Runt: The Ballad of Todd Rundgren

Runt: The Ballad of Todd Rundgren from 1971, the second solo album of Todd Rundgren, is considered by some to be one of the top singer-songwriter albums of its era. While sales were a bit lower when compared to his debut Runt and there were no hit singles, the album is generally considered a step forward with Rundgren’s songwriting and is one of the best sets of melodic pop in his extensive catalog.

The majority of the songs are piano based Carole King-like ballads with melodies more intricate than those of his debut or follow-up Something/Anything. Still there is some of the variety that one expects from Rundgren: up-tempo power pop (“Long Flowing Road”), guitar pop (“Bleeding”, “Chain Letter”), rock ‘n roll (“Parole”), and even a delightful slice of ersatz country & western (“The Range War”).

As on the debut, Rundgren produces and plays most of the instruments but calls on others for bass and drums: most often Tony Sales on bass and Norman D. Smart on drums.