A Wizard / A True Star

Marking a stark departure from the pop-oriented 'Something/Anything?', 'A Wizard, A True Star' is a dense and sprawling suite of songs informed by Todd Rundgren's psychedelic experimentation and interest in progressive rock. Largely performed, produced, and engineered by Rundgren, the album functions as a continuous sonic collage, weaving together fragments of avant-pop, show tunes, and raw rock with a concluding medley of soul covers. The work's ambitious, often chaotic structure and studio-as-instrument approach alienated some listeners upon release but cemented its legacy as a landmark of experimental recording and a major influence on later generations of artists.