''Ra'' is the second studio album and third release by Utopia on

Bearsville Records Bearsville Records was founded in 1970 by Albert Grossman. Artists included Todd Rundgren, Elizabeth Barraclough, Foghat, Halfnelson/ Sparks, Bobby Charles, Randy VanWarmer, Paul Butterfield's Better Days, Lazarus, Jesse Winchester, and NRBQ. ...

, released in 1977. Rundgren planned on releasing the LP in 1976 on his own label "Ethereal Records" as the new 4 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 #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 the 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.

Side one

Side two

Personnel

* Todd Rundgren - Electric guitar, lead vocals, backing vocals, piano and saxophone on "Magic Dragon Theatre" * Roger Powell - Keyboard, lead vocals, backing vocals * Kasim Sulton - Bass guitar, lead vocals, backing vocals * John "Willie" Wilcox -

Drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

, percussion, lead vocals, backing vocals, harmony guitar on "Jealousy" Production * Producer: Todd Rundgren for Alchemedia Productions, Inc. * Engineer, Calligrapher, & Voice of the Story Teller: John Holbrook * Assistant Engineer: Tom Mark * "Communion with the Sun" & "Jealousy" recorded at the Turtle Creek Barn using custom equipment owned and operated by

Yes Yes or YES may refer to: * An affirmative particle in the English language; see yes and no Education * YES Prep Public Schools, Houston, Texas, US * YES (Your Extraordinary Saturday), a learning program from the Minnesota Institute for Talente ...

engineer Eddie Offord * Musical arrangements by Utopia

Charts

Album - ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

References

{{Authority control Todd Rundgren albums 1977 albums Albums produced by Todd Rundgren Utopia (band) albums Bearsville Records albums Rhino Records albums Egyptian mythology in music