Runt. The Ballad of Todd Rundgren should not be confused with Runt (album).
| Runt. The Ballad of Todd Rundgren | |
| Type: | Album |
| Artist: | Runt |
| Cover: | Runt the ballad.jpg |
| Released: | June 24, 1971 |
| Recorded: | Bearsville (Woodstock, New York) |
| Genre: | Pop rock, soft rock, blue-eyed soul |
| Length: | 42:05 |
| Label: | Ampex |
| Producer: | Todd Rundgren |
| Chronology: | Todd Rundgren |
| Prev Title: | Runt |
| Prev Year: | 1970 |
| Next Title: | Something/Anything? |
| Next Year: | 1972 |
Runt. The Ballad of Todd Rundgren is the second album by American singer-songwriter/musician Todd Rundgren, released in 1971. Like its predecessor, Runt, this album was credited to Rundgren's group Runt, despite Rundgren handling most of the musicianship and production himself.
Most of the album's 12 tracks are piano-led ballads, with the only exceptions being the rock tunes "Bleeding" and "Parole" and the anthem "Chain Letter". As with his first album, this album was initially credited to "Runt". Rundgren himself wrote, arranged, and produced every tune on The Ballad of Todd Rundgren, as well as handling all the guitars, keyboards, and vocals.
"I was pretty overbearing to deal with," Rundgren recalled in the liner notes to the 1999 CD release. "I was also becoming very particular about arrangements, so I took a crack at playing it all myself. But I still had some dependence on other musicians. I wasn't yet ready to play drums or to seriously address what bass playing should be like."[1]
Tony Sales, who played bass on Runt, the previous album, plays on the majority of tracks, but brother Hunt Sales, the drummer on the first album, plays drums only on one cut and conga on one. Studio musicians Jerry Scheff and John Guerin provide the rhythm section on two tracks; Norman D. Smart, who later became a member of the Hello People and was Mountain's first drummer, plays on the remainder. On two of the tracks, Rundgren is the only performer.
The album cover was designed by Milton Glaser. Inside photographs and design were by Ron Mael.
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 (Catalog Number 2BV 2156) 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.
All songs written by Todd Rundgren.
(taken from inner gatefold of original 1971 vinyl)
Album
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | "Be Nice to Me" | Canada RPM Singles Chart | 92 |
| 1971 | "Be Nice to Me" | Billboard Pop Singles[2] | 71 |
| 1971 | "A Long Time, A Long Way to Go" | Billboard Pop Singles | 92 |