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Todd Rundgren LIVE At The BBC! Utopia’s Pyramid Climb! A Decade Of Brilliant Music!

By johnrieber on March 23, 2015 • ( 6 )

Todd Is Live On The BBC! Utopia Too!

Time to rejoice Todd fans! An absolute treasure trove of vintage LIVE Todd Rundgren AND Utopia performances has shown up thanks to Esoteric Records!

Esoteric Recordings just issued a new FOUR DISC Todd Rundgren box set, compiling all of the surviving radio and television broadcasts in the BBC archive transmitted in the UK between 1972 and 1982.

Here’s some of the amazing stuff you get:

The REAL History Behind “Piss Aaron!”

Yes, everything you wanted to know about the origin of “Piss Aaron!” The first CD is Todd live – acoustic solo and very young – in 1972 at the time of the “Something/Anything?” release.

Todd is funny and talkative – when he introduces “It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference”, he says:

“If you hate ballads put your fingers in your ears – if you love them then kiss the person next to you!”

Here is what’s on disc one, a terrific Todd solo acoustic performance from 1972:

1. I Saw The Light
2. It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference
3. Piss Aaron

Todd talks a LOT during this song, explaining who “Piss Aaron” is, and telling a bunch of funny stories about high school, food fights, and more….really entertaining to listen to him talk.

4. Hello It’s Me
5. Be Nice To Me
6. Black Maria

Disc one finishes with Todd and Utopia from BBC’s “Old Grey Whistle Test” from 1975, performing “Real Man” and “The Seven Rays.”

Classic Utopia Live 1975!

The next disc is Todd and Utopia, live from the BBC Radio One “In Concert” series….and includes these classics:

1. Freedom Fighters
2. Mister Triscuits
3. Something’s Coming
4. The Last Ride
5. Sunset Boulevard / Le Feel Internacionale
6. Heavy Metal Kids
7. The Wheel
8. Open My Eyes
9. Sons Of 1984
10. Do Ya
11. Couldn’t I Just Tell You

And let me tell you: the audio quality of this material is PRISTINE – flawless…and the band is tight!

“RA” Live – Utopia’s Prog Rock Masterpiece!

For me, disc three is revelatory: Todd and Utopia performing most of “RA”…

Here is the track list for Todd and Utopia live in 1977 from BBC Radio One “In Concert!”

1. Overture / Communion With The Sun
2. Love Of The Common Man
3. Sunburst Finish
4. Jealousy
5. Windows
6. Singring And The Glass Guitar

Yes, here it is: the legendary “pyramid” guitar solo!

The CD ends with the Utopia Theme – this is just the chorus, but it is still beautiful…

The Todd & Utopia Live DVD!

The last disc is a DVD of various performances – a region free disc, meaning you can enjoy it anywhere!

Here’s a look at the great stuff you get:

1. Real Man
2. The Seven Rays

THE OLD GREY WHISTLE TEST – 14TH OCTOBER 1975

3. Bearsville Picnic featuring Singring and the Glass Guitar

THE OLD GREY WHISTLE TEST – 2ND MAY 1978

4. Love Of The Common Man
5. It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference
6. Too Far Gone
7. Can We Still Be Friends
8. The Reason Why
9. Compassion
10. Lysistrata

Todd fans, this is an INCREDIBLE:E collection of material – his voice is amazingly youthful and fresh, he is very talkative and playful, and Utopia’s live performances are prog rock at its best!

Todd Performs “Tiny Demons!”

Here is Todd doing “Tiny Demons”: