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What a Masterpiece!! This songs is one of the classic Rock Ballads ever to be put to Vinyl (one of the thousands, that is), but what makes this one stand-out is the Mood of the Song. It is very stripped-down (Bass and Drums are almost non-existant), and the Theme is a very simple one... "Be Nice to Me", that about says it all!!
I am guessing that Mr. Rundgren wrote this Tune shortly after Laura Nyro dumped him, seems Todd's Music became very meloncholie for a brief period there, just before he realized the potential he could reach with his next offering, "Something/Anything" Album. nuff said. This was a warming into that Album, as was the whole "Ballad of Runt" is, I suppose. "Ballad" does show that the 23-Year old was indeed a true "Song-Smith" to be reckoned with in the very near future.
"Be Nice to Me" was the follow-up Single to "We Gotta Get You a Woman", which did very well itself (#5 on Billboard I believe), and this tune did almost as well, reaching (I believe) #16 on the Charts. This was just the beginning of a string of 6 Top-40 Hits for Rundgren, which included "Hello It's Me" and "I Saw the Light".
I have added just a few of "my own" imbellishments into this Piano Tablature, but very minor. I have added a few Melody Notes during the Chorus and Bridge Sections, but that is about it. I have left the "Chorus-Out" Section as it is on the recording, but I personally prefer to add a touch of Melody (as my Singing is very Awful, so it helps)...
Though Todd Rundgren was the Artist (in name) to record this Song, it was actually the 2nd Album by "Runt", which was a 3-Piece Band including: Todd Rundgren (Vocal, Guitar, Keyboards), with Tony Sales and Hunt Sales covering Bass and Drums. Yes, I said "Sales", these two dudes were the offspring of the immortal (well, in some circles he is) Soupy Sales!!
As a Piano has 88 Strings and a Guitar only 6 Strings, this Tablature has been arranged for Two Guitars.
