"A Wizard, a True Star" is a progressive rock album by American artist, Todd Rundgren, released on March 2, 1973. It marked a significant departure from his previous album, "Something/Anything?", wherein Rundgren largely embraced a more experimental, psychedelic sound.
Rundgren produced, engineered, and played all the instruments on nearly every track, making "A Wizard, a True Star" one of the earliest examples of an album created almost entirely by one person. The album features a loose framework with Rundgren straying from the traditional pop song structure, clustering tracks together and keeping each side of the album to a singular theme such as introspection and love.
Amongst its 19 tracks, "A Wizard, a True Star" includes a medley of covers of soul classics, a trait matching with Rundgren's deep admiration for ‘60s soul and R&B music.
Despite earning a mixed critical response upon its release, it has since been recognized as a masterpiece of progressive pop and an essential record in Rundgren's vast discography. It has even gained a prominent cult following. The album's bold experimentation greatly influenced Rundgren's subsequent work and has been acknowledged as an influence by a range of artists from diverse genres.
