Utopia (1982)

Canadian import

Note: this release was originally purchased as a 2 LP set, later replaced by this CD.

At some point in late 1982, I was over at my buddy Jim's house watching MTV. Those visits happened frequently in 1982-83, especially on weekends as dates with members of the opposite sex were few and far between at that time. The unusual video for Feet Don't Fail Me Now appeared at some point and while I didn't care much for the video, I couldn't resist that hook. I bought this Utopia album on our next trip to the Houston record stores, which probably didn't happen too much after we saw the video for the first time. I didn't love the album at first. I guess I was expecting different - I mean, just look at their New Wave outfits on the cover! But I only found a little bit of a New Wave vibe; this album was a pastiche of different grooves and rotating lead singers. Plus, the format was odd: the first LP was "normal" with 5 tunes on each side, then there was a second LP (listed as a "5 track bonus LP" in the ad below) that had the same 5 tunes on both sides. It's the kind of inconvenience that puts off a lazy, 16 year old nudnik. Add to that the wide variety of styles and young Mark didn't spin this one very often.

That was then, this is now.

I eventually came to love the thing and play it often. Indeed, my enjoyment of Todd Rundgren's work has only increased over the years. And while this is decidedly a group effort in which all band members make considerable contributions in songwriting, production, and lead vocals, Rundgren is first among equals.

Press of the time:

• Rolling Stone (★★★½): "With enviable ease, Rundgren and Utopia use simple melodic devices to trigger a dominolike succession of core riffs, crack rhythms and chorus hooks."
• Billboard: "this could be the band's biggest in some time."
• CashBox: "a bevy of upbeat tunes geared for hook-conscious listeners."
• Stereo Review: Best of the Month. "A Nearly Perfect Set of Well-Made Pop Songs"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #84
• Billboard Rock: #23
• CashBox: #93
• Rolling Stone: #55

Tracks: Let's rank 'em! (excluding the bonus track, the Dance Mix of Hammer In My Heart)

1. Feet Don't Fail Me Now
2. I'm Looking At You But I'm Talking To Myself
3. Neck On Up
4. Hammer In My Heart
5. Bad Little Actress
6. Forgotten But Not Gone
7. Princess Of The Universe
8. Chapter And Verse
9. Say Yeah
10. Libertine
11. There Goes My Inspiration
12. Private Heaven
13. Call It What You Will
14. Burn Three Times
15. Infrared And Ultraviolet

As you could probably guess, this album plays much better on a single CD than on 3 different LP sides. Despite the MTV airplay, the aforementioned Feet Don't Fail Me Now only managed to climb to #82 on the pop chart. I love that hook as much now as I did when I first heard it. The other single released from the album was the Hammer In My Heart, which didn't reach the pop chart at all, but managed to get to #31 on the rock chart.

Videos for Hammer In My Heart and Feet Don't Fail Me Now - along with You Make Me Crazy from the 1979 album Adventures In Utopia - appeared on a "Video 45" tape titled The Utopia Sampler.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: see above