Great post Ellen! Todd is Godd in my book, and I first saw him live in 1973 at the free Central Park gig where he recorded "Sons Of 1984" (I can find my face on the back cover of the "Todd" LP). I last saw him about 2 weeks ago (for the 13th time) at the Pantages Theatre in Tacoma, WA. It was a great show - ever the individualist, he eschewed the 'hits' and chose to play deep album tracks for almost 2 hours before encoring with a quick medley of "I Saw The Light/Can We Still Be Friends/Hello It's Me", plus two more familiar songs from his vast catalog. Todd was in fine form at age 76, both vocally and on guitar, and the crowd was with him the whole show - I can't think of many artists who could pull that off, i.e. hold an audience's attention for that long with songs that were most likely unfamiliar or long-forgotten to any but the hardest-core followers. I consider myself one of those, and even I had trouble placing a few of the tunes he chose to play. I look forward to your upcoming posts, and thank you for recognizing an artist that really does qualify for that rarest of "G" words - genius!
Wow, you were at the Sons of 1984 event! He does talk about that in his autobiography and describes the NYC audience as raucous and the San Francisco audience as disciplined. I expect I'll be including that in the next post. So very cool that you were involved in that and can find your face on the album cover.
I'm glad to get live confirmation that he's still in fine form, as he appears to be on video. He still seems as articulate and humorous as ever. I do have to agree that he qualifies for the genius designation. One thing I now know is that he didn't allow things that hold most people back from affecting him, probably because he was rejecting of authority from a young age. Or maybe he's just an old soul with a lot of music experience. (I do believe in reincarnation in the absence of a better explanation.) Whatever it is, his music and wit have been an extraordinary gift to us.
I’d say it was a typical 1970s NYC audience having a great time - in a word, rowdy! I still have the “Sons” lyric sheet they handed out (can I add an image to a comment?). My only disappointment in Todd’s recent show was that his humor and articulateness were not on display - he barely said a word between songs except ‘thank you’, and in other shows I’ve seen he’s had some pretty amusing and genuine patter and interaction with the audience. Another reason he’s been able to make such a variety of music and be true to himself, imo, is because he hasn’t had to pay the bills with his own music in a long time. Thank you, Meat Loaf!
That's amazing you still have the lyric sheet. Maybe you should write a post on your experience? I think a lot of us would be interested.
If Todd wasn't talking between songs it may have been because he had to protect his voice. I've read about artists who don't talk between shows because they can't talk and still sing. The voice becomes more fragile at some point and they have to protect it while they're touring.
Yes, he was apparently the highest-paid producer in the business at one point. A lucrative profession that he said gave him a lot of freedom. Sharp guy!
It hadn't occurred to me that he refrained from speaking to preserve his voice, but that makes sense. I was pretty amazed by how well he sang - I've seen recent YT video where he wasn't as good, and of course there are the '70s nationwide radio b'casts where he pretty much went hoarse. . . but 2 weeks ago I felt like he was singing as well as he ever has! I'm guessing that some of the unusual setlist choices also had to do with how easy they were for him to sing.
I will consider a post on the '73 "Sons" show and some of my other Todd concerts, at the moment I'm posting pre-written stuff that comprises my memoir of life in the used/collectors record biz of the '70s-'80s but a side trip into Todd stuff is a definite possibility at some point -
There's a great book called The Singers Talk consisting of interviews with a lot of artists. One thing many of the older ones say is that their singing range has narrowed as they've gotten older and they can't reach the high notes. Some of them sing in a lower key. So as you're suggesting, he's choosing songs in his set list that he can still sing well. Seems like a smart strategy.
Please do let me know if you do a Todd post or posts. Would love to read it and link to it.
Well, you're on there, then! I remember the search....we had no clues! Millions of tiny names.....I stuck to it, and finally found it! Fun stuff! Talk about a star for the people! Got a question for ya, Hugh......watch your DMs!
Hey, is there a possibility you could give me a close-up photo, Brad? Hugh has given me the lyric sheet. I can include them in my next post on Todd that covers the concert. If it's not a bother.
The Mojo Magazine (March 2000) has this to say when asked about Todd Rundgren's band:
"Legend has it that the term "The Nazz" was coined by Lord Buckley, an American comedian whose monologues were couched in hip, black, jive-talk and Baptist cadences. In this groovy style, his monologue The Nazz retells stories from the New Testament with jesus as "The Nazz", a corruption of The Nazarene. Later, Mods used the expression to mean 'The Ultimate', hence its use in a Yardbirds song. The Nazz, who seemingly wished they'd been born British (their debut album cover emulated the With The Beatles sleeve) promptly took their name from The Yardbirds ditty."
