Wizard a True Star (Dig) (Mlps) [Import, Limited Edition]

Todd Rundgren | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 21, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Limited Edition
• Label: Jvc Japan
• ASIN: B000BX4CXC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (77 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #769,695 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. International Feel

2. Never Never Land

3. Tic Tic Tic, It Wears Off

4. You Need Your Head

5. Rock & Roll Pussy

6. Dogfight Giggle

7. You Don't Have to Camp Around

8. Flamingo

9. Zen Archer

10. Just Another Onionhead; da da Dali

11. When the Shit Hits the Fan/Sunset Blvd.

12. Le Feel Internacionale

13. Sometimes I Don't Know What to Feel

14. Does Anybody Love You?

15. I'm So Proud: Ooh Baby Baby/La la Means I Love You/Cool Jerk [Medley]

16. Hungry for Love

17. I Don't Want to Tie You Down

18. Is It My Name?

19. Just One Victory

Editorial Reviews

Digitally remastered reissue of his 1973 album for Bearsville. Contains the original cover art & all 19 of the cuts that first graced it, including the hit 'Sometimes I Don't KnowWhat To Feel'. 1999 release. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still a Mind-Altering Listening Experience, June 15, 2000

By 

C. C. Thomas "filmstar" (Empire, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Wizard, A True Star (Audio CD)

Try to imagine: the year is 1973, you're already well on yourway to being a die-hard Todd fan (a lifer), you were thrilled by hislast album, "Something/Anything", and you buy his next one (this one) the very day it comes out. You put the record on your turntable and for the next 59 minutes or so you sit transfixed at the sound of what you are hearing. It's Todd all right, but like you've never heard him before.

"A Wizard, A True Star" is one of the most revolutionary albums ever recorded - Todd's 'Sgt. Pepper' if you will - and in the 27 years since it came out I have yet to hear anything that remotely resembles it, not even from Zappa (80's band Game Theory's "Lolita Nation" begins to approach). Revolutionary in both the personal sense and recording industry sense, AWATS almost single-handedly created the Todd persona that his fans know and love. Listening to this album now is still the same mind-bending/altering experience it was then...and that's good. Peter Pan ("Never Never Land") mixes with Motown (the "Ooh Baby Baby" medley), touches of punk ("You Need Your Head"), Todd's own perfect pop ("Sometimes I Don't Know What to Feel"), and the just plain bizarre ("Da da Dali"). The man could literally do just about anything and has never been afraid to followed his creative impulses, wherever they've taken him. A true original. Personal favorite: "When the ( ) Hits the Fan/Sunset Blvd." - but that's just me.

There's a lot to love here in the soundscape, not the least of which is Todd's musical risk-taking - experimental pop music at its best. There just aren't enough superlatives for this album or its creator. END

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite record...30 straight years and counting, September 20, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: A Wizard, A True Star (Audio CD)

Todd's previous album, the highly accessible and brilliant Something/Anything, was an acknowledged masterpiece when it came out in 1972 (as it still is today). Four sides of pure pop confections that simply blew away anyone who heard it... a perfect set up for the head-on collision that AWATS felt like when this arrived as the follow-up in 1973. But that was the whole point... there was no-follow-up. Not then, not now, not ever. Welcome to ultimate classic and masterpiece of pop musics greatest musical genius. The Beatles? The greatest group of all-time of course...individually, none of them had the sheer range of ambition and chops to match TR. This album proves it. WARNING!!! You will never get this record on the first, second or even third listening. That's why it has always been overlooked and will, unfortunately, be enjoyed only by those brave souls with the patience and perserverance to wade in and not look back. The ONLY album in my life that I can truly say delivers a new experience with each listen. If I could just take one- this would be my desert island disk.

49 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Something/Anything? Purists Be Damned, January 2, 2003

By 

Samhot (Star Land) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Wizard, A True Star (Audio CD)

I'm sure many fans who know and love Todd Rundgren think that _Something/Anything?_ is his definitive (and best) musical statement. Well, if you worship Rundgren based only on that side of his musical personality, you'll probably want to walk the opposite direction of _A Wizard, A True Star_, which may be considered sheer musical blasphemy. _Something/Anything?_ was mostly an accessible (but diverse) pop/r&b/rock record, with the occasional 'bizarre' tune. However, on this outing, Todd dives head-neck-shoulders-torso-legs (you get the idea) into sheer outrageousness.

