Back to the Bars

Back to the Bars
Live album by Todd Rundgren
Released	December, 1978
Recorded	The Bottom Line in New York, the Roxy in Los Angeles, and the Agora in Cleveland
Genre	Rock
Length	103:23
Label	Bearsville Records
Producer	Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren chronology
Hermit of Mink Hollow (1978) Back to the Bars (1978) Healing (1981)
Singles from Back to the Bars
"It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference" Released: October 1978

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 (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" (Adolph Green, Betty Comden, Jule Styne) – 2:50
2. "Black Maria" – 5:41
3. "Zen Archer" – 5:43
4. Medley: "I'm So Proud" (Curtis Mayfield) /"Ooh Baby Baby" (Al Cleveland, Renaldo Benson, Smokey Robinson) /"La la Means I Love You" (Thom Bell, William 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

Notes

Sides two and three recorded May 1978 at the Bottom Line in New York and the Roxy in Los Angeles; sides one and four recorded August 23, 1978 at the Agora in Cleveland.

Personnel

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

• Todd Rundgren - lead vocals, guitar, piano (A Dream Goes on Forever)
• Utopia:
  • Roger Powell - keyboards, synthesizers, vocals
  • Kasim Sulton - bass, vocals
  • John Wilcox - drums, vocals

Sides 2 and 3

• Todd Rundgren - lead vocals, guitar
• Moogy Klingman - piano
• John Siegler - bass
• John Wilcox - drums, vocals
• The Hello People:
  • Greg Geddes - lead, backing vocals
  • Bobby Sedita - rhythm guitar, saxophone, vocals
  • Norman Smart - drums (The Range War), vocals
  • Larry Tasse - synthesizer, vocals

Guest Artists

• Spencer Davis - harmonica (The Range War)
• Ralph Schuckett - organ (I Saw the Light Medley)
• Rick Derringer - guitar (Hello It's Me)
• Stevie Nicks, Daryl Hall, John Oates, Kasim Sulton, Spencer Davis - vocals (Hello It's Me)

Technical Notes

• Hipgnosis - sleeve design and photography
• Richard Creamer, Chuck Pulin, Kevin and Michael Ricker - live photography
• Rob Davis - guitar technician
• Paul Lester - liner notes
• Tom Edmonds - mixing
• Todd Rundgren - production, mixing

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1978	Canada RPM Album Chart	64
1978	Billboard Pop Albums	75