Is Tao a good place to start with Rick Springfield?

Yes, Tao is recommended as a starting point for new Rick Springfield listeners. An energetic blend of rock and pop with anthemic choruses and introspective lyrics exploring youth and love. Released in 1985, Tao was Rick Springfield's sixth studio album, following the commercially successful Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet. At this point in his career, Springfield was transitioning from his peak as a pop-rock star into a more mature phase of songwriting, reflecting on deeper themes while maintaining his catchy sound.

Tao works well if you're into uplifting anthems for celebration, steady pacing for easy listening and youthful optimism in melodies.

How many songs are on Tao?

Tao has 11 tracks, running approximately 41 minutes.

Tao

Rick Springfield · 1985

41 min · 11 tracks · rock music

An energetic blend of rock and pop with anthemic choruses and introspective lyrics exploring youth and love.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Dance This World Away Start here — This opening track sets an upbeat tone with its infectious energy and catchy hooks, showcasing Springfield's knack for blending rock with pop sensibilities.
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Celebrate Youth — A quintessential anthem about embracing youth, this track combines vibrant instrumentation with uplifting lyrics that encapsulate the album’s central theme.
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The Power of Love (The Tao of Love) — This song highlights Springfield's ability to weave romance into his music, featuring a memorable chorus that exemplifies the album's exploration of love and relationships.
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My Father’s Chair — A poignant reflection on family and loss, this track stands out with its emotional depth, contrasting the more upbeat songs on the album.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

41 /100

Lowland

Higher than 1% of albums we've rated

The album features energetic tracks with anthemic choruses but lacks standout songwriting depth.

What we noticed

Several songs feature layered vocal harmonies that emphasize the anthemic choruses, particularly in 'Celebrate Youth' and 'State of the Heart'.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 6/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 5/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

uplifting anthems for celebration
steady pacing for easy listening
youthful optimism in melodies
introspective moments throughout journey

Maybe skip if you

prefer fast-paced, high-energy tracks
seek experimental or avant-garde sounds

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — Solidified Springfield's presence in the rock scene during the mid-1980s.
Themes: celebration of youth· romantic nostalgia· family reflections
Career context: Released in 1985, Tao was Rick Springfield's sixth studio album, following the commercially successful Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet. At this point in his career, Springfield was transitioning from his peak as a pop-rock star into a more mature phase of songwriting, reflecting on deeper themes while maintaining his catchy sound.
Stylistic neighbors: John Waite· Billy Squier· Huey Lewis and the News