![]() There were smoke machines, paper dragons, fire pits and a giant pyramid that Todd would climb, step by step until he reached the top, only to leap off, holding on to a bungee cord, all while playing his guitar solo. Let me first say, the tour behind "Ra" was both ambitious and at times hilarious, in a Spinal Tap way. But because "Another Live" had mostly unheard material, it has a special place in my heart.Īs I mentioned in the intro, Utopia's catalogue covers many genres and on "Ra," the first with bassist Kasim Sulton, they cover all of them. Unless it's The Who "Live At Leeds" or "Aretha At The Fillmore," or "Jerry Lee at the Star Club" or "The Stones at The Marquee," I don't love live records. I loved it at the time and still occasionally get the urge to hear "The Seven Rays." But "The Wheel" has not aged well, and I prefer the studio versions of "Heavy Metal Kids" and "Just One Victory." The side is rounded out with a Moogy instrumental "Mister Triscuits" and two Rundgren classics, "Heavy Metal Kids" and the Utopian National Anthem, long time concert closer "Just One Victory." Side Two features a cover of "Something's Coming" from "West Side Story" and a cover of The Move's "Do Ya," two years before Jeff Lynne redid it with ELO. "The Wheel" became a concert staple and there are moments in "The Seven Rays" that still kill me in the best ways. Recorded in Central Park, six of the eight tracks are making their first appearance on a Rundgren record.Īll of Side One is new material, the very busy progrocker "Another Life," the hippy ballad "The Wheel" and the showstopper, "The Seven Rays." This is a very fine trifecta, with great playing by all. This was the last appearance of the six piece band with the late Moogy Klingman and Ralph Schuckett, nine if you count the three backing vocalists. I know for many Utopians, this live record from 1975 is a classic. Overall, I mind "Oblivion" a lot less now than I did then. Kasim Sulton's two lead vocals, "Love With A Thinker" and the lovely "I Will Wait" are winners, but again, the metallic production mars the festivities just a bit. (I've mentioned before that the Rundgren-penned "Heaven's Falling" from Cheap Trick's, Todd-produced classic "Next Position, Please" is basically the same song sideways.) One actual MTV hit, albeit not a big one, was the single "Crybaby," which still kicks some power pop ass. It just hurts knowing how much better they could be.īoth "Bring Me My Longbow" and "Too Much Water" get on the dancey bandwagon of the 80's, with some white boy funk and electronica not unlike most of what was airing on MTV or being played on WLIR, Long Island's classic new wave station. This is not to say these songs don't work. Two of Rundgren's greatest ballads "If I Didn't Try" and "Maybe I Could Change," the latter sung by Sulton, are begging for a bigger, more organic band. Blame the 80s, or Willie Wilcox's terrible drum sound, but a lot of "Oblivion" is ice cold and stiff. The production on "Oblivion" is its weakest trait. But unlike "POV," this record has more than its share of classics and because of that, it has aged remarkably well. Following one of the best records of the band's career, "Oblivion" had plenty to live up to and so of course, it felt like a disappointment. My opinions are on the individual merits of these records, not how they compare to "Something/Anything?" surprisingly, not Rundgren's only record! I also happen to like both prog rock and jazz fusion, and that is how I approached those Utopia records, as a fan of the music.ġ983's "Oblivion" was the first for yet another new label, Passport Records. Hell, I'd be very surprised if they have read this far. I don't expect to change the already made up minds of those who have no use for prog rock, or jazz fusion or glam or metal. ![]() Over the course of these eleven releases Utopia covers almost as many genres, and it is because of this, that Rundgren's career has baffled as many as it has dazzled. I count eleven releases, not including the various post-breakup collections or "official bootleg" live releases. I have lived with these records for years and like the first buyer's guide, I have no issue with pointing out all that's bad along with all that is good. Most of the intro to the earlier guide applies to this guide. There is 50% less to write about with Utopia's catalogue, but that doesn't make it any easier. Almost two years after writing the Buyer's Guide To Todd Rundgren, which you can read HERE, I am making good on my promise to deliver the second part, my Buyer's Guide To Utopia.
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