Finally! Someone reacted to this! It's one of the 'hidden gems" of the '70s.

Fusion? Yes! Zappa? Yes! Proggy? The definition of prog.

@JustJP

2 жыл бұрын

What more could you ask for? 😁

1974! This is epic! Todd Rules! So melodic, so funky, so progressive!

This is the very first time I hear a bass laughing ( 08:11)!!! Awesome!!

@JustJP

2 жыл бұрын

I love that!😄

@damonhines8187

2 жыл бұрын

@@JustJP fish frivolity is no joke. Not that kind of bass? F*** English for a fool's game anyway.

@bungalowmo

2 жыл бұрын

😂

What Todd really held in common with Zappa is that, for one, he maintained absolute artistic control throughout his career. He never put out an album that was constrained to fit into any producer's idea of what an album should be. That, and Todd could be humorous as hell with his music. Campy. Goofy. Just plain fun. YOU'RE GONNA LOVE "THE IKON"! After that? So many albums to choose from. I know most folk seem to be suggesting older stuff like "A Wizard A True Star" but I'd like to suggest you listen to some later stuff, like from his album "Liars" released in 2004. Try "Happy Anniversary". Or "Stood Up". It will have you howling! Blessings.

@stpnwlf9

2 жыл бұрын

Todd definitely enjoyed throwing his sense of humor into his music at times. Songs like Onomatopoeia and King of the Highway just to name a couple.

@usandthemakakelly2535

2 жыл бұрын

Liars is a wonderful choice!

@audiodood

Жыл бұрын

@@stpnwlf9 also Just Another Onionhead and When The Shit Hits The Fan.. all of AW/ATS for that matter

What an amazing song.. Todd is a musical genius. Rarely is on radio in UK.. Same with Zappa and Beefheart and many others.. How good is this album........ 👍

Love Todd Rundgren and Utopia!

Had the Pleasure of seeing Todd in concert several times. Great performer on top of everything else. Good reaction, thanks!

RA is a must for you NEXT Todd. Also you need Adventures In Utopia, or go back to the early stuff, like NAZZ,

Nice one! You were right about Zappa, this is a bit of a Zappa pastiche with a nod to Zappa chords and George Duke's keys. Nice reaction too, sorry about the headache!

I saw them in early '74, before this album was released. During the section @ around 8:10, where it sounds like the bass is weeping, Todd ran up to the mic & said 'Don't cry John, it's your birthday!' At that point, a cake was wheeled out onstage & they had a quick celebration before finishing the song.

Some say Todd is God, maybe but I just have always loved this very UNIQUE Progressive display of his amazing skills. This was my first true appreciation of him as a writer, instrumentalist and performer. It's a ONE of a KIND& very COHESIVE ***ALBUM*** masterpiece by Tod God..... I've noticed you have limits to your appreciation of abstract or distorted sections but as a teen of the psychedelic 70's these moments were the norm with many artist of the era and quite befitting for a typically very High audience! LOL

I remember that headache. Another of my artist friend’s albums, since he had several Todd albums, Something/ Anything, A True Wizard, Runt, this album and Another Live. The last two were harder listens for me but, gradually they became equals. A fun song to wake to, it may played in morning back then. My folks separated and I needed a place to stay and it was cool that I got to stay with a group of artist students out in a country house and listen to groovy music like this. These dudes actually got me to go back to college so I owe them big time. We were a bit of a freak parade walking about two miles to school on those long country roads. Peace and headache Music

Thank you, thank you, thank you! One of my all time favorite albums! Love how this song starts with the transition from live to studio.

That part you mentioned with the dreamy piano and the laughing is the band and they're making fun of Moogy the keyboardist and it turns into an instrumental fight between Todd and Moogy. I saw them do the entire album and was amazed! He even had flyers in every seat explaining what we were going to see! Yes, a true star, then and now!

