Hello It's Me (Todd Rundgren or The Nazz) *

Nuggets "
Favoured the mod psychedelia cut.

 

There were a few instances where Hello It's Me was the A side, as per Discogs, but the high majority of the releases (and there were a lot just for 1968) point to Open My Eyes as the most featured A side. Check out yer 45cat website, and yer Discogs site:

Nazz - Open My Eyes »

https://www.discogs.com/Nazz-Open-My-Eyes-Hello-Its-Me/master/135491

 

Nazz for me.

As for the A-side/B-side controversy, I can only say that I heard Nazz's "Hello It's Me" many times on my local Top 40 station. I never once heard "Open My Eyes" (which nevertheless is a great song in its own right).

It's possible that promo copies of the single were reserviced to radio stations at some point with "Open My Eyes" as the A-side following "Hello It's Me"'s disappointing national showing. There's plenty of precedent for this (see The Byrds' "All I Really Want to Do"/"Feel a Whole Lot Better").

 

The Nazz were local boys so I go with their version. It got a lot of radio play here.

 

The Nazz's Hello It's Me was the first version that I heard of that song. It blew me away, loved the bongos, laid back vibe, jazzy ending.
Hearing the Todd Rundgren version later left me slightly underwhelmed although it's okay.

 

Todd solo version, easily. A soft rock classic.

 

Much as I love the Nazz album, I gotta go with Todd's solo version. The group version is too slow and maudlin by comparison.

 

Todd Rundgren's version.

 

Nazz. IMO, sublime and affecting, deeply moving. Todd version is great too, just not as great. It seems sort of tossed off, and their's not much emotional consequence. In the Nazz version, the singer is really trying to come to terms with the relationship. It's as deep as the ocean.

 

For me, the Nazz version. No contest. Part of the soundtrack to the best years of my life.

 

The Nazz version sounds like a Pet Sounds outtake. The Rundgren sounds like a Tapestry outtake. Can't go wrong with either, in my opinion.

 

The Nazz version has a subtle psychedelic lyrical turn not heard in Todd's sax-driven re-make.

 

For me it's the Nazz version by a hair. I actually grew up listening to the Todd version and always loved the song. The Nazz version blew me away the first time I heard it. More intense, emotional with a sense of urgency that fits the lyrical theme the singer is trying to get across a little better in my opinion.

 

Pertinent post.
Tbe nazz is god.

 

Something spiritual/voice Bulgaria about nAzZ's original version.
Todd's sounds like a good /inspired karaoke version in comparison.

 

Uh...it's a slow ballad. I really like The Ramones version of 'My Back Pages',
but it's kind of a "novelty" arrangement when you play it peppy and poppy.

 

The almos Joni Mitchell-like jazzier arrangement coupled with those melancholy major 7s is the winner for me

 

This is pretty much how I feel. I like the Nazz version, but prefer the Something/Anything re-do.

Just checked and I've got 12 versions of this on my iPod (Nazz, S/A, sundry Todd live versions or versions from those stupid remix/overdubbed albums he put out a while back, Isley Bros.; and Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs' karaoke version from Under the Covers). It would be 13, but I absolutely can't abide the With a Twist "creepy stalker" version. Sorry @Chris DeVoe!

 

I remember staying in a cabin once and the "entertainment" was an AM clock radio. I found a station and Todd's version of "Hello It's Me" came on and it sounded absolutely amazing. That song was made for AM radio.

I like the more languid Nazz version, too, but Todd's version is iconic.