A Wizard, a True Star

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A Wizard, a True Star
A Wizard, a True Star cover
Studio album by Todd Rundgren
Released March 1973 (1973-03)
Genre Art rock, Pop rock, Power pop
Length 55:56
Label Bearsville
Rhino
Producer Todd Rundgren
Professional reviews
Todd Rundgren chronology
Something/Anything?
(1972)		 A Wizard, a True Star
(1973)		 Todd
(1974)

A Wizard, a True Star is a progressive rock recording by Todd Rundgren, released in 1973.

The album, and especially the first side of the vinyl recording, is an extended medley after the fashion of The Beatles' late recordings; brief songs segue into one another, and the lyrics are frequently humorous or hallucinatory. The first side features a cover version of "Never Never Land" from the Broadway version of Peter Pan; the second side features a much-applauded medley of covers of doo-wop and bubblegum soul hits. Its length (55:56) pushed the limits of just how much music could fit on a long-player record (LP); as a result, the sound quality of this LP is usually less-than-stellar. The compact disc version avoids these difficulties.

Arthur Wood made the curious cover painting that featured on the original recording.

First issues of the vinyl LP included a "band aid" poem written by Patti Smith, a short bio about the album as well as a postcard encouraging purchasers to send their name to be included on a poster in Todd's next album. Re-issues of the vinyl LP did not include any of these extras and the cover was a standard square cover instead of die-cut.

Contents

[edit] Track listing

All songs written by Todd Rundgren except as indicated.

[edit] Side one

  1. "International Feel" – 2:50
  2. "Never Never Land" (Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Jule Styne) – 1:34
  3. "Tic Tic Tic, It Wears Off" – 1:14
  4. "You Need Your Head" – 1:02
  5. "Rock & Roll Pussy" – 1:08
  6. "Dogfight Giggle" – 1:05
  7. "You Don't Have to Camp Around" – 1:03
  8. "Flamingo" – 2:34
  9. "Zen Archer" – 5:35
  10. "Just Another Onionhead/DAda Dali" – 2:23
  11. "When the Shit Hits the Fan/Sunset Blvd." – 4:02
  12. "Le Feel Internacìonále" – 1:51

[edit] Side two

  1. "Sometimes I Don't Know What to Feel" – 4:16
  2. "Does Anybody Love You?" – 1:31
  3. "Medley: I'm So Proud / Ooh Baby Baby / La La Means I Love You / Cool Jerk" (Curtis Mayfield, Al Cleveland, William "Smokey" Robinson Renaldo "Obie" Benson, William Hart, Thom Bell, Donald Storball) – 10:34
  4. "Hungry for Love" – 2:18
  5. "I Don't Want to Tie You Down" – 1:56
  6. "Is It My Name?" – 4:01
  7. "Just One Victory" –4:59

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Charts

Album

Year Chart Position
1973 Billboard Pop Albums 86
Languages