Songs like this just take me back instantly. I close my eyes and take a deep clean breath and I can feel the sunshine of the 70's on me, it's unexplainable and probably weird for some to understand but it's the best feeling in the World to me.
Musical genius. Produced Meatloaf Bat out of Hell. He is the step father of Steven Tyler's (Aerosmith) actress Liv Rundgren Tyler. She didn't know ST was her father till one day she said to her mom hey this guy has my lips and I look just like him.
Have seen Todd live about 5 times. The first time seeing him it was a bar on the west side of Indy. After the concert My friends talked me into going up to his trailer and meeting him. I went by myself Knocked softly. No answer. I was walking away when Todd opened the door. I had no fricking idea what to say. But I knew I didn’t want him to think I was a groupie (I wasn’t) and that I was a totally cool music fan. He invited me in without asking why the hell I was there. Thank God. His blonde backup singer (whom I think he married later on was there too). Anyway I rambled on about seeing him on Midnight Special and other ridiculous stuff. He was very friendly and nice. So I feel like I need to leave and I asked him for an autograph. He said sure so I frantically looked in my purse for paper. All I could fine was my mini address book. He asked “Should I put it by Lionel Ritchie?” I had no idea what that meant at the time but realized later his last name started with R and he probably thought I do this all the time. Hahaha. Anyway still got that little address book and will never forget that meeting. I made an ass out of myself but he and his girlfriend were very cool.
Lol 🤣 Great story! i met him outside Radio city music hall walking in to do a sound check before the 1st Utopia tour . He was very friendly funny & nice ,i still can see him with that brown leather jacket big rabbit fur collar & that long multi -colored hair he use to have .
Once again, Lex nails it in one! "Grown apart childhood sweethearts vibe" Exactly!! He wrote this when he was a teenager, about a failed relationship that he was not quite ready to let go of.
The song is about a break up, getting dumped. In real life Todd’s high school girlfriend broke up with her because her father didn’t like “hippies” but, he flipped the story so he was breaking up with the girl
So Lex was correct and Brad was clueless. 😆 To be honest, .500 is better than I expected. 😂 I didn’t know the backstory, but the meaning of the song seems pretty evident. I think it’s ambiguous who broke up with who or if it was mutual, just that there’s bittersweet regret. Also, the offer to occasionally have sex is funny, either way (“and spend the night if you think I should”).
I always thought this was a song about a couple that it didn't work out but always remained friends with the occasional "benefits" but they both knew it wouldn't work out.
I remember when I was visiting my sister in New York City at that time and we went to an Italian restaurant and Todd Rundgren was sitting across from us having dinner. This was in the 80s.
Brad&Lex, you’ll love his "I Saw the Light", "Can We Still Be Friends" and "Bang the Drum All Day"!!! He’s a singer/songwriter, musician, producer, engineer, does it all in music. Rundgren is a pioneer in the fields of electronic music, progressive rock, music videos, computer software, and Internet music delivery.
Love this track. Todd Rundgren is a great artist, producer, songwriter. Also dig one of his side projects, UTOPIA. Very cool early 80s Utopia track..... Set Me Free
The little girl is the actress, Liv Tyler. Her father is Steven Tyler of Aerosmith. Todd Rundgren married Liv's mother and raised Liv as his daughter. Liv Tyler has good relations with both of her fathers.
This is a heartbreaking song.....of trying to let go but still keeping in touch....holding on to hope.......trying to remain civil about it......that's what I get out of it. Memories of the seventies....in fact, it always reminds my of That Seventies Show, now......there's a point in the first season where the gang is singing it all together while it plays on the radio in "the Vista Cruiser".....and at the end of the final episode, they revisit that scene.....very touching, actually.
...letting her go but hoping she'll come back one day...but that never happens. Once you realize that you're better off without her is when you take your power back. It may take days, months, sometimes years. This song is about the first few weeks of losing a girl before you realize you have options. I was there when I was 17. Losing my girl due to being a runaway because of an abusive home life. That was the first time I thought about somone else first rather than me. I told her to remove herself from that situation. She did just that and I never saw her face to face again. That was 33 years ago.
The venue i worked at in the 90's, he played there about 5x's. Finally, one of those shows i met him backstage. This man is super sweet, very down to earth, he asked to stay with him during meet & greet with fans. He included me in all the pictures people took, including one of just him & I while hugging me. That little girl in photos is Liv Tylor who he thought was his daughter & loved her like his own but turns out to be Steven Tylor from Aerosmith's daughter. She's in his "Crazy" video.
I been busy working on a project all my spare time is taken, haven't listened to a 45 in almost a year. But I had the turntable set up next to my computer so I could do computer stuff and play 45's in chronological order of release. I have about 1,000 45's left including this 45 by Todd. I also have I saw the light, can we still be friends and Utopia Set me free.
I'm sitting out on my front porch as a kid with this playing on my transistor. He's singing about a girl that obviously he hasn't been with for awhile.
