TODD RUNDGREN: The After Life Collection
~ 25 of the Rock Icon's Best Songs About the Meaning of Life and the Hereafter Presented in Chronological Order ~
When I happened to read the Ricky Gervais tweet dated August 31st of last year revealing the complete soundtrack of the upcoming After Life Season 3, I was delighted by the inclusion of Todd Rundgren. I was also curious as to the specific song chosen by Gervais. Being quite familiar with Rundgren's vast oeuvre, I knew there were plenty of selections to pick from that could possibly fit the bill beginning with, obviously enough, a recent track called "After Life." At the very least I was hoping for something more obscure and lyrically deep and not the typical "I Sat the Light," "Hello! It's Me," fodder (sorry about that, Big).
What Gervais chose to go with was a well-placed "Can We Still Be Friends" in episode 4 reflecting the transformation of a relationship, and later inserting a tear-jerking snippet of "Love is the Answer" as recorded by England Dan & John Ford Coley. That particular song was written by Rundgren and originally recorded by his band Utopia in 1977 and is included below. I'm somewhat disappointed that the original wasn't used, but I can understand the decision to go with the version that most viewers are familiar with. After all, the focus of that scene should be on those children in the cancer ward, not the writer of the song.
It's obvious that Gervais has a penchant for assembling a strong soundtrack that enhances the story and perhaps even advances it. He shares my affinity for the instrumental band called Hammock who are very adept at creating moody soundscapes and he uses their music throughout the entire series. The man may not believe in a god but he's obviously a big ol softy (if not a tad abrasive at times). He slaps you in the face with something you may not have ever wanted to contemplate and/or can't seem to wipe from your mind. Just as quickly he wraps his arm around your shoulders and gives you a comforting squeeze.
In the end it was Joni Mitchell who Gervais chose to give the big send-off and who can really argue with that? Not me. Joni & Todd... hmm, I can see both sides now.
At any rate, here are my 25 selections for Todd Rundgren: the After Life Collection. Some may be obvious, others not so much, and your mileage will definitely vary. Still, these are the ones which resonate with me today and hopefully some will for you too.
LYLE WORKMAN Guitar Whiz / Film Composer (Updated July 2021)
I first heard of Lyle Workman back in 1987 when his band Bourgeois Tagg released the Todd Rundgren-produced YoYo album. That recording was filled with plenty of progressive Beatle-esque soul-pop including the magnificent "I Don't Mind At All" co-written by Workman with lead vocalist Brent Bourgeois. The band had previously released their debut album in 1986 which I checked out soon thereafter and also recommend highly. They broke up in the late 80s and many of its members including Workman joined Todd Rundgren's Nearly Human (1989) touring band. After that Lyle had stints with Frank Black, Beck and Sting among others. Throughout the years he has released several solo instrumental recordings which have showcased his guitar wizardry as well as his compositional skills. In fact, he has become a highly sought-after film composer and boasts a healthy listing of soundtracks that he has recorded over the years. His most recent effort Uncommon Measures (2021) was recorded at Apple Studios in London with a live orchestra.
Performing “I Don’t Mind At All” on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
"Waiting for the Worm to Turn" - (1987 Video) by Bourgeois Tagg: the Leap of Faith!