While I love Todd Rundgren, I have a special love for Utopia. I count it among my good moments that I’ve seen them live during their prime, creative years. It pleases me that a label is assembling a Box collection for Utopia.
On April 20, Friday Music will release a 7CD Box bringing together the band’s classic Bearsville issues that include their live set, Another Live (1975). The box is titled The Road To Utopia: The Complete Recordings 1974-1982.
Every album here will be newly remastered. Each disc is in digipak gatefold jackets, with original artwork and rare inner sleeve artwork. The included book will feature notes and discussion from the classic lineup of Todd Rundgren, Roger Powell, Kasim Sulton, and Willie Wilcox. Even better are a collection of bonus tracks, fifteen in all that are included in the albums they originate from. They will be live performance tracks, B-sides, and radio edits.
Of course, after Bearsville, Utopia did not stop recording. They actually released three more studio sets (Utopia – 1982, Oblivion – 1984, P.O.V. – 1985). But those are for another time (but they should have been included here). For now, I’m pleased to have these classics!
The Road To Utopia: The Complete Recordings 1974-1982 – Rundgren/Utopia
CD1 (Todd Rundgren’s Utopia – 1974)
01-Utopia
02-Freak Parade
03-Freedom Fighters
04-The Ikon
Bonus track:
05-Do Ya (live at St. Louis, MI 11-9-74)
CD2 (Another Live – 1975):
01-Another Life
02-The Wheel
03-The Seven Rays
04-Intro / Mister Triscuits
05-Something’s Coming
06-Heavy Metal Kids
07-Do Ya
08-Just One Victory
Bonus Track:
09-Open My Eyes (live in Cape Cod, MA 8-23-75)
CD3 (Ra – 1977):
01-Overture (Instrumental)
02-Communion With The Sun
03-Magic Dragon Theatre
04-Jealousy
05-Eternal Love
06-Sunburst Finish
07-Hiroshima
08-Singring And The Glass Guitar (An Electrified Fairytale)
Bonus Track:
09-Communion With The Sun (promo single mix)
CD4 (Oops! Wrong Planet – 1977):
01-Trapped
02-Windows
03-Love In Action
04-Crazy Lady Blue
05-Back On The Street
06-The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell
07-The Martyr
08-Abandon City
09-Gangrene
10-My Angel
11-Rape Of The Young
12-Love Is The Answer
Bonus Track:
13-Love Is The Answer (promo single mix)
CD5 (Adventures In Utopia – 1979):
01-The Road To Utopia
02-You Make Me Crazy
03-Second Nature
04-Set Me Free
05-Caravan
06-The Last Of The New Wave Riders
07-Shot In The Dark
08-The Very Last Time
09-Love Alone
10-Rock Love
Bonus Tracks:
11-Umbrella Man (B-side of Set Me Free)
12- Set Me Free (promo single mix)
13-Second Nature (promo single mix)
14-The Very Last Time (promo single mix)
15-Anyhow Anyway Anywhere (live in Syracuse, NY 11-16-79)
16-96 Tears (live in Syracuse, NY 11-16-79)
17-Just One Victory (live in Syracuse, NY 11-16-79)
CD6 (Deface The Music – 1980):
01-I Just Want To Touch You
02-Crystal Ball
03-Where Does The World Go To Hide
04-Silly Boy
05-Alone
06-That’s Not Right
07-Take It Home
08-Hoi Poloi
09-Life Goes On
10-Feel Too Good
11-Always Late
12-All Smiles
13-Everybody Else Is Wrong
Bonus Track:
14-I Just Want To Touch You (promo single mix)
CD7 (Swing To The Right – 1982)
01-Swing To The Right
02-Lysistrata
03-The Up
04-Junk Rock (Million Monkeys)
05-Shinola
06-For The Love Of Money
07-Last Dollar On Earth
08-Fahrenheit 451
09-Only Human
10-One World
Bonus Tracks:
11-Special Interest (B-side of “One World”)
12-Lysistrata (promo single mix)
13-One World (promo single mix)