There can't have been many busier places than Todd Rundgren's head: a butterfly mind, yet having a meticulous eye for detail and polish. His compositional voice - his idea of what constitutes a tune and the arrangement around it - veers from the exquisite to the garbled. I frequently find it exasperating, and so I tend not to trouble his albums very often. With today's technology I could probably do much more easily what I did with Mike Oldfield's 'Tubular Bells' when it first came out - chop it about, lose the duff bits, and rearrange the remainder in what seems to me a listenable sequence. But even allowing for the fact that this is a live performance, I can't feel the enthusiasm for rescuing the salvageable parts of this overcooked muddle. So, as ever, I thank you, JP, for your patient perception, but I think this track will languish at the bottom of my musical treasure chest, seldom to be held up to the light.

Justin, as you say this song is a kind of fusion of several genres (prog, jazz, soul ...) and somewhat reminiscent of Zappa at times (in the twirling and wacky transitions) or Gentle Giant (especially in the sound of the synth and the jerky playing during the parade accompanied by the bass riff reintroduced until the end of the track). The playing of the musicians is energetic and precise, but I find the overall result very relaxed and funky. I like this !

Good morning JP. I’m your first comment. Great song and again, the entire album is a play. Saw them do this live at Return to Live Utopia at Thee Filmore in Detroit couple years ago. It was a meet n greet show, great time 👍🏻😎👍🏻 Have a great day! If you got a headache from this song, try The Ikon.

Good musicianship, and although the song kind of sounds choppy, I love it and it does remind me of Zappa. The ethereal keyboard part is beautiful then changes to something whimsical, then sounds like "Iron Man" (Black Sabbath) and continues to warp into riffs that sound like Rundgren. It's a strange mix of riffs that do not repeat into a theme, but that's OK. I like it. The bass has great tone. Thanks JP.

Thank you it's been too long since I've heard from this freaky old friend. We're all bozos on this bus called existence. At the Firesign Theater take a left turn to Utopia.Peace.

@maruad7577

2 жыл бұрын

Bozos on the bus? I have friends (seldom seen these last few decades) in the Twin Cities who called themselves this. Don't crush that dwarf while under the influence of Thai stick is not something, one forgets or remembers clearly (though that would be my cousin's fault).

@davidgale7384

2 жыл бұрын

Nick Danger would be proud...

Have been suggesting this album for months now, glad to see it make it to the top of the heap. Side 2,, is an epic single song IKON, a bit long but well worth the time. Todd is my only one artist pick. His music is so varied, one would never get bored with the style. A TRUE WIZARD AND STAR !

In 1973/1974 Todd released/produced "A Wizard, a True Star", "We're an American Band" (Grand Funk Railroad), "New York Dolls", "Todd", "Shinin' On" (Grand Funk Railroad), "War Babies" (Hall & Oates), and "Todd Rundgren's Utopia"

This is a superb album all round

@audiodood

Жыл бұрын

for real it’s one of my favorites of all time, old utopia really was just that, a collection of great individually talented musicians that all worked with and knew each other well, same idea as Toto

What a way to start the week! 😃 It's my favourite on this album, I can dance all day long to this one. You're right, it does sound like a mix of many things, all done well imo. I just love the groove, the bass and the singing so much. I've always thought of the lyrics like; You may think your're "normal", but you're really not. Best you admit that to yourself and proudly take place in the parade before everone else makes that choice for you. Offcourse the interpretation might just be a way for me to justify my own weirdness. 🤪 My brain is now flooded with endorphins (and not a headache, thankfully). 💃💃

I just saw Todd Rundgren again live on Monday, incredible show and setlist. He always works with top tier musicians. Especially love the rhythm section on this album.

@JustJP

2 жыл бұрын

Thats awesome Nick! Glad you enjoyed!

My Favorite Headache - Geddy Lee, Thanks Justin!

