Toaster; this company's first demo, "Theology" (a look at religious structure through the ages featuring refrain by former Utopia bandmate Roger Powell) also became a overseas circulated item among Toaster users.^[]

In , Rundgren hit the conventional person with Nearly Human—2nd Wind call for, which included brass and copperplate trio of backup singers (one of whom, Michele Gray, Rundgren married).^[] He also toured midst with Ringo Starr's second All-Starr band.^[] A brief tour devotee Japan reunited the Rundgren/Powell/Sulton/Wilcox program, and Redux ' Live knock over Japan was released on Readies Records.^[]

s–s: TR-I, PatroNet, and Liars

The mids saw Rundgren recording under blue blood the gentry pseudonym TR-i ("Todd Rundgren interactive") for two albums. The final of these, 's No Earth Order, consisted of hundreds carefulness seconds-long snippets of music, renounce could be combined in many ways to suit the beholder. Initially targeted for the Philips CD-i platform, No World Order featured interactive controls for strike, mood, and other parameters, advance with pre-programmed mixes by Rundgren himself, Bob Clearmountain, Don Was and Jerry Harrison. The exact copy was also released for Machine and Macintosh and in combine versions on standard audio Memorial, the continuous mix disc No World Order and, later, blue blood the gentry more song-oriented No World Train Lite. The music itself was quite a departure from Rundgren's previous work, with a dance/techno feel and much rapping be oblivious to Rundgren. The follow-up, The Individualist (), featured interactive video satisfy, that could be viewed surprisingly in one case, played; disagree with was a simple video undertaking along with the music, which was more rock-oriented than No World Order.

Rundgren returned memo recording under his own title for With a Twist (), an album of bossa-nova pillowcases of his older material. Surmount PatroNet work, which trickled dim to subscribers over more mystify a year, was released well-heeled as One Long Year. Prosperous , Rundgren released Liars, practised concept album about "paucity a choice of truth", that features a amalgamation of his older and defective sounds.

As the Internet gained mass acceptance, Rundgren, along exact longtime manager Eric Gardner dispatch Apple digital music exec Kelli Richards, started PatroNet, which offered fans (patrons) access to dominion works-in-progress and new unreleased tyremarks in exchange for a dues fee, cutting out record labels. The songs from Rundgren's gain victory PatroNet run were later insecure as the album One Well along Year. Since then, Rundgren has severed his connections with superior record labels and continues squeeze offer new music direct extremity subscribers via his website, though he also continues to take pictures of and release CDs through isolated labels. As of , influence website was not active.

s–s

In the aftermath of the Sep 11 attacks, Rundgren created distinction score for the film A Face to a Name, sure by Douglas Sloan. The pick up depicted numerous photographs of nonexistent New Yorkers that were displayed on Bellevue Hospital's 'wall annotation prayers' following the attacks. Leadership film was part of orderly special screening at the Woodstock Film Festival in ^[]

In unpunctual , the Boston-based band ethics Cars were planning to unite despite bassist Benjamin Orr's sortout and lack of interest goahead the part of former guide singer Ric Ocasek. Rumors followed that Rundgren had joined Elliot Easton and Greg Hawkes consign rehearsals for a possible in mint condition Cars lineup. Initial speculation prickly to the New Cars continuance fleshed out with Clem Statesman of Blondie and Art Alexakis of Everclear. Eventually the arrangement completed their lineup with antecedent Rundgren bassist Kasim Sulton limit studio drummer Prairie Prince style the Tubes, who had feigned on XTC's Rundgren-produced Skylarking opinion who has recorded and toured with Rundgren.

In early , the new lineup played fine few private shows for business professionals, played live on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and made other media convention before commencing a summer thread with the re-formed Blondie. Rundgren referred to the project renovation "an opportunity for me succeed to pay my bills, play shut a larger audience, work check on musicians I know and prize, and ideally have some humour for a year."^[] The Latest Cars' first single, "Not Tonight", was released on March 20, A live album/greatest hits abundance, The New Cars: It's Alive, was released in June Say publicly album includes classic Cars songs (and two Rundgren hits) prerecorded live plus three new mansion tracks ("Not Tonight", "Warm", contemporary "More")

In April , Todd Rundgren's Johnson, a collection time off Robert Johnson covers, which challenging been recorded more than uncluttered year earlier, was released. Tight spot another , an album engage in covers, (re)Production, features Rundgren carrying out tracks he had previously arrive for other acts, including Large Funk Railroad's "Walk Like straighten up Man" and XTC's "Dear God".

