A Wizard, A True Star: Todd Rundgren in the Studio
A look inside Todd Rundgren’s remarkable career as a producer, featuring interviews with Todd and many of the artists he worked with.
“If you know what you want, I'll get it for you. If you don't know what you want, I'll do it for you” - Todd Rundgren.
Few record producers possess the musical facility to back up such a bold promise, but in over forty-plus years behind the glass, Todd Rundgren has willed himself into becoming a not only a rock guitar virtuoso, an accomplished lead vocalist and vocal arranger and visionary keyboard player, not to mention a serviceable drummer. But arguably, Rundgren’s greatest instrument of all is the recording studio itself. A Wizard A True Star: Todd Rundgren In The Studio by Paul Myers is a fascinating and authoritative trip through the land of flickering red lights inhabited by a studio wizard - and true star - who has rarely enjoyed a proper victory lap along the many trails that he has blazed. Researched and written with the participation and cooperation of Rundgren himself, Myers also draws upon exclusive new interviews with Robbie Robertson, Patti Smith, XTC, Sparks, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Meat Loaf, Jim Steinman, Cheap Trick, Grand Funk, The Psychedelic Furs, The Tubes, Steve Hillage, all members of Rundgren's legendary band, Utopia, and many other key Rundgren associates.
Music for the Eye
Todd Rundgren and digital artist David Levine take readers on a journey through the colorful world of computer-generated psychedelic art. Featuring more than 100 striking images created through their pioneering FlowFazer and GrokGazer projects, Music for the Eye captures Todd’s fascination with the possibilities of combining music, technology, and visual expression.
The artwork ranges from swirling abstract patterns to dazzling, otherworldly digital imagery, recalling the psychedelic art of the 1960s while exploring the emerging computer technology of the 1990s. Accompanied by Todd’s own words and excerpts from his songs, this unusual book offers a fascinating glimpse into his creative experimentation beyond the recording studio.
Originally published in the mid-1990s, Music for the Eye is a distinctive collectible for Todd Rundgren fans and anyone interested in the early days of digital art.
The Art of Digital Music
Interviews and creative insights from 56 musicians and technology innovators, including Todd Rundgren and Roger Powell.
- Mark Mothersbaugh
The Art of Digital Music gathers the wisdom and techniques
of 56 visionary artists, producers, programmers, provocateurs, instrument
designers, label executives, and industry insiders into one volume. The
bonus DVD features highlights from all 56 interviews where you'll hear how
the masters wield technology to create their amazing music. The DVD also
has over 25 complete songs (including live recordings from a private Thomas
dolby concert, unreleased demos, and out-of-print classics); live performance
videos; interactive flash movies; royalty-free samples and loops by the artists;
behind-the-scenes photos; and web links galore. You'll learn studio setup
tips, secrets of sampling, creative quantization, ringtone tricks, production
strategies, insights from video game composers, insane distortion recipes,
and much more.
Contributors include Todd Rundgren, Roger Powell, Glen Ballard (Alanis
Morissette), Jack Blades, BT, LTJ Bukem, Joe Chiccarelli (Beck, Zappa),
Ted Cohen, the Crystal Method, Chuck D, Thomas Dolby, Bob Ezrin (Pink
Floyd), The Fat Man, Dr. Fiorella Terenzi, Albhy Galuten (18 No. 1
hits), Dr. Patrick Gleeson, Peter Gotcher (founder, Digidesign), Herbie
Hancock, Jimmy Jam, Leslie Ann Jones (Skywalker Sound), Ikutaro Kakehashi
(founder, Roland), and many others. With warmth and good humor, this
ingenious compilation offers entertainment, social commentary, and
the knowledge-to start up your own digital revolution.
You'll hear firsthand how the masters wield technology to create their amazing music - the included DVD features highlights from all 56 interviews. You'll learn studio setup tips, secrets of sampling, creative quantization, ringtone tricks, production strategies, insights from video-game composers, insane distortion recipes, how to squeeze expression from loops, how to overcome software option anxiety, how to exploit happy accidents, and more.
The DVD also contains video from Todd Rundgren and a new song from Roger Powell - "Window Panes."
256 pages
Book And DVD Edition
A Dream Goes On Forever — Volume 1
The first volume of Billy James’s detailed history of Todd Rundgren, from the Nazz through his solo work and Utopia.
To understand Todd Rundgren is to understand change; a continual artistic metamorphosis that goes through various radical stages, yet somehow remains not far from its original roots. (Roots derived from the music of the mod British rockers of the '60s, such as the Yardbirds, the Beatles and the Who; the incomparable writing style of Laura Nyro; as wel as the sounds from his own back yard - Philadelphia soul music.)
A true dichotomy in music; Todd Rundgren has continued to amuse and bemuse fans and critics alike for more than three decades, with his enchanting songs and music, innovative productions and incessant persistence in dealing with the music business strictly on his own terms. A Dream Goes On Forever - The Continuing Story Of Todd Rundgren (volume one) examines the history of one of America's true rock icons; from his early days of pop stardom with the Nazz; to the 'whiz kid' productions, which included the likes of Badfinger and Grand Funk; from the million seller hits; to his psychedelic explorations; from his idiosyncratic ideologies and philosophies; to the highly acclaimed conceptual ensemble Utopia.
The unbelievable story of rock's lost genius is now ready to be told. Utopia is here!
This incredible book has approximately 500 pages with black & white photos and 16 pages of color photos.
Guitar Licks of the Brit-Rock Heroes: Clapton, Beck and Page
Explore the signature guitar styles of Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page with more than 100 musical examples, lessons, and an accompanying audio CD. Written by Todd Rundgren guitarist Jesse Gress.
112 pages, with an audio CD, 3 black-and-white images, and 90 charts and graphs.
Jesse Gress explores the techniques, tone, and influences of three guitarists who emerged from the Yardbirds: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. The book features more than 100 characteristic licks, each with its own mini-lesson, plus performances by Gress on the accompanying CD.
Includes tips on tone and authentic performance, an audio CD of the licks, and information about each artist's history and influences. Gress is a former music editor of Guitar Player magazine and has toured and recorded with Todd Rundgren and the Tony Levin Band.