Todd Rundgren Songs Ranked
Todd Harry Rundgren (born June 22, 1948) is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and record producer who has performed a diverse range of styles as a solo artist and as a member of the band Utopia. He is known for his sophisticated and often unorthodox music, his occasionally lavish stage shows, and his later experiments with interactive entertainment. He also produced music videos and was an early adopter and promoter of various computer technologies, such as using the Internet as a means of music distribution in the late 1990s. Rundgren is considered a pioneer in the fields of electronic music, progressive rock, music videos, computer software, and Internet music delivery. Here are all of Todd Rundgren’s songs ranked.
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15. Hurting for You (Hermit of Mink Hollow, 1978)
“Classic Rundgren song smithing. Another self made project that is focused more on presenting a group of songs with messages rather than an art project. Numerous songs could have been released as hit singles from this album compared to other Todd projects.”
14. Want of a Nail (Nearly Human, 1989)
“What an amazing single. Why this wasn’t a big radio comeback hit for Todd is a mystery to me. It’s got everything: Great classic soul melody, great vocals, great lyrics. Oh yeah, that’s right, it was 1989. Those kind of traits weren’t exactly valued then, were they?”
13. It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference (Something/Anything? 1972)
“I think Todd’s saying that even if the girl had ‘loved’ him, it wouldn’t have made a difference ’cause she really couldn’t have loved him. He was devoted to her, but it was all an act for her and not a very good one (she wasn’t convincing). But he looked over that and tried to make the relationship work.”
12. Love of the Common Man (Faithful, 1976)
“Yet another pop gem from Todd, “Love Of The Common Man” glides along effortlessly, a warm-hearted lyric serviced by double-tracked guitar, intricate harmonies, all by the man himself and a guitar solo to light up the room.”
See more: Todd Rundgren Albums Ranked
11. Just One Victory (A Wizard, a True Star, 1973)
“Just One Victory” is a turn towards Rundgren’s soulful side. This sounds more like something that’d appear on Something/Anything, as it’s more straightforward than the other two songs here. Though it still has the classic A Wizard, A True Star crazy wall of sound thing that gradually grows as it goes along. Anyway, IMO this is one of the greatest pop songs Rundgren wrote, and that’s REALLY saying something. It’s a beautiful and hopeful song, with one of Rundgren’s greatest vocal performances, as melody and harmony. (BTW you gotta check out live versions of this song… really puts in perspective how incredible of a singer Todd actually is.)”
10. Something to Fall Back On (A Cappella, 1985)
“One of Todd’s best late pop masterpieces. Nobody can write ’em like Todd, and this is him at his best. The single “Something to Fall Back On” has a cute video and, according to every Todd fan, “should have been a top 40 hit,” but I think there’s a reason it wasn’t one — it’s got a hook and an obvious melody, but it’s just a generic pop song.”
9. Couldn’t I Just Tell You (Something/Anything?, 1972)
“Rundgren and his ever puzzling output continue to frustrate and dazzle me in equal measures, beginning with a bang then splintering into limp aor, followed by an capella album and lately dabbling in over the top electronics. “Couldn’t I Just Tell You”, however, comes from the halcyon days where his monstrous double albums inexplicably had very little in the way of filler. It is also one of the great classics in the power pop pantheon, lovelorn lyrics, driving guitars, sweetly hummable chorus, it’s all done to perfection and the kind of song that no matter the nature of you Rundgren fandom (or lack thereof) it’s simply undeniable.”
8. Real Man (Initiation, 1975)
“A big, chunky, indeed clunky slice of AOR from Todd Rundgren which sounds like something his later collaborator Meat Loaf could have sung. It’s okay as it goes but does sound overproduced to these ears. I prefer Todd when he’s a bit more melodic and a bit less cacophonous.”
7. A Dream Goes On Forever (Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, 1974)
“A Dream Goes On Forever” is one of the set’s more straightforward melodic pieces, the kind that he could knock off in his sleep and which he sometimes perversely seemed to revolt from, almost as if they were just too easy to come up with. Other writers should have his problem…! The song features a suitably dreamy landscape which we clip-clop through, adorned with some sprinkling of keyboard magic dust.”
6. Hideaway (The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect, 1982)
“The song has dynamics; it has stops that spotlight his vocals, it has a pulsating thump that drives the song during the verses and it has a bridge that is both contemplative and preachy, it also has a spoken word part that is mildly embarrassing. This song is quite an adventure. “
See more: Neck Deep Albums Ranked
5. Bang the Drum All Day (The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect, 1982)
“Songs simply don’t get much more fun then Todd Rundgren’s “Bang the Drum All Day”. An infectious synth hook and one of the catchiest choruses known to man (‘I don’t want to work, I want to bang on the drum all day, I don’t want to play, I just want to bang on the drum all day’) are just a couple of reasons why this song owns.”
4. We Gotta Get You a Woman (Rock This Way, 1998)
“Wry and humorous piano tune from Todd Rundgren which gave him his first American hit. Boasts a catchy, singalong chorus and a title that similarly sticks in the head after only a few plays, with a nice little joke at the death too. The man’s flair for melody and production were evident even at this early stage.”
3. I Saw the Light (Something/Anything?, 1972)
“Todd’s biggest ever hit and it’s easy to hear why. With more hooks than a row of boxers, it’s perfect pop, just made for radio. This is one of those perfect pop tunes. The hook of the song grabs you. It becomes this ear worm that won’t leave your brain. Pure sugar ear candy that keeps you addicted. Todd was brilliant at doing this.”
2. Can We Still Be Friends? (70’s Rock Ballads, 2017)
“Two great tracks from “Hermit of Mink Hollow”, “Can we Still Be Friends” is a classy ballad, with an interesting staggered time-change at its heart and an almost choral backing, later covered by Robert Palmer and can be said to be one of Todd’s signature songs..”
1. Hello It’s Me (Something/Anything?, 1972)
“I have a very special relationship to that 70’s show. I don’t care what you say and that show may be a teen-sex-sitcom but it’s still brilliant in making me care about the characters. One of the key-moments of the show was the group driving back from a Todd Rundgren gig and singing this song in the car.”