Music is universal. I'm a metal drummer but I got to study under the percussion director of the Phoenix Symphony in college. We didn't clash at all. He tightened up my playing and I taught him double bass techniques. This was early 80's.
Todd's amazing! Saw him in Portland, Oregon about 20 years ago. Such a performer, it really felt like a revival. The music was so very lucid! "Hello, It's Me" "Sweet" "Bang the Drum All Day" "Stood Up" "Worldwide Epiphany" "Can We Still Be Friends?" "I Saw the Light" "Soul Brother" "Tables Will Turn" "Love Is the Answer" "2nd Wind" "Real Man" "Time Stood Still" "Couldn't I Just Tell You?" "Truth" "We Gotta Get You a Woman" "Eastern Intrigue" "Hot Espresso" "Don't You Ever Learn?" "Future" "Love Science" "Change Myself" "The Individualist" "Stood Up" "A Dream Goes On Forever" "The Last Ride" "Wondering" (many, many more)
Lex's 1st words were what it is...."this is beautiful". this is hot tea on a rainy day in warm sweats and blankets, looking at your honey and admiring them🙂
I loved this double album set at a young, emotional age and in my old age it brings to mind So many people from that time--most gone now. I think Todd covered an amazing amount of emotions and touched a generation, but he isn't usually acknowledged for that, being so talented at Everything! I think he helped a generation of men to feel just a little deeper--I saw them listen to Todd while they were high, and get a little emotional at beautiful songs, but also listen to the words, too! They knew he was kidding on adorable songs like "We've Got To Get You A Woman" where the character is speaking, not Todd! "One More Day" with no letter from his girlfriend, "The Viking Song" in our Vietnam era meant something different to us!
Btw he was a pioneer. Produced Meatloafs Bat Out of Hell. Did first interactive concert. Behind first music videos with David Bowie. This album Something Anything he did the whole thing live in the studio. Straight through.
This wonderful song is from Todd's album, Something/Anything. It is a 2 record set. He played all the instruments on the first 3 sides and the last side, which this song is included, was recorded live with an exceptional group of studio musicians. Todd is an incredible musician and accomplished producer. George Harrison asked Todd to produce the rest of Badfinger's Straight Up album when George was called away mid recording. Others Todd has produced include The New York Dolls, Meatloaf, Grand Funk Railroad, and XTC. Other songs to check out: A Long Time and a Long Way to Go, Long Flowing Robe, I Saw the Light, Wolfman Jack, Dust in the Wind, Just One Victory, I could go on and on. Great reaction y'all!
'Can We Still Be Friends' and 'We Gotta Get You a Woman' are two excellent Rundgren songs you can do, and Brad would LOVE We gotta get you a woman. It tells a story.
Todd's ballads are all great: "I Saw the Light", "Can We Still Be Friends", "We Got to Get You a Woman", "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference", "Love is the Answer", "Couldn't I Just Tell You", etc.
I was 15 when this came out. I still admire how Todd reflected a mature & nuanced way to deal with break-ups and heartbreak... And how women and men can respect each other even through heartbreak. Respect being the operative word. (Also, by Todd is one of the musician/producers who early on recognized the talent of the wonderful composer and singer Laura Nyro...)
Now you have surely opened another person you must explore, including the whole album as one listen: A Wizard A True Star. I think it is his opus and he is famous for many areas of the industry.
He certainly does play a bunch of instruments: Guitar, Bass, Piano, Drums and Saxophone, among others--but not on this particular performance of this song. The Something/Anything album had parts with just Todd and parts with a full band, and this came from the full band. It's a little easier to hear that it's played with a full band if you listen to the actual album track versus this single track, as you can hear a false start or two before the track begins.
Todd Rundgren did some great tunes. Others are Bang The Drum All Day, We Gotta Get You a Woman, I Saw The Light, Can We Still Be Friends, & Change Myself. I knew several of the songs but became a big fan during a late night college trip, The driver played his latest Hermit of Mink Hollow album about 3 times thru! It’s full of great songs, but wasn’t very popular. Change Myself was the first music video, 100% computer generated. And on a popular home graphics computer at that, a Commodore Amiga.
Hey Brad and Lex, it’s a joy to watch you engage these wonderful artists, with such diverse sounds. But, because of their otherworldly talent it’s impossible to claim a favorite. Todd Rundgren is one of the multi faceted artists of the seventies whom had “SERIOUS SKILLS”, for writing and performing music. Another superb reaction video guys, very well done, thank you.
Every Friday when I picked up the grand kids from school, I'd play "Bang the Drum". Still do when pick up from work on Fridays. "I don't wanna work, I just wanna bang on the drum all day".
There has been a few versions of this song, the first, which was done in his 60's psychedelic band The Nazz. A man who has done it all in rock, You should try his off-beat song Bang The Drum All Day.. but so many others with different bands & solo. (plus a duet with Bonnie Tyler).. thanks for another cool reaction..
