Nearly Human
Encyclopedia
Nearly Human is a 1989 album
by Todd Rundgren
, and his second for Warner Bros. Records
. His first release in four years time - the longest break in Rundgren's discography up to that point, although he had been active as a producer in the intervening years - the album has a soulful, searching, sometimes ironic but ultimately life-affirming ambience. Many of the songs deal with loss, self-doubt, jealousy and spiritual recovery, themes that seem to reflect his final separation and divorce from Bebe Buell
and the loss of custody of Buell's daughter Liv Tyler
who had grown up thinking Rundgren was her father.
The album was also the first collaboration of Rundgren and Michele Gray
, a singer and ex-model who helped organize the sessions, and sang background vocals both on the record and on the subsequent tours; she went on to become Rundgren's new wife.
Nearly Human garnered very favourable reviews and is considered one of Rundgren's best albums by many of his fans, the songs having aged well in the intervening years.
In contrast to much of his other solo work where Rundgren performed in isolation playing all instruments, the album was performed live in the studio with many musicians contributing. The technique was reminiscent of the fourth side of the popular Something/Anything?
, except that the material reflected the more mature perspective of a 40-year-old.
For the Japanese release of the album, the sixth finger of the handprint on the cover was removed, "due to the religious significance of six fingers in Japan."
Singles - Billboard
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Todd Rundgren
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...
, and his second for Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
. His first release in four years time - the longest break in Rundgren's discography up to that point, although he had been active as a producer in the intervening years - the album has a soulful, searching, sometimes ironic but ultimately life-affirming ambience. Many of the songs deal with loss, self-doubt, jealousy and spiritual recovery, themes that seem to reflect his final separation and divorce from Bebe Buell
Bebe Buell
Beverle Lorence "Bebe" Buell is an American fashion model and singer, and Playboy magazine's November 1974 Playmate of the Month. She is also known for dating rock musicians. She is actress Liv Tyler's mother from a brief relationship with Aerosmith vocalist Steven Tyler...
and the loss of custody of Buell's daughter Liv Tyler
Liv Tyler
Liv Rundgren Tyler is an American actress and model. She is the daughter of Aerosmith's lead singer, Steven Tyler, and Bebe Buell, model and singer. Tyler began a career in modeling at the age of 14, but after less than a year she decided to focus on acting. She made her film debut in the 1994...
who had grown up thinking Rundgren was her father.
The album was also the first collaboration of Rundgren and Michele Gray
Michele Rundgren
Michele Rundgren is a self professed "Has Been". She "has been" a Circus Trapeze Artist, a singer & dancer on Broadway, a member of the rock band "The Tubes", and back-up singer and "Brood Sow" for Todd Rundgren...
, a singer and ex-model who helped organize the sessions, and sang background vocals both on the record and on the subsequent tours; she went on to become Rundgren's new wife.
Nearly Human garnered very favourable reviews and is considered one of Rundgren's best albums by many of his fans, the songs having aged well in the intervening years.
In contrast to much of his other solo work where Rundgren performed in isolation playing all instruments, the album was performed live in the studio with many musicians contributing. The technique was reminiscent of the fourth side of the popular 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...
, except that the material reflected the more mature perspective of a 40-year-old.
For the Japanese release of the album, the sixth finger of the handprint on the cover was removed, "due to the religious significance of six fingers in Japan."
CD issue
- "The Want of a Nail" (ft. Bobby WomackBobby WomackRobert Dwayne "Bobby" Womack is an American singer-songwriter and musician. An active recording artist since the early 1960s where he started his career as the lead singer of his family musical group The Valentinos and as Sam Cooke's backing guitarist, Womack's career has spanned more than 40...
) (5:14) - "The Waiting Game" (4:16)
- "Parallel Lines" (4:22)
- "Two Little Hitlers" (Elvis CostelloElvis CostelloElvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
) (3:55) - "Can't Stop Running" (5:00)
- "Unloved Children" (4:03)
- "Fidelity" (4:39)
- "Feel It" (Rundgren/Tubes/Vince Welnick) (5:47)
- "Hawking" (6:51)
- "I Love My Life" (8:55)
Side one
- "The Want of a Nail"
- "The Waiting Game"
- "Parallel Lines"
- "Unloved Children"
- "Can't Stop Running"
Side two
- "Fidelity"
- "Feel It" (Rundgren/Tubes/Vince Welnick)
- "Hawking"
- "I Love My Life"
Starring Musicians
- Brent BourgeoisBrent BourgeoisBrent Thomas Bourgeois is an American rock musician, songwriter, and producer. He was co-leader of the band Bourgeois Tagg with Larry Tagg, and has released several solo albums. His later work has been classified in the genres Pop and Contemporary Christian Music.- Early career :Born in New...
- keyboards - Larry Tagg - bass guitar
- Lyle WorkmanLyle WorkmanLyle Workman is an American guitarist, composer, session musician and music producer. His music has been widely distributed since his debut on the eponymous Bourgeois Tagg album in 1986, and is currently best known for his work as composer and bandleader for the Superbad soundtrack.Workman is also...
- guitar - Michael UrbanoMichael UrbanoMichael Urbano is a studio drummer, band member, programmer, and record producer.One of his first gigs was as a member of Bourgeois Tagg, a 1980s band that was fronted by Brent Bourgeois and Larry Tagg and included Lyle Workman as the guitarist...
- percussions - Kasim SultonKasim SultonKasim Sulton is an American bass guitarist, keyboardist, and vocalist. Best known for his work with Utopia, Sulton sang lead on 1980's "Set Me Free," Utopia's only top 40 hit in the United States...
- bass guitar on "Can't Stop Running" - Bobby WomackBobby WomackRobert Dwayne "Bobby" Womack is an American singer-songwriter and musician. An active recording artist since the early 1960s where he started his career as the lead singer of his family musical group The Valentinos and as Sam Cooke's backing guitarist, Womack's career has spanned more than 40...
- appearance on "The Want of a Nail" - Elvis CostelloElvis CostelloElvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
- appearance on "Two Little Hitlers" - Clarence ClemonsClarence ClemonsClarence Anicholas Clemons, Jr. , also known as The Big Man, was an American musician and actor. From 1972 until his death, he was a prominent member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, playing the tenor saxophone. He released several solo albums and in 1985, had a hit single with "You're a...
- backing vocals
Charts
Album - Billboard| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | The Billboard 200 | 102 |
Singles - Billboard
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | "The Want of a Nail" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 15 |