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Utopia (Utopia album)

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Utopia
Studio album by
Released1982
RecordedAugust 1982 at Utopia Sound Studios
GenreNew wave
Length48:18
LabelUnited States Network
United Kingdom Epic
ProducerTodd Rundgren and Utopia
Utopia chronology
Swing to the Right
(1982)
Utopia
(1982)
Oblivion
(1984)
Singles from Utopia
  1. "Feet Don't Fail Me Now"
    Released: December 1982
  2. "Hammer In My Heart"
    Released: May 1983
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[2]

Utopia is the second of two self-titled albums by the rock group Utopia (the other being Todd Rundgren's Utopia). It was released in 1982 (see 1982 in music). It was also their only album for Network Records.

During the composing phase of this album, Kasim Sulton had left to pursue a solo career, and Doug Howard from the band Touch was brought in on bass. Howard co-wrote two songs on the album, "Feet Don’t Fail Me Now" and "I’m Looking at You But I’m Talking to Myself". These songs are credited to "Utopia and Doug Howard" on the finished album. Howard stepped aside when Sulton decided to return, had no further involvement with the group, and was not featured in the album's cover photo.

Videos and singles were released for "Feet Don't Fail Me Now" and "Hammer in My Heart". Footage for "Hammer in My Heart" was recorded live on August 18, 1982, at MTV's official first-birthday celebration hosted by VeeJay Nina Blackwood. The song peaked at #31 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart. Both were featured on the VHS video release "The Utopia Sampler" nominated in 1983 for a Grammy for Best Short Form Video.

The original vinyl LP was released as a three-sided set of two 12" discs - the third side including five additional songs, repeated on both sides of the second disc. It was then released as a single LP with the five additional songs on the included two-sided EP, then as a single LP with an included five-song 45. The later CD releases simply include the five side three tracks on the same disc as the rest of the album. In Europe, the EP was pressed as a 7" with the five songs split between the two sides; elsewhere, the EP was pressed as a 12" with all five songs repeated on both sides of the EP.

Track listing

[edit]

Side 3 is unlisted on the album sleeve.

Side 1
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocal(s)Length
1."Libertine"Powell, Rundgren, WilcoxKasim Sulton 
2."Bad Little Actress"Powell, Rundgren, WilcoxTodd Rundgren, Kasim Sulton 
3."Feet Don’t Fail Me Now"Howard, Powell, Rundgren, WilcoxRoger Powell (verses), Group (choruses) 
4."Neck On Up"Powell, Rundgren, Sulton, WilcoxJohn "Willie" Wilcox (lead), Roger Powell (bridge) 
5."Say Yeah"Powell, Rundgren, Sulton, WilcoxTodd Rundgren, Kasim Sulton 
Side 2
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocal(s)Length
1."Call It What You Will"Powell, Rundgren, Sulton, WilcoxKasim Sulton 
2."I’m Looking at You But I’m Talking to Myself"Howard, Powell, Rundgren, WilcoxTodd Rundgren 
3."Hammer in My Heart"Powell, Rundgren, Sulton, WilcoxTodd Rundgren 
4."Burn Three Times"Powell, Rundgren, Sulton, WilcoxRoger Powell 
5."There Goes My Inspiration"Powell, Rundgren, Sulton, WilcoxTodd Rundgren, Kasim Sulton 
Side 3 (and later a bonus EP)
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocal(s)Length
1."Princess of the Universe"Powell, Rundgren, WilcoxJohn "Willie" Wilcox 
2."Infrared and Ultraviolet"Powell, Rundgren, WilcoxTodd Rundgren, Kasim Sulton 
3."Forgotten But Not Gone"Powell, Rundgren, Sulton, WilcoxTodd Rundgren, Kasim Sulton 
4."Private Heaven"Powell, Rundgren, Sulton, WilcoxKasim Sulton 
5."Chapter and Verse"Powell, Rundgren, Sulton, WilcoxTodd Rundgren 
CD Tracklist
No.TitleLength
1."Libertine" 
2."Bad Little Actress" 
3."Feet Don’t Fail Me Now" 
4."Neck On Up" 
5."Say Yeah" 
6."Call It What You Will" 
7."I’m Looking at You But I’m Talking to Myself" 
8."Hammer In My Heart" 
9."Burn Three Times" 
10."There Goes My Inspiration" 
11."Princess of the Universe" 
12."Infrared and Ultraviolet" 
13."Forgotten But Not Gone" 
14."Private Heaven" 
15."Chapter and Verse" 
16."Hammer In My Heart (Dance Mix)" (Only available on 2000 CD reissue by Unidisc Music) 

Personnel

[edit]

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1983) Peak
position
US Top LPs & Tape (Billboard) 84

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2011). "Utopia - Utopia | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  2. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 609.