No, it's inspired by a girl that broke his heart early on. Her dad saw he had long hair which was a taboo back then. He told her to breakup with him, then turned cold toward him. After he became famous, guess who started calling him, yep, her. He treated it like a business call. I respect him. He raised Steven Tyler's daughter as if she was his
Brad,Lex, Todd Rundgren is a true musical genius. I recommend listening to I Saw the Light next. Still get goosebumps listening to these two songs by Todd. For some reason they really bring back memories and great times from my youth.
Other than being a unique wonderful talent, Todd was very compassionate. He actually stepped in when Steve Tyler was out of control and adopted and raised Liv Tyler. Liv’s name was Liv Rundgren Tyler. There are many photos on the internet with Todd, his wife and a young Liv Tyler. They gave her a beautiful childhood filled with love ❤️
It is… Todd took on the father role permanently though at first paternity was in question, and it was later determined that Steven Tyler was tge biological father.
He did this four years earlier in 1968 with a group called Nazz and a fellow in the band called Stewkey sang the lead vocal and it’s a softer more heartfelt ballad where the tempo of this version that became a hit is a little more upbeat.
Ugh, not me. I like Nazz, but that version of "Hello It's Me" is too slow and Stewkey too off-pitch. And the bongos? If I'm listening to Nazz I want "Open My Eyes."
my very first concert ever, my older sister took me in 1975 to see him in columbus ohio. amazing …. became a musician because of that experience . keep up the great old music. 👍🏼💓
I recently discovered this song and was hooked! I was watching that 70s show re-runs and they played a bit of this song and sounded nice so decided to check it out.
I already knew the song from the 70's as a kid, but now when I hear it, I always think of That 70's Show. They used it in the pilot episode and the finale episode. I liked they did that. It was my favorite show.
Rundgren was a sound engineer, and producer first, and video tech pioneer, so he knew how to create a smooth, balanced sound quality, even with all of the various instruments. This song, has the epitome of 70's chords. It's mellow, but at the same time, filled with emotion. He had the group Utopia. His style is very eclectic, and experimental. Check out my favorite "International Feel", or for some fun songs, "Song Of The Viking", or "Bang The Drum All Day".
Todd has done it all. Multi-instrumentalist, music producer, singer/songwriter and can rock with the best of em. The young girl in those pics is none other than Liv Tyler. For years it was unkown if she was actually Todd's daughter, or Stephen Tyler's (Aerosmith). But he was her father figure as she grew up.
Arwen's (from "The Lord of the Rings") stepdad. Pretty much a musical genius, songwriter and producer, massively respected by people in the industry, not celebrated near enough among the crowd. This one here is probably one of the greatest pop songs in the 1970s, and, as you should know by now, that's incredibly hard to pull off.
Maybe the most underrated singer/songwriter there is. Todd wrote hit songs for many other artists besides himself. He was at his peak of popularity in the 1970s. Great talent. Thanks for playing this song.It holds some great old memories. But that's what music does, it's a time machine, that takes you back to when you first heard a song, or some significant event was going on, and this song takes you right back to that time.
My first rock concert was Rundgren (Rick Derringer opened). I saw him 2 or 3 more times after that. He has a fairly impressive song catalogue, like this one. One thing you can say about him and his music career: he always did it his way.
I listened to this directly after listening to your reaction to Carole King's "It's Too Late." It sounded as though he was answering her, in a very striking way.
Todd Rundgren is also a record producer. One of the albums he produced was "Mother's Pride" by Fanny - an all-female band from the early 1970's. You should check out Fanny especially their live performances.
According to SongFacts: “Rundgren wrote this song, which takes us through a phone call where the singer breaks up with a girl. It's a remarkably realistic account, devoid of sweeping metaphors typically found in breakup songs.”
In September 1968 Delaware County native & Upper Darby High School graduate Todd Rundgren released 'Open My Eyes' as a single with his band NAZZ. on SGC (Screen Gems Columbia) records. The song was a flop peaking at 112 nationally & received no airplay in Philly. A DJ at a Boston radio station accidentally played the flip side 'Hello It's Me' on the air & decided to add it to the stations playlist. The song took off & reached #1 on their playlist prompting other area stations to add it & it debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1969 charting 7 weeks & peaking at #71. Back in Philly both cuts were getting airplay on a new rock radio station WMMR-FM by late Summer. The local Top 40 stations noticed & started playing both tracks in December. The two-sided monster would reach #2 on WFIL in early 1970. The record (S.G.C. 001) would enter the Hot 100 once again with 'Hello It's Me' on January 17, 1970, chart for 6 weeks & reach a new peak of #66. It's interesting that although the label had cosmetic changes during the run, they never released new commercial copies & kept the same number. Of course we all know that Todd was far from done with 'Hello It's Me' as he would re-record & re-release the new version in 1973 as a single as a solo artist & it soared to #5 on the Hot 100. This makes Todd one of only a handful of artists to have hits with two different versions of the same song although his original version with Nazz was only a regional success.