That is really interesting, Nick. All Todd says in his autobiography is that the band was named after the Yardbird's song "The Nazz is Blue." And of course Todd was a fan of Jeff Beck, and The Nazz was formed about a year after that single on the B side of "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" came out. According to wikipedia, Todd has said none of them in the band were aware of the Lord Buckley monologue. My guess is they liked the Jeff Beck and Yardbirds derivation and connection and it is a cool phrase, especially the way they did it on the album cover.
I'd say the Mojo writer has got it wrong -- I don't get the sense at all that Todd or the other Nazz guys wished they were born British. Todd was inspired by the British bands, including the Beatles, and aspired to their level of musicianship to the point of trying to get a British record producer. He also loved buying clothes in London. But he doesn't appear to have had any desire to move there or join a British band.
But thanks for sharing that information because I wondered what 'the nazz' meant. You have cleared up the mystery! And thanks for the kind words about the post.
Thanks. I would definitely think of that quote from Mojo as speculation, not necessarily accurate, but I included it because it was interesting to see some theory for how they could be connected.
FWIW, part of why I remember the lord Buckley is because of the verse from "The Ballard of Elizabeth Dark"
I didn't know Michael Smith and what great lyrics and humor. I don't know how I never encountered him. Now I will have to explore him more. Thanks for sharing about him!
Great post Ellen! Todd is Godd in my book, and I first saw him live in 1973 at the free Central Park gig where he recorded "Sons Of 1984" (I can find my face on the back cover of the "Todd" LP). I last saw him about 2 weeks ago (for the 13th time) at the Pantages Theatre in Tacoma, WA. It was a great show - ever the individualist, he eschewed the 'hits' and chose to play deep album tracks for almost 2 hours before encoring with a quick medley of "I Saw The Light/Can We Still Be Friends/Hello It's Me", plus two more familiar songs from his vast catalog. Todd was in fine form at age 76, both vocally and on guitar, and the crowd was with him the whole show - I can't think of many artists who could pull that off, i.e. hold an audience's attention for that long with songs that were most likely unfamiliar or long-forgotten to any but the hardest-core followers. I consider myself one of those, and even I had trouble placing a few of the tunes he chose to play. I look forward to your upcoming posts, and thank you for recognizing an artist that really does qualify for that rarest of "G" words - genius!
Wow, you were at the Sons of 1984 event! He does talk about that in his autobiography and describes the NYC audience as raucous and the San Francisco audience as disciplined. I expect I'll be including that in the next post. So very cool that you were involved in that and can find your face on the album cover.
I'm glad to get live confirmation that he's still in fine form, as he appears to be on video. He still seems as articulate and humorous as ever. I do have to agree that he qualifies for the genius designation. One thing I now know is that he didn't allow things that hold most people back from affecting him, probably because he was rejecting of authority from a young age. Or maybe he's just an old soul with a lot of music experience. (I do believe in reincarnation in the absence of a better explanation.) Whatever it is, his music and wit have been an extraordinary gift to us.
I’d say it was a typical 1970s NYC audience having a great time - in a word, rowdy! I still have the “Sons” lyric sheet they handed out (can I add an image to a comment?). My only disappointment in Todd’s recent show was that his humor and articulateness were not on display - he barely said a word between songs except ‘thank you’, and in other shows I’ve seen he’s had some pretty amusing and genuine patter and interaction with the audience. Another reason he’s been able to make such a variety of music and be true to himself, imo, is because he hasn’t had to pay the bills with his own music in a long time. Thank you, Meat Loaf!
That's amazing you still have the lyric sheet. Maybe you should write a post on your experience? I think a lot of us would be interested.
If Todd wasn't talking between songs it may have been because he had to protect his voice. I've read about artists who don't talk between shows because they can't talk and still sing. The voice becomes more fragile at some point and they have to protect it while they're touring.
Yes, he was apparently the highest-paid producer in the business at one point. A lucrative profession that he said gave him a lot of freedom. Sharp guy!
It hadn't occurred to me that he refrained from speaking to preserve his voice, but that makes sense. I was pretty amazed by how well he sang - I've seen recent YT video where he wasn't as good, and of course there are the '70s nationwide radio b'casts where he pretty much went hoarse. . . but 2 weeks ago I felt like he was singing as well as he ever has! I'm guessing that some of the unusual setlist choices also had to do with how easy they were for him to sing.
