I Saw The Light (Todd Rundgren song)
Encyclopedia
"I Saw the Light" is the opening track from Todd Rundgren
's 1972 Something/Anything?
double album
. The song is a pastiche
of 1960s pop songs and a homage
to singer-songwriters Laura Nyro
and Carole King
.
In the liner notes to Something/Anything?, Rundgren states that he intended the song to be the hit of the album, and copied the Motown tradition of putting hit songs at the beginning of albums. Rundgren's version peaked at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100
and #36 on the UK Singles Chart
. However, in the US at least, Something/Anything? actually contained a bigger hit than "I Saw The Light", as the album's third single "Hello It's Me
" climbed to #5.
covered the song in 1987 on their EP "I Saw the Light". A video for the song made the rounds on MTV's "120 Minutes".
The UK band Workshy
covered the song on their debut album, 1989's The Golden Mile.
The song was also covered on Terry Hall
's (ex Specials) album Laugh and was released as a single in August 1997.
Lori Carson
covered the song on her 1997 album Everything I Touch Runs Wild.
A cover version of "I Saw The Light" was released in 1998 by country music
singer Hal Ketchum
from his album I Saw the Light. It reached #36 on the US country charts, and #50 on the Canadian country charts.
A live version by the Rundgren-fronted The New Cars
appears on their 2006 album It's Alive
.
Also covered by Bubba Hernandez on his 2008 release 'Dancing En Fuego'.
Japanese musician Yukihiro Takahashi
covered the song on his 1985 solo album Once a Fool.
Japanese musician Hiroshi Takano
covered the song on his 2011 solo album Kameleon Pop.
Todd Rundgren
Todd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
's 1972 Something/Anything?
Something/Anything?
Something/Anything?, released in 1972, is Todd Rundgren's third solo album. It peaked at #29 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold three years after its release, and remains the singer-songwriter's best-selling album...
double album
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
. The song is a pastiche
Pastiche
A pastiche is a literary or other artistic genre or technique that is a "hodge-podge" or imitation. The word is also a linguistic term used to describe an early stage in the development of a pidgin language.-Hodge-podge:...
of 1960s pop songs and a homage
Homage
Homage is a show or demonstration of respect or dedication to someone or something, sometimes by simple declaration but often by some more oblique reference, artistic or poetic....
to singer-songwriters Laura Nyro
Laura Nyro
Laura Nyro was an American songwriter, singer, and pianist. She achieved considerable critical acclaim with her own recordings, particularly the albums Eli and the Thirteenth Confession and New York Tendaberry, and had commercial success with artists such as Barbra Streisand and The 5th...
and Carole King
Carole King
Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
.
In the liner notes to Something/Anything?, Rundgren states that he intended the song to be the hit of the album, and copied the Motown tradition of putting hit songs at the beginning of albums. Rundgren's version peaked at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and #36 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. However, in the US at least, Something/Anything? actually contained a bigger hit than "I Saw The Light", as the album's third single "Hello It's Me
Hello It's Me
"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.- Background :...
" climbed to #5.
Cover versions
The UK mod revival band Mood SixMood Six
Mood Six was a neo-psychedelic band formed in London's West End in 1981. Emerging from the remnants of mod revival groups like the The Merton Parkas and the VIPs, their original lineup included Phil Ward, Tony Conway, Andy Godfrey, Guy Morley, Paul Shurey, and Simon Smith.Debuting with two tracks -...
covered the song in 1987 on their EP "I Saw the Light". A video for the song made the rounds on MTV's "120 Minutes".
The UK band Workshy
Workshy
Workshy is Michael McDermott, Chrysta Jones and Kevin Kehoe and was formed in London in 1986. Workshy can best be remembered in their hit songs such as “Never The Same”, “You’re The Summer” and Burt Bacharach standards like “I Say A Little Prayer”, “If I Ever Lose This Heaven” and Carole King’s...
covered the song on their debut album, 1989's The Golden Mile.
The song was also covered on Terry Hall
Terry Hall (singer)
Terry Hall is the lead singer of The Specials, and formerly of Fun Boy Three, The Colourfield, Terry, Blair & Anouchka and Vegas. He has released two solo albums and has also collaborated with many artists including David A...
's (ex Specials) album Laugh and was released as a single in August 1997.
Lori Carson
Lori Carson
Lori Carson is a singer/songwriter. She has released several solo albums, appeared on many soundtracks, and collaborated with artists such as The Golden Palominos. She performed lead vocals on the song "In the Middle of the Night" on French producer Hector Zazou's album Strong Currents...
covered the song on her 1997 album Everything I Touch Runs Wild.
A cover version of "I Saw The Light" was released in 1998 by country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer Hal Ketchum
Hal Ketchum
Hal Michael Ketchum is an American country music artist. He has released ten studio albums since 1986, including nine for the Curb and Asylum-Curb labels. Ketchum's 1991 album Past the Point of Rescue is his most commercially successful, having been certified gold by the Recording Industry...
from his album I Saw the Light. It reached #36 on the US country charts, and #50 on the Canadian country charts.
A live version by the Rundgren-fronted The New Cars
The New Cars
The New Cars was a band formed in 2005 with two of the original members of the 1970s/1980s new wave band The Cars. The band was composed of Todd Rundgren, drummer Prairie Prince, Kasim Sulton, and original Cars members Greg Hawkes and Elliot Easton...
appears on their 2006 album It's Alive
It's Alive! (album)
It's Alive! is the album released by The New Cars. The album features fifteen live tracks, thirteen of which are songs known as being performed by the original Cars. The remaining two, "I Saw the Light" and "Open My Eyes", were popularized by New Cars member Todd Rundgren...
.
Also covered by Bubba Hernandez on his 2008 release 'Dancing En Fuego'.
Japanese musician Yukihiro Takahashi
Yukihiro Takahashi
Yukihiro Takahashi is a Japanese musician, who is best known as the drummer and lead vocalist of the Yellow Magic Orchestra, and as the former drummer of the Sadistic Mika Band.-Biography:...
covered the song on his 1985 solo album Once a Fool.
Japanese musician Hiroshi Takano
Hiroshi Takano
is a Japanese singer, composer, lyricist, music arranger, guitarist and producer. In the end of 1980s and early 1990s, he succeeded by some records which produced by Todd Rundgren...
covered the song on his 2011 solo album Kameleon Pop.