My first concert in October of 1978. Saw him at a place called Arcosanti, in Cordes Junction, Arizona. The setting was inside a canyon in the high desert of central Arizona. Crosby, Stills and Nash also performed. The day before people parked in a field that was covered in dry grass and weeds and a car's exhaust sparked the dry grass on fire and burned hundreds of cars.
Not many people know this but Liv Tyler the actress full name is Liv Rundgren Tyler. She was essentially raised by Todd Rundgren and still considers him her father along with Steven Tyler. Todd Rundgren essentially stepped in to be her dad because her biological parents weren't really there to raise her. He took responsibility for her. She didn't learn Steven Tyler was her biological father until she was 11 years old.
What I have always taken from this amazing song is that he is talking to possibly the mother of his children. Stating that he thinks of her still. He feels bad for thinking she is still his even if she isn't. He simply asks for her to still think of him and know that he will always be there for her if she will let him. And he also tells her that she is always free to be herself. Plus he never wants her to change her life to accommodate him.
This man is a virtuoso. He wrote the lyrics, composed the music, produced and mixed this album, and played most of the instruments.
Not to mention all the hits he wrote for OTHER artists!
Classic Song .. I can still remember when all of his songs were brand new on the radio as a kid .. Brings back lots of memories .. 😊
same, nothing better than growing up in the 70s
We're in our 50's now. Let's hold great memories.
Same. And I still listen to them all the time.
This was playing at my first kiss 😘
Songs like this just take me back instantly. I close my eyes and take a deep clean breath and I can feel the sunshine of the 70's on me, it's unexplainable and probably weird for some to understand but it's the best feeling in the World to me.
I saw Todd in 1976. He opened for Elton John. It was a phenomenal show. Not bad for a first concert. ✌️❤️
I am JEALOUS!!!!!! 🤗💓
That would’ve been perfect for me cause I could’ve gotten up after Rundgren and left the building and beaten the traffic😂
This is the ultimate 70's song, I never get tired of hearing it....
One of the prettiest pop songs of all time!
“it’s important to me, that you know you are free…..Cuz, I never want you to change for me”. Awesome lyric..
Musical genius. Produced Meatloaf Bat out of Hell. He is the step father of Steven Tyler's (Aerosmith) actress Liv Rundgren Tyler. She didn't know ST was her father till one day she said to her mom hey this guy has my lips and I look just like him.
he also produced the first New York Dolls album, which shows his diversity
@@1967PONTIACGTO and Skylarking by XTC
Also Grand Funk's "We're an American Band" album.
And The Tubes' "Remote Control" - also completely different.
Yes, I believe the child in the photos are of Liv Tyler, his adopted daughter who grew up to become an actress.
I’ve seen Todd in concert 20+ times. So glad he finally got in the Rock Hall of Fame. I love his heavy stuff. Favorite is Adventures in Utopia.
Have seen Todd live about 5 times. The first time seeing him it was a bar on the west side of Indy. After the concert My friends talked me into going up to his trailer and meeting him. I went by myself
Knocked softly. No answer. I was walking away when Todd opened the door. I had no fricking idea what to say. But I knew I didn’t want him to think I was a groupie (I wasn’t) and that I was a totally cool music fan. He invited me in without asking why the hell I was there. Thank God. His blonde backup singer (whom I think he married later on was there too). Anyway I rambled on about seeing him on Midnight Special and other ridiculous stuff. He was very friendly and nice. So I feel like I need to leave and I asked him for an autograph. He said sure so I frantically looked in my purse for paper. All I could fine was my mini address book. He asked “Should I put it by Lionel Ritchie?” I had no idea what that meant at the time but realized later his last name started with R and he probably thought I do this all the time. Hahaha. Anyway still got that little address book and will never forget that meeting. I made an ass out of myself but he and his girlfriend were very cool.
Great story Laura!
Lol 🤣 Great story! i met him outside Radio city music hall walking in to do a sound check before the 1st Utopia tour . He was very friendly funny & nice ,i still can see him with that brown leather jacket big rabbit fur collar & that long multi -colored hair he use to have .
How old were you Laura? Cool story. 😎
Nice one Laura, you're a hoot, hehehe! 😂😂
Great story. Did something similar with Tommy Shaw of Styx. I was just 18y young. 😳
Glad I did too... 😝
Once again, Lex nails it in one! "Grown apart childhood sweethearts vibe" Exactly!! He wrote this when he was a teenager, about a failed relationship that he was not quite ready to let go of.
As soon as I hear those first chords, I’m taken back to HS and my first crush 😍
The song is about a break up, getting dumped. In real life Todd’s high school girlfriend broke up with her because her father didn’t like “hippies” but, he flipped the story so he was breaking up with the girl
So Lex was correct and Brad was clueless. 😆 To be honest, .500 is better than I expected. 😂 I didn’t know the backstory, but the meaning of the song seems pretty evident. I think it’s ambiguous who broke up with who or if it was mutual, just that there’s bittersweet regret. Also, the offer to occasionally have sex is funny, either way (“and spend the night if you think I should”).
