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From: 75kashmir
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  • Even from here the influence of Laura Nyro is evident in the compositions of Todd Rundgren

  • Interesting how this differs from Todd's later version.

  • I remember loving this song from the first time I heard it, when this original version by Nazz was a big hit. It's far better (IMHO) than Todd's solo version (and I do mean "solo", since he sang and played all the instruments on his "Something/Anything?" double album). Thanks so much for posting this powerful song from the late '60's!

  • Can't believe that I have never heard the original version until now......this is fantastic.....60's Pop! Seque right into other classic 60's pop - The Association or something like that......trippy, jazzy, eerie vocals....very cool

  • great song !

    rare FRENCH sp .

  • I only know the solo version. I was six. It was 1972

  • Love the Bongo thing in the beginning Great Tune. Should have been a National Hit beofre Todd's remake. The local Philly AM stations played it,but were guilty of playing an edted version that took away from it. 

  • This was big when I was in the eighth grade (sob, I'm now 56). The bongo was the "hook," I always thought. I love BOTH versions of this, both Nazz and Todd Rundgren. Of course, he wrote the song and was in Nazz.

  • I love this song as much now as when it came out - much better then the up tempo remake. Thanks for posting it.

  • I like both versions of this classic but this one reminds me of a gorgeous girl I met one night in this bar I fell into in 69..This was playing when I first started talking to her..Memories :-)

  • "Hello, It's Me" was the first original song Rundgren wrote. It was first recorded in 1968 by Rundgren's band Nazz and was included on their self-titled debut album.

  • "Hello It's Me" is a Billboard #5 hit song composed by Todd Rundgren that has been recorded numerous times, and would become Rundgren's best-known song.

  • Far as I know.. it's the original... I know I have this vinyl from about 69-70?... and by far my favorite version... and of course, just my opinion:))

  • Thank You so much.....

    This has proven my point....

    Too many believe that the remakes are the originals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • I'm listening to this for the first time. I dig his solo version even more. But this is pretty sweet. Much different. Both are cool as shit. Thanks for posting.

  • nice present bass line

  • "The Nazz are blue" banda de garage rock, formada en Filadelfia, en 1967 con Todd Rundgren como lider, Carlson Van Osten, Tom Mooney y Robert Antoni. Version original de 1967

  • Not sure how the chronology works, whether this is the earlier version, (I suppose it is, as Title says THE NAZZ) however, there's a "Rockier" version Todd did later (?) which he did on the letterman show. Todd expressed not being too happy at playing the later version, which as I look around YouTube He plays on Piano, wearing a freaky outfit, faster Tempo - On Letterman Todd sings, "Hello Dave, it's me" , lol. The deeper I look into the man, the deeper the amount of work I find, pure genius !

  • "Sometimes I thought it wasn't so bad" -- nice addenda

  • The tame impala seems to of took off where these guys stopped... Pure awesome

  • My favorite version of this song

  • HAHAHA! My nickname's Nazz.

  • This is one helluva great song

  • sniffle

  • Ah, brings back great memories-nothing better than a slow song with great lyrics, arranging, harmony, and ultra good bass guitar.

  • I can't really explain why, but there is something really wrong with the picture. Actually, more than one thing, its kinda creepy.

  • @GuilhermeBlassioli It's really creepy, holly shit.

  • great tune......i saw Nazz at a Natl Guard Armory in 68 or 69........sat on top of the bands bus watching the show. brings back memories.

  • I discovered this album in the 80's when a mate made me discover loads of great stuff. I got the LP then got the CD years and years later naturally and still listen to this album very very regularly indeed. Another one of those great psychedelic bands, not many people have heard of, one of those word of mouth beauty.

  • so good it makes me cry

  • Glad you like the group as much as I do! I had the red vinyl lp and probably wore it out in the late 60's The combination of the vibes and harmony were such a great contrast for that time. Wonder if anyone else was at that Town Hall show in Philly. To have a jazz act like Charles Lloyd with Nazz spoke volumes. Hope Stewkey,Todd and all of the guys know how much they're loved.

  • Do love the line better as "Seeing you, or seeing anything as much as I do..."

