A Cappella

Multitudes of Rundgrens had been a trademark of his albums since Something/Anything?, but here he put down all instruments and let his layered voice carry the whole show.

Starting aptly with Blue Orpheus, inspired by the myth of a young man who could charm the birds from the trees with his voice, it’s an inventively arranged and performed tour de force, gathering in doo-wop, Philly soul, gospel and Gregorian chants.

This was three years before Bobby McFerrin’s Don’t Worry, Be Happy made ‘a cappella’ a household term. As usual, Rundgren was miles ahead of the curve, and the record remains a forgotten gem.