Anthology (1968-1985)

Todd Rundgren

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: May 30, 1989
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B00000334I
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #57,405 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Singer, songwriter, bandleader, producer, cult figure, gadfly, self-promoting visionary, and techno-geek provocateur for any number of revolutionary musical and home-entertainment breakthroughs--which Todd Rundgren would you anthologize? On this 27-track, double-disc compendium, Rhino has ably distilled Rundgren's restless, often overblown ambitions and playfully obtuse artistic vision into what passes for its original essence. With the exception of the Nazz's emblematic "Open Your Eyes," these songs are culled mostly from the handful of solo albums Rundgren produced during a 15-year span that also saw him produce hit records for everyone from Grand Funk to XTC, as well as front the prog-rock Utopia. What the CD reveals is an artist not only fueled by the Beatles-led Brit invasion of his teens and Bell Records soul of his native Philadelphia, but one whose heartfelt romantic ballads ("I Saw the Light," "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference") are so perfectly crafted that they sound like nothing short of outtakes from Carol King's Tapestry. Given his tendency to zig when others anticipated zag, there is a sense of determined exotica at work here, too--one whose most obvious fruits are the Caribbean-tinged radio drive-time staple, "Bang the Drum All Day." If you only know "The Runt" from early hits like "Hello It's Me" and "We Gotta Get You a Woman," you may find this collection to be variously adventurous yet satisfyingly familiar. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Best investment yet.., November 7, 2004

By	Ed "Ed" (Calif) - See all my reviews

I got this CD set because I loved the songs "Hello it's me" and "I saw the Light". Typical pop fan of 70's music. What I got with this CD set was more than I had hoped.

After just 2 listens to the 2 CDs I was hooked. I fell in love with about 10 new songs I never heard before. I wont ramble on. What I will say is this..

GET THIS SET if you only know a couple of Todd's hits. I promise you will NOT be disappointed.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Off To Hear The Wizard On Two "Ceedees Worth of Tunes", April 3, 2000

By	Anthony G Pizza "trivialtony" (FL) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Only a Philadelphia-born artist could've made the music Todd Rundgren has the last 30 years. Whether solo, with his group Utopia or producing acts from Grand Funk to XTC, Todd is among few - perhaps the only artist - who reconciled the Beatles' sonic wizardry with the classic romanticism of Philadelphia/Chicago/Motown soul.

The proof lies in these two CDs. You can argue with song choices (Would've liked to hear his live soul medley from "Back To The Bars," or Nazz' "Hello It's Me," for example.) But what's here is fun and fascinating listening.

Rundgren wrote (and mostly self-recorded) empathetic songs about teen angst ("Be Nice To Me," the moving "Sometimes I Don't Know What To Feel,") relationship politics (the solo Top 5 "Hello It's Me" the majestic "Can We Still Be Friends"), minor rebellion ("All The Children Sing," 1983's overplayed "Bang On The Drum All Day") even a friend's, um, deflowering ("We Gotta Get You A Woman," features the lines "Woman who has been around/and who knows better than to let you down/let's hope there's still one left in this whole town...")

Todd delighted hardcore fans and confounded his record company with experiments like 1985's "A Capella" album or 1973's then remarkably long "A Wizard/A True Star." The good news for casual fans is that this collection gathers the songs Rundgren used to lure casual fans into his web (or, more fittingly now, Web site). Thus, "Anthology," plus the Utopia best-of and his greatest production hits on Rhino Records, serves as a wonderful introduction to an always intriguing artist. Highly recommended.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TR - pure genuis, February 11, 2005

By	tippy toes - See all my reviews

I don't ever see the point in lengthy reviews. I'm not a professional reviewer, just a true fan. That being said, this is a great collection from an extremely talented man.
Buy it, and you won't be disappointed.