A decade on from its initial appearance back in 2016, one of the most in-demand of all Todd Rundgren live albums is being reissued – in complete form, for the first time – on vinyl and in a special 2 CD + DVD package on March 20.
Recorded live at the Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield CT on December 15, 2015, this incredible concert experience includes some of Todd’s best known songs including “Hello It’s Me” and “Bang On The Drum,” plus fan favorites that haven’t been performed live in decades!
In addition, several songs here are new to the CD release – “Love Science,” “Soothe,” “God Said” and a dynamic soul medley were all omitted from the original issue.
It’s a sensational show, opening with a triumphal “I Saw The Light” and, to the surprise of many fans, all but ignoring his most recent album, Global, to deliver instead an oldies heavy show. But he does not seem to be doing it willingly – indeed, early in the show, Rundgren all but castigates his audiences for ignoring his last few decades of work, and clinging only to the old, old favorites.
Not that he made things easy for his band, either. Joining Rundgren on stage were John Ferenzik (keyboards, guitar), Jesse Gress (guitar and vocals), Prairie Prince (drums) and Kasim Sulton (bass and vocals), and rehearsals for this tour saw them expected to learn some 50 different songs, while Rundgren kept each evening’s set list to himself until right before the gig. But the ploy worked. Two weeks into the tour, and the musicians sound as fresh tonight as they might have at the very beginning of the tour.
Live at the Ridgefield is the latest in Cleopatra records’ on-going series of 21st century Rundgren live recordings. Others that are now available include:
- Todd’s eye-popping one man show, Solo In Clearwater, from 2003;
https://cleorecs.com/products/todd-rundgren-solo-in-clearwater-clear-double-vinyl-lp - His 2009-2010 live recreations of the classic albums A Wizard, A True Star, Todd and Healing:
https://cleorecs.com/products/todd-rundgren-a-wizard-a-true-star-live-dvdcd
https://cleorecs.com/search?form_type=product&id=48649135980855&options%5Bprefix%5D=last&page=2&q=todd+rundgren
https://cleorecs.com/products/todd-rundgren-healing-live-purple-marble-double-vinyl?_pos=66&_sid=37c47dd3d&_ss=r - From 2016, the intimate – yet thoroughly exhilarating – Live at the Saban Theatre in Los Angeles:
https://cleorecs.com/search?q=todd+rundgren+saban+theatre - And, from 2018, Todd Rundgren’s Utopia – Live At Chicago Theatre captures the reunion show that was 32 years in the waiting:
https://cleorecs.com/products/todd-rundgrens-utopia-live-at-chicago-theatre-limited-edition-green-double-vinyl
Live At The Ridgefield drops on March 20.
DISC 1
1. Intro / I Saw The Light
2. Love Of The Common Man
3. Open My Eyes
4. Sometimes I Don’t Know What To Feel
5. Black And White
6. Love Science
7. Buffalo Grass
8. Determination
9. Lost Horizon
10. Bang The Drum All Day
11. Soothe
12. Kiddie Boy
DISC 2
1. Black Maria
2. God Said
3. Drive
4. Soul Medley: I’m So Proud
5. Soul Medley: Ooh Baby Baby
6. Soul Medley: I Want You
7. Secret Society
8. Love In Action
9. Couldn’t I Just Tell You
10. Can We Still Be Friends
11. Hello It’s Me
12. One World
DISC 3: DVD
1. Intro / I Saw The Light
2. Love Of The Common Man
3. Open My Eyes
4. Remarks
5. Sometimes I Don’t Know What To Feel
6. Black And White
7. Love Science
8. Buffalo Grass
9. Determination
10. Lost Horizon
11. Bang The Drum All Day
12. Soothe
13. Kiddie Boy
14. Black Maria
15. God Said
16. Drive
17. Soul Medley: I’m So Proud
18. Soul Medley: Ooh Baby Baby
19. Soul Medley: I Want You
20. Secret Society
21. Love In Action
22. Couldn’t I Just Tell You
23. Can We Still Be Friends
24. Hello It’s Me
25. One World
26. Credits
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 