Todd Rungren was born in Philadelphia and began his music career when he formed the psychedelic band, Nazz. He left after two years to pursue other musical directions and arrived on the scene in 1970 with his album called Runt. In the same year, he also scored his first Top 20 single, which will be discussed later.
His career has now lasted many decades and has covered many musical directions. So far, he has released 21 studio albums, two live albums, and 21 singles. Apart from his own recorded work, he is a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and band leader. First with Nazz and then with Utopia. And he has written film scores, such as Dumb and Dumber.
He has worked as a producer for the Welsh band Badfinger, The Tubes, Grand Funk, the New York Dolls, and the legendary Meatloaf on his ‘Bat Out of Hell’ album. And most importantly, he is known for his experimentation with music technology.
Todd Rundgren has many creative firsts to his name…
In 1978, he organized the first interactive television concert, and in 1994, the first interactive album, No World Order. A man who has been at the leading edge of many musical initiatives, he has also made some great music. However, he didn’t achieve what you might call commercial success.
Only three of his singles charted in the UK, the highest reaching #36. And, in America, he had one song that reached #5 and another at #16. But the rest were out of the Top 20.
Nevertheless, in some quarters, he is a highly respected musician, composer, and producer. And, quite rightly so. That said, here are the Top 50 Todd Rundgren songs from his enormous catalog of work as a solo artist and band member.
Top 50 Todd Rundgren Songs
1 Open My Eyes
Let’s start with a song from Utopia. This was recorded live at the Hammersmith Odeon in London. He had previously played the song with his first band Nazz. But here, he plays it with his later band.
It was released as Nazz’s first single in 1968 but only managed #112 on the American chart. Interestingly, the chords and timing are the same as in “I Can’t Explain” by the Who. Furthermore, they are so alike that you might think it is The Who you are listening to instead.
However, after the first round of chords, it goes into the song. Clearly designed for live shows, it is understandable why it is a popular Todd Rundgren song with audiences.
2 A Dream Goes on Forever
This is a song written from the heart and is all about hope. It is written in such a way that it could apply to many situations. But, especially about a relationship that may have ended and you hope might start again one day. “You’re so long ago and so far away – But my dream lives on forever – I guess I believe that I’ll see you one day – For without it, there is no dream.”
“A Dream Goes on Forever” is taken from the double album, Todd, released in 1974. It reached #69 on the America chart but did slightly better in Canada, reaching #45.
3 All the Children Sing
This is a track taken from one of Todd Rundgren’s most successful albums, Hermit of Mink Hollow, released in 1978. It was one of the few chart entries he had in the UK, reaching #42 on the album chart. In America, it peaked at #36.
“All The Children Sing” wasn’t released as a single, but it is more than worth its place among the Top 10 Todd Rundgren songs. It opened the album and is another of his songs that are written to be uplifting and offer hope.
4 Black Maria
Just to prove the point that Rundgren could also come up with some heavy Rock. It was released on what was his most commercially successful album, Something / Anything? The album reached #29 on the American chart.
“Black Maria” was not released as a single, but it was always popular at live concerts. His guitar playing is also very effective, and he gets some screaming sounds from his Fender Stratocaster.
I have included it here simply because of its change of style. Too many musicians can be one-dimensional, but this track shows that doesn’t apply to Todd Rundgren.
5 Couldn’t I Just Tell You
Staying with the album Something / Anything? from 1972, this could be considered another piece of innovation from Todd Rundgren. It is a song that could be described as a very early attempt at “Power Pop.”
Much of the album has piano-based songs, but this is a guitar-driven Rock song. It wasn’t a big hit, only reaching #93 in America. But, it was interesting in other aspects. Rundgren played all the instruments on this track and produced it as well.
6 Bang on the Drum All Day
Coming forward in time a little now to this 1983 release from his album, The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect. It has interesting lyrics about someone who so desperately wants to play drums that they won’t do anything else. They will not continue their education or go out to work; they just practice the drums.
This is another track where Rungren played all the instruments himself. It was one of the few songs that charted in the UK, reaching #86. In America, it peaked at #39. “Bang on the Drum All Day” has been used in various sporting events, political protests, and TV advertisements.
