Ranking 10 Greatest Albums Made Out Of Contractual Obligation

Sometimes when you go into the studio with the express intent of burning through some tape to get out of a contract, you accidentally catch lightning in a bottle. Such was the case for Todd Rundgren, when a throwaway novelty lark became the most famous song he ever recorded.

"Bang the Drum All Day" certainly isn't Rundgren's best song, but it's absolutely the song all but his most diehard fans know best. And hey, even if "Bang the Drum" was the only positive to come out of the haphazard recording sessions that would eventually be given this mouthful of an album title, that's not a bad day at the office.

But no, Tortured Artist is a thoroughly wonderful power pop album that's pleasantly free of pretentiousness (which Rundgren more than dabbled in during the 70s). The album is not an "important" one, but it's the aural equivalent of a human centipede made out of earworms. Maybe you're disgusted with yourself for enjoying it so much, but it's not going anywhere.

Rundgren may have made this Cars-esque treat as a bit of a goof, but that doesn't keep it from remaining a delight.