Utopia band plus#

'Freedom Fighters' is by far the shortest song on the album sitting at 4 minutes, yet it is one of the strongest. The lyrics here are super weird, and it's probably the weakest song on the album, but it's not bad at all.

Around the 4-minute song the main theme with a very Gentle Giant and Yezda Urfa-sounding verse. It starts off on an off-beat rhythm, before going into a soft section with some nice Wurlitzer. 'Freak Parade' is another 10-minute+ epic. The song finishes up on its main theme which sounds like a cross between Deep Purple and Iron Maiden but more progressive. The drum tone on the song sounds very 80s which is odd considering that this was released in 1974. All the while, Todd himself starts completely shredding the out of his guitar around the 9-minute mark for some remarkable soloing. The trio of the aforementioned keyboardists (Mark Klingman, Jean Labat, and Ralph Shuckett) put on an absolutely stunning show during this monster track. If you thought Greenslade's combo of Dave Greenslade and Dave Lawson on keys was impressive, think again. Featuring some of the best keyboard work in all of prog. The opening track is the 14-minute epic, 'Utopia' recorded live in concert in 1974 for the album. I absolutely love this album and was truly shocked when I first heard it because I had only known Todd as the pop-oriented rocker that he was earlier in his career. Todd put together a 6-piece band in 1974 (the greatest prog rock year in my opinion), featuring 3 keyboardists (Mark Klingman, Jean Labat, and Ralph Shuckett) that mainly toured as a live act. Masterminded by former pop artist Todd Rundgren, this album is one of the classic prog albums of all time. Todd Rundgren's Utopia is the debut album released by the American Progressive Rock band Utopia. Take half an hour out of your day, and listen to 'The Ikon', the track which takes up the entire second side on the vinyl version of 'Todd Rundgren's Utopia', I guarantee you will come away impressed. However, if your taste is for ten-thirty minute, multi-part epics, you won't find many better than on the first two quoted albums. You may find the last couple too 'poppy', but you have to realise that Todd Rundgren has always been, and still is, one of the best writers of the infamous 'three minute ditty'. 'Another Live', 'Oops! Wrong Planet', 'Adventures In Utopia', 'Deface The Music', and 'Swing To The Right'.

Utopia band plus#

Lead guitar, and most of the lead vocals, plus the major chunk of songwriting were his, this was not to the detriment of the other members, but the boss was always pre-eminent.įor your further listening pleasure, find the following albums. Further albums were forthcoming, with a more democratic look to the songwriting credits, but it was always Todd's band. Between this and 'Ra', the line-up was amended, until the four members noted were 'the band'. Their first album 'Todd Rundgren's Utopia' consisted of only four tracks! This was at the height of prog/fusion, and so the quality of musicianship was undeniably high. Various musicians came and went, but the main stays of the band were Roger POWELL (keyboards), Kasim SULTON (bass), and John 'Willie' WILCOX (drums), and of course TODD himself handling the guitar work, all four members supplied both lead and harmony vocals. UTOPIA was initially an ensemble, formed by Todd RUNDGREN as a counter-point to his solo work. Formed in 1973 in New York, USA - Disbanded in 1986 - Reunited briefly in 1992 - Reformed in 2011