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July 22, 2010

Todd Rundgren has inked a record contract with California-based Gigatone Entertainment, which will release his new 15-track album.

In a statement out Tuesday, Gigatone said Rundgren would approach the recording of his new LP with the same innovative spirit that’s informed prior hit albums.

The ’70s icon – who made his name both behind the microphone (with pop songs like “Hello, It’s Me”) and the mixing console (producing Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell) – will take part in Gigatone’s myRecordFantasy program, which allows fans to executive produce their favorite artist’s new album during a three-day camp.

Gigatone is also home to Eddie Money and The Monkees’ Micky Dolenz, who also will participate in a myRecordFantasy recording session this August.

“These fans will be the lucky few that not only live it, but also have the opportunity to perform on the album,” Gigatone said in a press release.

Rundgren, 62, is set to record his new batch of songs at The Track Shack Studios in Sacramento, CA.

“Signing such an accomplished superstar as Todd not only thrills us but shows that our new approach towards music creation and its acceptance by artists and fans is changing the market,” said Mitchell Koulouris, CEO of Gigatone Entertainment. “Todd is renowned throughout the industry for skills and artistry that put him at a level of the Rock and Roll elite.”

In recent years, Rundgren has performed as a member of The New Cars, and in 2009 and 2010 he toured select cities with an elaborate production covering his 1973 album A Wizard, A True Star.

Earlier this year, he released a collection of Robert Johnson covers called Short Johnson.

http://www.gibson.com/en-...gren-0721/