Runt (album)

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.

Standard Track Listing

Side one

1. "Broke Down and Busted" - 4:32
2. "Believe in Me" - 2:04
3. "We Got to Get You a Woman" [styled "We Gotta Get You a Woman" as a single and on Bearsville pressings] - 2:52
4. "Who's That Man" - 2:59
5. "Once Burned" - 2:09
6. "Devil's Bite" - 3:53

Side two

1. "I'm in the Clique" - 4:57
2. "There Are No Words" - 2:12
3. "Baby Let's Swing"/"The Last Thing You Said"/"Don't Tie My Hands" - 5:28
4. "Birthday Carol" - 9:14

All songs by Todd Rundgren.

12-track mispressed vinyl release, November 1970

Side one

1. Broke Down and Busted (same as standard version but with short intro from There Are No Words)
2. Believe in Me (alternate mix)
3. We Got to Get You a Woman (alternate mix)
4. Once Burned (same as standard version)
5. Who's That Man? (same as standard version)
6. Hope I'm Around (not on standard version, but an alternate version was included on his second album)
7. Devil's Bite (alternate mix with extended guitar solo)

Side two

1. I'm in the Clique (same as standard version)
2. There Are No Words (same as standard version)
3. Baby Let's Swing (full length song, not part of a medley)
4. Say No More (not on standard version)
5. Birthday Carol (partially the same as standard version, but with some brief alterations)

References