Utopia - The Second Disc

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Classic Rock, Comedy, Country, Everything Else, Folk, Funk, Jazz, Pop, R&B/Soul, Rap/Hip-Hop, Rock, Soundtracks

The Second Disc’s Guide to Record Store Day Black Friday 2024

November 29, 2024 by The Second Disc | 2 Comments

From all of us here at Second Disc HQ to all of you, we hope you’ve enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving in the company of beloved family and friends. (And with plenty of delicious food, too!) Now, Record Store Day’s annual Black Friday event is upon us, so we’re spotlighting a dozen of the most eagerly anticipated releases arriving to your local independent brick-and-mortar record shop! Here are our personal picks for RSD BF must-haves; visit Record Store Day’s official website for a list of participating retailers. Happy Listening, and have a great…

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Classic Rock, Comedy, Funk, Holiday, Jazz, Pop, R&B/Soul, Rock, Soundtracks

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Billie Eilish, Carl Stalling, Christopher Cross, Curtis Mayfield, Herbie Hancock, Isaac Hayes, Jack Urbont, Jesse Ed Davis, Leon Russell, Olivia Rodrigo, Phil Collins, Record Store Day, Steve Martin, Utopia, War, Whitney Houston

Rhino’s Record Store Day Black Friday Lineup Includes Phil Collins, Doors, Grateful Dead, Joni Mitchell, Steve Martin, Yes, More

October 15, 2024 by The Second Disc | No Comments

TSD kicks off our look at this year’s Record Store Day Black Friday releases, due at participating independent record stores on November 29, with a packed slate coming from Rhino. With over 20 titles, Rhino has brought out the heavy hitters including The Doors, Joni Mitchell, Grateful Dead, Yes, Stevie Nicks, Todd Rundgren, and more. And that’s not all. There are special treats for fans of animation classic (The Carl Stalling Project) and contemporary (The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie) and a picture disc from comedy legend Steve Martin. Visit here for a list…

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Blues, Classic Rock, Comedy, Jazz, Pop, R&B/Soul, Rock, Soundtracks

Review: Rhino’s Sounds of the Summer Series – Randy Newman, Chicago, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, Al Stewart, Utopia

August 2, 2024 by Joe Marchese | 5 Comments

Over the past month, Rhino has been releasing numerous titles as part of its Sounds of the Summer initiative, for a total of over two dozen vinyl releases hitting brick-and-mortar stores. These titles encompass various reissues as well as new entries in the label’s ongoing Now Playing series of compilations. As of now, these LPs are all exclusive to independent record stores and Barnes & Noble locations. We’ve given a spin to a few of these titles! How to distill the discography of one of America’s pre-eminent songwriters into the contents of…

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Reviews

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Classic Rock, Folk, Pop, R&B/Soul

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Al Stewart, Chicago, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Frankie Valli, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Randy Newman, Todd Rundgren, Utopia

Rhino Ushers In Summer with Frankie Valli, Van Morrison, Linda Ronstadt, Randy Newman, Chicago, Grateful Dead, and More

July 1, 2024 by The Second Disc | 5 Comments

Today, Rhino announced its new Sounds of the Summer initiative, which will see a total of over two dozen vinyl releases hitting brick-and-mortar stores beginning this Friday, July 5, and continuing throughout the month of July. These titles encompass various reissues as well as new entries in the label’s ongoing Now Playing series of compilations. As of now, these LPs are all exclusive to independent record stores and Barnes & Noble locations. You’ll find the full list of releases below including descriptions courtesy of TSD. July 5 Genesis, And Then There Were…

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Classic Rock, Folk, Pop, R&B/Soul, Reggae, Rock

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Al Stewart, Chicago, Crosby Stills and Nash, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Fleetwood Mac, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, George Benson, Grateful Dead, Jimmy Cliff, Linda Ronstadt, Little Feat, Randy Newman, Rod Stewart, Sonny and Cher, The Doobie Brothers, Utopia, Van Morrison, War, Yes

