WHAT A GREAT TIME TO BE A TEENAGER. GREAT TIMES, GREAT MUSIC, GREAT HAPPINESS AND GREAT SADNESS SOMETIMES. HIS SONGS ARE THE SONGS OF A GENERATION OF US. HE BROUGHT US THROUGH IT ALL.
I was listening to Todd and I thought I’m gonna watch how other people react to his music because I saw him in concert 40 years ago and he’s one of my favorite singers. I loved your reaction but also when you broke down the lines “I take for granted That you’re always there“ you breaking down the line about what your grandmother said was a beautiful piece of knowledge for me and I thank you.
Ashley-the outfit was a last minute backstage costume gag. Channeling the “glam”period of Bowie-T Rex-NY Dolls. Great selection! Rundgren is a genius, even more so as a producer. Product of the North Philly “blue-eyed soul” sound (see Daryl Hall of Hall and Oates, etc). Oh, and Midnight Special shows were all LIVE, no lip synching allowed!
Well, while Todd did sing and play piano live on this song (to a backing track of all of the other instruments and vocals of the studio version of this song) on the Midnight Special, in this particular video shown here, the person who created this particular video put the video of the Midnight Special performance with the audio of the studio version of the song. You can watch the actual "Midnight Special" performance elsewhere and hear the difference.
Not on this song. He played all the instruments on the first three sides of this double album. The fourth side, where this song resided, was played by a band.
Actually, No; Todd did not play all the instruments on this cut. True, for many of the other songs on Something/Anything he played everything himself, but this one has a great many (other) musicians -- Moogy Klingman on keyboards, and --- are you deaf? -- all those brass players, which included the Brecker Brothers, as well as those tasty FEMALE backing vocals. Come on, use your ears.
Todd wrote that song about his high school girlfriend she brought him home to meet the parents they said no way he was a long hair so he wrote a song a year later big hit😊
Love Todd Rundgren! From Upper Darby Pa., right outside of Philadelphia! A stones throw from where I live. This song is a bonified classic. The Isley Brothers covered this and put their soulfully killer spin on it! You should check this one out next!
This track was originally released by the group Nazz which Todd was a member. I recall hearing this song at a friends apartment while I was stationed in Germany back in 1968. This song brings back a lot of memories from.... back in the day. Take care...
From your thumbnail, I completely thought that this was a new song that I have never heard before. But as soon as those first notes hit, I realized that I know this song and have loved it since I first heard it. I appreciate your reaction to a song that has been around for a long time and that you enjoyed the song and especially dissecting the lyrical meanings. New subscriber as of NOW!
Todd was really out in the front of things. He wrote some great songs and pioneered lots of studio techniques with his music. Good stuff! Thanks for sharing this one. It went down on the Midnight Special! 🙂
I met Todd in 1973 at the old Max's Kansas City here in NYC. He was gracious enough to give me his autograph although he was clearly preoccupied by the two lovely ladies he was with. He was clearly living in the area at the time. This song was a big hit on alternative radio at the time and it was a thrill to meet where the true alternative R&R-ers and a varied selection of celebrities gathered such as Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Andy Warhol, Mapplethorpe, Jane Fonda, all of the Warhol tribe etc. The walls were covered in art work by Warhol, Frank Stella etc. How I ever got in there I don't know, because they usually kept riff raff like me out. Todd also wrote the classic hit song "(I Don't Want To Work) Bang The Drum All Day". Give that a listen.
I grew up in the seventies and eighties. I don't remember hearing this song until a few years ago. I can't remember if I heard it first on the radio or from an episode of "That 70's Show". I just know that I really liked. It gives you that really feel good seventies vibe.
I'm just gonna write this down before I watch the video. This song has so many effects on me, for some reason! I feel extremely nostalgic when I listen to it and it gets me reminiscing on past relationships, or just love in general, because I've moved on from those relationships. Or maybe I just get too much into the lyrics and I really understand what is being said. It's an amazing song but I can never listen to it without getting extremely nostalgic.
How is this the first time I’ve run across any of your reactions!? Really enjoyed you. Todd is amazing. It’s really shocking that he just recently made it into the hall of fame.
