Todd (album)

Todd
Studio album by Todd Rundgren
Released	February, 1974
Genre	Pop rock Progressive rock Rock Experimental music
Length	66:28
Label	Bearsville 2BR-6952 Rhino
Producer	Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren chronology
A Wizard, a True Star (1973) Todd (1974) Initiation (1975)

Todd is a double album by Todd Rundgren, released in February 1974. It was an expansion of his experimentation on A Wizard, A True Star. It showed his growing interest in the synthesizer, and its ability to expand the textures of rock music. Much of the album is intensely experimental. However, it is not without its share of pop songs. Todd also tinkers with the synth-heavy progressive sound he would take further with his later band Utopia. First issues of this LP included a large wall poster; all the lyrics appeared on one side, while the other was Todd's cover portrait in shades of fine print, consisting of the names of 10,000 fans who had sent in the postcard included with A Wizard, A True Star.

Release of the album, originally conceived as but too long for a single disc, was delayed by a vinyl shortage. This was further compounded by reluctance from the record label, Bearsville, to release a new album when his song "Hello It's Me" from Something/Anything? remained strong on the singles charts.

Other lore from Todd is the battle with Rundgren over the label's desire to release the song "Izzat Love?" as a single. The artist insisted the song was indicative of a music style he no longer wished to pursue, and won under threat to never record again should the song be released.

"Lord Chancellor's Nightmare" is a cover of a Gilbert & Sullivan song from their 1882 opera "Iolanthe".

In September 2010, Rundgren performed his Todd and Healing albums live for the first time in Akron, Ohio, followed by concerts in Muskegon MI, Indianapolis IN, St. Louis MO, Glenside PA, and Morristown NJ. A large LED display and lasers were on display throughout the shows with Rundgren and the band dressed in extravagant costumes. Rundgren's band consisted of Jesse Gress, Greg Hawkes, Prairie Prince, Bobby Strickland, and Kasim Sulton.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Robert Christgau	C
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Track listing

All songs by Todd Rundgren except where noted.

Side one

1. "How About a Little Fanfare?" (Instrumental) (1:03)
2. "I Think You Know" (3:04)
3. "The Spark of Life" (Instrumental) (6:23)
4. "An Elpee's Worth of Toons" (2:09)
5. "A Dream Goes On Forever" (2:21)
6. "Lord Chancellor's Nightmare Song" (W.S. Gilbert, Arthur Sullivan) (3:32)

Side two

1. "Drunken Blue Rooster" (Instrumental) (3:00)
2. "The Last Ride" (4:48)
3. "Everybody's Going to Heaven / King Kong Reggae" (6:38)

Side three

1. "No. 1 Lowest Common Denominator" (5:12)
2. "Useless Begging" (3:40)
3. "Sidewalk Cafe" (Instrumental) (2:15)
4. "Izzat Love?" (1:55)
5. "Heavy Metal Kids" (4:16)

Side four

1. "In and Out the Chakras We Go (Formerly: Shaft Goes to Outer Space)" (Instrumental) (5:47)
2. "Don't You Ever Learn?" (6:04)
3. "Sons of 1984" (4:34)

Personnel

• Michael Brecker – horn, saxophone
• Randy Brecker – horn, saxophone, trumpet
• Kevin Ellman – drums, percussion
• Bill Gelber – bass
• Wells Kelly – drums
• Mark "Moogy" Klingman – keyboards, organ, piano, electric piano
• John Miller – bass
• Chris Parker – drums
• Peter Ponzol – soprano sax
• Barry Rogers – trombone
• Todd Rundgren – guitars, vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, bass, drums, drum machine, percussion, other instruments
• Ralph Schuckett – bass, clavinet, organ
• John Siegler – bass, cello

Credits

• Steve Hammonds – project coordinator
• Paul Lester – sleeve notes
• Alen MacWeeney – cover photo, photography
• Andrew Pearce – mastering
• Sarah Southin – design

Charts

Album - Billboard

Year	Chart	Position
1974	The Billboard 200	54

Singles - Billboard

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1974	"A Dream Goes on Forever"	The Billboard Hot 100	69