I was "introduced" to the music of Todd Rundgren in 1972 by my older sister's boyfriend. I can remember sitting in her apartment listening to "Ballad" and just getting blown away by the music! I ran right out and bought his new album, "Something/Anything?" and there was no looking back. That album further cemented my love for Todd's work. "Something/Anything?" is forever on my top 10 list of albums. "I Saw the Light" became one of my favorite songs of all time.

There are certain artists who speak to you in their songs. Oh, I like other musicians. I grew up in the 60's and 70's. There are many bands and solo acts that I admire. But, for me, only a few artists actually touched me with their lyrics. Joni Mitchell was one...I like to say she was my counselor during those difficult teen years when the breakups are so hard. "I am a woman of heart and mind..." Todd's message, on the other hand, is uplifting and positive, with just the right dash of sarcastic wit! I can sit and listen to a Todd song and get carried away to another planet. Of course I would be remiss if I didn't say he has one helluva set of pipes to boot!

In the late 70's I met a guy who shared my love for all things Todd. We dated for about a year and spent most of that time sitting around and singing Rundgren songs together. But, Alas! That was all we had in common and the relationship didn't survive. I went on to get married...to someone who had absolutely no idea who Todd Rundgren was!! I dragged him along to the "Accapella" show in Dallas in 1985, and he liked it alright, but still didn't "get it." For reasons other than Todd; we divorced in 1990. I remarried in 1993 to a man who, while not professing a love for Todd's music, at least knew who he was! We've been to the "No World Order" pod show at the Bomb Factory in Dallas (he loved it) and "The Individualist" show in Philadelphia.

I want to mention something about going to a Todd Rundgren concert. I suspect everyone reading this who is a "Toddhead" like me feels the same way. Going to a Todd concert is like a family reunion. There is something special in the air at one of Todd's shows. Everyone is so friendly...and so happy! You can look around and everyone has a great big smile on his/her face. And Todd himself is so personable and natural...no posing here!! When I am in the audience at a concert; I feel like Todd really cares about his fans...like we're all in this together...a "Secret Society" perhaps?!!

I am waiting in anticipation of Todd's latest innovative effort...the Bossanava collection! He's not afraid of going out on a limb is he! I'm also really excited about his new online subscription packages. I am signing up and can't wait to see what develops! Music today is pretty much boring and unoriginal. I do like a few of the current bands like Collective Soul, but my husband and I pretty much stick to the classic rock bands of the 60s and 70s. We have a basement band...I play drums and Doug plays keys in it. We do "I Saw the Light" and "Hello It's Me" in our set. We have two teenage boys who play guitar...unfortunately their musical tastes (if you can call it that) run from Metallica to Marylyn Manson. All that distortion!! "Must be the Death of Rock and Roll..." Ahh to listen to a soaring clean crystal-clear guitar solo from you-know-who!

Well enough rambling! I guess you can tell by now that I'm a true-blue Toddhead! He is, and always will be for me, THE definitive artist of my generation. And that's that!