Nazz – Open My Eyes ….Power Pop Friday

They were founded by singer,  guitarist, and songwriter Todd Rundgren and bassist Carson Van Osten. Drummer Thom Mooney and vocalist/keyboardist Robert “Stewkey” Antoni would join last. 

In celebration of Todd Rundgren getting in the Jann Wenner Rock and Roll Hall of Fame FINALLY…It makes no sense why the guy wasn’t in there 20 years ago. Not just as a performer but as a producer as well. Rundgren not getting in until now is one of the reasons it’s hard for me to take the Hall seriously…but I’m happy he is finally in. 

In 2016, Rundgren told an interviewer: “It doesn’t have the same cachet as a Nobel Peace Prize or some historical foundation. If I told you about how they actually determine who gets into the Hall of Fame, you’d think that I was bullshitting you, because I’ve been told what’s involved. … It’s just as corrupt as anything else, and that’s why I don’t care.”

He was asked how he felt about finally being inducted and he said: “I’m happy for the fans. They’ve waited a long time for this.” He was probably more happy about the 2016 Honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music, where he delivered the commencement address, and an honorary doctorate from DePauw University.

The Nazz self titled album was released in 1968. This was the A side of the single released…the B side was “Hello It’s Me”…yes the same song we know but an early version of it. 

They formed in 1967 and their first concert was something to remember…opening for the Doors.  Some say the band took its name from the Yardbirds’ 1966 song “The Nazz Are Blue”, other sources say the name came from a 1952 monologue, “The Nazz”, by the American Beatnik comedian Lord Buckley.

The band would release 3 albums after which Rundgren started a solo career. 

Open My Eyes peaked at #112 in the Billboard Album Charts and Hello It’s Me peaked at #66 in 1968…

Todd would go on and released Hello It’s Me solo and it was a massive hit. It peaked at # 2 in the Billboard 100 and #17 in Canada in 1973.

He would also form the band Utopia in 1973. 

Open My Eyes

Underneath your gaze I was found in
The haze I’m wandering around in
I am lost in the dark of my own room
And I can’t see a thing but the fire in your eyes

Clear my eyes, make me wise
Or is all I believe in lies
I don’t know when or where to go
And I can’t see a thing ’til you open my eyes

I’ve been told by some you’ll forget me
The thought doesn’t upset me
I am blind to whatever they’re saying
And all I can see is the fire in your eyes

Clear my eyes, make me wise
Or is all I believe in lies
I really don’t know when or where to go
And I can’t see a thing ’til you open my eyes
Can’t see a thing ’til you open my eyes
Can’t see a thing ’til you open my eyes
Can’t see a thing ’til you open my eyes

Can’t believe that it’s on your mind
To leave me behind

Clear my eyes, make me wise
Or is all I believe in lies
I really don’t know when or where to go
And I can’t see a thing ’til you open my eyes
Can’t see a thing ’til you open my eyes
Can’t see a thing ’til you open my eyes
Can’t see a thing ’til you open my eyes
Can’t see a thing ’til you open my eyes

Oh my eyes
Oh my eyes
Oh my eyes

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball fan, old movie and tv show fan... and a songwriter, bass and guitar player.

32 thoughts on “Nazz – Open My Eyes ….Power Pop Friday”

  1. “In celebration of Todd Rundgren getting in the Jann Wenner Rock and Roll Hall of Fame FINALLY…” Haha! (The strikeout format didn’t copy, but that was the best part.) I’ve heard of Nazz forever, but didn’t associate them with any familiar songs. This one is nice. Congrats to Todd for finally being voted into the HOF, and for calling out the selection process for what it is, and isn’t.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. I’m glad you liked that! It’s about time he is in…

      How is he not in already? I loved what he said.

      I do like smany of their songs… and he seemed to carry on for the most part in his solo career in this path. I am glad I got to see him live…with Ringo.

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  4. Todd has always been fab and gone his own sweet way. I must have a look at the RNR Hall Of Fame list and have a good laugh at who got in and who hasn’t…

    Just checked. Seems to be an obsession with minor ancient 2-hit wonders who were never major acts or major influences in preference to relevant modern acts that don’t fall under the “rock” category – took them 15 years to get round to one of the greatest pop acts of all-time Abba, and WTF Carole King having to wait 30 years while far lesser talents get nominated.

    So, glaring omissions: Monkees obv, Barry White, KC, Chic, Slade, The jam, Roxy Music, Motorhead, Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker, Madness, Human League, Pet Shop Boys, Robbie Williams, Oasis, Blur, Kraftwerk, Jean Michel jarre, Georgio Moroder, George Michael, Sparks. Basically, very US-oriented, virtually no disco or reggae acts, few synth-based acts, especially dancefloor-oriented acts, regardless of how much they influenced modern music and other acts, and anything that smacks of being a bit gay has zero chance of being nominated unless a superstar moans about an obvious blatant deliberate omission. Seems a middling succesful MOR US rock act has far more chance of getting in than anything that might appeal to women more than men. Still, Hootie & The Blowfish haven’t made it yet, so there’s still room for improvement…

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    1. Oh it’s terrible on how they pick. Jann Wenner has a big role in it. If he doesn’t like the style of music you are going to wait…and wait a long time.

