Thursday March 24, 2022 “Hello It’s Me” Todd Rundgren
How many thousands of telephone conversations begin with these exact words, ‘hello it’s me…’
Today’s song “Hello It’s Me” was originally included on Todd Rundgren’s first group Nazz’ first album recorded in 1967 but it just didn’t chart. It would however be a top ten song when Rundgren did his solo version of the same song on his 1972 solo album Something/Anything.
During the '70s and '80s Todd Rundgren maintained a relentless work schedule releasing up to two albums a year either as a solo artist or with his band Utopia, while producing acclaimed, successful records for artists as diverse as Badfinger, Meat Loaf, Grand Funk Railroad, the New York Dolls, and XTC.
In 1970 Rundgren formed a band called Runt. In reality, Runt was little more than a front for his burgeoning solo career. Operating out of the Woodstock NY Bearsville Studios he played all of the instruments except drums and bass, which were usually handled by brothers Hunt and Tony Sales, sons of famous TV comedian Soupy Sales.
Rundgren would also become a pioneer not only in electronic music and progressive rock, but in music video, computer software, and Internet music delivery well before other artists.
OK, maybe you’re wondering just what the heck Steven Tyler is doing in this Tod Rundgren video. Rundgren began a relationship with model Bebe Buell (featured in the video) in 1972 who gave birth to a daughter Liv. Todd and Buell would separate but Rundgren would remain committed to Liv, put her through private school and would visit her often. At age eleven Liv discovered that her biological father was Steven Tyler.
Stay safe and well…and the greeting ’hello it’s me…’ has become somewhat historical because with caller ID whoever you are calling already knows it’s you.