Runt: The Ballad of Todd Rundgren
Encyclopedia
Runt. The Ballad of Todd Rundgren is the second album by American
singer-songwriter
/musician
Todd Rundgren
, released in 1971. The album is perhaps Rundgren's most concise and straightforward, featuring mostly piano-led pop songs and ballads.
As with his first album, this album was initially credited to "Runt". However, while it could be argued that "Runt" was a trio for that first album (consisting of Rundgren, Tony Sales
and Hunt Sales
), here things are not so clear cut. Rundgren himself wrote, produced and sang every tune on The Ballad of Todd Rundgren, as well as handling all guitars, keyboards, and various other instruments (including one of the first uses of the talk box
effect, later popularized by Peter Frampton
). Tony Sales
plays bass throughout Ballad, but his brother Hunt Sales
(who played drums on 'Runt'
) plays drums only on the last cut and conga on track number 8. All other drum tracks are played by N.D. Smart, who later became a member of the Hello People
and was Mountain
's first drummer. The album cover was designed by Ron Mael
from the band Sparks
.
In mid 1971, Bearsville was purchased by Warner Bros. and plans were made to re-release both Runt and Runt. The Ballad of Todd Rundgren as a "twin pack" entitled Todd Rundgren's Rack Job in 1973. The album got as far as test presses and album art, but was shelved as Rundgren preferred to release an album of new material.
Singles - Billboard
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
/musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren
Todd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
, released in 1971. The album is perhaps Rundgren's most concise and straightforward, featuring mostly piano-led pop songs and ballads.
As with his first album, this album was initially credited to "Runt". However, while it could be argued that "Runt" was a trio for that first album (consisting of Rundgren, Tony Sales
Tony Sales
|Tony Fox Sales is an American rock musician. A bass guitarist, Sales and his brother, Hunt Sales, played with Todd Rundgren, Iggy Pop and Tin Machine with David Bowie.-Early life and career:...
and Hunt Sales
Hunt Sales
Hunt Sales is an American rock and roll drummer who has played with Todd Rundgren, his brother Tony Sales, Iggy Pop and Tin Machine.- Personal life : Hunt Sales is the son of 1950s/60s television comedian Soupy Sales...
), here things are not so clear cut. Rundgren himself wrote, produced and sang every tune on The Ballad of Todd Rundgren, as well as handling all guitars, keyboards, and various other instruments (including one of the first uses of the talk box
Talk box
A talk box is an effects unit that allows a musician to modify the sound of a musical instrument. The musician controls the modification by lip syncing, or by changing the shape of the mouth...
effect, later popularized by Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton
Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
). Tony Sales
Tony Sales
|Tony Fox Sales is an American rock musician. A bass guitarist, Sales and his brother, Hunt Sales, played with Todd Rundgren, Iggy Pop and Tin Machine with David Bowie.-Early life and career:...
plays bass throughout Ballad, but his brother Hunt Sales
Hunt Sales
Hunt Sales is an American rock and roll drummer who has played with Todd Rundgren, his brother Tony Sales, Iggy Pop and Tin Machine.- Personal life : Hunt Sales is the son of 1950s/60s television comedian Soupy Sales...
(who played drums on 'Runt'
Runt (album)
Runt is the self-titled debut of the band Runt, first released in 1970 on the Ampex Records label.Many regard the album as Todd Rundgren's debut solo album, as all later reissues credit the album to Todd Rundgren rather than to Runt...
) plays drums only on the last cut and conga on track number 8. All other drum tracks are played by N.D. Smart, who later became a member of the Hello People
Hello People
One of the most unique rock groups of the 1960s, Hello People, was created during late 1967 in New York by producer Lou Futterman.The idea for creating the group stemmed from Marcel Carné's film Children of Paradise . Etienne De Crux, the father of French mime, plays the part of Bapties's father...
and was Mountain
Mountain (band)
Mountain is an American hard rock band that formed in Long Island, New York in 1969. Originally comprising vocalist and guitarist Leslie West, bassist Felix Pappalardi and drummer N. D. Smart, the band broke up in 1972 before reuniting in 1974 and remaining active until today...
's first drummer. The album cover was designed by Ron Mael
Ron Mael
Ronald David Mael , is an American musician and songwriter. He and his younger brother Russell, make up the pop duo Sparks.Ron Mael was born in Culver City, California. Ron plays keyboard and writes most of the songs for Sparks...
from the band Sparks
Sparks (band)
Sparks is an American rock and pop band formed in Los Angeles in 1968 by brothers Ron and Russell Mael , initially under the name Halfnelson...
.
In mid 1971, Bearsville was purchased by Warner Bros. and plans were made to re-release both Runt and Runt. The Ballad of Todd Rundgren as a "twin pack" entitled Todd Rundgren's Rack Job in 1973. The album got as far as test presses and album art, but was shelved as Rundgren preferred to release an album of new material.
Side one
- "Long Flowing Robe" – 3:30
- "The Ballad (Denny & Jean)" – 3:30
- "Bleeding" – 4:05
- "Wailing Wall" – 3:05
- "The Range War" – 2:38
- "Chain Letter" – 5:02
Side two
- "A Long Time, A Long Way to Go" – 2:12
- "Boat on the Charles" – 4:28
- "Be Nice to Me" – 3:27
- "Hope I'm Around" – 4:55
- "Parole" – 4:22
- "Remember Me" – 0:51
Personnel
- Todd Rundgren - guitar, keyboards, vocals
- John GuerinJohn GuerinJohn Payne Guerin worked as a drummer, percussionist, and recording artist worldwide.Guerin was born in Hawaii and raised in San Diego. As a young drummer he began performing with Buddy DeFranco in 1960...
- drums - Hunt SalesHunt SalesHunt Sales is an American rock and roll drummer who has played with Todd Rundgren, his brother Tony Sales, Iggy Pop and Tin Machine.- Personal life : Hunt Sales is the son of 1950s/60s television comedian Soupy Sales...
- drums - Tony SalesTony Sales|Tony Fox Sales is an American rock musician. A bass guitarist, Sales and his brother, Hunt Sales, played with Todd Rundgren, Iggy Pop and Tin Machine with David Bowie.-Early life and career:...
- bass - Jerry ScheffJerry ScheffJerry Obern Scheff is an American bassist, perhaps best known for his work with Elvis Presley in the early 1970s as a member of his TCB Band and his work on The Doors' final recordings....
- bass - Norman D. Smart - drums
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Pop Albums |
214 |
Singles - Billboard
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | "Be Nice to Me" | Pop Singles | 71 |
| 1971 | "A Long Time, A Long Way to Go" | Pop Singles | 92 |