I will consider a post on the '73 "Sons" show and some of my other Todd concerts, at the moment I'm posting pre-written stuff that comprises my memoir of life in the used/collectors record biz of the '70s-'80s but a side trip into Todd stuff is a definite possibility at some point -
There's a great book called The Singers Talk consisting of interviews with a lot of artists. One thing many of the older ones say is that their singing range has narrowed as they've gotten older and they can't reach the high notes. Some of them sing in a lower key. So as you're suggesting, he's choosing songs in his set list that he can still sing well. Seems like a smart strategy.
Please do let me know if you do a Todd post or posts. Would love to read it and link to it.
Hey, Hugh! Were you on the "Todd" poster after sending in your "AWATS" postcard? My name was somewhere near his right ear!
I sent in the postcard but never found my name on the poster - and to be honest, in looking for it a few times I eventually gave up due to eye strain!
Well, you're on there, then! I remember the search....we had no clues! Millions of tiny names.....I stuck to it, and finally found it! Fun stuff! Talk about a star for the people! Got a question for ya, Hugh......watch your DMs!
Hey, is there a possibility you could give me a close-up photo, Brad? Hugh has given me the lyric sheet. I can include them in my next post on Todd that covers the concert. If it's not a bother.
That is a great write-up and a nice tribute to Todd Rundgren as a musician and a memoirist.
I have to admit, that I was a little distracted reading it, because I think of "The Nazz" as a reference to Lord Buckley -- which looks like it might be the origin of the term: https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/blindmanfr/the-nazz-are-blue-t239.html
-----------------------
The Mojo Magazine (March 2000) has this to say when asked about Todd Rundgren's band:
"Legend has it that the term "The Nazz" was coined by Lord Buckley, an American comedian whose monologues were couched in hip, black, jive-talk and Baptist cadences. In this groovy style, his monologue The Nazz retells stories from the New Testament with jesus as "The Nazz", a corruption of The Nazarene. Later, Mods used the expression to mean 'The Ultimate', hence its use in a Yardbirds song. The Nazz, who seemingly wished they'd been born British (their debut album cover emulated the With The Beatles sleeve) promptly took their name from The Yardbirds ditty."
----------------------------
Lord Buckley "The Nazz" -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rr_21xJ1ugk
That is really interesting, Nick. All Todd says in his autobiography is that the band was named after the Yardbird's song "The Nazz is Blue." And of course Todd was a fan of Jeff Beck, and The Nazz was formed about a year after that single on the B side of "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" came out. According to wikipedia, Todd has said none of them in the band were aware of the Lord Buckley monologue. My guess is they liked the Jeff Beck and Yardbirds derivation and connection and it is a cool phrase, especially the way they did it on the album cover.
I'd say the Mojo writer has got it wrong -- I don't get the sense at all that Todd or the other Nazz guys wished they were born British. Todd was inspired by the British bands, including the Beatles, and aspired to their level of musicianship to the point of trying to get a British record producer. He also loved buying clothes in London. But he doesn't appear to have had any desire to move there or join a British band.
But thanks for sharing that information because I wondered what 'the nazz' meant. You have cleared up the mystery! And thanks for the kind words about the post.
Thanks. I would definitely think of that quote from Mojo as speculation, not necessarily accurate, but I included it because it was interesting to see some theory for how they could be connected.
FWIW, part of why I remember the lord Buckley is because of the verse from "The Ballard of Elizabeth Dark"
This was back in the days
Of the folk music craze
Lenny & poetry & jazz
Cats & chicks snappin their fingers
To Lord Buckley doing The Nazz
Kierkegaard Ginsberg
Sartre & free love
Parties to cover the rent
We all wanted to be existentialists
None of us knew what the hell it meant
Great remembering and cool lyrics. I'd never heard that song before and took a listen. Definitely captures that era!
Thanks. I think Michael Smith is a great songwriter ( https://earnestnessisunderrated.substack.com/p/songwriter-spotlight-michael-peter ) and I realize that song specifically is parallel to the Todd Rundgren, in terms of looking back at a life shaped by growing up inspired by an exciting creative period.
I didn't know Michael Smith and what great lyrics and humor. I don't know how I never encountered him. Now I will have to explore him more. Thanks for sharing about him!
Thank you so much, I'm glad you liked him. I don't think he's widely known but he has a really distinct songwriting voice.