I wasn't sure about this at first, but after finding an old vinyl import copy, it has rarely left my turntable! International Feel is a great opener of the 'uplifting anthem' type; Zen Archer complete with arrow sfx is class; Rock and Roll Pussy sounds like early 70's Zappa; Sometimes.. is one of the best soul/ ballad songs ive ever heard! Some of the synth sounds are a bit dated, but hey, this is the early 70's - all synths sound dated! In short,a superb record - buyit NOW!! Truly, dey dont make em like dat no more!

The immense body of work by Todd, not forgetting his many accomplishments as a producer, have this album at its pinnacle, in my humble opinion. The mere fact that even on the previous Something/Anything he had laid down most of the tracks by himself put him way ahead of his time and doing Mike Oldfield like things well before Tubular Bells. It took me a while to get into him back in the 70's but once I became a fan...I have never wavered in my admiration for his range and exceptional abilities.

This album could well have the earliest of 'New Music' despite the rudimentary electronic equipment of the time, it should be listened to loud...from beginning to end of its 59 minutes by which time, if its a first listening you will want to hear it again and again and again to come to understand the vastness of the versatility and the beauty of its composition. Truly a classic, ENJOY!

You'll be saying that repeatedly as you listen to this album. It leaps effortlessly from genre to genre soul to rock to funk to ballads to wierd electronic instrumentals to Disney and seemingly self-pordying itself on the way all in a cloud of multi-layered seventies keyboards, Moogs and Farsifas.

Standout tracks are the elegant "Just One Victory", the blink and you'll miss it cover of "Cool Jerk", "Zen Archer", the monumental "International Feel", which has the best drumming (especially at the start of verse two when the drums seem to reverse back on themselves and still play in time) and Just Another Onionhead/Dada Dali a paean to surrealist art in the music hall tradition of Noel Coward.

An absolute classic

Brian Wilson started the trend several years ago when he performed the album "Smile" for the very first time. Recently, Van Morrison performed the entirety of "Astral Weeks" to rave reviews, as did Lou Reed with the "Berlin" album last year and the year before that.

It was only a matter of time until the enigmatic pop raconteur, Todd Rundgren, re-visited his 1973 psychedelic masterpiece "A Wizard, A True Star" (he'll perform the British Premiere of this seminal album at the London HMV Hammersmith Apollo on 6th February 2010).

A Wizard, A True Star defied the law of gravity when it was originally released on an unsuspecting public 36 years ago. The vinyl edition of the album clocked in an hour's worth of running time, and back in those days, albums, on average, lasted 30-35 minutes.

Forget about the running time shenanigans, think about the music. It was insane but melodic, pretty but subversive, poptastic but bombastic, sexy but banal, exciting and futuristic, progressive and intuitive.

Rundgren encapsulated everything glam rock and prog rock, pop and soul couldn't fathom - a reason to live, and a reason to believe.

From the technicolor blast of "Zen Archer" to "You Need Your Head", "You Don't Have to Camp Around", "Just One Victory", "Dogfight Giggle", "Does Anybody Love You?", "Just Another Onionhead", "Never, Never Land" to the essential "International Feel" - this was the album that made David Bowie do a re-think, and also made every half decent rock star throw the rulebook out the window.

From Daft Punk to Hot Chip, all the really cutting edge bands look to Wizard as the peak of sonic perfection. If there's one psychedlic prog rock pop album you need to add to your collection, this is it.

Maverick genius Todd Rundgren is still, very much an unknown quantity in the UK (apart from a fanatical but very small cult following).
To me he is a musical hero, who should be ranked alongside Lennon, Dylan, Hendrix or any other revered & mostly overrated icons of rock & pop history. His 40 year career covers a mind blowing range of musical genres, from rock to pop, soul to blues, prog to ambient, avante garde to punk, he can do anything, more musical u-turns than even David Bowie could shake a stick at. In the case of a wizard a true star, all in the space of one album. In other words, he is a one man musical smorgasboard.
I first became a devotee at 14, when I heard Real Man on the radio and was instantly blown away by it's amazing hooks and other worldly melody, not to mention Todd's fantastic voice.
Looking back on his career now, I'd say my favourite period is from 1972-1978 when he could do no wrong and produced an astonishingly prolific array of 10 albums, of which awats is my favourite.
How do you explain this album? 19 tracks, 59 minutes, let me think, it's not easy.................................................................
OK then, it's an explosion in a paint factory x 10 with a cherry on top! that just about, almost covers it.
From the opening synth buzz of International Feel to the final fade out of the gorgeous, anthemic Just one Victory, you will be taken on a labarynthine musical journey that stops of at Dineyland, hard rock, power pop, space age soul, piano ballads, synth instrumentals, allsorts of sfx and studio trickery, brilliant song writing & musicianship and some spine tingling melodies that will give you goose bumps on your goose bumps.
When it's over, you will probably be sweating and mumbling uncontrollably 'Todd, where have you been all my life'. Then you will take a shower and listen to it again, to discover more musical delights you missed the first time (you lucky swines). Buy it now!
A Wizard A True Star isn't Todd's only masterpiece. The double albums Something/Anything & Todd are equally as good.
Also, the albums Hermit of Mink Hollow, Faithfull, Initiation, Todd Rundgren's Utopia, Ra, Oops! Wrong Planet and Another live are all worthy of 5 stars & should be in your collection.
What more can I say?
Todd is magic!
You won't be dissapointed.