Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Back to the Bars

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Released
  
December, 1978

Producer
  
Todd Rundgren

Artist
  
Todd Rundgren

Label
  
Rhino Entertainment

Length
  
103:23

Back to the Bars (1978)
  
Healing (1981)

Release date
  
December 1978

Genre
  
Rock music

Back to the Bars httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaenthumb5

Recorded
  
The Bottom Line in New York, the Roxy in Los Angeles, and the Agora in Cleveland

Similar
  
Todd Rundgren albums, Rock music albums

Back to the Bars is a live album by rock musician Todd Rundgren, which was released as a double LP in 1978.

Contents

The album was recorded during week-long stints in New York City (The Bottom Line), Los Angeles (The Roxy), and Cleveland (The Agora). The music featured the best of Rundgren's most commercial work spanning seven of the eight solo albums released in the 1970s up to, but not including his most recent at the time. This effort was in place of rumors of a re-release of his out-of-print first two LPs, Runt, and Runt. The Ballad of Todd Rundgren. The only offering from those were "The Range War", and the bulk of the material came from Something/Anything?, A Wizard, a True Star, Todd, Initiation, and Faithful. The finale included past and present members of Rundgren's Utopia: Roger Powell, Kasim Sulton, John Wilcox, John Siegler, Ralph Schuckett, and Moogy Klingman. Also joining in were the Hello People: Norman Smart, Greg Geddes, Bobby Sedita, and Larry Tasse. Special guest stars were Rick Derringer, Spencer Davis, Daryl Hall, John Oates, and Stevie Nicks.

Despite a hard push to replicate the success of Frampton Comes Alive!, Back to the Bars did not generate any significant singles or lift for Rundgren.

Track listing

All tracks written by Todd Rundgren; except where indicated.

Side one

  1. "Real Man" – 4:47
  2. "Love of the Common Man" – 4:25
  3. "The Verb 'To Love'" – 8:00
  4. "Love in Action" – 3:44
  5. "A Dream Goes on Forever" – 2:42

Side two

  1. "Sometimes I Don't Know What to Feel" – 4:13
  2. "The Range War" – 2:56
  3. "Black and White" – 5:34
  4. "The Last Ride" – 6:03
  5. "Cliché" – 4:12
  6. "Don't You Ever Learn?" – 5:53

Side three

  1. "Never Never Land" (Green, Comden, Styne) – 2:50
  2. "Black Maria" – 5:41
  3. "Zen Archer" – 5:43
  4. Medley: "I'm So Proud" (Mayfield) /"Ooh Baby Baby" (Cleveland, Benson, Robinson) /"La la Means I Love You" (Bell, Hart) /"I Saw the Light" – 11:09

Side four

  1. "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference" – 4:27
  2. "Eastern Intrigue" – 5:43
  3. "Initiation" – 6:49
  4. "Couldn't I Just Tell You" – 4:05
  5. "Hello It's Me" – 4:27

Personnel

  • Thom Bell Composer
  • Betty Comden Composer
  • Richard Creamer Photography
  • Rob Davis Guitar Technician
  • Spencer Davis Guest Artist, Harmonica, Vocals
  • Rick Derringer Guest Artist, Guitar
  • Tom Edmonds Mixing
  • Greg Geddes Vocals
  • Adolph Green Composer
  • Daryl Hall Guest Artist, Vocals
  • William "Poogie" Hart Composer
  • Hipgnosis Photography, Sleeve Design
  • Mark "Moogy" Klingman Keyboards
  • Paul Lester Liner Notes
  • Curtis Mayfield Composer
  • Warren "Pete" Moore Composer
  • Stevie Nicks Guest Artist, Vocals
  • John Oates Guest Artist, Vocals
  • Chuck Pulin Photography
  • Smokey Robinson Composer
  • Todd Rundgren Composer, Guitar, Mixing, Primary Artist, Producer, Vocals
  • Ralph Schuckett Organ
  • Bobby Sedita Unknown Contributor Role
  • John Siegler Bass, Cello
  • Norman D. Smart Drums, Unknown Contributor Role
  • Jule Styne Composer
  • Larry Tasse Unknown Contributor Role, Vocals
  • Utopia:
  • Roger Powell Keyboards, Trumpet, Vocals
  • Kasim Sulton Bass, Vocals
  • John Wilcox Drums, Vocals

    • Reception

    Album

    Songs

    1Real Man4:47
    2Love of the Common Man4:26
    3The Verb "To Love"8:01

    References

    Back to the Bars Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA