Healing

Personnel: Todd Rundgren (vocals, various instruments).
Digitally remastered by Bill Inglot and Ken Perry (K-Disc).
This CD includes "Tiny Demons" and "Time Heals" (the limited edition single that came with the original release of the album).
1981's HEALING is not one of Todd Rundgren's pop albums, but it's also not as experimental or inaccessible as some of his explorations with his band Utopia. Instead, the album combines the best aspects of both approaches. The suitelike HEALING is a conceptual work filled with expansive, keyboard-heavy instrumental passages, particularly on the closing trilogy, "Healing Parts I--III." But just as importantly, the nine tracks also work as individual songs. On most albums of this time, the songs feel diminished when taken out of context, but Rundgren's canny enough as a songwriter to make the tunes work on their own.
Happily, this Rhino CD also includes the bonus tracks "Time Heals," one of Rundgren's best songs of the '80s; and "Tiny Demons," which were originally released on a bonus seven-inch with the first pressing of the album.