Those who follow this blog know that I sometimes listen to
an artist named Todd Rundgren. Most
people either say “Todd who?” or know of his Billboard #5 hit “Hello It’s Me.”
The song was originally recorded by The Nazz, the band that
brought Rundgren national attention (if not fame). I’d have said his first
band, but his first band, Woody’s Truck Stop, did release a record, so the Nazz
would be his second band.
Rundgren later recorded "his" version of the song for 1972's Something/Anything? lp, and that version got all the airplay and became his signature hit.
He also recorded a bossa-nova version of the tune on 1997's With A Twist.
The song also has made some appearances in our pop culture:
( (1)
In the ending to the pilot of the Fox sitcom
That '70s Show, Eric and the gang joyfully sing this in the car while on their
way to a Todd Rundgren concert.
( (2)
Paul Giamatti's character in the 2000 film Duets
performs this song in a karaoke bar
( (3)
The single was used in a 2009 Tums television advertisement
The song has also been covered by other artists quite a few
times:
( (1)
The Isley Brothers for their 1974 album Live It
Up
( (2)
Groove Theory for their 1995 self-titled album
( (3)
Mary J. Blige for the Japanese and iTunes
editions of her 2007 album Growing Pains
( (4)
Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs on their album
Under the Covers, Vol. 2
( (5)
Lani Hall (Herb Alpert's wife) on her album titled Hello It's Me in 1975
( (6)
Gerald Levert recorded a cover with Lil' Mo on
the soundtrack for the movie The Mod Squad
( (7)
John Legend (who thought the song was written by
the Isley Brothers) on a Gap-sponsored disc called Favorite Songs
( (8)
The Grip Weeds on the album Strange Change
Machine in 2010.
Anyway, since it seems like they’ll let anyone play Battle
Of The Bands, I thought I’d throw out an entry, and me being me, don’tcha know
it’s going to be a Todd Rundgren song?
And I am going to cheat a little-and put THREE versions of the
song out there!
First, the original version by The Nazz
Next, the Todd Rundgren solo version
And finally, the version by The Isley Brothers
I lied....here's the Matthew Sweet and Susannah Hoffs version-so there are FOUR versions of the song to choose from!
Now, I am sure I have broken the rules that the BOTB founders put out there, but since this is an unofficial post, I can get away with it.
The REAL Battle Of The Bands sites are:
Robin (Your Daily Dose)
They post on the first and fifteenth of the month and have a cool contest going on where you can win free CD's and a dream date with your choice of Brad Pitt or Kate Upton.
OK, I may have made the last part up. But go check out their blogs and vote.
Ya can't win if ya don't play!