Release Round-Up: Week of March 29

March 29, 2024 by The Second Disc | No Comments

Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles available today. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Deep Purple, Machine Head: Super Deluxe Edition (Warner/Rhino) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Rhino.com) Deep Purple’s 1972 album Machine Head remains the venerable hard rock band’s most commercially successful album. The third LP from the Mk. II lineup of Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord, and Ian Paice introduced one of rock’s most famous riffs with “Smoke on the Water,” and influenced a generation of rock and metal musicians. …

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Blu-Ray Audio, Box Sets, CD

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Classic Rock, Disco/Dance, Jazz, Pop, R&B/Soul, Rock

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Deep Purple, Gentle Giant, Michael Schenker, Nico, Nina Simone, Sheryl Crow, Silver Convention, Todd Rundgren, Utopia

Open My Eyes: Ace Celebrates Todd Rundgren and Gus Dudgeon in Label’s Producers Series

March 17, 2022 by Joe Marchese | 3 Comments

In recent weeks, Ace Records has made two new additions to its ongoing Producers Series, and both titles spotlight the versatility of the respective talents, Todd Rundgren and Gus Dudgeon. The Studio Wizardry of Todd Rundgren is, in many senses, an update of Rhino’s 1992 compilation An Elpee’s Worth of Productions. Like that set, it paints a portrait of the singer-songwriter largely in service of others’ songs, though a handful of his own compositions appear, too. Ace’s collection spans 1970-1990, when the prolific Rundgren worked his studio magic on essential recordings by…

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Cheap Trick, Daryl Hall and John Oates, David Bowie, Elton John, Gus Dudgeon, Joan Armatrading, Patti Smith, Sparks, Strawbs, The Zombies, Todd Rundgren, Utopia, Various Artists, XTC

The Second Disc Guide to Record Store Day Drop 2 TOMORROW!

July 16, 2021 by The Second Disc | 4 Comments

Once again, Record Store Day here in the U.S. looks a little – make that a lot – different this year. The usual offerings have been split among two dates in 2021 with Drop 1 having taken place on June 12 and Drop 2 happening tomorrow, July 17. Every retailer is handling the Drop a bit differently thanks to the necessary accommodations for social distancing, smaller crowds, and better safety precautions. So please check in with your favorite store to find out more information. Below, you’ll find a list of the TSD…

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Box Sets, Vinyl

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Classic Rock, Country, Pop, R&B/Soul, Reggae, Rock, Soundtracks

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"Weird Al" Yankovic, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Bobbie Gentry, Cat Stevens, David Holmes, Dr. John, James Horner, Randy Newman, Record Store Day, Shaun Cassidy, Todd Rundgren, Utopia

Release Round-Up: Week of May 1

May 1, 2020 by The Second Disc | No Comments

Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up! Todd Rundgren’s Utopia, Benefit for Moogy Klingman (Purple Pyramid) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Cleopatra Records’ Purple Pyramid imprint remembers Utopia’s late keyboardist with Benefit for Moogy Klingman. This 4-CD/2-DVD set (originally slated for May 15 but apparently shipping today) includes the band’s Highline Ballroom reunion set of January 29, 2011 (featuring Todd Rundgren, Moogy, Ralph Schuckett, John Siegler, Kevin Ellman, Jesse Gress, and Kasim Sulton) which helped defer the costs of Moogy’s cancer treatments, as well as the performance of November 18…

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CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, Vinyl

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Classic Rock, Country, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, Rock, Soundtracks

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America, Dolly Parton, Georgia Stitt, Gerry Beckley, Porter Wagoner, Todd Rundgren, Utopia

You Got to Have Friends: Todd Rundgren’s Utopia Releases “Benefit for Moogy Klingman” in 4-CD/2-DVD Box Set

April 14, 2020 by Joe Marchese | No Comments

Mark “Moogy” Klingman might have been best known as an early member of Todd Rundgren’s Utopia, or as the co-writer of Bette Midler’s joyful hit “Friends” which took on new poignancy in the era of AIDS. But Moogy also recorded as a solo artist and as part of the band Glitterhouse, played onstage with such luminaries as Lou Reed, and served as Midler’s producer and musical director. In January 2011, the Utopia line-up of Todd Rundgren, Kevin Ellman, John Siegler, Ralph Schuckett, and Klingman reunited onstage at New York’s Highline Ballroom for…

