Enigma? Genius? Eccentric? Charismatic artist? Maverick? Madman!? 

A Wizard a True Star? 

TODD RUNDGREN

One of the most individual figures in pop/rock/contemporary music without any shadow of a doubt

On this day in music history: February 28, 1972 - “Something/Anything?”, the third solo album by Todd Rundgren is released. Produced by Todd Rundgren, it is recorded I.D. Sound Studios, Runt Studios in Los Angeles, CA, The Record Plant in New York City and Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, NY in Late 1971. After the break up of Nazz in 1969, Todd Rundgren re-thinks his approach to recording. An accomplished musician, and frustrated with studio players inability to interpret his musical ideas, Rundgren takes matters into his own hands. For his third solo release, he plays all of the instruments on the majority of the album. Working without any outside interference from his record label, Rundgren is able to focus and create freely. Cutting numerous tracks while in Los Angeles, he moves east to complete the sessions. For the album’s fourth side, the songs are recorded live in the studio with session players, and no additional overdubs. Issued as a twenty five track double album, the original LP’s four sides are divided in to various “moods”. Side one is subtitled “A Bouquet Of Ear-Catching Melodies, side two "The Cerebral Side”, side three “The Kid Gets Heavy”, and side four “Baby Needs A New Pair Of Snakeskin Boots (A Pop Operetta)”. It is released to enthusiastic critical acclaim, becoming Rundgren’s most successful album, and is widely regarded as one of his finest works. It initially spins off two singles with “I Saw The Light” (#16 Pop, #12 AC) and “Couldn’t I Just Tell You” (#93 Pop). The track “Hello It’s Me” (#5 Pop, #17 AC), originally recorded with Nazz in 1968, is only a minor hit peaking at #66 on the Hot 100. Rundgren re-cuts it, and it is released as a single in November of 1972. It becomes a pop smash the second time around, becoming one of his most popular and frequently covered songs. “Hello” is also recorded by The Isley Brothers, Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs, The Grip Weeds, Mary J. Blige, Gerald Levert and Lani Hall. Finally, more than two and a half years later, “Wolfman Jack” (#105 Pop) is belatedly released, with the single featuring the legendary DJ added to the track. The original vinyl LP is issued with an 11 x 11 quad fold poster lyric sheet. Originally released on CD in the late 80’s, it is remastered and reissued by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab in 1994 as an audiophile 24K gold double CD set. A 180 gram vinyl set is also issued in 1995. The vinyl LP is remastered and reissued by Rhino Records in 2011, replicating the original packaging. The album is remastered and reissued again in November of 2018, for Black Friday Record Store Day. This limited edition pressing, features the two LP’s pressed on red and blue vinyl, like some original US promo copies. It also comes packaged with a replica of the 7" edit of “Hello It’s Me”. “Something/Anything?” peaks at number twenty nine on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

Thanks to Jeff Harris' blog Behind The Grooves