News

There appears to be no shortage of live releases from the one and only Todd Rundgren in the pipeline.  On March 25, Edsel has slated For Lack of Honest Work, a 3-CD, 43-song compendium spanning the years 1971-2006.  This appears to be a reissue of the box set issued on the MicroWerks label in 2010, albeit with the addition of newly-penned liner notes by Paul Myers.  The same date, Cherry Red’s Esoteric Recordings imprint will offer Live at the Forum – London 1994 as part of its ongoing Todd Rundgren Archive Series.  This concert was first issued on CD in 2002 on the Sanctuary label, and has been newly remastered for its Esoteric reissue.  But first, on March 18, Cleopatra/Purple Pyramid will offer a different 3-CD set, Box O’ Todd.

Box O’ Todd draws exclusively on radio broadcasts of Rundgren’s early years, with concerts from 1971, 1972 and 1973.  (Unlike the broadcast releases proliferating from countless labels in Europe, this release is authorized.)  The first disc features highlights from his hometown show from Philadelphia’s legendary Sigma Sound Studios as originally broadcast on WMMR-FM.  In addition to early Rundgren ballad favorites such as “Believe in Me,” “Be Nice to Me” and “It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference,” the performance features Todd sharing the spotlight with guitarist Tommy Cosgrove for his songs “Lady on the Terrace” and “Everybody in the Congregation.”  Drummer/vocalist Norman Smart sings the Rundgren/Moogy Klingman song “Tonight I Wanna Love Me a Stranger,” and the concert also features covers including Bobby Charles’ “Before I Grow Too Old,” Smokey Robinson and the Miracles’ “Ooo Baby Baby,” and an excerpt of The Beatles’ “Hold Me Tight.”  Excerpts from this show have been previously issued including, most recently, a few tracks on Edsel’s Runt/Runt: The Ballad of Todd Rundgren two-fer.

Disc Two of this set features the May 2, 1972 concert at Hempstead, New York’s Ultrasonic Studios.  In addition to Jim Lang, Stu Woods and Tommy Cosgrove (who reprises “Lady on the Terrace”), this show featured Todd backed by the mime/rock unit The Hello People.  The group performs some of their own material including “So Good to Be Alive.” The set features a very early performance of “A Dream Goes On Forever” as well as staples such as “It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference” and “I Saw the Light.”

The third and final disc is taken from Cincinnati’s Counterpart Studios on November 11, 1973 as originally broadcast on WKRQ-FM and features Utopia.  Besides Something/Anything classics “Hello, It’s Me,” “Black Maria,” “I Saw the Light” and “It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference,” the broadcast features Todd’s cover of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Lord Chancellor’s Nightmare Song” and Utopia’s “Utopia Theme” and excerpts from the epic “The Ikon.”

Box O’ Todd box set includes a booklet with color photos and liner notes by Dave Thompson, a guitar pick, three pins, and a replica backstage pass.  It arrives from Cleopatra/Purple Pyramid on March 18.  You can pre-order at the links below!

Todd Rundgren, Box O’ Todd (Cleopatra/Purple Pyramid, 2016) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1 – Live From Philadelphia 1971

1. Banter & Soundcheck
2. Believe In Me
3. Lady On The Terrace
4. I Got My Pipe
5. It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference
6. Rock All Over Again
7. Everybody In The Congregation
8. Broke Down & Busted
9. Tonight I Wanna Love Me A Stranger
10. Ooh Baby Baby
11. Hold Me Tight (Excerpt)
12. Before I Grow Too Old
13. Be Nice To Me
14. I’m Feelin’ Better
15. The Ballad (Denny & Jean)

CD 2 – Ultrasonic Studios 1972

1. Broke Down & Busted
2. Georgia Swing
3. Outside Love
4. Piss Aaron
5. A Dream Goes On Forever
6. I Saw The Light
7. It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference
8. Feels So Good to Be Alive
9. Mad Red Ant Lady
10. Blaze
11. Lady On The Terrace
12. Slut

CD 3 – Counterpart Studios Cincinnati 1973

1. Intro
2. I Saw The Light
3. A Dream Goes On Forever
4. Piss Aaron
5. Lord Chancellor’s Nightmare Song
6. Hello It’s Me
7. Banter
8. Utopia Theme
9. Black Maria
10. Hungry For Love
11. The Ikon (Segments)