Playing lead guitar and bass, respectively, Rundgren and Van Osten were joined by drummer Thom Mooney (formerly of the Munchkins) and lead vocalist/keyboardist Stewkey (born Robert Antoni). Nazz had their first gig in July 1967, landing an opening slot at a Doors concert. By September, the group received some financial support from the local record store Bartoff & Warfield, who also put them in touch with John Kurland, a record promoter who was looking for a guitar pop band. Kurland took a shine to Nazz and signed on as their manager. Throughout the fall, they practiced in their new home base of Great Neck, New York. Kurland and his associate, Michael Friedman, prevented the band from gigging regularly, believing that a lack of performances would increase demand for the group. The managers were convinced that Nazz could be marketed as a sharp, stylish boy band for the teenybopper audience, and helped the quartet members to refashion themselves in that mode.
With a wardrobe of clothes and an album's worth of material ready, Kurland and Friedman had Nazz sign with SGC Records -- an offshoot of Atlantic Records and Columbia-Screen Gems -- in the summer of 1968. Their debut album, Nazz, appeared in October, supported by the single "Hello It's Me." Although the song would later become a major hit for Rundgren as a solo artist, the dirgey original version barely scraped the national charts, largely due to mismanagement. The managers wanted that Nazz played only large halls, which was virtually impossible for an unknown, unproven band with a newly released debut album. As a result, most of the group's publicity was limited to glamour shots and puff pieces in teen mags. Ironically, many of the articles emphasized the band's "electrifying" live performances.
"Hello It's Me" managed to reach number 71 on the charts, and the record -- particularly the Nazz's self-production of "Open My Eyes" and "Hello It's Me" -- attracted some good notices. Taking this as a cue, Nazz headed to England to cut their second album, but they became embroiled in work visa problems. Undaunted, they returned to America and began work on an ambitious self-produced double album named Fungo Bat. By the time it was released in April 1969, it was trimmed to a single album and titled Nazz Nazz. Although the project's scale was diminished, the music remained dizzyingly diverse, as the record ran the gamut from psychedelic rockers to pop ballads. One problem emerged, however. In the process of editing, much of Rundgren's newer, Laura Nyro-influenced material -- which he had sung himself -- was left on the shelves. Neither the management nor his bandmates gave Rundgren much encouragement to sing, nor was his new introspective direction warmly received by his colleagues. Faced with a no-win situation, Rundgren left the group not long after their summer 1969 tour; by that time, Van Osten had already departed the band.
Stewkey took control of the Nazz, erased Rundgren's vocals from the album sitting in the vaults, and replaced them with his own. The result was released as Nazz III in 1970, but it stiffed. Mooney departed the group, later to play with such bands as the Curtis Brothers, Tattoo, and Paris. Stewkey joined Fuse, an Anglophile power pop group featuring future Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen. Mooney also played with Fuse, but left before Cheap Trick bassist Tom Petersson joined and the group became Sick Man of Europe.
Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Gonna Cry Today
Nazz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wasn't ever liable to give myself away
But it sure doesn't look like it makes a difference now
So I'm gonna cry today
You know as long as I can remember
Nobody ever got anybody back this way
And it sure doesn't look like I'm gonna be the first
Are you turned off by my lack of composure
Please excuse my state, it's just that I know
Your gonna take away something that I never had
But I thought was mine
You know as long as I can remember
You and I never had to find ways to waste a day
But it sure doesn't look like you're gonna be around
So I guess I'll cry today
Are you turned off by this over exposure
Please excuse this mess, it's just 'cause I know
Your gonna take away something that I never had
But I thought was mine
The lyrics to Nazz's song "Gonna Cry Today" are about loss and the pain that comes with it. The singer reflects on their past experiences where they've guarded themselves from giving away too much emotionally. They've learned that it doesn't seem to make a difference because now they're facing a loss that hurts just as much. The singer is admitting that they're not so tough after all and is allowing themselves to feel vulnerable and cry.
The lyrics continue with the realization that holding onto someone who doesn't want to stay or fighting for someone who isn't fighting for you is pointless. The singer understands that there's no point in trying to get someone back this way. It's a recognition that sometimes no matter how hard you try, you can't make someone love you. The line, "You're gonna take away something that I never had but I thought was mine," suggests that even though the singer never had the person's love, they imagined it was theirs to lose.
The lyrics also show the singer's fear of overexposure and vulnerability. They worry that their emotional display will be a turn off and push the person away. They're aware that they're not in control and that there's nothing they can do to change the situation.
Overall, the song is a powerful reflection on the pain of losing someone you love, despite your efforts to hold on.
Line by Line Meaning
You know as long as I can remember
Since my earliest memories
I wasn't ever liable to give myself away
I never showed vulnerability or let anyone get too close
But it sure doesn't look like it makes a difference now
Despite my past behavior, my current situation has not improved
So I'm gonna cry today
I am going to express my emotions and shed tears
Nobody ever got anybody back this way
No one has ever won someone's affection by crying
And it sure doesn't look like I'm gonna be the first
I do not expect to be successful in winning your love through tears
Are you turned off by my lack of composure
Am I repelling you with my display of vulnerability?
Please excuse my state, it's just that I know
I apologize for my emotional condition, but I am fully aware of it
Your gonna take away something that I never had
You will be removing something that was never mine to begin with
But I thought was mine
But I felt entitled to it, even if it was not rightfully mine
You and I never had to find ways to waste a day
We never struggled to find things to do together
But it sure doesn't look like you're gonna be around
It seems like you will not be sticking around anymore
So I guess I'll cry today
Therefore, I will allow myself to grieve and cry
Are you turned off by this over exposure
Is my display of vulnerability driving you away?
Please excuse this mess, it's just 'cause I know
I apologize for my current state, but it stems from my awareness of my situation
Your gonna take away something that I never had
You will be taking something away that was never really mine
But I thought was mine
But I felt entitled to it, whether it was truly mine or not
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: TODD HARRY RUNDGREN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind