
Todd Rundgren TODD
1974's TODD was a departure for Todd Rundgren. After a series of one-man-band albums highlighted by the classic SOMETHING/ANYTHING?, he'd allowed a few other musicians onto this effort's immediate predecessor, A WIZARD A TRUE STAR. TODD goes one step further here by incorporating a full band, and the difference between this and Rundgren's streamlined, early records is startling. The songs are lushly orchestrated, with a full Philly-soul-styled horn section led by the legendary Brecker brothers on several tracks. The double-album length gave Rundgren the license he needed to stretch out compositionally and instrumentally.Keyboards dominate the arrangements, with Rundgren, longtime cohort Mark "Moogy" Klingman, and session-man Ralph Schuckett all contributing piano, organ, and vintage '70s-style clavinet. The songs themselves are quirkier and more exploratory than earlier efforts, with the progressive and fusion influences that would dominate Rundgren's forthcoming band Utopia rearing th