@jflinn210 - Mike Douglas had a 5-day-a-week mid-afternoon talk show and more than likely this was mixed by whatever staff engineer happened to be working the day shift at KYW-TV studios in Philadelphia (where the show was broadcast from) at that moment in time. I can remember staying home to record the audio from this performance on cassette the day this was broadcast (no one had VCRs back then) and the balance on my original cassette "master" sounded exactly like this video does!
My God, who was MIXING this? Sounds like Roger is blasting, on a Wurlitzer or something. One of my FAVORITE all-time Rundgren tunes .. but man, what a strangely mixed recording!
That keyboard is an RMI Electra-Piano: completely electronic, not touch-sensitive, also had combo-organ and harpsichord settings. A fair number of Seventies bands used them; since they were reasonably lightweight, reasonably inexpensive, and fairly versatile. The sounds weren't all that good, but they were tolerable. But I don't think very many people made records with them, even if they toured with one.
That keyboard guy (although styling the 1970's dork look) is probably the most modern looking person on that set. Fascinating stuff. "Gentleman, I am from the future, to show you how to rock" lol
It's funny announces the latest musical trend is power pop then proceeds to perform a song that's 6 years old. Still a great tune. By the way, Todd also played piano on Can We Still Be Friends in this Mike Douglas appearance.
Agreed. He never sounded better than with the Mustang/Mesa Boogie even though subsequent guitars & amps have probably been more practical. Good taste was never Todd's thing, he likes practical & easy.
Definitely a Todd /Utopia fan, but this is a TERRIBLE version of this song. And it's not just the mix that's bad...it just sounds rote and tired. Another thing...why is Todd on Mike Douglas playing a six year-old song? He could have been playing another good track off of Hermit Of Mink Hollow, the album he was there to promote.
I think it would be the deal on all these shows where you play the tune you want to play but have to play the one the producer wants too. They look road burned to me, just super tired. Happens to all bands.
I went to see him about 7-8 years ago and he butchered every song he played and I left after the first half hour. It was really sad. I'd been a huge fan since 1973. I saw him live at Ambler, PA, that year, his band performed the full Utopia album live, absolutely flawlessly, and the sound was the best mix I've ever heard at a live concert. I saw him four times in subsequent decades and every performance was worse than the last. I realize that these days musicians have to perform live to make money because there's no money in albums anymore, but man, it's sad to see what so many of them have turned into. I love so much of the music Todd has created and experiences like that make me sad. I don't go to any live shows anymore.
Gotta love Todd introducing a six year old song (at the time) as the latest musical trend.
Well he was ahead of the curve lol
he's always been ahead of his time
Todd: "The latest musical trend; it's called Power Pop." Great!
My days in Bearsville are priceless!
@jflinn210 - Mike Douglas had a 5-day-a-week mid-afternoon talk show and more than likely this was mixed by whatever staff engineer happened to be working the day shift at KYW-TV studios in Philadelphia (where the show was broadcast from) at that moment in time. I can remember staying home to record the audio from this performance on cassette the day this was broadcast (no one had VCRs back then) and the balance on my original cassette "master" sounded exactly like this video does!
Best rock band ever
Todd's killer rock star moves are hilarious. Knowing him he was doing that sarcastically.
My God, who was MIXING this? Sounds like Roger is blasting, on a Wurlitzer or something. One of my FAVORITE all-time Rundgren tunes .. but man, what a strangely mixed recording!
It sounds pretty shitty tbh.
I think it's pretty cool. They were playing live, singling live....awesome.
OFFS, it was TV in the '70s! The mixes were all uniformly terrible. 😀
@@j1thom Remember the first electric "rock" bands in Austin City Limits? Watch the original tape of Eric Johnson with the vocals ducking the band !
That keyboard is an RMI Electra-Piano: completely electronic, not touch-sensitive, also had combo-organ and harpsichord settings. A fair number of Seventies bands used them; since they were reasonably lightweight, reasonably inexpensive, and fairly versatile. The sounds weren't all that good, but they were tolerable. But I don't think very many people made records with them, even if they toured with one.
That keyboard guy (although styling the 1970's dork look) is probably the most modern looking person on that set. Fascinating stuff. "Gentleman, I am from the future, to show you how to rock" lol
I woke up on the sofa that morning, Lorain, Ohio, just in time to hear them announce Todd as a guest, 9 am.
love his "power pop" intro on this.
Love this song off something anything .
is THAT A POP OF POWER....... you took a chance with...... to be seen..... as you were....... seen and loved as you are.........
Kaz always reminded me of the karate kid. Great bassist too.:)
fantastic
It's funny announces the latest musical trend is power pop then proceeds to perform a song that's 6 years old. Still a great tune. By the way, Todd also played piano on Can We Still Be Friends in this Mike Douglas appearance.
It was when "New Wave" was starting to break.He was stating in a way that he was ahead of the curve on that trend.
They should have re-recorded this song. This version is a lot better than original.
I miss Todd's black mustang
Agreed. He never sounded better than with the Mustang/Mesa Boogie even though subsequent guitars & amps have probably been more practical. Good taste was never Todd's thing, he likes practical & easy.
The Mustang was stolen. Todd's on his best on that Mustang
I can’t hear organ.
Actually the Raspberries invented power pop on 1972.
Power pop wasn't invented, it emerged gradually. Rundgren's Something/Anything? tops anything the Raspberries ever did.
And big star, bloody Bad Finger could've invented power pop in 1970 with if you want it.
Todd and Eric Carmen inventors of power pop. Both with strong ties to Cleveland
@@robertkett3754 It seems most folks set the benchmark for "creation" of this sound by whatever they heard first!
@@kingkongkevin507 Maybe 'Paperback Writer' the first?
Slap that organ player!!! LOL!!! This is way below Todd's level of perfection!!! :o
Definitely a Todd /Utopia fan, but this is a TERRIBLE version of this song. And it's not just the mix that's bad...it just sounds rote and tired. Another thing...why is Todd on Mike Douglas playing a six year-old song? He could have been playing another good track off of Hermit Of Mink Hollow, the album he was there to promote.
I think it would be the deal on all these shows where you play the tune you want to play but have to play the one the producer wants too. They look road burned to me, just super tired. Happens to all bands.
When an artist butchers one of his own songs.
I think the engineer didn't know how to level anything. Drums are washed out, bass is too low. Keyboards are way too high
I went to see him about 7-8 years ago and he butchered every song he played and I left after the first half hour. It was really sad. I'd been a huge fan since 1973. I saw him live at Ambler, PA, that year, his band performed the full Utopia album live, absolutely flawlessly, and the sound was the best mix I've ever heard at a live concert. I saw him four times in subsequent decades and every performance was worse than the last. I realize that these days musicians have to perform live to make money because there's no money in albums anymore, but man, it's sad to see what so many of them have turned into. I love so much of the music Todd has created and experiences like that make me sad. I don't go to any live shows anymore.