Ash Todd wrote this song when he was 17 yrs old about a girlfriend whose father made her break up with Todd cause he had long hair. Was first recorded in 1968 with his band The Nazz. It was a slower tempo. He rerecorded it at a midtempo pace for his 1972 double album Something/Anything. It reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
I am on You Tube Premium and just happened to see this and have always like Todd Rundgren. I'm 70 and I just looked - Todd turned 76 on June 22 and I also thought I might have an album of him - well, it's one from a band he was in UTOPIA and there is a song on there that I think you'd like - I may not have listened to the album in 40 years! But "Love is the Answer" by UTOPIA is, I think, a classic. I may have to play this album! I'm glad you did this and especially glad that you liked it. In looking for this album, I also saw Rick Derringer's ALL AMERICAN BOY and Donna Summer's GREATEST HITS - VOLUME TWO with MacArthur Park and Hot Stuff - the first 2 tracks - WOW! Geez, Ashley, you've sent up the musical fireworks this July 4th - how cool!
Have you seen this video on TH-cam of a live performance of Love is the Answer? It is my favorite of his, it’s so good! Check it out - th-cam.com/video/-6uSwhdfbBY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=nL8KHeRr6r_7ExZJ
This song was GIGANTIC when it came out. Perhaps if Todd Rundgren had been a little more conservative with his appearance he might have been even bigger!
Todd recorded and played all the instruments for this cut. Also he was the stand in Father to Liv Tyler (actress) because Steven Tyler wasn't fit to parent back in the day. Great great song...
Todd did not play all the instruments on this song. Something/Anything was a double album , Todd played everything on the first 3 sides. The fourth side , which has this song , was played with members of his band Utopia.
Todd Rundren is a great musician who founded The Nazz - which made a sound a bit like "American Beatles" - they had many great albums - interesting titles: Under The Ice, I wanted to write you a beautiful song (like in the movies).
Todd is a great artist,producer, and performer, you should react to another hit he made called "i sew the light" thanks, i just subscribed ,great channel!
Ashley thank you for playing Hello It’s Me by my favorite artist, Todd Rundgren. Do you want to know how cool Todd is with his fans. Over 400 of us went out Kauai to celebrate his 75 birthday last year. I was one of the lucky ones who decided to camp out and found out I’d have my tent with few others camping out Todd’s backyard! Yes that’s how cool Todd and his, wife, Michele are. Here’s some Philly soul coming at you Ashley! Was Todd the first white performer to do a, Motown Medley? It’s a total gem. Enjoy th-cam.com/video/K_RMflWvxCQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=3dTJdOWlAWwbTfzH
7:57 Would love to see you do "yes we can" by pointer sisters and "it's to late to turn back now" by the cornelius brothers and sister rose. Don't forget, 60' s and 70's were time of high racial tension in our country, you can hear it in many of the voices of the motown singers. "Oh oh child" by 5 stair steps is another great one.
There is no facet of music-making process that Todd isn't good at, from song writing, singing, a multi-instrumentalist, arrangement, production and ... computer programming. One of Rock's true stars both on stage and behind the scenes. In this video, Todd is in his 1973 Glam Rock guise, similar to David Bowie at the time and the band, Wizard, see their videos, "See My Baby Jive" 1973 and "Angel Fingers" 1973. I think I've seen a couple of videos of yours Ashley .... my god you're beautiful, if I may say so. Cheers, Ma'am.
According to the list of background vocalist for this song , Stevie is not on thid song. Female background vocalist were - Hope Ruff , Vicki Robinson & Cecilla Norfleet.
I think Stevie Nicks was singing background vocals (along with Hall & Oates) on the live version of "Hello, It's Me" from the "Back To The Bars" album.
He's got owl feathers on his eyebrows. Don't know why. He has produced many other artists including the Psychedelic furs and He raised Liv Tyler for Steven Tyler while he was off doing his Aerosmith crap.
Great song. Not the best version though. It doesn't include the studio chatter in the beginning with a couple of 'false starts' before getting into it. It also cut off the interesting outro of the song. As for the video, the early 70s had a 'glam rock' thing going on with some performers getting on board with wild outfits. T Rex, David Bowie, Elton John were some standouts with all that.
Around the time Todd recorded this, he was dating the November 1972 Playboy Playmate, Bebe Buell. She was cheating on him with Steven Tyler (of Aerosmith), she got Pregnant and gave birth to a Daughter, Actress Liv Tyler!
Yep, as previously said, Todd's a legend, but, for most people he is a legendary nutcase for sure. Had a great talent but would not sing ballads and make hits. I loved his early stuff but then he had to "express" himself; oh well.
The song was initially done by the group Nazz…Todd Rungren was a member of that group and wrote this…he later released it as a solo artist and it hit big. The Isley’s covered it after (and killed it, as they did with so many cover songs).
Most of my life I thought that the Isley Brothers did the song, but a few years ago I realized that Todd wrote this song. It's different, but I love his rendition. Beautiful!
