Discuss the Classics #3: Todd Rundgren's Something/Anything?

screamingskull · 06.27.2007, 08:22 AM

Something/Anything?, 1972, is Todd Rundgren's third solo album, and is often regarded to be the singer-songwriter's magnum opus. Rundgren played every instrument (as well as sang every part) on the first three sides of the double LP, while a band accompanies him on the fourth. The album was hailed as an impressively diverse pop rock masterpiece by most critics, while some felt it was considerably self-indulgent.
In 2003, the album was ranked number 173 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

All songs by Todd Rundgren (except when noted):

Side one
"I Saw the Light" – 2:56
"It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference" – 3:50
"Wolfman Jack" – 2:54
"Cold Morning Light" – 3:55
"It Takes Two to Tango (This Is for the Girls)" – 2:41
"Sweeter Memories" – 3:36
Side two
"Intro" – 1:11
"Breathless" – 3:15
"The Night the Carousel Burned Down" – 4:29
"Saving Grace" – 4:12
"Marlene" – 3:54
"Song of the Viking" – 2:35
"I Went to the Mirror" – 4:05
Side three
"Black Maria" – 5:20
"One More Day (No Word)" – 3:43
"Couldn't I Just Tell You?" – 3:34
"Torch Song" – 2:52
"Little Red Lights" – 4:53
Side four
"Overture-My Roots: Money (That's What I Want)/Messin' With the Kid" (Bradford, Gordy, Rundgren, Strong) – 2:29
"Dust in the Wind" (Klingman, Rundgren) – 3:49
"Piss Aaron" – 3:26
"Hello It's Me" – 4:42
"Some Folks Is Even Whiter Than Me" – 3:56
"You Left Me Sore" – 3:13
"Slut" – 4:03

This my my favorite album of all time, the album i would take to a desert island, "I went to the mirror" is my favorite song, but the whole album is perfect. Sides A & B are significantly more pop than sides C & D. Todd is a great ballad writer and a beautiful singer, Something/Anything? is his best most definitely.
AND HE WAS ONLY 24 WHEN HE MADE THIS ALBUM!!!!

demonrail666 · 06.27.2007, 08:35 AM

i've always thought that anything ranked above 100 in a Rolling Stones Best 500 poll is a polite way of saying 'has a strong cult following'.

You know that choosing this record only confirms to me even more that you should be living in California, don't you.

The fact that it is a great album makes me think that maybe I should be too.

Have you heard the Beach Boys Surf's Up album? If you haven't, you should get it pronto. You'd love it.

Go Gidget Go!!!!

screamingskull · 06.27.2007, 08:37 AM

HA HA HA HA HA
okay i will get it tomorrow, or maybe my dad has it?? he's a beach boy's fan.

screamingskull · 06.27.2007, 08:44 AM

It's definitely his best, i also have these todd Rundgren albums. I want to get something by Utopia, they sound great from what i've heard.

Runt (1970)
Runt: The Ballad of Todd Rundgren (1971)
Something/Anything? (1972)
A Wizard, a True Star (1973)
Todd (1974)
Faithful (1976)
Hermit of Mink Hollow (1978)
Back to the Bars (1978)
Healing (1981)
The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect (1983)
Liars (2004)

demonrail666 · 06.27.2007, 08:46 AM

When the suns out Something/Anything is one of those perfect albums. It's not one I tend to slip on in the winter though. I'm a bit like that when it comes to music. Like Joy Division sound shit when you're drinking cocktails at a poolside bar.

gmku · 06.27.2007, 08:48 AM

I have to be in the mood for it. Sometimes it feels a little too light and breezy. But it's a fine album.

demonrail666 · 06.27.2007, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by screamingskull

It's definitely his best, i also have these todd Rundgren albums. I want to get something by Utopia, they sound great from what i've heard.

