Todd Rundgren 2nd Wind CD

2ND WIND... is a recording session taped at the San Francisco Palace Of Fine Arts in July 1990, including band interviews and Todd Rundgren's introductions to each song. To fully capture the entire orchestra's performance, the tape is presented in a four-camera, split-screen format.

This is a 36-minute video that shows the live recording session held in San Francisco for Todd Rundgren's Second Wind album. Although not billed as a live album, Second Wind was recorded before an audience, and the video shows not only performances but also preparations and interviews with Rundgren, band members, and fans. Since the album did not turn out to be one of Rundgren's best, the video may be more for his supporters than for general listeners. (Deadheads may take note that future Dead keyboardist Vince Welnick is in Rundgren's backup band.) ~ William Ruhlmann

Todd Rundgren's last major-label album was recorded in July 1990, at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre in San Francisco before a live audience, although under recording studio conditions, with a backup band that included some local talent: Roger Powell of Utopia, Vince Welnick (who would join the Grateful Dead later in the year), Prairie Prince of the Tubes, Ross Valory of Journey, and Jenni Muldaur. It's a mixed set, including three songs Rundgren wrote for the off-Broadway musical Up Against It, which was based on an unproduced screenplay British playwright Joe Orton wrote in the 1960s for the Beatles. Those songs have a Kurt Weill-ish tone, while songs like "Love Science" are up-tempo R&B and the leadoff track, "Change Myself," is in Rundgren's familiar pop/rock style. On the whole, though, there's nothing to get excited about here. ~ William Ruhlmann

Recorded live at the Palace Of Fine Arts Theatre, San Francisco, California.

Personnel: Todd Rundgren, Shandi Sinnamon, Michele Gray (vocals), Lyle Workman (guitar, vocals), Bobby Strickland (reeds, woodwinds, vocals), Max Haskett (brass, vocals), Ross Vallory (bass), Scott Matthews (percussion, guitar, samples, vocals).