@JustJP

2 жыл бұрын

🤣

It's funny you mentioned Zappa because this morning I watched your "UK" album review (I'm backlogged from all the horror movie reactions) and Terry Rozzio (of Zappa's band and Missing Persons) replaced Bill Bruford for their 2nd album when they became a trio.

Am I odd for liking the bass solo at the end? It reminds me of the opening of Wishbone Ash's "Handy". The dreamscape portion, other than the bass, called to mind Kitaro's work. An interesting piece. I could listen to this again and might well become very fond of this.

@JustJP

2 жыл бұрын

Not odd at all🙂

This is a prog rock masterpiece. It gave JP a headache because it blew his mind. The laughing bass conjures images of a Jack In The Box bouncing and guffawing, the dreamy keyboards bring up sad pantominers and clowns, the main riff feels like a circus parade proceeding at it's herky jerky pace and the climatic finale is like the cacophony of the madhouse inhabitants moving onto the procession and finally the fading bass riff feels like the parade moving off into the distance and into eternity. Of course, the Freak Parade is really about all of us. When you listen to a lot of Todd you realize that he is really one of the most philosophical songwriters of our time. He reads a lot of books, I mean check out the song he wrote after reading Stephen Hawking's book. The song is on Nearly Human and is called Hawking. I get chills every time I hear this. Todd was so far ahead of his time. The iKon is also a masterpiece. It is incredibly Zen.

@MissAstorDancer

2 жыл бұрын

"Hawking" is one of Todd's most beautiful songs, both the music and the lyrics.

Moore people should listen to this record!

@jimhardiman3836

2 жыл бұрын

Like Gary Moore?

@mikewest1542

2 жыл бұрын

@@jimhardiman3836 no Bobby , or Dudley 😂😂

@audiodood

Жыл бұрын

R stevie moore

My absolute favorite Todd Rundgren song is Can We Still be Friends

Been listening to the man for well over 50 years...ain't heard a bad tune yet. Thanks for the Todd, JP. You should move on up a few years and check out "Lost Horizon" from his A Cappella elpee.

It blows me away that you’re doing this entire album!! 😳🎸💥🎹🎤🥁

@JustJP

2 жыл бұрын

Hope you've enjoyed it :D

Rundgren produced and his band played on the Steve Hillage album L. Worth a listen.

Can’t wait for The Ikon!!!

That’s definitely the proggiest thing I’ve heard from Utopia. Not sure if it’s playlist material yet, but you were spot on with your gentle giant comparison.

Afternoon, Justin. Dave from London. Bit of a Helter Skelter approach to a prog/fusion track. Plenty of really impressive phases, although a few of the transitions are a little awkward. Like you. I love the dreamy slide guitar and, yes, the bass excels especially in the later sections, and I love the bluesy keyboards. To me the vocal phase sounds a bit like Zappa (maybe it should have been called Freak Out Parade). Like I've said before, I prefer the next incarnation of Utopia, and especially the proggy Ra.

@David-iv6je

2 жыл бұрын

Astute observation. Transitions are key. It's a bit schizophrenic otherwise. A lot of fusion-ish music suffered from bad transitions.

Enjoyable prog fusion with several delightful zigs and zags. Very Gentle Giant-ish. Edit: I'd like to be in a Freak Parade, however, lately I feel like I'm in The Grand Parade of Lifeless Packaging.

@JustJP

2 жыл бұрын

🐑

@sidecardog5244

2 жыл бұрын

@@JustJP Damn lamb, always just lying about in the street. It is time to put him back in the cage.

@JustJP

2 жыл бұрын

@@sidecardog5244 otherwise itll end up a lamb chop!🥩

I like the wired alertness of this song - always makes me think of things that I don't normally think of!

@JustJP

2 жыл бұрын

Wired Alertness, i like that!

Great that you're discovering the tunes that I did about 20 years ago...and with the same passion and enjoyment!

Been a long time since I've heard this. Parts remind me a bit of Gentle Giant.

This one started to loose me a few minutes in, but then the funk kicks in, and I'm all in.