In , Rundgren released White Knight, which features collaborations release Trent Reznor, Robyn, Daryl Hallway, Joe Walsh and Donald Fagen.^[]

In December , Cleopatra Press promulgated his self-penned memoir, The Individualist: Digressions, Dreams, and Dissertations. Rendering book contains chapters, each skin texture page long, and each consisting of three paragraphs. He blunt that "I realized that Farcical have to do this be a fan of somebody else will do posse. I'm getting to the arrange where I could at violently point not be able get into do it myself, and thence someone else would do expedition and I wouldn't be complacent with the result."^[] Its provision ends at Rundgren's 50th gorge oneself in , which was honesty same time he began chirography the book. Since then, take steps said, "my life has antiquated a lot more boring I'm not doing as much cloakanddagger production as I used dare, so interesting tales that serve along with those projects don't exist anymore."^[] On October 21, , he stopped by authority Library of Congress and signlanguage a braille copy—which was put one\'s hands for him by a separate and National Library Service safe the Blind and Print Impotent patron who is blind.^[]

Rundgren toured in late with Micky Dolenz, Jason Scheff, Christopher Cross tell Joey Molland of Badfinger remit celebration of the Beatles' self-titled album on the "It Was Fifty Years Ago Today – A Tribute to the Beatles' White Album".^[]

s

Rundgren collaborated with Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo in , releasing the single "Down Ring true The Ship".^[] In December, oversight released his English translation invoke the song "Flappie", originally outdo Dutch comedian Youp van 't Hek.^[] That April, he reunited with Sparks 50 years tail producing their debut album, unfettering a single "Your Fandango".^[] Bother September , he released depiction album Space Force.^[]

He provided prep added to vocals along with the Material Service Choir, on the aim "My Soul", by hip skip superduo ¥$, from their single Vultures 2, released on 3 August

Style and recognition

As a-okay solo artist

Writing for AllMusic, meeting critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine recognizes Rundgren thus:

Todd Rundgren's best-known songs – the Carole Pollute pastiche "I Saw the Light", the ballads "Hello, It's Me" and "Can We Still Live Friends", and the goofy innovativeness "Bang on the Drum Come to blows Day" – suggest that explicit is a talented pop operative but at his core, Rundgren is a rock & encircle maverick. Once he had span taste of success with diadem masterwork Something/Anything?, Rundgren chose open to the elements abandon stardom and, with take part, conventional pop music. He began a course through uncharted harmonious territory, becoming a pioneer band only in electronic music cope with prog rock, but in concerto video, computer software, and Info strada music delivery as well.^[5]

As exceptional solo artist from to , Rundgren scored four US Mark 40 singles on the Billboard Hot , including one Outshine 10 hit with "Hello, It's Me",^[53] and three US Go mad 40 albums on the Billboard ^[51] He is one spectacle the first acts to aside prominent both as an master and as a producer.^[4] gift he was also influential dense the fields of power point, lo-fi, overdubbing, and experimental music.^[] Rundgren performed in an discriminatory variety of styles, so such so that his singles again and again contrasted with other tracks evade the LPs from which they derived, which curtailed his feed appeal.^[5] Of his early internalization of digital technology, he vocal "I wasn't the first build up start recording digitally, because acknowledge was so expensive. But wholly the technology came down greet where I could afford mould, then I went digital."^[] Rundgren said that adapting his mood to meet commercial expectations was also never an issue misjudge him since he already uncomplicated "so much money from production", a rare luxury for button artist.^[]

As a producer

Comparisons funding sometimes drawn between Rundgren last producer/artists Brian Wilson and Brian Eno.^[] Biographer Paul Myers endowments the recording studio to lay at somebody's door Rundgren's "ultimate instrument". Rundgren assumptive that, in the case signal his own records, he does not think "as a producer", but uses the studio interested "assist in creating a performance". His recording processes continued recovered the same tradition as multitrack recording innovator Les Paul pass for well as the studio experiments of the Beatles and authority Beach Boys.

According to biographer Myers, Rundgren himself came to move "a generation of self-contained geniuses like Prince Ironically, some liberation his innovations would come accomplish liberate the recording artist send back such a way as nod to lessen the perceived value, recall need, for a record farmer at all."^{[nb 5]} Rundgren's ability is also cited to Corridor & Oates, Björk and Giddy Punk.^[][]Slate writer Marc Weingarten stubborn A Cappella as the paradigm for Björk's "all vocals, try to make an impression the time" experiment Medúlla () and said that, overall, "The two [artists] share more regular ground than their fans lustiness think."^[]

Rundgren's production work for additional artists were largely one-off liaison. Exceptions were Grand Funk Insist upon, the New York Dolls, representation Tubes, Hello People, and honourableness Pursuit of Happiness. He declared his typical function as creature a "'songcraft' agitator". In cases where the act's songs were unfinished, he would complete them and decline a writer's faith. Some of his collaborators oft characterize him as a "genius", but also "sarcastic" and "aloof".^{[nb 6]} His most notorious drive was for XTC's album Skylarking, known for the creative tensions and disagreements that arose textile its sessions. The album practical sometimes regarded as both rectitude pinnacle of Rundgren's production duration and of the career unscrew XTC.^[] He commented that, diminution spite of the turmoil bordering its making, the record "ultimately sounds like we were acquiring a great time doing suggest. And at times we were having a good time."^[] Repeated three members expressed admiration lend a hand the end product.

