Runt. The Ballad of Todd Rundgren - Original 1971 US Bearsville label 12-track LP

Scarce original US Bearsville label 1st issue 11-track LP - the 2nd album by exceptional american singer-songwriter - less hardrock than on the debut and more in a ballad and piano-led pop songs direction.

Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that "the album inarguably offers a glimpse into Rundgren's inner world through a combination of introspective ballads, off-hand jokes, musical virtuosity, outright weirdness, and unabashed showmanship. And that's the charm of The Ballad -- it's the slyly sardonic masterwork of a loner who may be sensitive, but is certainly not shy." in his Allmusic review.

*Runt. The Ballad of...' is recorded with Tony and Hunt Sales who would play on Iggy Pops masterpiece 'Lust For Life' and... much much later... surface as the rhythm section of Tin Machine. "Be Nice to Me" and "A Long Time, A Long Way to Go" was issued as singles from the album.

Vinyl has the generic tan company label with large top circular company logo - omitting the later mid-stretched oval grid design. Side numbering and speed indicator are in large print and unboxed - all printing is black.
Vinyl has machine stamped (ms) and hand etched (he) matric information:
Side 1: A 10116 A RE-1 (an x'ed out 7 is placed after RE-, he) STERLING (ms) LH ARC 5-7-71 (he)
Side 2: A 10116 B RE-1 (an x'ed out 7 is placed after RE-, he) STERLING (ms) LH ARC 5/7/71 (numbers are mirrored, he)
Signaling that this copy is manufactured from the first master - made by Sterling Sound, New York - and subsequently pressed on vinyl by the Allentown Record Co. Inc. pressing plant in Allentown, PA., USA.

Vinyl is placed in a nice and sturdy inner pasted gatefold picture cover.

Condition: VG++ (Vinyl and Labels)/VG+(+) (Cover):
Vinyl is bright and shiny - extreeemely close to mint - labels are mint - vinyl is overall graded very close to mint.
Cover has a touch of wear to vinyl outline, edges and corners... really next to nothing - cover is overall conservatively graded close to near mint/excellent.

Tracklisting:

Side 1:
1. Long Flowing Robe 3:30
2. The Ballad (Denny & Jean) 3:30
3. Bleeding 4:05
4. Wailing Wall 3:05
5. The Range War 2:38
6. Chain Letter 5:02

Side 2:
1. A Long Time, A Long Way to Go 2:12
2. Boat on the Charles 4:28
3. Be Nice to Me 3:27
4. Hope I'm Around 4:55
5. Parole 4:22
6. Remember Me 0:51

All songs written by Todd Rundgren.

Recorded at I. D. Studios, Hollywood, California, USA
Voices and mixdown done at Bearsville Studios, Bearsville, NY
Mastered at by Sterling Sound, New York (Inner spread states Artisan though)
Pressed by the Allentown Record Co. Inc., Allentown, PA., USA.
Sterling Sound, New York, NY

Credits:
Todd Rundgren - guitars, mandolin, fiddle, piano, organ, pump organ, Clavinet, Wurlitzer electric piano, EMS VCS 3, tenor and baritone saxophones, vibraphone, percussion, vocals
Tony Sales - bass (except on "Wailing Wall", "Be Nice to Me", and "Hope I'm Around"), conga on "Long Flowing Robe", tambourine on "Long Flowing Robe" and "Boat on the Charles", vibraphone on "Boat on the Charles"
N. D. Smart - drums (except on "Wailing Wall", "Be Nice to Me", "Hope I'm Around", and "Parole"), timbales on "Long Flowing Robe", maracas on "Boat on the Charles"
John Guerin - drums on "Be Nice to Me" and "Hope I'm Around"
Hunt Sales - drums on "Parole", conga on "Boat on the Charles"
Jerry Scheff - bass on "Be Nice to Me" and "Hope I'm Around"

Technical Credits:
Todd Rundgren - Production, mix, Arrangements
James Lowe - Recording Engineer

Artwork:
Milton Glaser, Push Pin Studios - Cover Design
Carl Firsher - Cover Photographs
Ron Mael - Inner spread photography and design