Just subscribed. Love this song and your insightful comments. Thanks.

@JustJP

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Tony!

Bro just subscribed. You have awesome energy man, your taste in music is great to brother. Keep on keeping on!

@JustJP

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much Goat!!🐐🔮

great choice, great review. Having been a fan for half a century of Todd I can only be in awe of his incredible range. Juxtapose this album to Runt (1970), A wizard a true star (of only a few years later - 1973), Healing (1981), No world Order (1993), Liars (2004) Global (2015) for example and you’ll have a hard believing it’s the same artist. To be honest, as a fan it sometimes took me a couple of years to keep up with his explorations. But it’s always more than worthwhile and very stimulating to keep reinventing yourself.

@JustJP

2 ай бұрын

Ty George! Todd always keeps you guessing

I liked it and will likely listen again. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Excellent. What a pity few US bands in the 70s had this much ambition. We know that Todd Rundgren is a genius and, sorry, I failed to mention Frank Zappa in the last Utopia video (some of his 70s stuff is arguably prog and of course, he released an album called 'The Man from Utopia') Anyway, keep exploring the outer galaxies, JP!

@kenl2091

2 жыл бұрын

@@Katehowe3010 Hey! It's the first Zappa album I owned but, sadly, you're correct. There's a couple of interesting instrumentals but at least three where he just jazz speaks/sings along to the guitar line. I did laugh at Jazz Discharge Party Hats though.

@jimhardiman3836

2 жыл бұрын

@@Katehowe3010 love The Radio Is Broken. Cracks me up every time. Other great songs on the album like Stick Together and Sex.

@jimhardiman3836

2 жыл бұрын

@@Katehowe3010 what you describe as "dire" I quite enjoy. That's the subjective nature of music.

Great song, if you open your mind or at least I did got hints of Frank Zappa style in this song. I bought this when it was released back when I would buy a album because I like the album cover artwork. Keep up the good work in digging up jewels like this.

It was awesome to watch your reactions to this song! You seem like you know your music! This is one of my favorite albums! You should definitely consider doing the A Wizard A True Star album! Now that's a crazy fantastic album, my absolute favorite from my favorite musician Todd Rundgren! I loved how you said that it sounds like Gentle Giant and Frank Zappa! Excellent musicians in their own right! I'm looking forward to seeing more of your videos! Liked and subscribed! Bravo!

@JustJP

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so so much Kelly!

@usandthemakakelly2535

2 жыл бұрын

@@JustJP looking forward to your reaction to other Todd Rundgren songs! I read the other comments and I think you need to do that! 😉😂

Definitely has a fusion sound, they were heavily influenced by Mahavishnu Orchestra and Yes

Hey JP, long time! Didn't see a mention of the Japanese influence in this song, you find many in this phase of Utopia.The next album has some even more headache inducing songs, including "Hiroshima," a song about that horrific event. And don't worry about the headache thing, it's just your brain working overtime.

From Pop to This, you don't always (or ever) know what your going to get from Todd Rundren!

11:45 Lol Love that😂

@JustJP

11 ай бұрын

Lol! :D

Very much like Return To Forever Chic Corea!!!

It's good to finally hear Utopia. I name I've heard for decades. We actually met a later day keyboardist at a festival one time. A borderline genius. This track has some sections I think are guite interesting. I'm not a big fan of the arrangement........yet.

The laughter sound effect sounded to me like a very loosely-strung bass, or possibly some kind of synth sound.

@audiodood

Жыл бұрын

Todd was known to use an early pitch to voltage converter by EMS to pitch-track his synths to stuff, so that’s probably what’s happening here

I have always found this particular track just a little bit choppy and disjointed; never quite settling in to a grove and allowing the listener to ride the flow. Don't get me wrong; it certainly has some stellar sections and the musicianship is beyond reproach, I just find it a bit "jerky". Having said that; I am really anticipating the time when you unleash "The Ikon"; an epic (over 30 minute) piece of prog... Bring it on! peace from Australia.

