Customer Reviews

Utopia 1977-84 Retrospective

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Trivia question: What was the SECOND video every played on MTV? Everyone knows that Video Killed the Radio Star was the first, but not too many folks know that Time Heals by Todd Rundgren was the second. Sure the pic and sound quality isn't the greatest, but it is Todd. The average schmo should pass on this, but for Todd's pioneering efforts in the video field, I gotta give it 4 stars.

If you're as much a fan of Utopia as the solo Todd Rundgren, then this video shouldn't disappoint you. It's very dated in it's visual ideas, but hey this stuff was really up to date in 1977! Personally I think it's a great time capsule and cool to see the guys hamming it up in videos like "Magic Dragon Theatre" or Kaz (as a TV newscaster)in "Set Me Free". Great add to your DVD collection. What's that big old hunk of duct tape though that Todd pulls off the bottom of his shoe during the live shoot of "It Wouldn't Make Any Difference"? Bleccch! LOL!

Even though "Time Heals" was the second video ever played on MTV, neither Todd nor Utopia seemed to get much exposure. The notable exception was "Feet Don't Fail Me Now", which I remember watching a bunch of times because the video was so darn silly.

Otherwise, this is a decent compilation of live and studio videos, with some interesting backstage clowning around thrown in. The live videos are slightly cheezy, the "RA" video being the most bizarre of the live ones.

Favorites:

Feet Don't Fail Me Now - a classic and silly video.

You Make Me Crazy - Semi-literal video of the song's lyrics, very entertaining.

Crybaby - the most polished production of any of the videos in this collection, IMHO. Has a futuristic look, for its time.

Set Me Free - Utopia trying to make a political video, unsuccessfully. The song is better just by itself. It was funny seeing the pretend interview of the Shah of Iran. It seems dated today.

Emergency Splashdown - Manic!

I Just Want to Touch You - Great Beatles parody - Deface the Music is a hilarious album.

It's about time someone released some Utopia on DVD. "Retrospective" includes concert footage and music videos. All songs are presented in their entirety with the exception of "Utopia's Theme". The DVD looks like it's dubbed directly from a VHS copy so the video quality gets only 2.5 stars. The audio choices are stereo and a new 5.1 mix. Since I don't have a 5.1 system yet the stereo mix gets 4 stars. Performace 5 stars. I have Todd's "T.E.P.T.A.E." DVD and prefer "Retrospective" because it has more concert footage (T.E.P.T.A.E. has only only 1 live song; "Real Man"). This DVD is killer; a must have for any Todd or Utopia fan. Just hope that "Live in Japan", "Redux' 92", "An Evening With Utopia", and "Live at the Royal Oak" are released on DVD soon. Are you listening DVD manufacturers?