The Todd Rundgren Creator Series
A guide to the posts - July/August 2024
The focus of this series is Todd Rundgren’s career as a creative force in the music industry.
Below you will find the fourteen posts in this series, which include:
two overviews of his songwriting and performing career — one up through and including The Nazz, the other post-Nazz — along with three posts showcasing his hit songs
an overview of his producing career, accompanied by eight posts featuring songs or albums he produced.
If you’re an old friend, I hope this helps you discover anything you might’ve missed.
If you’re new to Rock ’n’ Roll with Me, welcome and please enjoy this free series.
I encourage everyone to read Todd’s excellent autobiography, The Individualist.
Please note that there are also posts on Carole King and James Taylor.
Songwriting and performance
Todd Rundgren as a songwriter and performer: The Creator Series #3
This post covers Todd Rundgren’s career as a songwriter and performer up to and including his Nazz years.
Todd Rundgren as a songwriter and performer: The Creator Series #5
This post covers Todd Rundgren’s post-Nazz career as a songwriter and performer.
"We Gotta Get You a Woman" by Todd Rundgren (1970)
This is the second post about Todd Rundgren, covering his first big pop song as a solo artist.
"Hello It's Me" by Todd Rundgren (1972)
Welcome back to the third day of posts on one of our favorite musical innovators, the marvelous Todd Rundgren.
"I Saw the Light" by Todd Rundgren (1972)
Welcome to day 4 of our focus on rock ’n’ roll Creator writ large Todd Rundgren.
Producing
Todd Rundgren as a producer - The Creator Series #4
For the past two weeks we’ve been reviewing Todd Rundgren’s songwriting, performing, and producing career, and now we’re going to bring it all together. Today’s post is about Todd’s approach to his producing career, including his involvement with cutting-edge technology.
"Stage Fright" by The Band (1970) with Todd Rundgren as engineer/producer
Today is the fifth post in our series about music meister Todd Rundgren, but now we’re moving into his budding career as a recording engineer and producer.
"We're an American Band" by Grand Funk Railroad (1973) with Todd Rundgren as producer/engineer
Today is the sixth post in our series about music maestro Todd Rundgren, and we’re continuing with his rocketing career as a recording engineer and producer.
"Baby Blue" by Badfinger (1972) with Todd Rundgren as producer
Today is the seventh post in our series about music-maker Todd Rundgren, and we’re continuing our focus on his career as a producer.
"Day After Day" by Badfinger (1971) with producers George Harrison and Todd Rundgren
Today is the eighth post in our series about music-maker Todd Rundgren, continuing to cover his career as a producer.
"Last Night I Had a Dream" by Fanny (1973) with Todd Rundgren as producer
Today is the ninth post in our series about music legend Todd Rundgren, continuing to cover his career as a producer.
Bat Out of Hell by Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman (1977) with producer Todd Rundgren
Today is the tenth post in our series about rock legend Todd Rundgren, continuing to cover his career as a producer.
"Dancing Barefoot" by the Patti Smith Group (1979) with producer Todd Rundgren
Today is the eleventh post in our series about the legendary Todd Rundgren, with only a few more posts to come.
Skylarking by XTC (1986) with Todd Rundgren as producer
Today is the twelfth post in our series about the legendary Todd Rundgren, with only two more posts to come.
Bonus producing post
Todd got sent out to California to work with Janis Joplin, but it didn’t quite work out as he expected.
"Piece of My Heart" by Janis Joplin and Big Brother & the Holding Company (1968)
While I’m working on the final Todd Rundgren piece, it’s back to putting up some dance songs of the day.