I hear a bit of King Crimson and Gentle Giant combined with jazz rock. Then a crazy magician put a spell on it and we got this. I can’t listen to this very long; my brain says ‘overload’ (I’m highly sensitive).

this guy is no expert

@JustJP

9 ай бұрын

You're not wrong

That riff is in a Cardiacs song (or near as damn it) but I can't figure out which one. If I do, I'll update, here. In the meantime, you might enjoy Max Mobarry's playthrough of the big hit *Flummox* had with Garbonzo's Leap. (They're the band who did Trans Girls Need Guns, just in case this doesn't ring a bell). kzread.info/dash/bejne/pKaCo6mpmrGYmKQ.html

@sicko_the_ew

2 жыл бұрын

I think I was just imagining things with that Cardiacs song, but it's sent me all over the Internet, and I found *cows, cows, cows* again, which you might enjoy some morning when things are becoming a bit too normal, and you need to get a bit mentally disturbed for a few minutes. kzread.info/dash/bejne/eJWqt9J9j6zQhrw.html

@sicko_the_ew

2 жыл бұрын

I also found some *Sparks* . Really what you want to go for if you decide to ever react to them is the Musikladen live video of This Town Ain't Big Enough For the Both of Us, but in the meantime here they are in quite a suave mode: *Perfume* kzread.info/dash/bejne/kWSctdqdgauwj9Y.html (with a nice piano refrain I think of as Brazilian).

@sicko_the_ew

2 жыл бұрын

Oh, just on that question of which stringed instrument to start on, I think I'd recommend an electric guitar, in general. However, the main reason would simply be that it's the easiest on the finger tips. You can set the action really low, and put on really light strings. Combine that with only applying exactly enough fretting pressure to stop the buzzing, and it's not possible to kinder than this to the fingers. So you might not put that much weight on having to wait a bit before it gets comfortable, having already gone through the process of learning to play other instruments. And I suppose a dulcimer causes no pain at all, when it comes to that. Hmm ... there was a dulcimer on Tarouk de Haidouks. I might've suggested it before, but no harm in doing so again. (Gypsy music - actually would make a very interesting reaction video - maybe if you split it in parts or just watched the first few songs. Interesting, but probably with not many views. Anyway, let me go seek.) snuFFLE!! .. WOOF woof woof w..f wf ..f ff ..... ooo .. wof ........... wo

@sicko_the_ew

2 жыл бұрын

That was easier than looking for a Cardiacs song that might not exist. *Taraf de Haidouks* - and it looks to have become quite a famous gypsy music video. kzread.info/dash/bejne/oohoq9effcjfiaQ.html

@JustJP

2 жыл бұрын

Speaking of Sparks, I may have something coming up in the future :)

Didn’t bother with the these earlier Utopia lps due to the cover artwork. They looked crass, cheap and put me right off. Glad I’m finally catchin up. I bought the pop lp Oblivion ( early 80s) and loved the overblown #the last of the teenage stormtroopers or whatever it was called from the late 70s when i taped it from the radio...

Ra……Ra…….Ra……Ra…..😝

Interesting that this would be playlist material, but you weren't too fond of Duke's Travels. Meh

I have this album, but I find this song too disjointed. I'm all for transitions but these don't fit well to each other, there is some good music on it but it's too bitty.

Yeah, errr, um... well. I'm divided on this. First the obvious, this was at best an homage to, or at worst, a rip off of Zappa. But without the whimsy. Not inherently bad, but not great either. Some good passages, but disjointed, clunky, I didn't feel it flowed well as a piece. Also, wasn't keen of the lead vocal. The harmonies improved it when they jumped in, but that initial voice... Marginally interesting, I'll listen to more, but i'm not counting the hours till this gets revisited, shall we say.

Get off the sidewalk!

@JustJP

2 жыл бұрын

🕺