Something/Anything?

Something/Anything?, released in 1972, is Todd Rundgren's third solo album. His best-selling album, it is often regarded as the singer-songwriter's magnum opus. It peaked at #29 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold three years after its release.

The album featured Rundgren's only major pop hit as an artist. "Hello It's Me", recorded earlier by Nazz and featured on side four of the record, reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 the following year.

Rundgren played every instrument (as well as sang every part) on the first three sides of the double LP, while a band accompanies him on the fourth.

In the liner notes, the first side of the album is described as "a bouquet of ear-catching melodies", the second as "the cerebral side", the third as "The kid gets heavy", and the fourth is titled "Baby Needs a New Pair of Snakeskin Boots (A Pop Operetta)".

The first five thousand issues of the LP were pressed on colored vinyl — the first half of the album on red vinyl, the second on blue.

Track listing

All songs written by Todd Rundgren except as indicated.

Side one

1. "I Saw the Light" – 2:56
2. "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference" – 3:50
3. "Wolfman Jack" – 2:54
4. "Cold Morning Light" – 3:55
5. "It Takes Two to Tango (This Is for the Girls)" – 2:41
6. "Sweeter Memories" – 3:36

Side two

1. "Intro" – 1:11
2. "Breathless" – 3:15
3. "The Night the Carousel Burned Down" – 4:29
4. "Saving Grace" – 4:12
5. "Marlene" – 3:54
6. "Song of the Viking" – 2:35
7. "I Went to the Mirror" – 4:05

Side three

1. "Black Maria" – 5:20
2. "One More Day (No Word)" – 3:43
3. "Couldn't I Just Tell You" – 3:34
4. "Torch Song" – 2:52
5. "Little Red Lights" – 4:53

Side four

1. "Overture—My Roots: Money (That's What I Want) / Messin' with the Kid" (Janie Bradford, Berry Gordy, Mel London) – 2:29
2. "Dust in the Wind" (Mark Klingman, Rundgren) – 3:49
3. "Piss Aaron" – 3:26
4. "Hello It's Me" – 4:42
5. "Some Folks Is Even Whiter Than Me" – 3:56
6. "You Left Me Sore" – 3:13
7. "Slut" – 4:03

Personnel

• Todd Rundgren – all instrumentation and vocals

Additional personnel (side four only)

• Todd Rundgren – vocals, piano on 1 2 3 4, guitars on 5 6
• Mark Klingman – organ on 1 2 3, piano on 5
• John Siomos – drums on 1 2 3
• Randy Brecker – trumpet on 1 2
• Mike Brecker – tenor sax on 1 2
• Barry Rogers – trombone on 1 2
• Rick Derringer – guitar on 1
• Dennis Cooley – vocals on 1 2
• Richard Corey – vocals on 1 2 3
• Cecilia Norfleet – vocals on 1 2
• Vicki Robinson – vocals on 1 2
• Hope Ruff – vocals on 1 2 3
• Robbie Kogale – guitar on 2 3
• Stu Woods – bass on 2 3
• Jim Colgrove – bass on 4
• Amos Garrett – guitar on 4
• Ben Keith – pedal steel on 4
• Billy Mundi – drums on 4 5
• Gene Dinwiddie – tenor sax on 5
• Serge Katzen – conga on 5
• Bugsy Maugh – bass on 5
• Ralph Wash – guitar on 5
• Jim Horn – tenor sax on 6
• John Kelson – tenor sax on 6
• Brook Baxes – vocals on 6
• Anthony Carrubba – vocals on 6
• Henry Fanton – vocals on 6
• Edward Olmos – vocals on 6
• Hunt Sales – drums on 6
• Tony Sales – bass on 6
• Charlie Schoning – piano on 6
• Rick Vito – guitar on 6

Charts

Album

Certifications

References