  • The far superior version of this song. I remember skipping lunch for a couple of days so that I could use my lunch money to buy the single . . . which I still have.

  • My favorite version....hearing it takes me back.

  • This is the difinitive version of this song, not the popular radio version, with the strings and accompaning harmonies it's beautiful.

  • its not terrible but id prefer the version rundgren recorded in his solo career

  • never heard a bad version of this song. classic.

  • Stephanie, I'd love to come around to see you once in a while, if I had that need to smile. You don't have any interest in that happening however. You know that I'd be with you if I could but you want to be alone and that is sad. Please remember me as someone who you consider a friend. A friend who loves you. I'll never give up Stephanie. Not as long as there is a breath left in me.

    God, I love this song, in this Nazz version. I don't care what Todd says.

  • I'd like to know who the composer was if Stewkey Antoney is the singer in this version

  • @DanhiMichinin it's Rundgren, most of their songs were written by him.

  • Who sings this versions? thanks

  • @DanhiMichinin Stewkey Antoney did the vocal.  He's a fine pop singer, isn't he?

  • Still my favorite version. Isn't the girl Laura Nyro?

  • @DaleNtucson The pic is not Laura, but he sure had a crush on her at one time. I read somewhere that she turned him down when he asked her out for a date.

  • @fadguru That's really tough. : (

  • They sound totally stoned, typical for the 60's

  • A gentle version of a delightful song by Todd Rundgren.

  • My soon-to-be brother-in-law (who died in 1998) had this record, 33 1/3 RPM Red Vinyl "Under The Ice", when I got out of the US Army, in 1969.

    For years, I didn't hear it again.

    It is awesome.

    By far the better arrangement.

    Thanks.

  • @slightlines I agree completely that this is the better arrangement. I too got out of the Army in Dec. 1969. Where were you stationed and what were you doing?

    The music from 1969 always had a special meaning to me and one day I figured out why. It wasn't that I was nostalgic for my Army days, it was that the music was that little piece of home in a crazy place very far away for 14 months. Peace!

  • My favorite version, so glad I found it, remember hearing it on the radio when I was a kid, love it!!

  • Is this better than Rundgren's solo version?

  • @UrbanGuerilla88 I don't know about it being better, but it sure is good to my ears. 

  • i think it is.

  • Who's the pretty girl? ;-)

  • That's it, I like this version better than Todd Rundgren's!

  • Ever notice that this fairly intense love song doesn't contain the word "love" anywhere in it?  Very rare, very interesting. Another haunting element to it. I'm 52 and I'll never get over this song.

  • your a lucky holyafro

  • i think this is the original version.

  • @cgboomer It is I have the 45.

  • Interesting version... though what strikes me as most interesting is the end. "Sometimes I thought it wasn't so bad" -- seems to offer some closure with a sort of lingering afterthought, rather than leave it open with the repeating "think of me" line in the version Rundgren is better known for.

  • Kinda sounds like The Bee Gees (1960s version).

  • Haven't heard this in decades...makes me wanna have a good smoke.....

  • I STILL OWN THIS 45

  • i bought this 45 in elermentry school, not untill i was in high school did i discover Todd, i guess i was destionwd to be a rundgrenite

  • thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

  • Never heard this version before. Very interesting. Aside from tempo, not all that different.

  • Wow. I knew the Nazz had the original version of this but I'd never heard it. Nice. It's quite apparent that the Isley Brothers used this version as a model for their cover rather than Rundgren's solo version.

  • Otto (nebulazone): the current Nazz YouTube Channel, played my music videos for Stewkey and he said Stewkey digs it. Stewkey digs my music!!

  • @USAGlobalVideoCorp Yeah, but we don't !

  • Great love it!

  • good lord it sounds like early beachboys I played on the 'jukebox' in high school..lol Todd is so ahead of his time. he is so amazing.

  • Wow who sings this version? It's better than the original by Todd Rundgren.

