TICKETS TORN IN HALF: Two Nights of TODD RUNDGREN-Two Years Apart.(1973/1975)

TICKETS TORN IN HALF: Two Nights of TODD-Two Years Apart.(1973/1975)

August 25,1973:TODD RUNDGREN-SONS OF 1984@ Wollman Rink in Central Park: We had our blood test for our marriage license in the morning then got on the train with my brother and his date for a free afternoon show (for a limited audience) to assist as a chorus in the recording of a new TODD tune entitled “ SONS OF 1984”  which would be on TODD’S next album. Upon arrival to Wollman Rink, an outdoor venue, we received the lyric sheet, and after an explanation rom the choral master (TODD) we rehearsed our part a few times and  then Todd recorded a few takes.He explained how we”the last coast” would be coming out of one speaker and a soon to be recorded part from the west coast would be designated to the other speaker. After playback and upon approval from TODD well… Then TODD and the band gave us a show, some of the hits and the heavies.I took some amazing photos, actually  used by CREEM magazine despite Lisa Robinson and a few other gems trying to block my angles. BeBe posed gracefully and was as gorgeous as can bebe.

TICKETS TORN IN HALF August 25,1975: TODD RUNDGREN/ UTOPIA@ Wollman Rink in Central Park “ANOTHER LIVE” was  recorded. This is two years to the date, in the same spot, since we recorded SONS OF 1984 with Todd.So here we are again, on another TODD (live) album. Again,the musicians who make up UTOPIA are his band.These guys are a bit different from previous incarnations of TODD line ups. Since 1968 I have seen Todd with Nazz, The Hello People, Runt, with Tony and Hunt Sales and others, sometimes aided by Hall and Oates, et al.But tonight was quite different, musicianship at the forefront. However, I got quite lost in some of the songs, particularly THE WHEEL which went on forever and made no point to me.TODD introduced “Do Ya” as “the MOVE covered “Open My Eyes” so we are returning the favor”.

(Wiki)•Todd Rundgren – guitar, vocals, production

•Mark “Moogy” Klingman – keyboards, vocals, harmonica, glockenspiel, Korg synthesizer

•Ralph Schuckett – keyboards, vocals, organ, clavinet, accordion

•John Siegler – bass guitar, vocals

•Roger Powell – Moog synthesizer, trumpet, vocals

•John “Willie” Wilcox – drums

•David lasley (background vocals)

•Arnold McCuller (background vocals)

•Phillip Ballou (background vocals)

From: thevinyldistrict.com:(Graded On A Curve):Todd Rundgren’s Utopia (later shortened to just Utopia) surprised me in several regards. First, I thought Todd was the synthesizer freak in the band. Wrong. Mark “Moogy” Klingman and Roger Powell played the Korg synthesizer and the Moog synthesizer, respectively, along with tons of other instruments. Rundgren played guitar and sang, while Ralph Schuckett played all manner of keyboards in addition to bass. John Siegler played bass and cello, and John “Willie” Wilcox played drums. Second, I was glad to discover (how could I have forgotten?) that Utopia covers The Move’s great rocker “Do Ya,” written by later ELO stalwart Jeff Lynne.

TICKETS TORN IN HALF: June 21,1975 BETTE MIDLER ON BROADWAY@The Minskoff Theatre

TICKETS TORN IN HALF: June 21,1975 BETTE MIDLER ON BROADWAY@The Minskoff Theatre

I knew this girl (circa 1971) who raved about seeing BETTE MIDLER in the Continental Baths, a gay spa in Manhattan. For the life of me at that time I had no idea who or what she was speaking about, but that gal was always interesting and fun to be around so I listened. Slip in time to a 1973 visit to a local record store on there on the rack of new releases is BETTE MIDLER “The Divine Miss M”. I peruse the songs and lo and behold I find my buddy, BUZZY LINHART and his writing co-partner MOOGY KLINGMAN’S song “Friends” listed, along with a few other known covers.Hmmm…further along in the time machine, stopping in 1975 and we find THE DIVINE MISS M starring on BROADWAY in “Clams On The Half Shell Review” starring Bette Midler, Lionel Hampton, and The Harlettes.

We nab 4 good seats for a Saturday night performance, get all dressed up, and away we go.During the intermission I was in the lobby having a smoke, dressed in my off-white suit with a TODD RUNDGREN t-shirt underneath. An elderly woman comes over and asks for my autograph to which I give her. While she walks away my brother laughs, shaking his head and said ,“Who does she think you are?” to which I replied “How the hell do I know”.

Oh, yeah the show was great and LIONEL HAMPTON is the plus here.

IN THE HOUSE: June 8, 1972-TODD RUNDGREN AND THE HELLO PEOPLE @ CARNEGIE HALL

IN THE HOUSE June 8, 1972-TODD RUNDGREN AND THE HELLO PEOPLE @ CARNEGIE HALL  School had ended and I was finalizing all my duties as Managing Editor of the college newspaper and just happened to check my mailbox one last time before heading home. In my cubby was an envelope from BEARSVILLE RECORDS addressed to me. Seems that all my talk on my college radio program about seeing NAZZ in 68 followed with the constant playing of the TODD RUNDGREN RADIO SHOW promo disc that Bearsville issued had paid off. Inside I found two comp tickets to see TODD RUNDGREN with THE HELLO PEOPLE at Carnegie Hall.

THE HELLO PEOPLE, hard to describe their sound but easy to describe their look…they were dressed as mimes, white face and all, not speaking a word to the audience between songs while acting out routines. Geez. Then TODD took over and rocked the joint. BUZZY LINHART who was seated next to me was called to the stage to join in on the festivities. Overall, a great night of RUNDGREN music.