Good to see someone else that knows. She tried calling him after he became famous.
'I Saw The Light' - Todd Rundgren
Can never turn this song off. 70s Easy Listening music was amazing.
Todd is a musical wizard. Love this song, think I'll listen to it again. 🤙❤🙄
You should listen to his record, A Wizard, a True Star
"Zen Archer", "I Saw The Light" and "Tiny Demons" are definitely some of his best stuff.
"You Left Me Sore", and "When the S**t Hits the Fan"... not necessarily his best work, but good for a laugh.
I always thought this was a song about a couple that it didn't work out but always remained friends with the occasional "benefits" but they both knew it wouldn't work out.
I remember when I was visiting my sister in New York City at that time and we went to an Italian restaurant and Todd Rundgren was sitting across from us having dinner. This was in the 80s.
One of the best pop songs of all time. Beautiful song.
Brad&Lex, you’ll love his "I Saw the Light", "Can We Still Be Friends" and "Bang the Drum All Day"!!! He’s a singer/songwriter, musician, producer, engineer, does it all in music. Rundgren is a pioneer in the fields of electronic music, progressive rock, music videos, computer software, and Internet music delivery.
🤖
Wow! Back in high school this was a fave slow dance in 1972. I'm glad you enjoyed this, Lex and Brad, and enjoyed your REACTION! Thanks! - Bob
My graduation year of hs 1972
Hello @@joannfowler8407 Those were fun times. Thanks! - Bob
Love this track. Todd Rundgren is a great artist, producer, songwriter. Also dig one of his side projects, UTOPIA. Very cool early 80s Utopia track..... Set Me Free
Todd is one of those unique musicians who played all the instruments in his record albums - Prince is was another musician who had done the same.
Also Paul McCartney....
Steve Winwood as well.
Stevie Wonder
Adrian Belew as well
This song is on the one side of the Something/Anything double LP that features a live band, not Todd playing everything.
The little girl is the actress, Liv Tyler. Her father is Steven Tyler of Aerosmith. Todd Rundgren married Liv's mother and raised Liv as his daughter. Liv Tyler has good relations with both of her fathers.
This is a heartbreaking song.....of trying to let go but still keeping in touch....holding on to hope.......trying to remain civil about it......that's what I get out of it.
Memories of the seventies....in fact, it always reminds my of That Seventies Show, now......there's a point in the first season where the gang is singing it all together while it plays on the radio in "the Vista Cruiser".....and at the end of the final episode, they revisit that scene.....very touching, actually.
...letting her go but hoping she'll come back one day...but that never happens. Once you realize that you're better off without her is when you take your power back. It may take days, months, sometimes years. This song is about the first few weeks of losing a girl before you realize you have options.
I was there when I was 17.
Losing my girl due to being a runaway because of an abusive home life.
That was the first time I thought about somone else first rather than me. I told her to remove herself from that situation. She did just that and I never saw her face to face again. That was 33 years ago.
Bittersweet regret runs through this song (more sweet than bitter).
An exceptional production in which he played most of the instruments. Nice tune guys, well done. Cheers
This song, along with all the others on side 4 of Something/Anything were recorded live with a band. Sides 1-3 of this album were all him.
YES! Just saw Todd live at the Cabot in Beverly. Quite a guy. Great night.
liar
The venue i worked at in the 90's, he played there about 5x's. Finally, one of those shows i met him backstage. This man is super sweet, very down to earth, he asked to stay with him during meet & greet with fans. He included me in all the pictures people took, including one of just him & I while hugging me. That little girl in photos is Liv Tylor who he thought was his daughter & loved her like his own but turns out to be Steven Tylor from Aerosmith's daughter. She's in his "Crazy" video.
Just a fantastic song! One of my favorites! Great pick!
I still play the 45 rpm record in my garage. It was such a different type of ballad at the time. Quite irresistible.
I been busy working on a project all my spare time is taken, haven't listened to a 45 in almost a year. But I had the turntable set up next to my computer so I could do computer stuff and play 45's in chronological order of release. I have about 1,000 45's left including this 45 by Todd. I also have I saw the light, can we still be friends and Utopia Set me free.
I'm sitting out on my front porch as a kid with this playing on my transistor. He's singing about a girl that obviously he hasn't been with for awhile.
Music is universal. I'm a metal drummer but I got to study under the percussion director of the Phoenix Symphony in college. We didn't clash at all. He tightened up my playing and I taught him double bass techniques. This was early 80's.