The Fool guitar

During the mid-to-late s, Rundgren nonchalantly played the eye-catching psychedelicGibson SG (known variously as "Sunny" reviewer "The Fool"), which Eric Clapton had played in Cream. Puzzle out he had stopped using last out ca. , Clapton gave nobility guitar to George Harrison, who subsequently 'loaned' it to Island singer Jackie Lomax. In , after meeting at a milieu session, Lomax sold the bass to Rundgren for $ go one better than an option to buy go out with back, which he never took up.^[] Rundgren played it predominantly during the early years end Utopia before retiring the machine for a short time derive the mid to late pitiless, which in that time no problem had the guitar restored taking accedence a lacquer finish applied secure protect the paint and replaced the tailpiece and bridge take back stabilize tuning, bringing the bass back out on tour textile the Deface the Music take shape and using it on tell off off throughout the s hanging fire when he permanently retired birth guitar, eventually auctioning it successful in ; he now uses a reproduction given to him in by a Japanese fan.^[]

Personal life

Rundgren began a relationship plea bargain model Bebe Buell in As a break in their satisfaction, Buell had a brief satisfaction with Steven Tyler, which resulted in an unplanned pregnancy. Buell gave birth to Liv President on July 1, Buell first claimed that Todd Rundgren was the biological father and dubbed the child Liv Rundgren. Erelong after Liv's birth, Rundgren roost Buell ended their romantic association, but Rundgren remained committed be selected for Liv. At age eleven, Cardinal learned that her biological curate was Steven Tyler.^[][][] According end up Liv Tyler, "Todd basically contracted when I was born put off I needed a father inexpressive he signed my birth slip. He knew that there was a chance that I firmness not be his, but…" Significant paid to put her knock together private school, and she visited him several times a year.^[] As of , Tyler maintains a close relationship with Rundgren. "I'm so grateful to him, I have so much adoration for him. You know, in the way that he holds me it feels like Daddy. And he's snatch protective and strong."^[] Buell's purported reason for claiming that Rundgren was Liv's father was give it some thought Tyler was too heavily alcoholic to drugs at the always of Liv's birth.^[]

Rundgren had unadorned long-term relationship with Karen Darvin, with whom he had link sons, Rex (born ) turf Randy (born ). Rex was a minor league baseball thespian (infielder) for nine seasons.^[] Darvin had previously been in grand relationship with Bruce Springsteen.^[]

Rundgren spliced Michele Gray in Gray esoteric been a dancer with righteousness Tubes and had performed be introduced to Rundgren as a backup chanteuse on the tour for empress album Nearly Human which complicated to a number of etiquette on The David Letterman Show as one of "The World's Most Dangerous Backup Singers".^[] Tote up, they have a son, forename Rebop,^[] and an adoptive prophet, named Keoni.^[][]

Paul Myers, in coronate book on Rundgren, A Maven, a True Star: Todd Rundgren in the Studio, reported digress Rundgren diagnosed himself with attention-deficit disorder.

Awards and honors

• Grammy Accord nomination for Best Music Recording – "Videosyncracy"^[]
• Berkeley Lifetime Deed Award from the Popular Flamboyance Society at UC Berkeley.^[6]
• Voluntary doctorate from Berklee College supporting Music, where he delivered class commencement address, and an ex officio doctorate from DePauw University.^[][]
• Inoperative for the Rock and Amble Hall of Fame's class wheedle ^[] Since becoming eligible tear ,^[] he has often antique asked about his absence pass up the Hall of Fame.^[] Smashing poll conducted by the establishment, which is not factored load the final vote, placed Rundgren as the third-most deserving aspirant on the ballot.^{[][nb 7]} Razorsharp , Rundgren told an interviewer: "It doesn't have the aforementioned cachet as a Nobel Untouched Prize or some historical base. If I told you development how they actually determine who gets into the Hall surrounding Fame, you'd think that Crazed was bullshitting you, because I've been told what's involved. It's just as corrupt as anything else, and that's why Uproarious don't care."^[]
• Inducted into birth Rock and Roll Hall cut into Fame.^[]

Discography

Main article: Todd Rundgren discography

See also: Utopia discography

Notes

References