Courtesy of Joy Factory/AXS TV
Courtesy of Joy Factory/AXS TVTodd Rundgren is featured on the latest episode of the AXS TV series Mixtape, airing tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT.
The show features the prolific artist, who recently was nominated for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for a second straight year, sharing stories about his experiences as a producer and a musician with such legends as Janis Joplin, The Who‘s Pete Townsend and George Harrison.
In a preview clip from the program, Todd explains why he always is interested in exploring uncharted musical territory with every new project.
“I didn’t like the idea of being compared to other people,” he declares. “I thought, ‘I have to do something nobody else can do or would do, or else what’s the point?…What’s the point of constantly trying to pursue and figure out what it is that the audience wants to hear instead of doing what you want to do?'”
Rundgren also maintains that he constantly finds himself asking such questions as “‘Is what I’m doing any relevant?’ ‘Am I simply doing this out of habit?’ [and] ‘Does it still thrill me to do it?'” He adds, “And I expect the same from my contemporaries.”
As with every guest featured on Mixtape, Todd has created a personal playlist that includes some of his favorite all-time songs, as well as tunes that shaped their lives and impacted their careers. Rundgren’s mixtape features an entire compilation of recordings by blues greats Junior Wells and Buddy Guy, and nods to the singers he currently is touring with on the “It Was Fifty Years Ago Today” White Album tribute trek — Christopher Cross, The Monkees‘ Micky Dolenz, Badfinger‘s Joey Molland and ex-Chicago singer Jason Scheff.
Here’s Todd’s complete mixtape:
“Overture Candide” — Leonard Bernstein, Boston Pops Orchestra conducted by John Williams
“Stranger on the Shore” — Acker Bilk
“Walk, Don’t Run” — The Ventures
“The Locomotion” — Little Eva
“The Wah Watusi” — The Orlons
“The Train a-Rollin'” — The Yardbirds
“Snatch It Back and Hold It” — Junior Wells and Buddy Guy
“Ships on the Ocean” — Junior Wells and Buddy Guy
“Hound Dog” — Junior Wells and Buddy Guy
“In the Wee Hours” — Junior Wells and Buddy Guy
“Hey Lawdy Mama” — Junior Wells and Buddy Guy
“Hoodoo Man Blues” — Junior Wells and Buddy Guy
“Early in the Morning” — Junior Wells and Buddy Guy
“We’re Ready” — Junior Wells and Buddy Guy
“You Don’t Love Me Baby” — Junior Wells and Buddy Guy
“Chitlin con Carne” — Junior Wells and Buddy Guy
“Yonder Wall” — Junior Wells and Buddy Guy
“Hoodoo Man Blues” (alternate version) — Junior Wells and Buddy Guy
“Chitlin con Carne” (alternate version) — Junior Wells and Buddy Guy
“The Rubberband Man” — The Spinners
“Listen to the Clock on the Wall” — The O’Jays
“Don’t Wonder Why” — Stevie Wonder
“Main Titles (Overture)” — Louis and Bebe Barron
“That’s Right, You’re Wrong” — Woody’s Truck Stop (featuring Todd Rundgren)
“Born in Chicago” — The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
“Crossroads” (Live) — Cream
“My Generation” — The Who
“Forget All About It” — Nazz
“Hello It’s Me” — Todd Rundgren
“Send in the Clowns” — Judy Collins
“Good Vibrations” — Todd Rundgren
“Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine)” — Todd Rundgren
“Day After Day” — Badfinger
“Bat Out of Hell” — Meat Loaf
“Piece of My Heart” — Janis Joplin
“One Night Stand” — The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
“Hair” — Original Broadway Cast of Hair
“Can We Still Be Friends?” — Todd Rundgren
“Tin Foil Hat” — Todd Rundgren with Donald Fagen
“Deaf Ears” — Todd Rundgren with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
“Ride Like the Wind” — Christopher Cross
“Baby Blue” — Badfinger
“What Kind of Man Would I Be?” — Chicago
“I’m a Believer” — The Monkees
“Come” — Todd Rundgren
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