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CD, DVD

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Moogy Klingman, Todd Rundgren, Utopia

Release Round-Up: Week of April 5

April 5, 2019 by The Second Disc | No Comments

Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up! David Bowie, Spying Through a Keyhole: Demos and Unreleased Songs (Parlophone) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) Spying Through a Keyhole: Demos and Unreleased Songs is the new box set with four seven-inch vinyl singles of some of Bowie’s earliest material. It will feature nine rare, monaural recordings, including mostly solo vocal-and-guitar versions of familiar songs (“Space Oddity” in its earliest known version, “London Bye Ta Ta,” “In The Heat Of The Morning”) as well as the heretofore-unknown “Love All Around,” a lyric of which…

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Box Sets, CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, Vinyl

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Classic Rock, Country, Disco/Dance, Pop, R&B/Soul, Rock

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Barry White, David Bowie, Don Felder, Ian Hunter, Love Unlimited Orchestra, Meat Loaf, Mike + the Mechanics, New Order, Reba McEntire, The Searchers, Todd Rundgren, Utopia

Back On The Street: Todd Rundgren and Utopia’s Reunion Show Documented on “Live at the Chicago Theatre” Box Set

February 14, 2019 by Sam Stone | 4 Comments

Utopia LiveAtTheChicagoTheater 2CDBDDVD plain

Last year, rock’s wizard/true star Todd Rundgren reunited prog rockers turned power-pop legends Utopia, joining up with Kasim Sulton, Willie Wilcox, along with featured performer Gil Assayas. It had been 32 years since the band’s last performance, save a brief reunion in 1992. Utopia trekked across the U.S. in the spring and summer and now one stop on the tour will be released as a 2-CD/DVD/Blu-ray set, as well as a limited-edition, two-disc green vinyl set. Arriving from Cleopatra Records on April 5, the Live at the Chicago Theatre documents Todd Rundgren and…

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Blu-Ray, CD, DVD, Vinyl

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Rock

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Got a Special Interest: Utopia Singles Collection and Reissue of Zappa’s “200 Motels” On the Way From Pledge Music

January 4, 2019 by Sam Stone | No Comments

In recent years, many artists have teamed up with Pledge Music to bring their music direct to consumers. From small, independent do-it-yourself productions, to massive reissue campaigns by major artists (Cat Stevens’ Back To Earth, for example), it’s become one of many emerging avenues for artists who want to get their projects out there. Now, two projects by two heroes of “weird” rock have been announced – one a compilation of singles tracks from Todd Rundgren’s Utopia, and the other a reissue of one of the strangest rock films of all time,…

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Box Sets, CD, DVD

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Classic Rock, Pop, Rock, Soundtracks

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Frank Zappa, Todd Rundgren, Utopia

Release Round-Up: Week of April 20

April 20, 2018 by The Second Disc | No Comments

Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up! The Who, Live at the Fillmore East 1968 (UMe) 2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 3LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada The Who’s April 6, 1968 concert from New York’s Fillmore East gets its first-ever official release just in time for its 50th anniversary. For the occasion, it’s been restored and fully remixed from the original four-track tapes by longtime Who engineer Bob Pridden, who was responsible for the mix heard that night in the Fillmore East. The 2-CD iteration of…

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Blu-Ray, Box Sets, CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, Vinyl

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Cast Recordings, Classic Rock, Disco/Dance, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul, Reggae, Rock, Soundtracks

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Barry White, Cheech and Chong, Donna Summer, Gladiators, Neil Young, Pat Suzuki, Pete Townshend, Shaggy, Sting, The Feelies, The Flaming Lips, The Who, Todd Rundgren, Utopia, Yung Wu

Love is the Answer: Friday Music Collects “The Complete Todd Rundgren + Utopia: 1974-1982” On New Box Set, Coincides with Reunion Tour

February 22, 2018 by Joe Marchese | 1 Comment

Friday Music is traveling The Road to Utopia with an upcoming 7-CD box set from Todd Rundgren’s progressive band. The April 20 release of The Road to Utopia: The Complete Recordings 1974-1982 will coincide with the long-awaited reunion tour of Rundgren, Kasim Sulton (who toured with his own iteration of Utopia earlier this year), Willie Wilcox, and Ralph Schuckett which kicks off this April and runs through June. The new box set will trace Utopia’s evolution from its 1974 debut album – featuring the Mark II line-up (Mk. I was a short-lived…

