Faithful (Todd Rundgren album)

Faithful is the seventh studio album by Todd Rundgren, released in May 1976.

Origins
Rundgren explained the motivation of the first side as treating rock music like European classical music, where a piece is always performed in the same way. Rundgren is backed on the album by the other three members of Utopia: Roger Powell on keyboards, John Siegler on bass, and John Wilcox on drums.

The first side is dedicated to "faithful" re-recordings of songs from 1966, while side two contains original songs inspired by music of that time period. Critic Robert Christgau called the second side Rundgren's "clearest and most interesting set of songs since Something/Anything?".

The closing song, "Boogies (Hamburger Hell)", opens with a reference to restaurant chain Beefsteak Charlie's, which former Utopia drummer Kevin Ellman was operating along with his family at the time.

Release
The album was released in May 1976 with virtually no advertising, as Bearsville Records president Paul Fishkin believed that Rundgren fans would purchase it based solely on word of mouth. The Rundgren original "Love of the Common Man" and his cover of the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations" were released as singles, the latter peaking at number 34 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart, while the album peaked at number 54 on the Billboard album chart.

Side one

 * 1) "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" (Jeff Beck, Jim McCarty, Jimmy Page, Keith Relf) – 3:12
 * 2) "Good Vibrations" (Brian Wilson, Mike Love) – 3:44
 * 3) "Rain" (Lennon–McCartney) – 3:16
 * 4) "Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine" (Bob Dylan) – 3:24
 * 5) "If Six Was Nine" (Jimi Hendrix) – 4:55
 * 6) "Strawberry Fields Forever" (Lennon–McCartney) – 3:53

Side two
All songs written by Todd Rundgren
 * 1) "Black and White" – 4:42
 * 2) "Love of the Common Man" – 3:35
 * 3) "When I Pray" – 2:58
 * 4) "Cliché" – 4:00
 * 5) "The Verb 'To Love'" – 7:25
 * 6) "Boogies (Hamburger Hell)" – 5:00

Personnel

 * Todd Rundgren – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals, all instruments on "When I Pray", producer
 * Roger Powell – keyboards, trumpet, electric guitar on "If Six Was Nine"
 * John Siegler – bass guitar, cello
 * John Wilcox – drums