  • @proxicate It's still Todd Rundgren,

  • @proxicate Technically THIS is the original. It is performed by Nazz, of which Rundgren was a member. Rundgren is the one who wrote the song, but the main vocals are performed by Robert "Stewkey" Antoni. Rundgren later recorded his seminal up-beat version for Something/Anything? in 1972.

  • I saw Hall & Oates (who were great!) with Rundgren..I thought he was good.

    Like him the best,I think.

  • funky stuff guh thank you

  • Haven"t heard this version in years!! Much better than the later one he made,

  • Love the harmony!!

  • Hello, it's me. I've been waiting to be with you for so many many years. I think of you every time I need to smile and I get that warm comfort inside that keeps me going some days. Oh, how I'd like to come around to see you once in a while but you made your choices in life and so have I. Now you seem reluctant to be friends but I will never ever give up. Oh Stephanie can we please be friends again. I've always loved you and will love you forever.

  • This is the original version Todd wrote in the 60's when he was a member of Nazz.

  • NOT BAD, It's a slower, mellow version.....

  • I saw Nazz at Town Hall in Philly . They opened for The Charles Lloyd quartet,who were the headliners. This and "Under the ice" were the best part of the show! mr.cudaddy

  • @MrCudaddy Great song! I have talked to Stewkey about that a few times, I still dig it when he sings it!!!! He is a great guy!

  • Nice! ♥Ava

  • I saw Todd at the end of last year at a concert celebrating the Philadelphia Spectrum and all the music played there over the last 40+ years. To be completely honest, I don't think he was all that great. A good musician but not as tight as Stewkey and His Nazz have been lately!.

  • your ful of it!! TODD IS GODD STEWKEY BLOWS

  • @baz1617

    I wouldn't actually say I am full of it. If you asked any majority of the fans that were there that saw Todd would say he basically sucked ass. Not only did he suck but failed to play any of his real popular songs. He had this skunk looking hair on his head and screamed for about 45 minutes. I am not saying Todd is a bad musician but he ruined the show at the Spectrum and could have chosen a better act to play with the Hooters and Hall And Oates who were phenominal!

  • @booeyats1

    idiot.

    you should fall on your stupid knees and be grateful to heaven you saw him LIVE.

    idiot.

  • @newsy8 He sucks. His voice blew. People were holding their ears. Sorry to burst your bubble dude.

  • The arrangement isn't so great, but the Beatleesque harmony with the memorable lyrics makes it a classic.

  • loving it ty 4 post

    ♥Ava

  • Todds version was not even remotely close to the intenseness this original holds in it.

  • This IS one of Todd's versions, he was in Nazz.

  • I know that. I meant the version he did After Nazz.

  • this song reaches number 2 on the billboard charts in 1968 i thinks its better,and todd rundgren was in the nazz but its not him singing this version.

  • Used to slow dance to this song in 5th grade at our parties. Always loved this version better than the one that came out later. I was disappointed when they took this one off of the radio.

  • When this song came out I was 18 years old and it was a very popular song played on the juke box in all the bars I hung out in. Man I danced my ass off to this song. This era was for me the best and most exciting time in this countries history.

  • Wow! My big sister got to see Nazz at the old Surf Nantasket in Hull, Massachusetts. Lucky girl. I always liked this version the best.

  • OMIGAWD! My older sister used to go to that club. We lived in Acton, MA. I was too young (13) when this song came out. Can you remember the name of that club in Boston that had the psychedelic painting on the side? You could see it from Storrow Drive.

  • Still the best, if not the most polished ,version.This sends shivers up the spine, anyone who has ever been in love or held a torch for someone, this is an anthem. 1968, and not cheesy.

  • @mrshad544

    Prime mope rock and that's a compliment!

  • wonderful - great track!!!

  • Outstanding!

  • one random photo of a chick? lol.....yes i know people just wanna hear the song but give us more....

  • I remember this slower, moodier version of the song Todd Rundgren later made into a major solo hit...can't say it's better or worse but it's certainly different, darker, quieter and more refllective--maybe more resigned to and accepting of the problems in the relationship it describes. (The solo single we remember was far more intense, and although it was uptempo, it seemed to convey a lot more inner pain.)

  • Wow! Great to hear this version. . .it's been a while. . .both versions are great IMO.

