February 02, 2010

HCTF Exclusive: Todd Rundgren's Johnson "Crossroads"

Todd Rundgren's Johnson
Todd photo: Lynn Goldsmith

Here Comes The Flood proudly presents Crossroads, a track from the forthcoming new Todd Rundgen album Todd Rundgren's Johnson, reinterpreting the songs of legendary blues man Robert Johnson (1911-1938).

MP3: Todd Rundgren's Johnson - Crossroads

The world premiere of Todd Rundgren's Johnson was at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater, San Francisco, December 1, 2009. Rundgren played a 45 minute set of Robert Johnson songs, with Prairie Prince on drums, Jesse Gress on guitar, and Kasim Sulton on bass. It was the opener for a complete rendition of his A Wizard, A True Star album, Rundgren doing a Pink Floyd thing by playing two albums in full. It will be done again at the final (for now) AWATS shows in London (Feb 6) and Amsterdam (Feb 8).

Todd Rundgren's Johnson will be released later this year. Release date to be decided. He mentioned the album in an interview with The Examiner in November 2009:

I'm currently finishing up an album of Robert Johnson's songs. Delivering them to my label in about a week. Little difficult because everyone's covered him, so I'm trying to make sure my take isn't pedantic. I'm not a blues singer, I've done R&B. There's a difference. Blues is straight ahead. I do tend to move straight ahead, though, in the way that I work, and try not to run into a wall!

Tentative setlist for Todd Rundgen's Johnson:

  1. Dust My Broom
  2. Stop Breakin' Down
  3. Walkin' Blues
  4. Love in Vain
  5. Sweet Home Chicago
  6. (Hot Tamales) They're Red Hot
  7. Come On in My Kitchen
  8. Hellhound On My Trail
  9. Traveling Riverside Blues
  10. Crossroads

Video: Todd Rundgren - Crossroads
Video: Todd Rundgren - Hellhound On My Trail
Video: Todd Rundgren - Love in Vain
(live at the Orpheum Theater, Los Angeles, CA - 2009/12/04)

A Todd Rundgren's Johnson tour is currently being planned. Confirmed dates:

  • 04/02 Engelwood, NJ @ Bergen County PAC
  • 04/03 Salisbury, MA @ Tupelo Music Hall
  • 04/07 Newark, OH @ Midland Theater
  • 04/09 Pittsburgh, PA @ Palace Theater
  • 04/10 Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun - Wolf Den
  • 04/11 Ridgefield, CT @ Ridgefield Playhouse
  • 04/13 Alexandria, VA @ The Birchmere
  • 04/14 Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Tavern

» todd-rundgren.com
» myspace.com/toddrundgrenmusic
» awatslive.com

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