Runt (album)
Encyclopedia
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 (including the 1990 CD reissue by Rhino
) credit the album to Todd Rundgren rather than to Runt. At the initial time of release, however, Runt was identified as a trio consisting of Rundgren (guitars, keyboards, vocals), Hunt Sales
(drums), and Tony Sales
(bass). The entire album was written, produced and sung by Rundgren, who also played all of the instruments other than bass and drums.
Initially dividing critics upon its release, the record runs the gamut from blues
-styled guitar workouts ("Birthday Carol", "Broke Down and Busted") to power pop ("Devil's Bite", "Don't Tie My Hands") to Laura Nyro
-styled piano pop ("We Gotta Get You a Woman", "Baby Let's Swing", "The Last Thing You Said") to rock 'n' roll ("Who's That Man") to piano ballads ("Believe in Me", "Once Burned", the middle section of "Birthday Carol"), as well as including more experimental numbers (the sarcastic, prog-rock tinged "I'm in the Clique", "There Are No Words").
Upon its release in June 1970 the album was issued with 10 tracks. After "We Gotta Get You a Woman" became a hit single, Ampex decided to press more copies of the LP in November 1970 to keep up with demand. A rejected 12-track master of the LP was accidentally sent to the pressing plant resulting in approximately 5,000 mis-presses. Instead of throwing out the LPs, Ampex decided to sell them anyway, unmarked, as a sort of surprise to the purchaser. There are rumours of an 11-track pressing but none have been documented. This album as well as Runt: The Ballad of Todd Rundgren
were issued in 1971 on the Bearsville
label, being distributed by Ampex at the time. In mid-1971 Bearsville was purchased by Warner Bros. distribution, and plans were made to re-release both albums in 1973 as a "twin pack" entitled Todd Rundgren's Rack Job. The album got as far as test presses and album art but was shelved, as Rundgren wanted to release an album of new material instead.
All songs by Todd Rundgren.
Many regard the album as 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...
's debut solo album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, as all later reissues (including the 1990 CD reissue by Rhino
Rhino Entertainment
Rhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes...
) credit the album to Todd Rundgren rather than to Runt. At the initial time of release, however, Runt was identified as a trio consisting of Rundgren (guitars, keyboards, vocals), 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...
(drums), and 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:...
(bass). The entire album was written, produced and sung by Rundgren, who also played all of the instruments other than bass and drums.
Initially dividing critics upon its release, the record runs the gamut from blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
-styled guitar workouts ("Birthday Carol", "Broke Down and Busted") to power pop ("Devil's Bite", "Don't Tie My Hands") to Laura Nyro
Laura Nyro
Laura Nyro was an American songwriter, singer, and pianist. She achieved considerable critical acclaim with her own recordings, particularly the albums Eli and the Thirteenth Confession and New York Tendaberry, and had commercial success with artists such as Barbra Streisand and The 5th...
-styled piano pop ("We Gotta Get You a Woman", "Baby Let's Swing", "The Last Thing You Said") to rock 'n' roll ("Who's That Man") to piano ballads ("Believe in Me", "Once Burned", the middle section of "Birthday Carol"), as well as including more experimental numbers (the sarcastic, prog-rock tinged "I'm in the Clique", "There Are No Words").
Upon its release in June 1970 the album was issued with 10 tracks. After "We Gotta Get You a Woman" became a hit single, Ampex decided to press more copies of the LP in November 1970 to keep up with demand. A rejected 12-track master of the LP was accidentally sent to the pressing plant resulting in approximately 5,000 mis-presses. Instead of throwing out the LPs, Ampex decided to sell them anyway, unmarked, as a sort of surprise to the purchaser. There are rumours of an 11-track pressing but none have been documented. This album as well as Runt: The Ballad of Todd Rundgren
Runt: The Ballad of Todd Rundgren
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....
were issued in 1971 on the Bearsville
Bearsville Records
Bearsville Records was founded in 1970 by Albert Grossman. Artists included Todd Rundgren, Elizabeth Barraclough, Foghat, Halfnelson/Sparks, Bobby Charles, Randy VanWarmer, Paul Butterfield's Better Days, Lazarus, Jesse Winchester, and NRBQ. The label closed in 1984, two years before Grossman's...
label, being distributed by Ampex at the time. In mid-1971 Bearsville was purchased by Warner Bros. distribution, and plans were made to re-release both albums in 1973 as a "twin pack" entitled Todd Rundgren's Rack Job. The album got as far as test presses and album art but was shelved, as Rundgren wanted to release an album of new material instead.
Side one
- "Broke Down and Busted" - 4:32
- "Believe in Me" - 2:04
- "We Got to Get You a Woman" [styled "We Gotta Get You a Woman" as a single and on Bearsville pressings] - 2:52
- "Who's That Man" - 2:59
- "Once Burned" - 2:09
- "Devil's Bite" - 3:53
Side two
- "I'm in the Clique" - 4:57
- "There Are No Words" - 2:12
- "Baby Let's Swing"/"The Last Thing You Said"/"Don't Tie My Hands" - 5:28
- "Birthday Carol" - 9:14
All songs by Todd Rundgren.
Side one
- Broke Down and Busted (same as standard version but with short intro from There Are No Words)
- Believe in Me (alternate mix)
- We Got to Get You a Woman (alternate mix)
- Once Burned (same as standard version)
- Who's That Man? (same as standard version)
- Hope I'm Around (not on standard version, but an alternate version was included on his second album)
- Devil's Bite (alternate mix with extended guitar solo)
Side two
- I'm in the Clique (same as standard version)
- There Are No Words (same as standard version)
- Baby Let's Swing (full length song, not part of a medley)
- Say No More (not on standard version)
- Birthday Carol (partially the same as standard version, but with some brief alterations)