A Wizard, A True Star [EXPLICIT LYRICS]

Todd Rundgren

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: March 1973
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B0000032OY
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,524 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

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

42 of 47 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 (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

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.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 stars, May 15, 2001

By	Paul Pearson (Olympia, WA United States) - See all my reviews

What better way to follow up the most perfect pop album in this history of mankind than with -- uh, hold on a sec...

Well, come to think of it, Todd probably had every reason to be scared after "Something/Anything?," the aforementioned P.P.A. Less ambitious types would have spun off copies of that album's pop standards, and become Carole King in the 70's. Don't think Todd would have stood for that for a minute.

In retrospect, "A Wizard" probably ticked a lot of "I Saw the Light's" teenybopper wedge audience, maybe even from the opening synth bleats of "International Feel". Of course if they'd stuck around long enough they'd get a great pop song in the Todd tradition, but if they'd stuck around even longer they'd be going for a head trip. The balance of "Wizard's" first half is unbroken and often brief pieces of instrumentals, rock howls, sound effects, and songs. None of this is nearly as inaccessible as it sounds; it's just short and burst-like in its manner. It depends on whether you're willing to accept Todd's premise -- "Oh, you want another album of K-Tel smashes? THIS'll teach ya!" -- if you end up liking it as one long piece. Myself, I do.

Side Two's a bit more conventional, since it's where the "True Star" kicks in, but when he wants to pull it off, Todd can write classics. Most of these are, especially "Just One Victory." In fact the weirdest cut on the whole album is probably his R&B medley that pays tribute to the Impressions, the Delfonics, Smokey Robinson and "Cool Jerk". What that medley is doing in the middle of such a vomitorium of ambition is completely unclear, but it sounds great.

I don't like this as much as a lot of Todd die-hards, but it's still a great ride that shows off his pop smarts, wild streak and sense of humor all at once.

18 of 19 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

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.