Utopia: “Set Me Free” (1980)

In an ironic twist, Bearsville’s refusal to release a Kasim Sulton solo album becomes the catalyst for his solo career.

Kronomyth 5.1: Utopia es meetopia

Bad record labels have unwittingly been the inspiration for some very good music, from The Sex Pistols’ “EMI” to Kasim Sulton’s Set Me Free. In this case, Sulton’s frustration with Bearsville Records, who were guilty of rock-blocking the bassist/singer by rejecting his demos and imposing heavy penalties to escape his contract with them, provided the setting for “Set Me Free.” For what it’s worth, Sulton did eventually release his first solo album, on EMI America, and had the last laugh.

As interesting as all that is, the B side, Umbrella Man, is the real attraction here. It sounds like classic Todd Rundgren; Todd even sings the lead vocals on one version. There’s another version from Utopia with Kasim on lead vocals which, if memory serves, is the version that ended up on the B side here. “Umbrella Man” has that retro feel that sounds like it might have stepped off of Something/Anything? Since it doesn’t fit the theme of Adventures in Utopia (i.e., re-creating the recent chart toppers), it was left off the album but deserves an encore somewhere.

Original 7-inch single version

A1. Set Me Free (Utopia) (3:09)
B1. Umbrella Man (Utopia) (3:42)

Original 7-inch single version (Netherlands)
A1. Set Me Free
B1. The Road to Utopia

The Plastic

Released on 7-inch single in February 1980 in the US and Canada (Bearsville, BSS 49180), the UK (Bearsville, WIP 6581) and the Netherlands (Bearsville, 101.690). Also released as promotional 7-inch single in 1980 in the US (Bearsville, BSS 49180PR) with A mono on flip. Reached #27 on the US charts (charted on 2/23/80 for 12 weeks).