WHAT A GREAT TIME TO BE A TEENAGER.
GREAT TIMES, GREAT MUSIC, GREAT HAPPINESS AND GREAT SADNESS SOMETIMES.
HIS SONGS ARE THE SONGS OF A GENERATION OF US. HE BROUGHT US THROUGH IT ALL.
Brilliant songwriter, had just as successful career as a producer. One of my favorite artists of all time.
I was listening to Todd and I thought I’m gonna watch how other people react to his music because I saw him in concert 40 years ago and he’s one of my favorite singers. I loved your reaction but also when you broke down the lines “I take for granted That you’re always there“ you breaking down the line about what your grandmother said was a beautiful piece of knowledge for me and I thank you.
Hope I'm not over doing this but We were truly privileged to grow up in an era of such talented musicians and therefore great music. Blessings. 😊
Vintage classic rock 🪨 ❤my high school days
The Isley Brothers did a cover of this that was also fire. Depends on what you're in the mood for which determines which one you listen to that day.
It depends on which one your favorite is.
I like both The Isley Brothers and Todd Rundgren's versions.
The Isleys are them dudes. Shoutout to Ernie Isley
Literally my favorite song from the 70s!
It's so neat to see you youngsters discovering these time hidden gems. 😊
This is in my top 5 favorite songs of the 70s. The Isley Brothers also did this song and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it also still to this day🤗😍
One of my favorite songs! I still listen to this today.
Absolutely
Nice reaction to Todd. He has a great catalog of music. One of my favorite songs is Can We Still Be Friends.
Great AM radio Song by Todd in the 70's. 🎤🎤🎶🎶💯💯✅✅🎵🎵
todd is a musical genius! he refused to play the music execs games. ( just put out pop music) and was still prolific!
So wonderful to watch the reaction for someone hearing this for the first time.
Anything the Isley brothers cover is a great song.
One of my old time favorites. So happy you have chosen to listen to it. I think one of the Classics. Blessings to you. 😊 ❤
Ashley-the outfit was a last minute backstage costume gag. Channeling the “glam”period of Bowie-T Rex-NY Dolls. Great selection! Rundgren is a genius, even more so as a producer. Product of the North Philly “blue-eyed soul” sound (see Daryl Hall of Hall and Oates, etc). Oh, and Midnight Special shows were all LIVE, no lip synching allowed!
Well, while Todd did sing and play piano live on this song (to a backing track of all of the other instruments and vocals of the studio version of this song) on the Midnight Special, in this particular video shown here, the person who created this particular video put the video of the Midnight Special performance with the audio of the studio version of the song. You can watch the actual "Midnight Special" performance elsewhere and hear the difference.
My favorite song ever
This song delights my heart from the very beginning.
Never heard of this guy but I got a playlist for this song...nice little groove
I have seen this man LIVE over 100 times. His latest tour ME/WE is absolutely amazing!!
He plays all the instruments on this song.
Not on this song. He played all the instruments on the first three sides of this double album. The fourth side, where this song resided, was played by a band.
Actually, No; Todd did not play all the instruments on this cut. True, for many of the other songs on Something/Anything he played everything himself, but this one has a great many (other) musicians -- Moogy Klingman on keyboards, and --- are you deaf? -- all those brass players, which included the Brecker Brothers, as well as those tasty FEMALE backing vocals. Come on, use your ears.
Todd wrote that song about his high school girlfriend she brought him home to meet the parents they said no way he was a long hair so he wrote a song a year later big hit😊
He is one of the greats from Philly.
Never knew he was from Philly. Thanks for the info
Your Grandma is Very Wise !!! Love Your Reactions Ashley
That's a freaking classic little sister I'm glad you like it😊
Never judge a book by its cover.This man sounds so good HE has dome beautiful songs.
Love Todd Rundgren! From Upper Darby Pa., right outside of Philadelphia! A stones throw from where I live. This song is a bonified classic. The Isley Brothers covered this and put their soulfully killer spin on it! You should check this one out next!
I Saw The Light and A Dream Goes On Forever are also great songs by him.
A Dream Goes On Forever is one of my all-time favorite songs by anyone.
I saw this quote, a love song that never mentions the word 'love'..
Now you have to hear the Isley Brothers spin on this incredible song.I love both versions of this song.
This track was originally released by the group Nazz which Todd was a member. I recall hearing this song at a friends apartment while I was stationed in Germany back in 1968. This song brings back a lot of memories from.... back in the day. Take care...
So underrated!!!!
