Album Mini-review: Todd Rundgren — An Evening with Todd Rundgren
File next to: Brian Wilson, Paul McCartney, Joe Jackson
Rundgren has always been the most restless, resourceful and unpredictable of artists. It was two decades ago that he warned his days of releasing albums were over. That didn’t turn out to be the case. And he’s never made a secret of his general disdain of playing the old hits. So this CD+DVD set – a live document of his most recent tour – comes as a surprise, albeit a welcome one. Playing a tidy selection of hits (“Hello, It’s Me,” “Bang the Drum All Day”) mixed in with hardcore fan favorites (Nazz‘s “Open My Eyes,” Utopia‘s “Love in Action”) and deep album cuts from his massive catalog, Rundgren truly seems to be enjoying himself. With a stellar band featuring longtime associates Kasim Sulton and Prairie Prince, Rundgren sinks his teeth into the songs, showing why he’s among the most beloved of musical cult figures.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4000-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he is co-teaching a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: 40 Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.