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The Culture Corner: How Todd Rundgren shaped a generation of bedroom musicians : World Cafe : World Cafe Words and Music Podcast World Cafe correspondent John Morrison dives into Rundren's 1973 album, A Wizard, a True Star.

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

The Culture Corner: How Todd Rundgren shaped a generation of bedroom musicians

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The Culture Corner on World Cafe

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Todd Rundgren Richard Creamer/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images hide caption

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Richard Creamer/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Todd Rundgren

Richard Creamer/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Set List

  • "Sometimes I Don't Know How To Feel"
  • "International Feel"
  • "Never Never Land"
  • "Zen Archer"
  • "Medley: I'm So Proud / Ooh Baby Baby / La La Means I Love You / Cool Jerk"

Fifty years ago, Todd Rundgren released his album A Wizard, a True Star, and it sounded like nothing else.

World Cafe correspondent John Morrison says Rundgren was pushing boundaries, both in the technical creation of the music but also on a higher level.

"Really, the entire approach to sound in this record is exploration of the mind, the spirit, the nature of sound itself," Morrison says. "Like, the whole album is a trip."

In this session, Morrison takes us on a journey through Rundgren's A Wizard, a True Star, exploring what the album meant when it came out and how its influence continues to reverberate.

Episode Playlist