Todd's amazing! Saw him in Portland, Oregon about 20 years ago. Such a performer, it really felt like a revival. The music was so very lucid! "Hello, It's Me" "Sweet" "Bang the Drum All Day" "Stood Up" "Worldwide Epiphany" "Can We Still Be Friends?" "I Saw the Light" "Soul Brother" "Tables Will Turn" "Love Is the Answer" "2nd Wind" "Real Man" "Time Stood Still" "Couldn't I Just Tell You?" "Truth" "We Gotta Get You a Woman" "Eastern Intrigue" "Hot Espresso" "Don't You Ever Learn?" "Future" "Love Science" "Change Myself" "The Individualist" "Stood Up" "A Dream Goes On Forever" "The Last Ride" "Wondering" (many, many more)
Lex's 1st words were what it is...."this is beautiful". this is hot tea on a rainy day in warm sweats and blankets, looking at your honey and admiring them🙂
Stunning song........someone l loved totally blanked me.,...,....a friend played this..,..,. & lives changed .......thanks Todd ...
I loved this double album set at a young, emotional age and in my old age it brings to mind So many people from that time--most gone now. I think Todd covered an amazing amount of emotions and touched a generation, but he isn't usually acknowledged for that, being so talented at Everything! I think he helped a generation of men to feel just a little deeper--I saw them listen to Todd while they were high, and get a little emotional at beautiful songs, but also listen to the words, too! They knew he was kidding on adorable songs like "We've Got To Get You A Woman" where the character is speaking, not Todd! "One More Day" with no letter from his girlfriend, "The Viking Song" in our Vietnam era meant something different to us!
Probably my late fathers favourite artist. Grew up listening to Todd. As a lad my fave was Onomatopoeia
Btw he was a pioneer. Produced Meatloafs Bat Out of Hell. Did first interactive concert. Behind first music videos with David Bowie. This album Something Anything he did the whole thing live in the studio. Straight through.
This wonderful song is from Todd's album, Something/Anything. It is a 2 record set. He played all the instruments on the first 3 sides and the last side, which this song is included, was recorded live with an exceptional group of studio musicians. Todd is an incredible musician and accomplished producer. George Harrison asked Todd to produce the rest of Badfinger's Straight Up album when George was called away mid recording. Others Todd has produced include The New York Dolls, Meatloaf, Grand Funk Railroad, and XTC. Other songs to check out: A Long Time and a Long Way to Go, Long Flowing Robe, I Saw the Light, Wolfman Jack, Dust in the Wind, Just One Victory, I could go on and on. Great reaction y'all!
Something/Anything was released after Tapestry and the music press referred to him as the male Carole King.
'Can We Still Be Friends' and 'We Gotta Get You a Woman' are two excellent Rundgren songs you can do, and Brad would LOVE We gotta get you a woman. It tells a story.
Love the version with Daryl hall
we gotta get you a woman is no longer politically correct-perfect for Brad!
Todd's ballads are all great: "I Saw the Light", "Can We Still Be Friends", "We Got to Get You a Woman", "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference", "Love is the Answer", "Couldn't I Just Tell You", etc.
I was 15 when this came out. I still admire how Todd reflected a mature & nuanced way to deal with break-ups and heartbreak...
And how women and men can respect each other even through heartbreak.
Respect being the operative word.
(Also, by Todd is one of the musician/producers who early on recognized the talent of the wonderful composer and singer Laura Nyro...)
he is and absolute musical genius! so talented
This was in the early 70's and probably one of his best known songs.
This is one of my all time favorites! Thx!
Todd Rundgren's band Utopia has an album with one of the best titles ever, "Oops, Wrong Planet". That about says it all.
Saw them right around that time at the Roxy in West Hollywood
Todd rundgren was an amazing songwriter and musician
One of the most beautiful songs from the 70's and a classic of all time! Good choice!
Todd is my all-time favorite musician, and has done a little bit of basically everything. Keep digging down this hole; you won't regret it.
My first concert was seeing Todd at Sellersville Theater. 🙂👍
This is one of the most beautiful songs ever written...
To me it's about a really cool dude that loves a woman forever, but goes on with his life as she does. They reconnect once in a while.
That's what I get from it. He's a rambling man.
That's always been the feeling that I've got from the song.
@@williammunson5832 yes. But he's so sincere about his feelings. I just know if I got that phone call, I'd be like, okay. Come on over! 😆❤️😁
There were a lot of cool people like Todd back in the 1970's....miss those days ❣️
Now you have surely opened another person you must explore, including the whole album as one listen: A Wizard A True Star. I think it is his opus and he is famous for many areas of the industry.
Todd Rundgren plays almost every instrument! I love this song!
He certainly does play a bunch of instruments: Guitar, Bass, Piano, Drums and Saxophone, among others--but not on this particular performance of this song. The Something/Anything album had parts with just Todd and parts with a full band, and this came from the full band. It's a little easier to hear that it's played with a full band if you listen to the actual album track versus this single track, as you can hear a false start or two before the track begins.
@@PlateOshrimp499 Correct, I should have clarified.
