Ra is the second studio album by American rock band Utopia, released on February 4, 1977 by Bearsville Records. Band leader Todd Rundgren planned on releasing the LP in 1976 on his own label, Ethereal Records, as the new four-piece line up was not signed to Bearsville. Replete with an elaborate $250,000 stage show featuring a pyramid and golden sphinx which took 18 months of prep, Ra was Rundgren's most ambitious live undertaking.
The cornerstone of the album and show is "Singring and the Glass Guitar," which comprises solos by each band member battling the elements: water (drums), wind (bass), fire (keyboards), and earth (guitar).
The album was modestly successful, peaking the Billboard Top 200 at No. 79.Ra in the Billboard Charts, Allmusic. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
Track listing
A number of test pressings (and a very limited amount of vinyl and 8 track tape pressings) were made using a rejected master that includes alternate mixes of some of the tracks on the album. The songs "Communion with the Sun" and "Sunburst Finish" are almost entirely different takes- "Communion with the Sun" has a more aggressive drum track, alternate vocals and instrumental solos; "Sunburst Finish" has lead vocals that are similar but different backing vocals (with some present in the commonly released mix missing completely). "Singring and the Glass Guitar" is missing the intro to Willie Wilcox's drum solo. All the other tracks on this pressing are indistinguishable from the commonly released master.
With the exception of the European pressing, the only way to tell if a particular copy of an LP (or tape) was pressed from the rejected master is by playing it. In Europe, A1 or B1 will be written into the dead wax of the vinyl of these initial pressings. It is unknown exactly how many pressings from the rejected master were manufactured.
Personnel
Utopia Todd Rundgren – guitar, vocals, piano (2), saxophone (2) Roger Powell – keyboards, synthesizers, vocals Kasim Sulton – bass, vocals John "Willie" Wilcox – drums, percussion, vocals, harmony guitar (3)
Technical Produced by Todd Rundgren Engineered by John Holbrook Assistant engineer – Tom Mark Additional engineer – Eddy Offord (1, 3) Album package concept – Utopia & Gribbitt, Ltd. Cover photography – Ron Sleneak Pyramid insert – Norman Seeff Calligrapher – Hal Fiedler Musical arrangements by Utopia "The Olde Faerie Storyteller" – John Holbrook (7)
Charts Album - Billboard YearChartPosition1977Pop Albums79
References