It also shows off Rundgren's best instrument: His mind, which allows each of these songs to contain passion, sensitivity and intelligence. Listeners who understand that will enjoy this collection, and be tempted to seek out Rundgren's more adventurous experimental work.


Always Something Missing...   March 22, 2001
R. Prescott (Blackfoot, Idaho USA)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful

Let's face it...Todd Rundgren is one of the most unsung hero/genius musicians of the last 40 years. He was uneven in his releases and often spent time producing/promoting and working with other bands while his music went on the back burner. While I think this is probably the closest you'll come to a good cross section of his music/career, the obvious omission of "Time Heals" and/or some of the other cuts from the album "Healing" leave me thinking that the title of this album is an obvious lie and should not be taken seriously. "Time Heals" was probably the single best piece of music he did during his career. And "Healing" was probably his single best album, far surpassing the classic "Something/Anything" which I grew up with and loved. I have loved, revered and adored this man from the first time I ever heard any thing of his or anything of anyone elses that he had his finger in. His unfearing exploration of different styles and subject matter in his career shows the genius and versatility he possesses. If it were up to me... I'd just buy "Something/Anything" and "Healing". You could really call them "The Best Of Todd Rundgren" but, even then you'd Always Be Missing Something. I am sorely dissappointed in the omission of "Time Heals" Sometimes I think they should actually poll fans to find out what they would include in some of these so called "Greatest Hits" or "Best Of" collections as it seems to me that they always leave one, two or three things out that really HAVE to be there for a collection to be labled as such. THIS HOWEVER IS A GREAT CROSS SECTION OF HIS WORK AND WORTH THE PURCHASE PRICE OF ADMISSION! This will give you a good idea of his genius and creativity.


A fine overview of a multitalent   December 6, 2006
Ludwig J. Pluralist (Beacon, NY USA)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

There is no doubt in my mind that Todd Rundgren, whose career has spanned from late 60s British Invasion/Beatlesque pop, through both the glittery and the singer-songwriter 70s, and then through the 80s new wave and beyond (and now, giving new life to a long defunct band, i.e., the Cars), is a great talent. And one of his sharpest talents has to do with his ability to craft a pure pop tune, that is, to tell a story or to express a basic human sentiment in music, and to do so in a hook filled way. Is it any wonder that so many of his songs are considered classics? Rundgren's been widely covered, by artists as wide ranging as Jules Shear, Robert Palmer, The Isley Brothers (check out their smooth, soulful take on "Hello it's me"), Mitch Easter, Billy Bragg, Joe Walsh, as well as the Manhattan Transfer, Johnny Mathis and Mandy Moore. His song The Want of a Nail is a highlight of the recent indie musical "Camp." I also once heard the band Yo La Tengo do a stellar version of I Saw the Light, accompanied by cello, and it was great.

This, then, offers a fine overview of a multi talented songrwriter-arranger-performer. It contains a number of well known classic American melodic rock tunes, songs which will ring in your ears for hours, or even days, afterward. It sets a standard for what good music might be, in sharp contrast to the plethora of commercial garbage currently on the charts.

As others have suggested in their reviews, there is much more that could have been included. But this is probably meant to be a starting point for checking out Todd Rundgren (not to mention his band Utopia). In that, this CD accomplished its task.