- Todd Rundgren -- vocals, guitar, keyboards

- Kasim Sulton -- vocals, bass (1977-)

- Roger Powell -- keyboards, vbacking ocals

- Willie Wilcox -- drums, percussion, backing vocals

- The Nazz (Todd Rundgren)

- Todd Rundgren (solo efforts)

- Runt (Todd Rundgren)

- Kasim Sulton (solo efforts)

- Woody's Truck Stop (Todd Rundgren)

Genre: rock

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Ra

Company: Bearsville

Catalog: BR-6965

Year: 1977

Country/State: US

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: minor ring wear; original inner sleeve with lyrics

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4410

Price: $5.00

Cost: $66.00

Self-produced, 1977's "Ra" tends to get slammed by critics who didn't like the fact the album found frontman Todd Rundgren moving towards a more commercial sound at the expense of the group's earlier progressive stance.  To be honest, that characteristic is what will form your opinion of the album.  If you enjoyed the long instrumental jams that characterized Utopia's first two albums this set probably won't do much for you.  On the other hand, if you enjoyed "Something/Anything" this may well appeal to you.   Released in the wake of personnel changes that saw the addition of bassist Kasim Sulton to the lineup, the album also stands as the group's first stab at a concept piece (though the plotline apparently having something to do with the sun isn't entirely clear to me).  So what's it sound like?  Well, with all four members contributing material, tracks such as 'Overture: Mountaintop and Sunrise/Communion with the Sun' reflect an odd mixture of pop and rock moves that bares an occasional comparison to Freddy Mercury and Queen (yeah, I had to check that comparison twice).  To my ears there's still plenty of progressive excess (check out the bizarre 18 minute 'Singing and the Glass Guitar (An Electrified Fiarytale)'),   Elsewhere, 'Magic Dragon Theatre' and 'Eternal Love' somewhat atypical, recalling the best of Rundrgen's early-1970s' pop work.  At least to my ears, those are the tracks that work the best on this one.  

"Ra" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Overture: Mountaintop and Sunrise/Communion with the Sun   (Bernard Hermann - Todd Rundgren) - 7:15

2.) Magic Dragon Theatre   (Todd Rundgren - Kasim Sulton) - 3:28

3.) Jealousy   (Todd Rundgren - Willie Wilcox) - 4:43

4.) Eternal Love   (Roger Powell - Kasim Sulton) - 4:51

5.) Sunburst Finish   (Roger Powell - Todd Rundgren) - 7:38

(side 2)
1.) Hiroshima   (Roger Powell - Todd Rundgren) - 7:16

2.) Singing and the Glass Guitar (An Electrified Fairytale) - 18:24

A modest seller, the album peaked at # 79 on the US charts.

Genre: rock

Rating: ** (2 stars)

Title:  Utopia

Company: Network

Catalog: 60183

Year: 1981

Country/State: US

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: one and one half album set; original inner sleeve

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4395

Price: $8.00

Cost: $66.00

Many folks looking at the new wave cover photo gracing 1981's "Utopia" are probably going to run away from this set as if it were contaminated by the plague.  That's unfortunate since the three sided, 15 track collection is surprisingly good.  Unlike earlier Utopia efforts, this time around the results are a true collective effort with all four members sharing songwriting credits.  Rundgren's instantly recognizable voice predominates, but Powell and Wilcox get their respective shots at the spotlight, turning in strong performances on 'Burn Three Times' and Princess of the Universe''.  Sure, the band's embrace of new wave moves (synthesizers, syndrums, etc.) takes a little getting accustomed to, but luckily on tracks such a 'Bad Little Actress' and '' Rundgren and company turn in some of their most melodic material in a decade.   Is it just me, or does the irritatingly catchy single 'Feet Don't Fail Me Now' (not the Little Feat song), sound like something out of the XTC catalog?  How 'bout 'Say Yeah'?  Does this one sound like Cheap Trick?  Okay, you probably get the point.  This may not be the year's most original endeavor, but it's worth a spin just 'cause it is so commercial.  (Physically this is a double album set, but sides 3 and 4 sport the same 5 songs.)

"Utopia" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Libertine (dance mix)   (Roger Powell - Todd Rundgren - Willie Wilcox) - 2:48

2.) Bad Little Actress   (Roger Powell - Todd Rundgren - Willie Wilcox) - 2:53

3. Feet Don't Fail Me Now   (Howard - Roger Powell - Todd Rundgren) - 3:08\

4.) Neck On Up   (Roger Powell - Todd Rundgren - Willie Wilcox - Kasim Sulton) - 2:54

5.) Say Yeah   (Roger Powell - Todd Rundgren - Willie Wilcox - Kasim Sulton) - 3:04

(side 2)
1.) Call It what You Will   (Roger Powell - Todd Rundgren - Willie Wilcox - Kasim Sulton) - 3:48

2.) I'm Looking At You But I'm Talking To Myself   (Howard - Roger Powell - Todd Rundgren) - 3:40

3.) Hammer In My Heart   (Roger Powell - Todd Rundgren - Willie Wilcox - Kasim Sulton) - 4:11

4.) Burn Three Times   (Roger Powell - Todd Rundgren - Willie Wilcox - Kasim Sulton) - 3:14

5.) There Goes My Inspiration   (Roger Powell - Todd Rundgren - Willie Wilcox - Kasim Sulton) - 3:26

(side 3)

1.) Princess of the Universe   (Roger Powell - Todd Rundgren - Willie Wilcox - Kasim Sulton) - 3:30

2.) Infrared and ultraviolent   (Roger Powell - Todd Rundgren - Willie Wilcox - Kasim Sulton) - 2:18

3.) Forgotten But Not Gone   (Roger Powell - Todd Rundgren - Willie Wilcox - Kasim Sulton) - 2:32

4.) Private Heaven   (Roger Powell - Todd Rundgren - Willie Wilcox - Kasim Sulton) - 3:12

5.) Chapter and Verse   (Roger Powell - Todd Rundgren - Willie Wilcox - Kasim Sulton) - 3:41

6.) Hammer In My Heart   (Roger Powell - Todd Rundgren - Willie Wilcox - Kasim Sulton) - 5:12