Back to the Bars


Back to the Bars is a live album by rock musician Todd Rundgren, which was released as a double LP in 1978.
The album was recorded during week-long stints in New York City, Los Angeles, and Cleveland. 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

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

    Side three

  12. "Never Never Land" – 2:50
  13. "Black Maria" – 5:41
  14. "Zen Archer" – 5:43
  15. Medley: "I'm So Proud" /"Ooh Baby Baby" /"La la Means I Love You" /"I Saw the Light" – 11:09

    Side four

  16. "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference" – 4:27
  17. "Eastern Intrigue" – 5:43
  18. "Initiation" – 6:49
  19. "Couldn't I Just Tell You" – 4:05
  20. "Hello It's Me" – 4:27

    Personnel

Sides 1 and 4 (except ''Hello It's Me'')

Album
YearChartPosition
1978Canada RPM Album Chart64
1978Billboard Pop Albums75