Here is what I would ask BK. I apologize in advance for the length.
After searching the archives, I see that DR JMK asked you back in January of 2005 what you thought of our shared musical idol Todd Rundgren. Your response: "I'm sure I also like Todd Rundgren but I don't have any CDs and hence cannot remember what songs he's done."
FYI, he is the genius behind "Hello It's Me," "I Saw the Light," "Can We Still Be Friends," "Bang the Drum All Day," etc. As many here have pointed out over the passage of time, he also has a keen musical-theater influence, having covered "Lord Chancellor's Nightmare Song" and "Something's Coming" (from WSS) on his LPs.
You are so very knowledgeable about musical theater, sir, that I wondered if knew anything about Joseph Papp's off-Broadway mounting of "Up Against It," the abortive screenplay Joe Orton wrote for the Beatles back in the 1960s. Papp conscripted Rundgren to write an all-new score (music and lyrics, natch) for Orton's script, which was re-tailored for the stage. I was lucky enough to see the production three or four times, once while sitting two seats away from Mr. Rundgren. His score draws from influences ranging from Sondheim and Weill to Gilbert and Sullivan, and it's rather excellent, I think. So...were you aware of the musical, does it pique your interest in any way, and now that I've named a few Rundgren hits, do any of the titles ring a bell?
[blatant self-promotion]
And incidentally (clearing throat), I wrote the liner notes for the recent "Best of" Rundgren anthology for Rhino Records -- my third such project for the label.
[/blatant self-promotion]
Thank you.
Your pal,
Brett