Runt (1970)
Runt: The Ballad of Todd Rundgren (1971)
Something/Anything? (1972)
A Wizard, a True Star (1973)
Todd (1974)
Faithful (1976)
Hermit of Mink Hollow (1978)
Back to the Bars (1978)
Healing (1981)
The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect (1983)
Liars (2004)

screamingskull · 06.27.2007, 08:50 AM

"I have lied, i have begged and i have cheated, and i know my ship won't be coming in, as i lay me down to take my rest, i see that it's just dust in the wind"

screamingskull · 06.27.2007, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demonrail666

ha ha ha ha ha, i want to live in Topanga canyon in California, it looks pretty ummmmm Far Out Man.

demonrail666 · 06.27.2007, 09:00 AM

I thought you wanted to go to Hawaii

Rob Instigator · 06.27.2007, 09:00 AM

MMM Topanga's canyons

I have never heard any Todd Rundgren record all the way through.
How can this be a classic?
I thought classics were accepted by ALL!!!!
Let's talk about REAL classic records.

screamingskull · 06.27.2007, 09:00 AM

piss off rob

screamingskull · 06.27.2007, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demonrail666

I thought you wanted to go to Hawaii

yeah there too, i will move around a bit i think, i also want to live in Portland Seattle and Manhattan

demonrail666 · 06.27.2007, 09:02 AM

Rob - No classic is accepted by EVERYONE. Shit, I even know some people who don't rate Duran Duran's Rio album.

Rob Instigator · 06.27.2007, 09:09 AM

Rio! Hilarious.

I was just saying, that for the purposes of a thread on a forum of music afficionados, it would help if the "classic" album was one actually considered a "classic" by more than just Todd Rundgren fans.

screamingskull · 06.27.2007, 09:10 AM

piss off rob

Rob Instigator · 06.27.2007, 09:15 AM

you did not like Topanga Canyon?

screamingskull · 06.27.2007, 09:15 AM

piss off rob

demonrail666 · 06.27.2007, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by screamingskull

i will move around a bit i think, i also want to live in Portland Seattle and Manhattan

Quite right. Why limit yourself?

gmku · 06.27.2007, 10:45 AM

Yeah, rob. Piss off.

06.27.2007, 08:22 AM	#1
screamingskull invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: england Posts: 5,580	Something/Anything?, 1972, is Todd Rundgren's third solo album, and is often regarded to be the singer-songwriter's magnum opus. Rundgren played every instrument (as well as sang every part) on the first three sides of the double LP, while a band accompanies him on the fourth. The album was hailed as an impressively diverse pop rock masterpiece by most critics, while some felt it was considerably self-indulgent. In 2003, the album was ranked number 173 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. All songs by Todd Rundgren (except when noted): Side one "I Saw the Light" – 2:56 "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference" – 3:50 "Wolfman Jack" – 2:54 "Cold Morning Light" – 3:55 "It Takes Two to Tango (This Is for the Girls)" – 2:41 "Sweeter Memories" – 3:36 Side two "Intro" – 1:11 "Breathless" – 3:15 "The Night the Carousel Burned Down" – 4:29 "Saving Grace" – 4:12 "Marlene" – 3:54 "Song of the Viking" – 2:35 "I Went to the Mirror" – 4:05 Side three "Black Maria" – 5:20 "One More Day (No Word)" – 3:43 "Couldn't I Just Tell You?" – 3:34 "Torch Song" – 2:52 "Little Red Lights" – 4:53 Side four "Overture-My Roots: Money (That's What I Want)/Messin' With the Kid" (Bradford, Gordy, Rundgren, Strong) – 2:29 "Dust in the Wind" (Klingman, Rundgren) – 3:49 "Piss Aaron" – 3:26 "Hello It's Me" – 4:42 "Some Folks Is Even Whiter Than Me" – 3:56 "You Left Me Sore" – 3:13 "Slut" – 4:03 This my my favorite album of all time, the album i would take to a desert island, "I went to the mirror" is my favorite song, but the whole album is perfect. Sides A & B are significantly more pop than sides C & D. Todd is a great ballad writer and a beautiful singer, Something/Anything? is his best most definitely. AND HE WAS ONLY 24 WHEN HE MADE THIS ALBUM!!!!
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

