I Think You Know

TODD RUNDGREN 18' x 22' Pencil, February 2011

"I Think You Know"

The visitors were never seen
They missed my monologue between
But I think you know
The letters came, the letters went
The last reply was never sent
But I think you know
I can't explain what's in my brain
That tells me where to go
But I think you know

For I would draw a diagram
To signify the things I am
But I think you know
And in the end it all boils down
A useless bit of running 'round
'cause I think you know
And love I send to you my friend
But never tell you so
But I think you know

"I Think You Know"

I love that song. And I really, really like Todd Rundgren.
He had green hair. And pink, a little yellow, some brown and black.
I didn't know this, at first.
All I knew was that my little brother had a 45 rpm record called "I Saw The Light," backed with "Marlene." Both were good songs.

Bearsville

I am the family record collector.  "I Saw The Light" was my brother's ONLY 45 at the time, in 1972. It was from Todd's third album "Something/Anything," which also spawned "Hello It's Me." Played most or all of the instruments himself, too. Nifty.But I'm getting ahead of myself.
I was 11. The 45 had a bear on it. Bearsville records. Dumb name, I thought. Learned later that it was named for Bearsville, N.Y.
Again, ahead of myself.
So my brother Gerry and I bounced around to "I Saw The Light," which was on the radio, and our dad bought for Gerry. Our mother was a comedienne. Tom & Gerry. Get it? You're floored.

There goes Todd

Now, it turns out that Todd was (and is) a pretty prolific guy. He also dabbles in a lot of styles. There is always a pop underpinning, but something spacey is going on. Fuzzed out guitar tones, phased in keyboards by the tons, lots of studio wizardry.
By 1974 I was 13 and in junior high school, and Todd cranked out a half-live album called Utopia. Still had a bear on the label but a cool eyeball and colored orbs on the album cover. It was long and it was deafening and I still love that record. This was the first Todd album to hit my house.  All of the rest have followed.

"Todd" was the double album released about the same time, with the multi-colored hair portrait on the cover. "A Wizard A True Star" had a gatefold with boob pictures and Todd with a heart drawn on his ass.
He'd occasionally show up on TV, with his colored hair and winged outfits and rainbow guitar. People would way things like, "How can such a freaky dude make such sweet music?"
It's because he is a master of the craft and knows just how far to push before people will push back, or disregard. It's always interesting with Todd.

A review. High school.

My first foray into journalism was a review of Todd's "Hermit of Mink Hollow" album, in high school. I refuse to hold that against him. It's not his fault. There are even 39 Todd songs loaded into iTunes on my Mac at work. At a newspaper.

"I don't wanna work, I just wanna bang on the drum all day."

(It's the only Todd song I hate, tho I'm sure it pays his bills.)

This frame is made of wood from a demolished century barn.

GERRY WRITES:

Remember the 45 as well. Mom and Dad got the wrong one the first time, some artist with the Christian theme "I Saw the Light"--the message was good, but not the song.

The first albums I copied on that crappy Realistic piece of shit were Utopia, and... Something-Anything. They played well until the cheap electronics failed, and again in the basement on the trusty mono Panasonic cassette.

Life was simple then. Tomorrow's 6 AM commute will involve deactivation of the XM radio, and a Todd CD for the trip.

Todd is off to a Man Cave in Spain, January 2012.

TODD RUNDGREN, pencil, 2' x 3'  February 2011
For inquiries on this and all other drawings: hankbonesman@embarqmail.com
A Tom Wills Production, 2011.
"I Think You Know" P.C. 1974 Earmark Music/Screen Gems Music