THOSE of you who own the clutch of stunning albums Todd Rundgren made during the early 70s probably pondered over whether to check out his show last week at Symphony Hall, one of his first British dates in a decade. Well, you didn't miss anything.

Todd's indulgent nature, his disregard for sticking to one musical genre was his strongest asset when he first made albums like Something/Anything? and A Wizard/A True Star.

Yet many who looked beyond those superb handful of records hesitated or simply turned off when the American producer/pop maverick began his more wacky excursions, veering into heavy metal and bombastic electronica.

Sadly, it is those fans who stuck around who commanded Todd's attention last week and seemed to relish in a set of prog-rock, wandering free jazz and a sickly collection of soft soul (with Todd in a gruesome custard coloured suit).

With his band dressed as religious icons and a temple-esque set which looked like bad garden get-up you get the impression his show was a big ironic joke, but people who turned up to hear some of the finest pop songs ever weren't laughing.

As if apologising for the two-hour display, Todd tried to crawl back some credibility with the famed Hello, It's Me, but massacred it with a cocktail-jazz arrangement. Only the encore - a rousing Just One Victory - gave the audience a glimpse of the pop genius within. OE