06.27.2007, 08:35 AM	#2
demonrail666 invito al cielo Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 18,510	i've always thought that anything ranked above 100 in a Rolling Stones Best 500 poll is a polite way of saying 'has a strong cult following'. You know that choosing this record only confirms to me even more that you should be living in California, don't you. The fact that it is a great album makes me think that maybe I should be too. Have you heard the Beach Boys Surf's Up album? If you haven't, you should get it pronto. You'd love it. Go Gidget Go!!!!
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

06.27.2007, 08:44 AM	#4
screamingskull invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: england Posts: 5,580	It's definitely his best, i also have these todd Rundgren albums. I want to get something by Utopia, they sound great from what i've heard. Runt (1970) Runt: The Ballad of Todd Rundgren (1971) Something/Anything? (1972) A Wizard, a True Star (1973) Todd (1974) Faithful (1976) Hermit of Mink Hollow (1978) Back to the Bars (1978) Healing (1981) The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect (1983) Liars (2004)
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

06.27.2007, 08:46 AM	#5
demonrail666 invito al cielo Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 18,510	When the suns out Something/Anything is one of those perfect albums. It's not one I tend to slip on in the winter though. I'm a bit like that when it comes to music. Like Joy Division sound shit when you're drinking cocktails at a poolside bar.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

06.27.2007, 08:48 AM	#6
gmku invito al cielo Join Date: May 2006 Location: Oxford, England Posts: 15,225	I have to be in the mood for it. Sometimes it feels a little too light and breezy. But it's a fine album. __________________ Ever notice how this place just basically, well, sucks.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

06.27.2007, 08:37 AM	#3
screamingskull invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: england Posts: 5,580	HA HA HA HA HA okay i will get it tomorrow, or maybe my dad has it?? he's a beach boy's fan.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

06.27.2007, 08:50 AM	#8
screamingskull invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: england Posts: 5,580	"I have lied, i have begged and i have cheated, and i know my ship won't be coming in, as i lay me down to take my rest, i see that it's just dust in the wind"
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

06.27.2007, 09:00 AM	#10
demonrail666 invito al cielo Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 18,510	I thought you wanted to go to Hawaii
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

06.27.2007, 09:00 AM	#11
Rob Instigator invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: In the land of the Instigator Posts: 27,991	MMM Topanga's canyons I have never heard any Todd Rundgren record all the way through. How can this be a classic? I thought classics were accepted by ALL!!!! Let's talk about REAL classic records. __________________ RXTT's Intellectual Journey - my new blog where I talk about all the books I read.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

06.27.2007, 09:02 AM	#14
demonrail666 invito al cielo Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 18,510	Rob - No classic is accepted by EVERYONE. Shit, I even know some people who don't rate Duran Duran's Rio album.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

06.27.2007, 09:09 AM	#15
Rob Instigator invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: In the land of the Instigator Posts: 27,991	Rio! Hilarious. I was just saying, that for the purposes of a thread on a forum of music afficionados, it would help if the "classic" album was one actually considered a "classic" by more than just Todd Rundgren fans. __________________ RXTT's Intellectual Journey - my new blog where I talk about all the books I read.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

06.27.2007, 09:10 AM	#16
screamingskull invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: england Posts: 5,580	piss off rob
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

06.27.2007, 09:15 AM	#17
Rob Instigator invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: In the land of the Instigator Posts: 27,991	you did not like Topanga Canyon? __________________ RXTT's Intellectual Journey - my new blog where I talk about all the books I read.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

06.27.2007, 10:45 AM	#20
gmku invito al cielo Join Date: May 2006 Location: Oxford, England Posts: 15,225	Yeah, rob. Piss off. __________________ Ever notice how this place just basically, well, sucks.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|