Ra (Utopia album)


Ra is the second studio album and third release by Utopia on Bearsville Records, released in 1977. 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, wind, fire, and earth.
The album was modestly successful, peaking the Billboard Top 200 at #79.

Track listing

A number of test pressings and a very limited amount of vinyl and 8 track tape pressings were pressed using a rejected master tape that includes an alternate mix of 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 instrument solos. On "Sunburst Finish," lead vocals are similar but backing vocals are different, with some present in the common released mix outright missing. "Singring and the Glass Guitar" is slightly different as the intro to Willie Wilcox's drum solo is missing. All other tracks on the album are indistinguishable from the final master.
With the exception of the European pressing, the only way to tell if a particular copy of an LP or tape is from the rejected master is by playing it. On European pressings, A1 and B1 will be written into the dead wax of the vinyl. It is unknown as to exactly how many pressings were made.

Side one

Side two

Personnel

Production
Album - Billboard
YearChartPosition
1977Pop Albums79