From your thumbnail, I completely thought that this was a new song that I have never heard before. But as soon as those first notes hit, I realized that I know this song and have loved it since I first heard it. I appreciate your reaction to a song that has been around for a long time and that you enjoyed the song and especially dissecting the lyrical meanings. New subscriber as of NOW!
Now you got to listen to the Isley Brother's version.
Todd was really out in the front of things. He wrote some great songs and pioneered lots of studio techniques with his music. Good stuff! Thanks for sharing this one. It went down on the Midnight Special! 🙂
I met Todd in 1973 at the old Max's Kansas City here in NYC. He was gracious enough to give me his autograph although he was clearly preoccupied by the two lovely ladies he was with. He was clearly living in the area at the time. This song was a big hit on alternative radio at the time and it was a thrill to meet where the true alternative R&R-ers and a varied selection of celebrities gathered such as Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Andy Warhol, Mapplethorpe, Jane Fonda, all of the Warhol tribe etc. The walls were covered in art work by Warhol, Frank Stella etc. How I ever got in there I don't know, because they usually kept riff raff like me out. Todd also wrote the classic hit song "(I Don't Want To Work) Bang The Drum All Day". Give that a listen.
🫡 This is by far my favorite song and your reaction to it is 🧑🍳💋!!
Hey Girl, I love that you use a pen and paper to take notes - for some reason that warms my heart. Much Love to you.
I grew up in the seventies and eighties. I don't remember hearing this song until a few years ago. I can't remember if I heard it first on the radio
or from an episode of "That 70's Show". I just know that I really liked. It gives you that really feel good seventies vibe.
I'm just gonna write this down before I watch the video.
This song has so many effects on me, for some reason! I feel extremely nostalgic when I listen to it and it gets me reminiscing on past relationships, or just love in general, because I've moved on from those relationships. Or maybe I just get too much into the lyrics and I really understand what is being said.
It's an amazing song but I can never listen to it without getting extremely nostalgic.
How is this the first time I’ve run across any of your reactions!? Really enjoyed you. Todd is amazing. It’s really shocking that he just recently made it into the hall of fame.
mothers Finest!!!
The only producer with the balls to produce Jim and Meatloaf
Blue eyed soul 💙
Ash Todd wrote this song when he was 17 yrs old about a girlfriend whose father made her break up with Todd cause he had long hair. Was first recorded in 1968 with his band The Nazz. It was a slower tempo. He rerecorded it at a midtempo pace for his 1972 double album Something/Anything. It reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Apreciate the info man. Thanks
Apparently she wasn't important to him, since he wouldn't cut his hair for her.
I am on You Tube Premium and just happened to see this and have always like Todd Rundgren. I'm 70 and I just looked - Todd turned 76 on June 22 and I also thought I might have an album of him - well, it's one from a band he was in UTOPIA and there is a song on there that I think you'd like - I may not have listened to the album in 40 years! But "Love is the Answer" by UTOPIA is, I think, a classic. I may have to play this album! I'm glad you did this and especially glad that you liked it. In looking for this album, I also saw Rick Derringer's ALL AMERICAN BOY and Donna Summer's GREATEST HITS - VOLUME TWO with MacArthur Park and Hot Stuff - the first 2 tracks - WOW! Geez, Ashley, you've sent up the musical fireworks this July 4th - how cool!
Have you seen this video on TH-cam of a live performance of Love is the Answer? It is my favorite of his, it’s so good! Check it out - th-cam.com/video/-6uSwhdfbBY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=nL8KHeRr6r_7ExZJ
Todd’s a legend
This song was GIGANTIC when it came out. Perhaps if Todd Rundgren had been a little more conservative with his appearance he might have been even bigger!
Yeah that was my boy🎉
Todd recorded and played all the instruments for this cut. Also he was the stand in Father to Liv Tyler (actress) because Steven Tyler wasn't fit to parent back in the day. Great great song...
Todd did not play all the instruments on this song. Something/Anything was a double album , Todd played everything on the first 3 sides. The fourth side , which has this song , was played with members of his band Utopia.
@@rogerdaly6326 appreciate the facts thank you
Todd Rundren is a great musician who founded The Nazz - which made a sound a bit like "American Beatles" - they had many great albums - interesting titles: Under The Ice, I wanted to write you a beautiful song (like in the movies).
Miss Ashley, when you put your hand on your hip, I know you mean business! 😎❤
YES SIR!!!!!!
Todd is a great artist,producer, and performer, you should react to another hit he made called "i sew the light" thanks, i just subscribed ,great channel!
I have never seen this performance before. Over 50 years ago. Do you know he’s still touring. He looks so normal now, lol
Love your reactions.....Two Occassions by The Deele, Please.
