Getting into Todd Rundgren - where to next?

The trio of backup singers (which included his future wife Michele) were a fixture on the David Letterman show for a while after Todd's appearance.

 

Yeah. Jenni Maldaur , Maria Maldaurs daughter was in that backup singers. She's quite good. And looked amazing on stage back then.

 

I couldn't remember her name. The others were Michele Gray and Shandi Sinnamon.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, mate. Will do.

 

So, initially I was drawn most to the early Utopia stuff (TR'sU and Ra) but in the last week it's been The Ballad Of and Something/Anything that won't leave my rotation.

Really, The Ballad Of is like a perfect fall day album. Not a dreary fall day, but the kind where it's brisk-yet-sunny and you feel great, the leaves blowing around you, etc.

 

Ballad was one of my favorites as well at one point.

 

I have similar associations with that album in part stemming from the fact that I bought the album one fall in high school. But beyond that, with the New England reference in Boat on the Charles and the great "ballads," there is an inherent autumnal mood to the album overall.

 

Ballad his best for plaintif melancholic tunes. Heavily influenced by Laura Nyro. The runts obsession with Laura peaked with S/A.

 

Incredible record.

 

...can't find a better one to be obsessed with. Have all of her vinyl, and the new MONO box. A stoned soul picnic!

 

Yeah, The Nazz guys were a bit put off with Todd's infatuation with her.