Todd Rundgren No 1. Lowest Common Denominator

[1trueaustinite]

To all the Austin Utopians (MIKE) who turned me on to this in the 70's. Thank YOU!! Got to see Todd twice here in Austin in the early days!! Rock on!!

[wagner622]

There's no video to respond to, only a still photo from the original album cover. This was one of my favorite tracks as a high school kid when this came out. What is that swirly-electric sounding effect throughout, but especially at the end? Is there a name for that?

[cathoderoy]

@wagner622

Flanging (pronounced "flan-jing") is an audio effect produced by mixing two identical signals together, with one signal delayed by a small and gradually changing period, usually smaller than 20 milliseconds. This produces a swept comb filter effect: peaks and notches are produced in the resultant frequency spectrum, related to each other in a linear harmonic series. Varying the time delay causes these to sweep up and down the frequency spectrum.

[neutroniumamp]

@cathoderoy Back then it took a bit more technical expertise to apply to an entire mix. I love Todd's guitar tone, its very Hendrix in the songs intro. I think Electro-Harmonix made the best Flanger for guitar, its parametric sweep allows for certain notes and their related EQ freq to suddenly do a wild freek out, especially in the high notes on Todd's guitar solo. I owned one in high school. It now costs a pretty penny new.

[joeyrider]

Todd is THE Magus

[joeyrider]

My fave Todd track ever... it sends no end

[jagfug]

Any video of him doing this back in the day? The retirement home versions are just depressing. 

[flipside1545]

tripping man!!!

[flieonthewal]

This is my favorite Todd record. AWATS is a close second.

[blablabla9ish]

I was just listening to Ian hunters "Shades" album....What a lineup!!!!!!!

[blablabla9ish]

One of tjhe true icons of American music.........

[Gordomusic1]

Just love this song . And the album its off just goes all over the place. So creative its incredible. Although I can sort of understand why some people couldn't handle it after albums like Something/Anything. But for me its a trip!

[ecinaj1958]

what more could a fourteen year old acid head look for in 1974!!

[wistoncap]

@ecinaj1958 Only the smart 14yr old acid heads were listening to this.

[cathoderoy]

@wistoncap ...hmmm, is "smart acid head" an oxymoron? I was a 16 yr. old acid head and loved this record, especially this song, so maybe I was one of the smart ones...

[wistoncap]

@cathoderoy generally speaking a "smart" 14-16yr old acid head would be an oxymoron, but there are exceptions and, yes, you can count yourself among the exceptions for listening to Todd.

[lonelylondonladfan]

me three

[PaulInOakland]

I was early teens through this era with Todd, First live show ever was Pink Floyd's,Dark Side of the Moon at the LA sports area, between them and Todd my musical house was set in order

[MrKirkenstein]

when it came out i spent much time with this album and a lot of acid.

great times.

[phatone77]

@MrKirkenstein meee toooooo

[tyrese3745]

@MrKirkenstein Acid??? Was that a drug?

[MrKirkenstein]

@tyrese3745

naux......acid was / is a means of attaining that lowest common denominator.

they just don't make it like they used to.

;-((

[cathoderoy]

@MrKirkenstein I asked Todd once what "# 1 Lowest Common Denominator" meant, and his answer, of course, was just another question, "What does the term #1 lowest common denominator mean?"...anyway, I assume it is just plain sex, and how it's a mutual desire, but I don't think drugs have anything to do with it, other than psychedelic imagery possibly being inspired by it.

[cathoderoy]

@MrKirkenstein ...then again, that could be just as easily attributed to his interest in Salvador Dali...

[frippstar47]

having eggs benedict long side of the hottest of places for breakfast hearing this , i'd have no problem..........it is time to scream!!...........

[tyrese3745]

Call me crazy, but you would have to be high on cocaine or pot and even time-travel back to 1974 to listen or even sing this great song.

[cathoderoy]

@tyrese3745 I think Todd could use a refresher course on this song, I've never seen him do this prior to the last 20 years, and he's NEVER gotten the words right for the middle...easily the most psychedelic piece of music ever created, though...

[hippiesjah]

Thanks For Posting This song , i love this tune,Todds Amazing All the best hippiesjah