Utopia-Ra (1977)

 


Artist: Utopia

Title: Ra

Label: Bearsville

Format: 8-Track

Catalog Number: M8 6965

Year of Release: 1977

Country and Year of Edition: US 1977

Sell Price: $4.94

Sell Date: 8/23/26

Condition: VG/VG PRO REFURBISH untested

Discogs Last Sold: 8/29/24 VG/VG $5..25

Low: $4.94

Median: $5.00

Average: $5.06

High: $5.25

Current low price: $4.94 F/G

Curren Number on Sale at Discogs: 1

Have/Want: 12/18

Where Sold: Fort Worth, TX

Time It Took To Sell: 2 years

Where and When Bought: eBay 8-track lot

Gwiz-gau Letter Grade: B-

Sad To See It Go: No

Todd Rundgren's Prog with a capital "P" outfit Utopia were alternating releases with his solo albums for the second half of the 70's into the 80's.  In terms of popularity, this one was among the upper middle tier peaking at #79 in the US and having a bit more success in the UK.  Utopia toured the second half of 1977 extensively with a very expensive stage setup that took 18 months to make.  Most of the tracks on here have made band setlists at one time or another.  The 8-track and some vinyl pressings used a rejected master that have some mix differences that I can't be bothered to A/B even though I have another copy of the 8-track laying around as well as a vinyl copy.  "Communion With The Sun" and "Sunburnt Finish" (split between two tracks) are the main culprits.  This is deep dive work for a Rundgren audio sleuth.  I'm still trying to get the music into my head several weeks after the sale with is hard enough without trying to seek out nuance differences.

The standout track on here is the Doom laden "Hiroshima."  Detailing Nagasaki's event with a detached but sweeping anthemic approach.  Then the meat of the album closes with the 18 minute "Singing And The Glass Guitar" that takes up the second half of track 3 and all of track 4.  

Harry, Harry give 'em Hell!


Something/Anything? (1972)

Initiation (1975)

Bette Midler-Songs For The New Depression (1976)

Meat Loaf-Bat Out Of Hell (1977)

Soundtrack-Rock 'N' Roll High School (1979)

Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band-With A Little Help From My Friends (The Anthology...So Far) (2000)


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