Discuss the Classics #3: Todd Rundgren's Something/Anything?
 

Something/Anything?, 1972, is Todd Rundgren's third solo album, and is often regarded to be the singer-songwriter's magnum opus. Rundgren played every instrument (as well as sang every part) on the first three sides of the double LP, while a band accompanies him on the fourth. The album was hailed as an impressively diverse pop rock masterpiece by most critics, while some felt it was considerably self-indulgent.
In 2003, the album was ranked number 173 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

All songs by Todd Rundgren (except when noted):

Side one
"I Saw the Light" – 2:56
"It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference" – 3:50
"Wolfman Jack" – 2:54
"Cold Morning Light" – 3:55
"It Takes Two to Tango (This Is for the Girls)" – 2:41
"Sweeter Memories" – 3:36
Side two
"Intro" – 1:11
"Breathless" – 3:15
"The Night the Carousel Burned Down" – 4:29
"Saving Grace" – 4:12
"Marlene" – 3:54
"Song of the Viking" – 2:35
"I Went to the Mirror" – 4:05
Side three
"Black Maria" – 5:20
"One More Day (No Word)" – 3:43
"Couldn't I Just Tell You?" – 3:34
"Torch Song" – 2:52
"Little Red Lights" – 4:53
Side four
"Overture-My Roots: Money (That's What I Want)/Messin' With the Kid" (Bradford, Gordy, Rundgren, Strong) – 2:29
"Dust in the Wind" (Klingman, Rundgren) – 3:49
"Piss Aaron" – 3:26
"Hello It's Me" – 4:42
"Some Folks Is Even Whiter Than Me" – 3:56
"You Left Me Sore" – 3:13
"Slut" – 4:03

This my my favorite album of all time, the album i would take to a desert island, "I went to the mirror" is my favorite song, but the whole album is perfect. Sides A & B are significantly more pop than sides C & D. Todd is a great ballad writer and a beautiful singer, Something/Anything? is his best most definitely.
AND HE WAS ONLY 24 WHEN HE MADE THIS ALBUM!!!!

i've always thought that anything ranked above 100 in a Rolling Stones Best 500 poll is a polite way of saying 'has a strong cult following'.

You know that choosing this record only confirms to me even more that you should be living in California, don't you.

The fact that it is a great album makes me think that maybe I should be too.

Have you heard the Beach Boys Surf's Up album? If you haven't, you should get it pronto. You'd love it.

Go Gidget Go!!!!

HA HA HA HA HA
okay i will get it tomorrow, or maybe my dad has it?? he's a beach boy's fan.

It's definitely his best, i also have these todd Rundgren albums. I want to get something by Utopia, they sound great from what i've heard.

Runt (1970)
Runt: The Ballad of Todd Rundgren (1971)
Something/Anything? (1972)
A Wizard, a True Star (1973)
Todd (1974)
Faithful (1976)
Hermit of Mink Hollow (1978)
Back to the Bars (1978)
Healing (1981)
The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect (1983)
Liars (2004)

When the suns out Something/Anything is one of those perfect albums. It's not one I tend to slip on in the winter though. I'm a bit like that when it comes to music. Like Joy Division sound shit when you're drinking cocktails at a poolside bar.

I have to be in the mood for it. Sometimes it feels a little too light and breezy. But it's a fine album.

"I have lied, i have begged and i have cheated, and i know my ship won't be coming in, as i lay me down to take my rest, i see that it's just dust in the wind"

ha ha ha ha ha, i want to live in Topanga canyon in California, it looks pretty ummmmm Far Out Man.

I thought you wanted to go to Hawaii

MMM Topanga's canyons


I have never heard any Todd Rundgren record all the way through.
How can this be a classic?
I thought classics were accepted by ALL!!!!
Let's talk about REAL classic records.

piss off rob

yeah there too, i will move around a bit i think, i also want to live in Portland Seattle and Manhattan

Rob - No classic is accepted by EVERYONE. Shit, I even know some people who don't rate Duran Duran's Rio album.

Rio! Hilarious.

I was just saying, that for the purposes of a thread on a forum of music afficionados, it would help if the "classic" album was one actually considered a "classic" by more than just Todd Rundgren fans.

piss off rob

you did not like Topanga Canyon?

piss off rob

Quite right. Why limit yourself?

Yeah, rob. Piss off.