Check out I Saw The Light by him.
Ashley thank you for playing Hello It’s Me by my favorite artist, Todd Rundgren. Do you want to know how cool Todd is with his fans. Over 400 of us went out Kauai to celebrate his 75 birthday last year. I was one of the lucky ones who decided to camp out and found out I’d have my tent with few others camping out Todd’s backyard! Yes that’s how cool Todd and his, wife, Michele are. Here’s some Philly soul coming at you Ashley! Was Todd the first white performer to do a, Motown Medley? It’s a total gem. Enjoy th-cam.com/video/K_RMflWvxCQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=3dTJdOWlAWwbTfzH
The original
Sweet Philly Soul ❤
a great talent !
Good Selection I'm from the Lehigh Valley PA. This was the sound back in the Day!!!
I always love this song never knew who sang it but it always made me think
7:57 Would love to see you do "yes we can" by pointer sisters and "it's to late to turn back now" by the cornelius brothers and sister rose. Don't forget, 60' s and 70's were time of high racial tension in our country, you can hear it in many of the voices of the motown singers. "Oh oh child" by 5 stair steps is another great one.
One of my favorite artists of all time. His early albums are masterpieces. Check out I Saw The Light. I know you'll love it!!!
There is no facet of music-making process that Todd isn't good at, from song writing, singing, a multi-instrumentalist, arrangement, production and ... computer programming. One of Rock's true stars both on stage and behind the scenes. In this video, Todd is in his 1973 Glam Rock guise, similar to David Bowie at the time and the band, Wizard, see their videos, "See My Baby Jive" 1973 and "Angel Fingers" 1973. I think I've seen a couple of videos of yours Ashley .... my god you're beautiful, if I may say so. Cheers, Ma'am.
Did anyone mention that its is Stevie Nicks chanting "think of me" at the fade?
According to the list of background vocalist for this song , Stevie is not on thid song. Female background vocalist were - Hope Ruff , Vicki Robinson & Cecilla Norfleet.
I think Stevie Nicks was singing background vocals (along with Hall & Oates) on the live version of "Hello, It's Me" from the "Back To The Bars" album.
You should check out the isley brothers Soul Version {Love Both} ..
His group Nazz has a nice version of this also
You gotta do New Life song Wish you were here it's a lover boy song you will love.
Todd made a career off of this one song!
Ashley, check out Todd Rundgren’s cover of The Beatles song Something.
Dope review. Check out The Isley’s Brother’s version of this song. Well worth the review.
I like that cardigan.
He's on The Midnight Special, I think. This is that Glam Rock era
☮️❤️🙏🌍🌎🌏🇺🇸❤️☮️
I’ve always loved this song …but I’ve never seen Todd in his Icarus costume 🤔
He's got owl feathers on his eyebrows. Don't know why. He has produced many other artists including the Psychedelic furs and He raised Liv Tyler for Steven Tyler while he was off doing his Aerosmith crap.
Great song. Not the best version though. It doesn't include the studio chatter in the beginning with a couple of 'false starts' before getting into it. It also cut off the interesting outro of the song. As for the video, the early 70s had a 'glam rock' thing going on with some performers getting on board with wild outfits. T Rex, David Bowie, Elton John were some standouts with all that.
Todd’s biggest claim to fame may be the fact that he produced the legendary album “Bat Out Of Hell” by Meatloaf
Around the time Todd recorded this, he was dating the November 1972 Playboy Playmate, Bebe Buell. She was cheating on him with Steven Tyler (of Aerosmith), she got Pregnant and gave birth to a Daughter, Actress Liv Tyler!
Ashley you look like you're angry! lighten up little sis
Yep, as previously said, Todd's a legend, but, for most people he is a legendary nutcase for sure. Had a great talent but would not sing ballads and make hits. I loved his early stuff but then he had to "express" himself; oh well.
I would love to see Lady GaGa do this cover in the same vain live. Nothing to be gained in a studio.
That’s the Isley brothers song.
Isley Brothers is a cover a year later - of course everything sound great with Isley's artistry
The song was initially done by the group Nazz…Todd Rungren was a member of that group and wrote this…he later released it as a solo artist and it hit big. The Isley’s covered it after (and killed it, as they did with so many cover songs).
Oh yeah…almost forgot…if you haven’t heard Erykah Badu’s reworking of this with a song called “Hello” featuring Andre 3000…it’s a must hear.😊
Most of my life I thought that the Isley Brothers did the song, but a few years ago I realized that Todd wrote this song. It's different, but I love his rendition. Beautiful!