Robin (Your Daily Dose)
I have been hitching a ride on their bandwagon, at least until I run out of covers of Todd Rundgren songs.
This one is probably going to be a "new" song to most regular readers.
By 1985, tensions in the band were driving Utopia apart, although the P.O.V. album and subsequent co-headlining tour with The Tubes would prove to be a fan favorite, as well as the bands' swan song.
"Mated" was released as a single that (big surprise) did not generate much airplay, although it would remain a staple of Rundgren's concerts for the next few decades.
In fact, I was unable to find a studio version of the song, so I am posting a live version from the Nearly Human tour.
I have been hitching a ride on their bandwagon, at least until I run out of covers of Todd Rundgren songs.
This one is probably going to be a "new" song to most regular readers.
By 1985, tensions in the band were driving Utopia apart, although the P.O.V. album and subsequent co-headlining tour with The Tubes would prove to be a fan favorite, as well as the bands' swan song.
"Mated" was released as a single that (big surprise) did not generate much airplay, although it would remain a staple of Rundgren's concerts for the next few decades.
In fact, I was unable to find a studio version of the song, so I am posting a live version from the Nearly Human tour.
TODD RUNDGREN-MATED (Live Version)
British singer Jaki Graham scored a top 20 UK single, in a duet with David Grant on the song later that year.
DAVID GRANT AND JAKI GRAHAM-MATED
You can probably guess my vote-who gets yours?
I don't recall ever hearing this song before but it's a good one. In the vein of classic Rundgren.
ReplyDeleteThe Brit duet is nice in a mid-80s kind of way. I've got a lot of albums from that era with that same kind of sound. Brings back memories.
But of course Todd wins again. He writes good songs and he knows how to sing them. The live version is great.
Lee
Tossing It Out
I wish I could figure out how to attach my own sound clips to the blog, Lee-I think the studio version is a great recording (although the background singers in the live version are kinda cute).
DeleteIncidentally, when the Nearly Human tour rolled through Philly, for the last (gospel-flavored)song fans were able to get up on stage and dance...guess who made a beeline to dance next to Jenni Muldaur (singer on the far left)?
LC
Oh man. That hair. Rundgren's is not as bad, but that second video is just bad hair galore. I wonder - did anyone in the eighties have a good hairstyle?
ReplyDelete(As a child of the eighties I can tell you... I sure didn't)
My vote is for Todd, if only because I like it better without the heavy 80s pop sound to it.
Bryan-be glad you don't remember the seventies hair styles....white guys with afro's....I shudder to think of it!
DeleteThe studio version from Utopia was a little more 80's sounding (mainly the production) than the live version, but nowhere near as heavy handed as the cover version.
So I do not think the live version is so misleading that it swayed your vote...
LC
Never heard this song either. The Grant'n'Graham version is ok, but that eighties production just overpowers the song.
ReplyDeleteI think it works so much better more understated, and with the slower beat that Todd does it in live.
So Todd for me also.
Chris-
DeleteAs I mnetioned to Bryan, in the interest of full disclosure I must admit that Utopia's studio version had an 80's production sound, although not as heavy handed as a couple of their other tunes (the "Crybaby" single, for example) and nowhere near as pronounced as the cover version.
Had I been able to find the studio version I'd have posted that....but I think the live version is a pretty fair representation-it is a definite "Todd" ballad.
LC
Sorry. The sax intro on Todd's version was reeeeeally nice, and I enjoyed his version, but I'm voting for the duet. I love their silky smooth voices.
ReplyDeleteAw, you're just sick of Todd Rundgren songs!
DeleteI wonder how you would have liked the studio version....although the sax is synthesized on that one.
It's harder for me to go against TR because I got this album the day it came out and had the song memorized long before the cover version was released.
I've actually tried to collect cover versions of TR songs over the years but have never seen theirs on a CD.
LC
I like the original better, but since I've been watching The Voice (I know, I'm lame), I have to say that I appreciate how David Grant and Jaki Graham put their own twist on it.
ReplyDeleteI saw one episode of the voice this year-was a little confused. I was flicking channels and saw E.G. Daily (who I have had a crush on since "Streets Of Fire")...but was she actually a contestant? I couldn't follow that, and watched the next week's episode and did not see her.
DeleteI'm not a reality show fan, but I am certainly in the minority, and it's probably no more lame than me watching "Supernatural."
LC
I'm going with Arlee, Bryan, and Chris on this. Raw beats slick.
ReplyDeleteCW-funbny hearing TR described as "raw" but I think that's the live performance. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, while the studio track has all of the hallmarks of a Rundgren production, it also has all of the qualities of a Rundgren ballad, and I think the votes would have gone the same way.
DeleteLC
The cover version was too slick, too glossy for my tastes. Plus, it had that "show-off-my-voice" quality to it that I rarely go for (sometimes less really is more).
ReplyDeleteI was unfamiliar with the song, but I liked Todd Rugrat's vocals. (Can't say the same about THOSE PANTS he was wearing - but they were better'n No Pants! Sheesh! Didn't the guy have a full-length mirror in his dressing room?)
Todd's approach on this very much has that 'Nearly Human' album sound to it. It was a nice, pleasant song.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Stephen-the studio track is more of a Utopia sound, but still clearly a TR ballad-and those PANTS had a JACKET to match that he'd taken off by that point in the show!
DeleteLC
I love 80s music. Honestly, I love everything about it. It is what I grew up on. So, that "eighties production" is actually appealing. I had never heard this song before today. I am going to risk getting blackballed from this blog and vote against Todd. I like the 80s duet:)
ReplyDeletein my best Brando voice
DeleteRobin-don't ever go against the family again!
LC
I haven't forgotten about you. I can't get the videos to load. I'll be back tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteFINALLY! It's not you it's me (ever heard that before?). Anyway...the second version is slick, overproduced, over acted and has no soul. Once again I gotta go with Todd.
ReplyDeleteNow, I know every BATTLE you post is gonna be Todd up against someone else, so tell me when are you gonna post something that even comes close to the original. I never thought of myself as a major TR fan, but when you put his music up against the imposters - nobody does it better. That is not true of all recording artists.
These days, I hear "it's not you it's me" when I ask for a first date!
DeleteOne of the reasons I post several versions when they are available is to give more perspective (even though I know it's a lot to listen to).
It seems like the covers that have done best do not stray too far from the Rundgren vision.
England Dan and John Ford Coley, for example, just added a couple of touches to the arrangement of "Love Is The Answer" and won a lot of people over.
If it makes you feel any better, I'm getting close to running out of Todd songs with cover versions (I think February 1 is my last one).
Actually, that makes me feel kind of sad.
Delete