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Love In Action: Todd Rundgren’s “All Sides of the Roxy” Presents Complete, Star-Studded 1978 Concert

February 21, 2018 by Joe Marchese | 2 Comments

For his first live album, the 1978 double-LP Back to the Bars, singer/songwriter/sonic auteur Todd Rundgren returned to his roots with a collection of lean, tight, intimate performances recorded in the clubs of New York, Los Angeles, and Cleveland. This was Rundgren at his most accessible, playing his most universally beloved songs over his first decade of music-making, with a band including Utopia veterans Mark “Moogy” Klingman, John Siegler, and Willie Wilcox, plus his old friends from musical/mime troupe The Hello People and special guests. Among the shows tapped for Back to…

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News, Reviews

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Box Sets, CD

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Daryl Hall and John Oates, Rick Derringer, Stevie Nicks, Todd Rundgren, Utopia

The Second Disc’s Essential RSD Black Friday 2017 Release Guide

November 24, 2017 by Joe Marchese | 2 Comments

Leonard Nimoy Mr. Spocks Music from Outer Space

From all of us here at Second Disc HQ to all of you, we hope you’ve enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving in the company of beloved family and friends. Of course, from this day which conjures nostalgic and warm feelings comes a celebration of a different kind with this year’s annual Black Friday – and Record Store Day’s miniature cousin to April’s yearly event. In keeping with tradition, Mike, Randy and I have once again selected our top picks of the numerous titles being released tomorrow from many of our favorite labels, including Legacy…

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Features

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CD, Vinyl

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Classic Rock, Pop, Rock, Soundtracks

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Blue Oyster Cult, Chet Atkins, Chris Bell, Chris Cornell, Danny Elfman, Leonard Nimoy, Oingo Boingo, Paul McCartney, Petula Clark, Queen, Record Store Day, Soundgarden, Tangerine Dream, The Turtles, Tori Amos, Toto, Utopia

Real Gone Unveils Blue Oyster Cult, Utopia Releases For Black Friday RSD; Soundtracks Coming from Mancini and More

November 9, 2017 by Randy Fairman | No Comments

Real Gone Music just released its full slate of Christmas music, including our very special trio of The Supremes, The Ames Brothers, and Connie Smith. But the label still has more releases coming for the holiday season, which you can get for yourself or a lucky someone else! We’ve told you about most of them before, including the 40th anniversary edition of Debby Boone’s You Light Up My Life and the deluxe reissue of Jimmy Webb’s Angel Heart, but let’s take a look at some more of the label’s limited edition vinyl! First,…

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Classic Rock, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, Soundtracks

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Blue Oyster Cult, Harry Connick Jr., Henry Mancini, Record Store Day, Todd Rundgren, Utopia

Bang The Drum All Day: Edsel Reissues Todd Rundgren’s “For Lack of Honest Work”

April 20, 2016 by Joe Marchese | No Comments

The new 3-CD, 43-song set of live Todd Rundgren performances from Edsel is entitled For Lack of Honest Work: A Live History 1971-2006, after Todd’s song “Honest Work.” But all of his joking with the title aside, Rundgren’s career has been all honest work – as he’s doubtless remained true to himself through various musical incarnations over the past near-50 years. This set, the latest fine Rundgren release from the Edsel label, chronicles all of those “Rundgren variations” as captured between 1971 and 2006. For Lack of Honest Work is a reissue…

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Hello, It’s Todd: Purple Pyramid Collects Classic Concerts On “Box O’ Todd”

March 7, 2016 by Joe Marchese | 6 Comments

There appears to be no shortage of live releases from the one and only Todd Rundgren in the pipeline. On March 25, Edsel has slated For Lack of Honest Work, a 3-CD, 43-song compendium spanning the years 1971-2006. This appears to be a reissue of the box set issued on the MicroWerks label in 2010, albeit with the addition of newly-penned liner notes by Paul Myers. The same date, Cherry Red’s Esoteric Recordings imprint will offer Live at the Forum – London 1994 as part of its ongoing Todd Rundgren Archive Series. …

