Album of the Day

Todd Rundgren’s ninth studio set, HEALING, was released 35 years ago, launching the forward-thinking performer into the MTV decade (the album’s “Compassion” was one of the first videos played on the channel). Like several previous efforts, the Bearsville collection is basically a one-man show, featuring the prodigiously talented singer-songwriter-producer-multi-instrumentalist on all nine tracks. And like earlier albums, it features both beautiful balladry and power-pop (the upbeat companion single “Time Heals,” included as a bonus track, offers more of the latter). Tasty as the ear candy is here, HEALING is unusually meditative – particularly in the side-long “Healing” suite, this is some of the most spiritual and inspiring music of Todd Rundgren's career.