    Thanks for posting! : )

  • Nice finally to hear the original, though I still prefer the later version. Seems Todd kept all the best parts and improved upon the rest.

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  • Personally Todd's version of this track with his band Nazz is a bit more to my liking than his rerecorded version while solo. The latter is too overly endowed with instruments though they do demonstrate his talent. The original here with its slower tempo and simple orchestration and even more effeminate vocals than when solo proves the more ethereal version. All in all the track is great as is Todd.

  • my great uncle is Stewkey the singer in this version

  • lucky for u, the whole first nazz record is bliss, pure underated bliss

    your uncle voice kicks all sort of arse

  • I would love to meet him but I've lost connection with that side of my family

  • Great uncle? You're making us FEEL OLD! ;) He's awesome, dude! So, what do you think of today's music? I'm 54.

  • I feel like today's musicians aren't as talented as they were back then today we have a lot more technology that edits voices they didn't have

  • @Holyafroproductions3 I totally agree

  • @Holyafroproductions3 Whts so great about him?

  • @jsilence418 The singer was my uncle Stewkey. He was very talented...it's interesting to me since I've never met him that I can hear him through his music

  • @Holyafroproductions3 Give him a phone call.

  • @Holyafroproductions3 Say hey to Stewkey from an old Nazz fan. These guys need to be recognized for the quality music they produced. Oh, they were old dudes when I was a kid in the 70s... Now, not so much!

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  • @Holyafroproductions3: Wow, your uncle is Stewkey? Do you see him very often? I was (am) a big big fan of Nazz. I loved everything they put out. I always thought they would be around for a long time. If you do see your uncle please tell him for me that I have always thought that The Nazz version of this song was much better than the one Todd made without them.

  • @Holyafroproductions3 Cheap Trick, Cheap Trick!

  • Agreed this one is very trippy, less commercialized.

  • ciao I m italian rome im sorry bat may inglish is not good bay bay

  • best version!!!

  • New recruit to "Nazz". Always known Todd in my life. What a superb version of nthe classic! Loose bastard....

  • One of the firsr 45rpm's I ever had and a good one too.

  • NO OFFENSE; but is this on the right speed? LORD!!

  • Sicks!...Yes, This is the ORIGINAL version by NAZZ. After the band broke up Todd re -released the song in a more uptempo and more highly 'produced' version which was the 'hit' you are probably thinking of.

  • Thanks so much for posting this. Trip down Memory Lane definitely includes Nazz Nazz and now I must buy a record player so I can play all my prized old albums. Meanwhile, I'm listening here and thank you again.

  • 50s Vintage!..Just curious...Is your vinal Nazz album the multi-colored Swirl version? or the Red see-through?

  • Red see-through - so cool - then & now.

  • The radio stations always play the "Fast Version". I always change the channel . This is beautiful. The one I wish the radio stations would play.

  • my favorite, Iwish there were some horns

  • wow.this version is quite different.i heard it once on a cd someone had.its sounds real pyscdelic!

  • This was the original release !!

  • thanks i thought so.its a great song both versions are great.

  • Never heard this version before although I knew of it. Todd's a genius! Thanks for sharing.

  • Hello it's me after a serious bong hit...or two...or three....hell a whole session!

  • hell yea brother!

  • so this is before todd?

    cool song. i like both versiions.

  • Well, Todd L. was in this band. He wrote the song and they did it.  When Tood went solo he remade it again. Love both versions. Namaste.

  • Yes. He covered it.

  • never heard this version? who did it?

  • Nazz- 1969 Todd R in the group

  • I hear this song and I'm 17 again. Looking all cute in my mini skirt and go-go boots. Happy. Free. No problems. It's 1968 again. Bring it!

  • I'd go back in time to meet you there :)

  • wow i wish i was back in time.i was born in 75.wish i had a time machine lol! yeah the world was a little happier then more carefree.

  • haha your lucky also though.. i was born in 95 and wish i was born in the 60's =[ i love todd ..

  • @GuitarKasim same :/

  • It's all in the mind anyway, so you're on time. The 60's is right here, right now.

