The American Dream

Anyway, I remembered the songs as very "hooky." Their first song, "Big Brother," was reminiscent, as many others of theirs, of Badfinger's sound. At other times, as with the songs "Frankfurt El" and "Raspberries," they sounded just goofy. The latter song may have influenced the Presidents of the United States' "Peaches," but is more like a children's song than is the 90s tune. Both contain "raga-like" parts that lengthen them considerably.

Tunes like "My Babe," and "Cadillac," are notable blues renditions of songs with traditional themes, featuring guitar melodies. These, like Todd's efforts with any other production, before or since, are interlaced with well-calculated vocal harmonies.

Introspection, very "hip" in 1969, is quite evident in two selections in particular; "I Am You," a slower song, reminds one of Badfinger's "Baby Blue," and another, "Storm," speaks of optimism.

Other songs on the tape, which I now have on album and CD form, include all the above, with little of Todd's Nazz experimentation; this simply sounds like a decent band (UK or US? There's what sounds like a transcontinental call beginning a song called "Good News," to one of the band members' Bostonian grandmother.) that Rundgren ran with as a followup or primer for Badfinger.

Had TR and this band continued, the sound could may have yielded another "No Matter What."

I hope this gives you some insight into the album.

-jh