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Box Sets, CD

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Couldn’t I Just Tell You: Todd Rundgren and Utopia Concert From 1978 Arrives On CD

December 11, 2015 by Joe Marchese | 1 Comment

With unauthorized live releases proliferating in the E.U. drawn from radio broadcasts of variable quality, it’s refreshing to see Cherry Red’s Esoteric Recordings imprint continue its Todd Rundgren Archive Series featuring concert performances in excellent sound. The latest such release, Live at the Old Waldorf, is drawn from Rundgren and Utopia’s Saturday, August 5, 1978 concert at the San Francisco venue. Recorded for KSAN-FM, this release has been remastered from the original ¼-inch stereo master tapes. The 2-CD volume follows last year’s Live at the Electric Ballroom, recorded just a few months…

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Release Round-Up: Week of July 24

July 24, 2015 by Joe Marchese | 3 Comments

Today’s Release Round-Up features an array of high-resolution music, plus box sets, vintage reissues, live albums and more! Roger Waters, Amused to Death (Remixed Editions) (Columbia/Legacy) Roger Waters revisits his 1992 album Amused to Death, featuring contributions from Don Henley, Rita Coolidge, P.P. Arnold, Andy Fairweather Low and Michael Kamen, in a variety of formats featuring new stereo and 5.1 surround mixes. Read our full coverage here. CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. CD / Blu-ray: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. Hybrid SACD: Amazon U.S. TBD / Amazon U.K. Digital download: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. 2LP 200…

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Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray Audio, Box Sets, CD, DVD, Digital Download, SACD, Vinyl

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Joe Walsh, Roger Waters, The Doobie Brothers, The Knack, The Rolling Stones, Todd Rundgren, Utopia, Various Artists

Holiday Gift Guide Review: Todd Rundgren, “At The BBC 1972-1982”

December 2, 2014 by Joe Marchese | No Comments

Christmas has come early for Todd Rundgren fans this year with the release by Cherry Red’s Esoteric Recordings imprint of Todd Rundgren at the BBC: 1972-1982, a handsome new 3-CD/1-DVD box set of live performances drawn from Rundgren’s first decade of rock stardom. The latest release in Esoteric’s Todd Rundgren Archive Series, At the BBC captures the transformation of the ever-evolving artist from precocious pop chameleon to prog-rock adventurer and beyond. 1972’s sprawling Something/Anything announced Rundgren as an artist with whom to be reckoned, following the more modest solo releases Runt and…

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Holiday Gift Guide, News, Reviews

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Box Sets, CD, DVD

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Classic Rock

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A Dream Goes On Forever: Vintage Todd Rundgren and Utopia Show Comes To CD

July 1, 2014 by Joe Marchese | 2 Comments

Todd Rundgren has been rather generous of late with his archive, treating fans to a number of live concert recordings on various labels including gigs from 2010 (Todd Rundgren’s Johnson Live), 1990 (Live at the Warfield Theatre, San Francisco) and 1975 (Todd Rundgren’s Utopia Live at Hammersmith Odeon). Cherry Red’s Esoteric Recordings label continues its Archive Series with the release of Todd Rundgren and Utopia’s 2-CD set Live at the Electric Ballroom: Milwaukee, 23rd October 1978. As longtime Utopia fans will know, Electric Ballroom features the “classic” Utopia line-up that wasn’t yet completed…

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The Man From Utopia: Edsel Reissues Kasim Sulton’s Solo Debut

April 11, 2013 by Joe Marchese | 4 Comments

This week, Todd Rundgren has released his most recent studio album, State. Edsel Records has recently given longtime Rundgren fans the chance to revisit the first solo LP from one of Todd’s longest-serving sidemen, Kasim Sulton. Edsel’s reissue of 1982’s EMI America album Kasim is available now. Sulton, a bassist and singer, joined Todd Rundgren’s Utopia for its fifth, longest-lasting incarnation. This four-piece Utopia line-up of Rundgren, Sulton, keyboardist Roger Powell and drummer John “Willie” Wilcox, formed in 1976 and released five albums between 1977 and 1982. While in Utopia, Sulton played…

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