@@sherrymillerable No worries!
The Isley Brothers had a big hit with this song as well. Todd Rundgren is a musical genius.
The Isleys are a group that will take your song and flip the hell outta of it!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Todd Rundgren did some great tunes. Others are Bang The Drum All Day, We Gotta Get You a Woman, I Saw The Light, Can We Still Be Friends, & Change Myself. I knew several of the songs but became a big fan during a late night college trip, The driver played his latest Hermit of Mink Hollow album about 3 times thru! It’s full of great songs, but wasn’t very popular. Change Myself was the first music video, 100% computer generated. And on a popular home graphics computer at that, a Commodore Amiga.
I loved hearing this song on the radio but more importantly, I love these two as a couple.
Hey Brad and Lex, it’s a joy to watch you engage these wonderful artists, with such diverse sounds. But, because of their otherworldly talent it’s impossible to claim a favorite. Todd Rundgren is one of the multi faceted artists of the seventies whom had “SERIOUS SKILLS”, for writing and performing music. Another superb reaction video guys, very well done, thank you.
"I Saw The Light" is another good one from Todd.
A song that said he didn’t want to change her. That alone was amazing in that age. The child was his stepdaughter who he raised as his own
omg Brad, "genre fluid" is the most hilarious thing I have heard in weeks. I feel Lex saw to the heart of this this beautiful song.. Doing again
Every Friday when I picked up the grand kids from school, I'd play "Bang the Drum". Still do when pick up from work on Fridays. "I don't wanna work, I just wanna bang on the drum all day".
I like Lex's style here. It IS beautiful, maybe not the words but the feeling the song provokes.
There has been a few versions of this song, the first, which was done in his 60's psychedelic band The Nazz. A man who has done it all in rock, You should try his off-beat song Bang The Drum All Day.. but so many others with different bands & solo. (plus a duet with Bonnie Tyler).. thanks for another cool reaction..
I absolutely adore this song. Even the covers. Isley Brothers & Eryka Badu created their own rendition of this song.
Love Todd! Great artist
It’s about about having an open relationship and not possessing the one you love. I think of That’s ‘70s Show every time I hear this.😄
yeah, the original closing theme song.
That's how I discovered this song lol watching re-runs
No, it's inspired by a girl that broke his heart early on. Her dad saw he had long hair which was a taboo back then. He told her to breakup with him, then turned cold toward him. After he became famous, guess who started calling him, yep, her. He treated it like a business call.
I respect him. He raised Steven Tyler's daughter as if she was his
@@independentthinker8930 Amen. He's a good guy.
Todd Rundgren is so great. I recommend Wolfman Jack for a fun one and I Saw The Light for a bit of romance..
I Saw the Light is great because it was stuck in my head one day & prior to that I didn’t remember ever fully hearing that song.
LOVE Wolfman Jack!!!
Brad,Lex, Todd Rundgren is a true musical genius. I recommend listening to I Saw the Light next. Still get goosebumps listening to these two songs by Todd. For some reason they really bring back memories and great times from my youth.
Other than being a unique wonderful talent, Todd was very compassionate. He actually stepped in when Steve Tyler was out of control and adopted and raised Liv Tyler. Liv’s name was Liv Rundgren Tyler. There are many photos on the internet with Todd, his wife and a young Liv Tyler. They gave her a beautiful childhood filled with love ❤️
Great song. I think the little girl in the pics is Liv Tyler.
It is… Todd took on the father role permanently though at first paternity was in question, and it was later determined that Steven Tyler was tge biological father.
He did this four years earlier in 1968 with a group called Nazz and a fellow in the band called Stewkey sang the lead vocal and it’s a softer more heartfelt ballad where the tempo of this version that became a hit is a little more upbeat.
True. I prefer the original Nazz version much more than this faster one.
Ugh, not me. I like Nazz, but that version of "Hello It's Me" is too slow and Stewkey too off-pitch. And the bongos? If I'm listening to Nazz I want "Open My Eyes."
this song never gets old, and gets better every time I listen to it
My friend and I saw him in concert a few years ago. Still could hit it out of the ballpark. He is so good!
my very first concert ever, my older sister took me in 1975 to see him in columbus ohio. amazing …. became a musician because of that experience . keep up the great old music. 👍🏼💓
I always picture the ending scene from That 70's Show when I hear this.
I recently discovered this song and was hooked! I was watching that 70s show re-runs and they played a bit of this song and sounded nice so decided to check it out.
I remember that one
I already knew the song from the 70's as a kid, but now when I hear it, I always think of That 70's Show. They used it in the pilot episode and the finale episode. I liked they did that. It was my favorite show.
I love this song but never knew the title or who sang it! Great song! Trombonist is killer!
Rundgren was a sound engineer, and producer first, and video tech pioneer, so he knew how to create a smooth, balanced sound quality, even with all of the various instruments.
This song, has the epitome of 70's chords. It's mellow, but at the same time, filled with emotion.
