Lost/Forgotten Album #14

I'm kind of on the fence with this week's pick: is it really, truly a lost or forgotten album? I'm sure everyone reading this has heard of Todd Rundgren, and I'm sure they've also heard of his band Utopia, so maybe I'm pushing it a bit.

It was a top 40 album, had a hit single as well as some other trackes that have been played quite a bit on the radio so who knows. Maybe someone reading this has never heard of Utopia or this album and they'll find something they like.

I remember listening to the radio back in 1980, and I swear there was enormous hype regarding the release of this album. If I rmember correctly, WNEW FM out of New york had some sort of deal going on where they were pushing this album and the first track they played was "The Road To Utopia" which I thought was a cool song. I heard the song a few more times after that and then really heard nothing from this album. Well, maybe I did, but it didn't stick with me.

Years later I found a Utopia greatest hits package and picked it up because I hadn't heard "The Road To Utopia" for a long long time. Sadly, the song wasn't even included on the album (and I couldn't remember what the name of the song was anyway, so had no clue it wasn't included). I finally picked up this album a little bit later and liked it a lot.

The first Utopia I actually ever bought was "Utopia" from 1982, just for the song "Hammer In My Heart" (also not includd on the greatest hits album, which maybe says something about my musical tastes). It's an ok album, but "Adventures In Utopia" blows it away.

Ok, we've got a mixture of prog rock, pop, hard rock and a hint of disco. Different lead singers too which is really cool, making this a true band effort, not a Todd Rundgren album.

So if this is something you haven't heard before, take a listen. You should find something that suits your musical tastes.

Adventures In Utopia

1. The Road To Utopia*

2. You Make Me Crazy*

3. Second Nature

4. Set Me Free*

5. Caravan*

6. Last Of The New Wave Riders*

7. Shot In The Dark

8. The Very Last Time*

9. Love Alone

10. Rock Love*

Availability: OOP but available used for around $15 and there is an import available for around $28.

MSoTW: Not Dr. Hook! Scott kind of "guessed" Pride & Glory so I'll throw him a bone. This week's track will be hard. Niels could possibly guess it since they're from his neck of the woods.