      Carole King is the one that really baffles me…I mean come on…her songwriting alone should get her in.

      They get either too picky or not picky enough.

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. So true, her 60’s songs alone is more than enough, the greatest female pop songwriter to half the acts who are nominated in the 60’s who didn’t write their own material. Tapestry alone is worth more than the entire career of many on the list who I won’t mention. If we’re talking inspiration, The Smiths & Pet Shop Boys inspired Brandon Flowers, The Killers have the most-enduringly popular track of the noughties, a huge back catalogue and a shoo-in for 2029. Outside the US, The Smiths and PSB’s are hugely admired, influential and revered in and out of the industry musically and lyrically, and creatively. And yet (I lied I’m going to mention some) Dave Clark 5 (!) loved ‘;em as a kid, but come on! Kiss! Glam Rock copyists not worthy to kiss the arses of T.Rex, Slade, Bowie, Sweet. Journey? Chicago? I mean, was there an award for bland inoffensive MOR going on? Influenced who? Yacht Rock? Perfectly nice records, and a couple of classics, but Hall Of Fame worthy….tch! 🙂

        OK, got that out of my system…. 🙂

        Like

    1. I agree with what you are saying Bruce… “Underneath your gaze I was found in
      The haze I’m wandering around in” right off the bat bothers me.

      Liked by 1 person

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  6. A good one, I’ve heard the Nazz version of “Hello it’s me” before… I think I like Todd’s solo better, but the original is solid too (not surprising, is it since they’re both him really.)
    Ya, glad he’s in the Rockhall… definitely deserving. Their picks are questionable at times, but on him I think it boiled down to people only knowing his one or two hits and not looking at all the other material he’s recorded (which has been quite good), and not noticing all the hits he produced …for some reason he’s not thought of when most think of great rock producers. But he should be and maybe the recognition will change that.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Yea I like his version better also because it is clearer…to the point.
      Carole King was in the same position…I mean just for Tapestry alone but she was way more than that. Her songwriting could have done it alone.

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. She was WAY overdue, like I wrote a few months back that one album alone changed the trajectory of pop in the 70s , but even without recording one song her list of hits she wrote should have had her in there among the first “classes”

        Liked by 2 people

  7. I’ve never heard this (to be honest, I’m not familiar with Rundgren’s stuff.

    As for the Hall of Fame, I found the Steve Miller / Black Keys thing a while back quite amusing. I like the Black Keys so was a wee bit surprised when they got upset at Steve Miller because he didn’t know who they were and he was a bit cranky about the whole affair. He called the folks behind it “fucking gangsters and crooks”. The Keys were quite public about their disappointment and regret about inducting Miller. They found him quite rude. I suspect it had more to do with ambitions of being inducted one day themselves. Maybe.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Yea I believe that was it… I like the Black Keys also but too many people have said the same thing about the Hall’s voting process…or non-process.

      The thing about Rungren…his producing credits are impressive.

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  8. Ah, yes. My Rundgren years with Bill. He swore the name came from Lord Buckley.

    Todd didn’t have that many hits for himself but, BOY were they popular and he was in the background for everyone else. I think it was one of his Utopia albums that had a song on it with a line like “…trying to make a living with a plastic waffle…” I liked a majority of his material but, I can’t stand Bang The Drum All Day.

    Plus, he raised Steven Tyler’s kid with Bebe Buell.

    His wife, now, was a dancer for The Tubes, which I find wild. Bill was also obsessed with The Tubes. He met them.

    My fave Rundgren album is No World Order Lite.

    He’s a damn pioneer.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Just his producing credits should have got him in…everyone from The Band, Badfinger, to Grand Funk Railroad…he produced everyone back then.

      He is talented…I got to see him with Ringo…he was a lot of fun.

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      2. I really like Todd…he is a quirky songwriter and singer but really good….I just listened to it and yea I forgot about that one!
        His producing talent is huge. Take a look at the bands he has worked with.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I had a Goliwogs tape before…of course they advertised it as pre-CCR…that is the only reason I know the name…but I thought I remembered them on there…What a name.

        Liked by 1 person

  11. Great tunes! The very beginning of “Open My Eyes” almost sounds like it could be the start of a Who song!

    I’m glad Todd Rundgren finally is in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It’s certainly far from being a perfect institution. On the other hand, I still like it when artists I dig get in. Being in the company of the likes of Chuck Berry, Little Richard, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen and so many other great artists is pretty cool!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. I was thinking the same about The Who song! Yes he deserves to be in there just as a producer… Carole King deserves it also just as much.

      Liked by 1 person

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