He had the group Utopia.
His style is very eclectic, and experimental.
Check out my favorite "International Feel", or for some fun songs, "Song Of The Viking", or "Bang The Drum All Day".
Todd has done it all. Multi-instrumentalist, music producer, singer/songwriter and can rock with the best of em.
The young girl in those pics is none other than Liv Tyler. For years it was unkown if she was actually Todd's daughter, or Stephen Tyler's (Aerosmith). But he was her father figure as she grew up.
A great, great song. Love the gentle, jazzy sounds.
Try Todd's "We got to get you a woman" next.
Arwen's (from "The Lord of the Rings") stepdad. Pretty much a musical genius, songwriter and producer, massively respected by people in the industry, not celebrated near enough among the crowd. This one here is probably one of the greatest pop songs in the 1970s, and, as you should know by now, that's incredibly hard to pull off.
Maybe the most underrated singer/songwriter there is. Todd wrote hit songs for many other artists besides himself. He was at his peak of popularity in the 1970s. Great talent.
Thanks for playing this song.It holds some great old memories. But that's what music does, it's a time machine, that takes you back to when you first heard a song, or some significant event was going on, and this song takes you right back to that time.
What a great song! Classically great! Perfection!
My first rock concert was Rundgren (Rick Derringer opened). I saw him 2 or 3 more times after that. He has a fairly impressive song catalogue, like this one. One thing you can say about him and his music career: he always did it his way.
All I can think of is the finale of That 70's Show when I hear this song.
Bittersweet memory.
L8
I listened to this directly after listening to your reaction to Carole King's "It's Too Late." It sounded as though he was answering her, in a very striking way.
I think of that 70's show every time I hear this. Love it!!!
Todd Rundgren is also a record producer. One of the albums he produced was "Mother's Pride" by Fanny - an all-female band from the early 1970's. You should check out Fanny especially their live performances.
They were amazing, and I didn't know Todd produced "Mother's Pride!" Only got to see him once, back in 1977 or '78.
According to SongFacts:
“Rundgren wrote this song, which takes us through a phone call where the singer breaks up with a girl. It's a remarkably realistic account, devoid of sweeping metaphors typically found in breakup songs.”
In September 1968 Delaware County native & Upper Darby High School graduate Todd Rundgren released 'Open My Eyes' as a single with his band NAZZ. on SGC (Screen Gems Columbia) records. The song was a flop peaking at 112 nationally & received no airplay in Philly. A DJ at a Boston radio station accidentally played the flip side 'Hello It's Me' on the air & decided to add it to the stations playlist. The song took off & reached #1 on their playlist prompting other area stations to add it & it debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1969 charting 7 weeks & peaking at #71.
Back in Philly both cuts were getting airplay on a new rock radio station WMMR-FM by late Summer. The local Top 40 stations noticed & started playing both tracks in December. The two-sided monster would reach #2 on WFIL in early 1970. The record (S.G.C. 001) would enter the Hot 100 once again with 'Hello It's Me' on January 17, 1970, chart for 6 weeks & reach a new peak of #66. It's interesting that although the label had cosmetic changes during the run, they never released new commercial copies & kept the same number.
Of course we all know that Todd was far from done with 'Hello It's Me' as he would re-record & re-release the new version in 1973 as a single as a solo artist & it soared to #5 on the Hot 100. This makes Todd one of only a handful of artists to have hits with two different versions of the same song although his original version with Nazz was only a regional success.
My first concert in October of 1978. Saw him at a place called Arcosanti, in Cordes Junction, Arizona. The setting was inside a canyon in the high desert of central Arizona. Crosby, Stills and Nash also performed. The day before people parked in a field that was covered in dry grass and weeds and a car's exhaust sparked the dry grass on fire and burned hundreds of cars.
Just saw him in concert a few weeks ago. Great show and his fans are crazy for him!
Another musical genius. You would really like “I saw the light” and “Can we still be friends”
My favorite Philly Boy.... love the classic Philly & Jersey blue eyed soul.... like Hall & Oates too. Love my birth city of brotherly love.
I love this song!!
A classic song. It’s as if I have been transported back into the 70’s. You should check out We Got to Get You a Woman and more. Talented man.
Not many people know this but Liv Tyler the actress full name is Liv Rundgren Tyler. She was essentially raised by Todd Rundgren and still considers him her father along with Steven Tyler. Todd Rundgren essentially stepped in to be her dad because her biological parents weren't really there to raise her. He took responsibility for her. She didn't learn Steven Tyler was her biological father until she was 11 years old.
What I have always taken from this amazing song is that he is talking to possibly the mother of his children. Stating that he thinks of her still. He feels bad for thinking she is still his even if she isn't. He simply asks for her to still think of him and know that he will always be there for her if she will let him. And he also tells her that she is always free to be herself. Plus he never wants her to change her life to accommodate him.
He is playing almost everything on this and doing all the vocals.