A Wizard, A True Star turns 50

There are obviously more proggy Rundgren albums (and Utopia started around the same time), but this is still a very interesting and creative (art rock? what genre would this be?) album. I've only recently listened to this for the first time, but it blew me away immediately, and has quickly become a personal favorite. What makes it so great in my opinion? Well, you've got your typical Todd Rundgren pop tunes, which are as good as on the previous album (and I mean, when it comes to pop rock, he might be the best since the Beatles to do it), and have some colorful and shiny instrumentation and mixing compared to previous albums. The two sides each have their personality (somewhat of a recurring Rundgren gimmick, I've noticed). The first side moves on from song to song quickly and has the more eccentric tracks, like Da Da Dali and Flamingo. It's nicely bookmarked by Internation Feel/La Feel Internationale, which is a highlight. The second side is a bit more poppy, but it has the great 60's medley, which might be the highlight on the album for me.

It's honestly just really impressive how varied this album is, while still feeling as one piece of art. I feel like it should be more celebrated (it seems like it was pretty influential in its own way), and it feels like a bit of a milestone in Todd's career. Any other fans of this one here?

Never really thought about it, but now that you mention it, one of the first things I noticed on my first listen was how intense the snare drum is. Not on every track, but it's definitely something that immediately stands out on International Feel. I personally think it really fits with his production/mix/mastering/whatever style, which is kind of loud and 'full' anyway (which as a headphones user I have my gripes with, but still). I can see how people would think the snare is a bit overbearing, but I like it.

Hi,

Have to check, but THE TUBES' first album was produced by Dominic Frontiere, who also did the orchestral parts for it, I believe.

I love the "Wizard" side of this album, and it was something that Guy Guden played a lot in the early days of Space Pirate Radio, but the rest of the time, I did not think it was as much fun ... heck, his stuff with M. FROGG was more fun, although Todd might say he was so ripped he doesn't remember a thing!

I thought that some things he did were not right ... his mix with XTC had a couple of nice things, but in the end, it was not exactly an XTC album and I'm not sure that the band had the freedom that had gotten them as far as they did, which would suggest that Todd tried to steer them into a song thing ... so it seems in my ears, and I will give that one album a listen again.

But, when one goes over his discography and the list of singles and hits, I would say he is "major" ... and this one album, for me, is definitely that.

I missed Todd when he toured this (2012 for the 40th anniversary?) which was without doubt one of biggest bummers of all time!

I'm sure that for a long time he couldnt play in the UK due to some unpaid tax issue so i'd been waiting quite a long time! I remember a small acoustic gig in the early 80's (the Marquee in London??) which was recorded for BBC radio 1 where i heard he was helicoptered in and out again before the authorities knew about it! Of course, could be just an urban myth and why let truth et in the way of a good anecdote!