Almost everything about _A Wizard, A True Star_ is unconventional. Aside from the malleable genre-plowing and bizarre musical soundscapes, a large percentage of the disc (mainly the first half) contains many 1-minute tracks that flow seamlessly into the other - making this seem like a short 'best of' sampler. But, don't let these rather 'short' time-lengths fool you - this album is a rich, gargantuan slice of audio schizophrenia, which requires 'close' listening - possibly with a good pair of headphones. There are so many subtle complexities buried beneath the hyperactive surface, you can miss out on some aspects that bring out the 'life' of this album - as well as missing out on some truly enriching experiences. However, for the fan of Todd's 'accessible' side, there are a few of those nuggets to be found here.

There's too much to cover here, so please forgive me if I don't give comments for all 19 tracks found here. However, I'm going to list some of my personal favorites:

"International Feel"--Kind of like The Temptations gone hip-hop/electronica. The vocal harmonies on here evoke that of any classic r&b/soul group, while the electronics found on here sound like it could have been used for any rap or hip-hop group of the 1990's to present.

"Never Never Land"--A fairy-tale kind of track. Todd gives a convincing and moving vocal performance here. The synthesizers taking the place of an orchestra may turn some off, but they still add ethereal, melodic and poignant atmospheres.

"Tic Tic Tic It Wears Off"--A moderately fast-paced instrumental. Probably one of the few prototypes for ambient/electronica - due to all the underlying sound effects.

"You Need Your Head"--A heavy electronica piece with heavy metal guitar. Nice explosive vocals here as well.

"Rock And Roll Pussy"--A pretty intense rocker - kind of like The Ohio Players with a harder edge. Supposedly, this track was Todd Rundgren's scathing attack on John Lennon. Provocative? Maybe, but I still love the musicianship, execution and production - which seems a bit muddy and flooded. This gives the track a pretty volatile and intense flavor.

"Flamingo"--A bizarre, quirky synth-filled instrumental. This seems like it wouldn't be too out of place on a Monty Python sketch (or film.) Could this be an ode to the 'python'? Or could this be a short mockery of Classic British Progressive Rock? Whatever the motive, I soak this up.

"Just Another Onionhead/DAda Dali"--Todd Rundgren does a little bit of proto-rap. This is truly a bizarre track. The bizarre lyrics & soundscapes, the classical-like chord progressions and the abrupt atmosphere-shifting are so bizarre and impressive, Frank Zappa may have lost a few moustache hairs out of pure shock & excitement - if he had heard this. And to top that all off, you can find some nice vocal harmonies here.

"Sometimes I Don't Know What To Feel"--Todd takes his hand at classic soul. He does a very good job on his vocals.

"Medley: I'm So Proud/Ooh Baby Baby/La La Means I Love You/Cool Jerk"--Todd pays homage to some soul-stirring r&b classics. He impressed the hell out of me on his rendition of Smokey Robinson & The Miracles' "Ooh Baby Baby." It sounds very convincing, melodic and VERY soulful. I don't think he's done the original much harm - and I'm not just loosely throwing that statement around, since I'm a fan of the original as well.

"Just One Victory"--This kind of reminds me of "Pass The Dutchie" from Musical Youth for some reason. The first few seconds could be mistaken for a gospel song. A very moving r&b ballad, with some hip-hop beats layered on top of it all. It gets crazy near the end, as there are endless vocal overdubs.

A very powerful album - complex, trippy, cerebral, futuristic, original and unexpectedly moving. _A Wizard, A True Star_ may not be what many fans originally wanted from Todd Rundgren, but he made an album that exhibits talent and prophecy, which arguably sounds ageless - given it was released in 1973. Highly recommended to progressive rock fans, as well as those who have a taste for mind-altering, adventurous and/or challenging music.