Since CD sales have tanked, it seems like record labels have one last marketing ploy up their sleeve to sell us, yet again, those things we have already purchased multiple times, and that is the complete artist catalog in a box set.
Todd Rundgren has never really been given a rarities box set, and he once made the comment that there was not much in the vaults, but I could easily compile a multi disc set between outtakes, the other producer mixes and special mixes from his No World Order experiment, and live covers of other artists' songs.
No luck there, but Rhino recently released a box set of Todd's catalog from his tenure with Bearsville. Entitled "The Complete Bearsville Album Collection" (oddly enough!), it is eleven albums over thirteen CD's all housed in cardboard record style sleeves and placed in a clamshell box.
Now there are some who have purchased Todd's catalog several times over (original records, casettes for the car, Rhino reissues, Rhino CD issues, Japanese LP replicas, UK reissues with bonus tracks, the Japanses Bearsville Box from the 90's, the Friday music 180g LP reissues...ya know, you may have a problem.
For anyone who falls into that category (and I am not admitting a damn thing), there is nothing new here for you.
However, for fans, this is an easy way to get most of his key releases (sadly, the two excellent Warner label efforts from 1989 and 1991 are not here and are essential!) at a smoking bargain!
Add to that that some of the discs are hard to find (especially the excellent Healing), and this is pretty much a no brainer.
What are you waiting for?
Why are you still here?
Back in the day, Todd's first solo hit came under fire from women's groups due to the lines "Talking 'bout feelings for that special one/They may be stupid but they sure are fun."
I recently got an earful from a lady friend trying to make the same case.
Todd has explained that the 'feelings' were the object of the pronoun, not women.
All you have to do is read some of Todd's other lyrics to understand how stilly the criticism is.
I guess criticism may be stupid but it sure is fun.
From the healing album (actually from a bonus 45 back in the licorice pizza days), this video had the distinction of being the second one ever played on MTV, after Video Killed The Radio Star.
also from Healing
