Something/Anything?

Something/Anything?
Studio album by Todd Rundgren
Released	February 1972
Recorded	Late 1971, Bearsville Studios, Woodstock, NY
Genre	Pop rock, power pop
Length	86:15
Label	Bearsville 2BX-2066
Producer	Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren chronology
Runt. The Ballad of Todd Rundgren (1971) Something/Anything? (1972) A Wizard, a True Star (1973)

Something/Anything?, released in 1972, is Todd Rundgren's third solo album. It peaked at #29 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold three years after its release, and remains the singer-songwriter's best-selling album. In 2003, the album was ranked number 173 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

History

"Hello It's Me", recorded earlier by Nazz and featured on side four of the record, reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 the following year.

Having achieved confidence in his instrumental abilities, Rundgren decided to play every instrument (as well as singing every vocal) on the first three sides of the double LP while recording in Los Angeles, attributing his productivity to Ritalin. He contemplated recording more tracks to make up a double album in a similar manner, but following an earthquake soon after recording, he decided to relocate to New York and hold a live recording session with session players. Along with two small extracts of archive recordings featuring Rundgren in the 1960s, this made up the fourth side.

In the liner notes, the first side of the album is described as "a bouquet of ear-catching melodies", the second as "the cerebral side", the third as "The kid gets heavy", and the fourth is titled "Baby Needs a New Pair of Snakeskin Boots (A Pop Operetta)".

White labeled promotional DJ issues of the LP were pressed on colored vinyl — the first record on red vinyl, the second on blue.

The song "Couldn't I Just Tell You" has had a major influence on artists in the power pop musical genre, with music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine of the All Music Guide calling it one of "the great songs that provided power pop with its foundation".

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Robert Christgau	A−

Retrospective reviews of the album have been overwhelmingly positive. Allmusic especially praised the album's endearing tone and often adventurous variety of styles, commenting that "Listening to Something/Anything? is a mind-altering trip in itself, no matter how many instantly memorable, shamelessly accessible pop songs are scattered throughout the album." Robert Christgau also applauded the strong variety: "The many good songs span styles and subjects in a virtuoso display... And the many ordinary ones are saved by Todd's confidence and verve."

Track listing

All songs written by Todd Rundgren except as indicated.

Side one

1. "I Saw the Light" – 2:56
2. "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference" – 3:50
3. "Wolfman Jack" – 2:54
4. "Cold Morning Light" – 3:55
5. "It Takes Two to Tango (This Is for the Girls)" – 2:41
6. "Sweeter Memories" – 3:36

Side two

1. "Intro" – 1:11
2. "Breathless" – 3:15
3. "The Night the Carousel Burnt Down" – 4:29
4. "Saving Grace" – 4:12
5. "Marlene" – 3:54
6. "Song of the Viking" – 2:35
7. "I Went to the Mirror" – 4:05

Side three

1. "Black Maria" – 5:20
2. "One More Day (No Word)" – 3:43
3. "Couldn't I Just Tell You" – 3:34
4. "Torch Song" – 2:52
5. "Little Red Lights" – 4:53

Side four

1. "Overture–My Roots: Money (That's What I Want)/Messin' With The Kid" (Janie Bradford, Berry Gordy, Mel London) – 2:29
2. "Dust in the Wind" (Mark Klingman) – 3:49
3. "Piss Aaron" – 3:26
4. "Hello It's Me" – 4:42
5. "Some Folks Is Even Whiter Than Me" – 3:56
6. "You Left Me Sore" – 3:13
7. "Slut" – 4:03

Personnel

• Todd Rundgren – all instrumentation and vocals (on sides 1-3)

Additional personnel (side four only)

On track 1

• Collie Read- bass
• Stockman- drums
• Todd Rundgren- lead guitar
• Rick Valente- lead vocals
• Randy Read- rhythm guitar

Remaining tracks

• Todd Rundgren – lead vocals, piano (except on "Some Folks" and "Slut"); guitar on "Some Folks" and "Slut"
• Mark Klingman – organ; piano on "Some Folks"
• John Siomos – drums on "Dust in the Wind", "Hello It's Me", and "You Left Me Sore"
• Randy Brecker – trumpet on "Dust in the Wind" and "Hello It's Me"
• Mike Brecker – tenor sax on "Dust in the Wind" and "Hello It's Me"
• Barry Rogers – trombone on "Dust in the Wind" and "Hello It's Me"
• Rick Derringer – guitar on "Dust in the Wind"
• John Siegler - bass on "Dust in the Wind"
• Dennis Cooley, Cecilia Norfleet, and Vicki Robinson – backing vocals on "Dust in the Wind" and "Hello It's Me"
• Richard Corey and Hope Ruff – backing vocals on "Dust in the Wind", "Hello It's Me", and "You Left Me Sore"
• Robbie Kogale – guitar on "Hello It's Me" and "You Left Me Sore"
• Stu Woods – bass on "Hello It's Me" and "You Left Me Sore"
• Jim Colgrove – bass on "Piss Aaron"
• Amos Garrett – guitar on "Piss Aaron"
• Ben Keith – pedal steel on "Piss Aaron"
• Billy Mundi – drums on "Piss Aaron" and "Some Folks"
• Gene Dinwiddie – tenor sax on "Some Folks"
• Serge Katzen – conga on "Some Folks"
• Bugsy Maugh – bass on "Some Folks"
• Ralph Wash – guitar on "Some Folks"
• Jim Horn and John Kelson – tenor saxes on "Slut"
• Brook Baxes, Anthony Carrubba, Henry Fanton, and Edward Olmos – backing vocals on "Slut"
• Hunt Sales – drums on "Slut"
• Tony Sales – bass on "Slut"
• Charlie Schoning – piano on "Slut"
• Rick Vito – guitar on "Slut"

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1974	Billboard Pop Albums	29

Single

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1972	"Couldn't I Just Tell You"	Billboard Pop Singles	93
1972	"I Saw the Light"	Billboard Pop Singles	16
1973	"Hello It's Me"	Billboard Pop Singles	5

Certifications

Organization	Level	Date
RIAA – US	Gold	February 26, 1975

Formats

• Vinyl LP
• Cassette
• Reel to Reel Tape
• 8 Track
• Compact Disc

External links

• Todd Rundgren official website