7 Hello It’s Me
This is another track from the album, Something / Anything? Many people consider this to be Todd Rundgren’s best song. Indeed, it was the most successful Todd Rundgren song, reaching number #5 in America and #17 in Canada.
Its success can be largely put down to the amount of radio airplay it received at the time. And the reason it was played so much is that it was a good Pop song. The piano part especially gives it the familiar feel that all successful Pop songs need.
8 I Saw the Light
This was the first track on the album that we are taking so much material from, Something / Anything? And, it is probably the most well-known Todd Rundgren song.
Record companies that release singles from a new album usually choose what they think could be the most successful commercially to be released first. This was a track that they thought had the greatest amount of potential success.
Therefore, it was the first single taken from the album. They were almost right. “I Saw the Light” became his second most successful single reaching #36 in the UK and #16 in America. It has a Beatles-like feel to it, especially with the backing sliding guitar.
9 We Gotta Get You A Woman
Let’s go back to 1970 and the first single that he released as a solo performer. This was taken from the album, Runt. It did well and reached #20 on the American chart and the same in Canada. It is quite a catchy song, which is one reason it did quite well.
However, it wasn’t without its criticisms…
In the song, he is talking to an old friend and says to him, “We gotta get you a woman – It’s like nothin’ else to make you feel sure you’re alive.” As if you can go down the road and just buy one. Although, in some circumstances, you can. But that’s another story.
Then, he follows that up with the line, “They may be stupid, but they sure are fun.” Not sure that was an appropriate line to put in a song even then.
Later, Rungren suggested he wasn’t talking about women in general. He was talking about the things they do and the little quirks they have. Still not sure that makes it any better.
10 Can We Still Be Friends?
And so, to the last song on my list, taken from the 1978 album Hermit Of Mink Hollow. It reached #29 in America but fared better in Australia, where it peaked at #8.
The song is about relationships and how sometimes both parties try their hardest to make it work, but it just won’t. The only thing you can do in that situation is to ask them, “Can We Still Be Friends?”
A Song We Can All Understand
This is a song that many people can relate to. It is one of those songs where the person listening might take some comfort in the lyrics. So, when you hear that you are not the only one to be going through it, that can help.
Rundgren wrote the film score for the film Dumb and Dumber, as I mentioned earlier, and this song was included. This is another song where Rundgren played all the instruments and sang all the vocals on the track. It was later covered by Robert Palmer.
11The Want of a Nail
12Love Is the Answer
13Just One Victory
14Compassion
15It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference
16God Said
17I Don’t Want to Tie You Down
18Love of the Common Man
19Time Heals
20One World
21Second Wind
22Healing Part I
23A Treatise on Cosmic Fire
24The Last Ride
25Beloved Infidel
26Born to Synthesize
27The Death of Rock and Roll
28There Goes Your Baybay
29Tiny Demons
30Something to Fall Back On
31Property
32Two Little Hitlers
33Onomatopoeia
34Hammer in My Heart
35Don’t You Ever Learn?
36Pretending to Care
37Can’t Stop Running
38Parallel Lines
39Mammon
40Infrared and Ultraviolet
41Past
42Lost Horizon
43Tin Foil Hat (with Donald Fagen)
44Hello, It’s Me (2016 version)
45Rain
46Sometimes I Don’t Know What to Feel
47You Cried Wolf
48 Hawking
49 Rock Love
50Love in Disguise
Want to Discover More Great Musicians?
We can help. So, check out our thoughts on the Best Grateful Dead Songs of All Time, the Best Aaron Lewis Songs of All Time, the Best Men At Work Songs, the Best Songs With Deep Meaning, and the Best Greta Van Fleet Songs of All Time for more great song selections.
Top 50 Todd Rundgren Songs – Final Thoughts
Todd is still going strong, and his latest album, Space Force, was released in 2022. That came after a five-year break. Ever the innovator, you can get the album in blue, green, yellow, silver, or as a see-through.
One of his assets is that he has been a bit of a maverick during his career. He was never worried about trying new things. He could create pleasant Pop songs but then also write some heavy Rock. And, sometimes, he would put them on the same album.
If this has whetted your appetite, then there are over five decades of material to check out. But the Very Best Of Todd Rundgren is the perfect place to start. There aren’t many musicians who can play every instrument and sing. And do it to a standard high enough for the music to be able to be released. But, he could.
Until next time, happy listening.
