It has been said that Todd Rundgren released this 1979 live album in an attempt to cash in on the success of other live albums such as "Frampton Comes Alive" and Bob Dylan's "Hard Rain." I'm not completely sure that I agree with that premise because of the content of the songs on this album. While "Back to the Bars" concludes with one of Rundgren's greatest hits, "Hello It's Me," it doesn't include some of his other noted songs. Furthermore, when he was preforming the live shows in 1978, it was around the same time his studio album "Hermit of Mink Hollow" was released. So, if he wanted to cash in on a live album, surely he would have included a few songs from the new album, especially "Can We Still Be Friends."
Enough speculating for now because "Back to the Bars" is actually a pretty good album. A good way to reminisce over Todd Rundgren's creative days of the seventies. What I have always liked about him is the fact that you can't completely pigeonhole him. Yes, many of the more known songs are in the progressive rock vein and he has his share of Top 40 singles but he is also capable of laying down some rocking jams as well and there are some on this album. Most notably, two songs from the "Something/Anything" album: "Black Maria" and one I've always really liked, "Couldn't I Just Tell You."
Track Listing:
1. Real Man
2. Love of the Common Man
3. The Verb To Love
4. Love in Action
5. A Dream Goes On Forever
6. Sometimes I Don't Know What to Feel
7. The Range War
8. Black and White
9. The Last Ride
10. Cliche
11. Don't You Ever Learn
12. Never Never Land
13. Black Maria
14. Zen Archer
15. Medley: I'm So Proud/ Oh Baby Baby/ La la Means I Love You/ I Saw the Light
16. It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference
17. Eastern Intrigue
18. Initiation
19. Couldn't I Just Tell You
20. Hello It's Me
- Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren- lead vocals, guitar, keyboards
Mark"Moogy" Klingman- keyboards
Kasim Sultan- bass
Roger Powell- keyboards
John Willie Wilcox- drums
Additional appearances by Rick Derringer, Stevie Nicks, Daryl Hall and John Oates
For Todd Rundgren fans and novices, this album is a good way to reminisce or explore the mid seventies period of Todd Rundgren with some classic songs. Now, one or two people have said that he isn't too good live, but listening to this album, I can't agree with that sentiment. If Todd Rundgren isn't in the Rock Hall of Fame, then it's just another proof that the people who run that institution are just plain idiots.
Next post: Pat Travers- Live! Go For What You Know
To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html
Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London
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