  • todd isnt singing this version.this is the nazz singer rom the 60s.

  • wow yeah this sounds like its from 1969.i love that trippy beat.amazing! 1969 was a great year for songs.wish i was around back then lol

  • todd - the album cover icon for heartbreak in relationships and/or the psychedelic/cosmic free soul searching for the meaning of it all. he has the gift of bringing those deep feelings and mysteries to light. i got a lot of joy from mr. wizgrin over the ehans. and it ain't over yet. there's always more. eh? everyone has their own genius, but who knows where the source of all true knowledge is from? give credit where it is due. praise the Lord and God bless. now back to the show. ya know?

  • Man, I'm feeling nostalgic for this song today. My daughter started eighth grade this morning, and I think this song came out at the end of eighth grade for me (1969; I had her when I was 40.5). Our worlds at 13 are SOOOOO different!

  • first time i heard this i was driving through country lanes in the Solent late at night - it suddenly became part of my life soundtrack

    hey Solent people if you're reading this don't forget i love you all

  • Hear The Beach Boys in the harmonies ?

  • Excellent harmonies.

  • Is this person on acid or meth?

  • Comment removed

  • Does anyone out there have any tabs/score for the bass part of this arrangement? The bass sure got my attention... =)

  • Lost Nite Records included this gem on one of 56 WFIL's 560 AM Philadelphia complilation albums my Mom had when I was a kid. I still have the album. I can't tell you how many nights I listened to this with the headphones on in bed as a teenager.

  • I just looked on Wikipedia (see my comment below) and the station I first heard it on was WRKO, and it WAS first aired in 1968, where I moved to in September of that year. They gave it a lot of airplay, as did WBCN, an early FM rock station in Boston.

  • Morrissey, wrote much of his early words, sitting alone in his bedroom. Dreaming that someday he would be a pop star... it happened. I know this for a fact. Todd, wrote this song when he was 17... alone in his bedroom. Re-released it on Something/Anything in '72 Became a top 10 staple in 1973

  • Wow...atmospheric as fuck lol. Great original version.

  • Yes, you really hit the nail on the head! I was 14 then (my own daughter is about to turn this age) is she's going through the same moody, daydreamy phase. God, I miss being able to feel like that!

  • oh mrsmagloo, I am 54 and its not over. Its not too late!! get this...I recently learned that the difference between then and now is that I used to feel things and not analyze them. As an adult I would analyze everything. I recently made a choice on just feeling and not thinking and it literally changed my life. Your daughter is feeling and not analyzing, I am willing to bet that is how she gets the feeling. Its available to everyone.

    Stewkey = a gift from the gods.

  • Love your handle! You're absolutely right. I intellectualize everything to death, just like my dad (who's now 81). Of course, I've gotten into trouble by acting on impulses in the past, so I have to a bit more careful than most when it comes to just feeling! ;) GREAT reply, it really made my day! Thanks so much.

  • thrash bongos...space...pet sounds...then...its important to meeeeeee.....that you know you are freeeeee.... thats the mark. a what a blaster track. the riffing rest...

  • takes me back to a good place....

  • I wasn't born in the 60's, how come I'm enjoying this music?

  • 'cause it's timeless =P

  • I had no idea- call me uninformed... thought this was Todd's song alone- I do like this version, mainly cause I just love the song.

  • The song was originally recorded by Rundgren's late-1960s band The Nazz. Rundgren wrote the song to focus on its more negative side of a relationship ending in a phone call. Rundgren rerecorded it when he went solo.

  • Probably the only one who can really answer that is Todd. It seems that whenever the remake is mentioned it always says that it was originally recorded by Nazz. Regardless, both versions are good so we should just enjoy them both.

  • both are different and both are great.

  • I adore Rundgren so don't get me wrong. Stewkey's voice is like warm syrup. Rundgren is nasal as hell and so this particular song suits Stewkey's vocal chops in way it never could Rundgen's.

  • This isn't actually a differnent version...it's the original version. This is Todd Rundgren when he sang with The Nazz back in 1968. GREAT POST...I always liked them both but especially this one