Utopia (Utopia album)

Utopia
Studio album by Utopia
Released	1982
Recorded	August 1982 at Utopia Sound Studios
Genre	New wave
Length	48:18
Label	Network Epic
Producer	Todd Rundgren and Utopia
Utopia chronology
Swing to the Right (1982) Utopia (1982) Oblivion (1984)
Singles from Utopia
"Feet Don't Fail Me Now" Released: December 1982 "Hammer In My Heart" Released: May 1983

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Utopia is the second of two self-titled albums by the rock group Utopia (the other being Todd Rundgren's Utopia). It was released in 1982 (see 1982 in music). It was also their only album for Network Records.

During the composing phase of this album, Kasim Sulton had left to pursue a solo career, and Doug Howard from the band Touch was brought in on bass. Howard co-wrote two songs on the album, "Feet Don’t Fail Me Now" and "I’m Looking at You But I’m Talking to Myself". These songs are credited to "Utopia and Doug Howard" on the finished album. Howard stepped aside when Sulton decided to return, and had no further involvement with the group.

Videos and singles were released for "Feet Don't Fail Me Now" and "Hammer in My Heart". Footage for "Hammer in My Heart" was recorded live on August 18, 1982 at MTV's official first birthday celebration hosted by VeeJay Nina Blackwood. The song peaked at #31 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart. Both were featured on the VHS video release "The Utopia Sampler" nominated in 1983 for a Grammy for Best Short Form Video.

The original vinyl LP was released with a "bonus EP" of five additional songs. The later CD release simply includes as tracks 11 to 15 with no mention of the word "bonus". In Europe, the EP was pressed as a 7" with the five songs split between the two sides; elsewhere, the EP was pressed as a 12" with all five songs repeated on both sides of the EP.

Track listing (Vinyl)

BMI credits all songs to Powell/Rundgren/Sulton/Wilcox except:

• "Feet Don’t Fail Me Now" and "I’m Looking at You But I’m Talking to Myself": Howard/Powell/Rundgren/Wilcox
• "Libertine", "Bad Little Actress", "Princess of the Universe" and "Infrared and Ultraviolet": Powell/Rundgren/Wilcox

Side 1

1. "Libertine"
2. "Bad Little Actress"
3. "Feet Don’t Fail Me Now"
4. "Neck On Up"
5. "Say Yeah"

Side 2

1. "Call It What You Will"
2. "I’m Looking at You But I’m Talking to Myself"
3. "Hammer in My Heart"
4. "Burn Three Times"
5. "There Goes My Inspiration"

Bonus EP (unlisted on album sleeve)

1. "Princess of the Universe"
2. "Infrared and Ultraviolet"
3. "Forgotten But Not Gone"
4. "Private Heaven"
5. "Chapter and Verse"

Track listing (CD)

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

Charts

Album - Billboard

References