By Joe Moorehouse (152.163.206.181 - 152.163.206.181) on Thursday, April 25, 2002 - 08:03 pm:

Just been listening to the Utopias' awesome Look at the Clock, which was recorded at Tera Shirma in '67 with a bunch of Motown players. The notes list Jack Ashford, Chuck Forrest, and the Andantes as definitely present, but equivocate about whether Dennis Coffey or Ray Monette was on guitar, and Bob Babbit or James Jamerson on bass. Can anyone clarify? Memories of this session? It's an amazing performance.

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Thursday, April 25, 2002 - 08:26 pm:

Joe,
It more than likely was Babbitt on bass. I don't think Jamerson ever recorded at Tera Shirma.

By Mark Speck (65.56.58.213 - 65.56.58.213) on Friday, April 26, 2002 - 04:07 am:

Is this the same Utopias that sang "Girls Are Against Me"?

Best,

Mark

By Joe Moorehouse (152.163.207.206 - 152.163.207.206) on Friday, April 26, 2002 - 12:07 pm:

Hi Mark. It is the same Utopias.

By acooolcat (61.222.95.58 - 61.222.95.58) on Friday, April 26, 2002 - 02:03 pm:

I think they previously recorded for Fortune/Hi-Q.
Graham

By Joe Moorehouse (205.188.197.57 - 205.188.197.57) on Friday, April 26, 2002 - 02:24 pm:

Utopias Discography

Fortune 568
Welcome (Baby to My Heart)
Sally Bad

Hi Q 100/101
(We Gotta Be) Good Friends Forever
Maybe

LaSalle 0072
Girls Are Against Me
I Want to Go Back to My Dreamy World

Unreleased
Look at the Clock
Back in the Woods

By Andy Rix (195.93.50.179 - 195.93.50.179) on Friday, April 26, 2002 - 09:20 pm:

What are the unreleased tracks like then ... are they 'Northern' ???

By Joe Moorehouse (64.12.103.169 - 64.12.103.169) on Saturday, April 27, 2002 - 02:07 am:

Hi Andy.

Look at the Clock is very northern in feel and great. Serious Motown sound, which is no surprise given the players. Back in the Woods is not, being only voices and drums, but is remarkably ahead of its time for 1967. It will take me a couple days to get to it, but I'll try to drop an RA of Look at the Clock on you.

By Ian W (213.122.187.139 - 213.122.187.139) on Sunday, April 28, 2002 - 08:00 pm:

There is a website dedicated to David Lasley, a member of, and song-writer for the Utopias and others. It contains a couple of label scans on La Salle.

Utopias

I think somewhere on the site, there is a cd of mixed songs by the chap, which includes the unreleased Utopias' track. I've just had a quick look but couldn't find it straight away!

Ian

By Joe Moorehouse (64.12.103.176 - 64.12.103.176) on Monday, April 29, 2002 - 12:47 am:

Nice site. I didn't realize that Look at the Clock was slated to be a LaSalle release, though it makes sense, since it was recorded shortly after Girls Are Against Me. I wonder why it was shelved. The single is on the Back to Blue Eyed Soul CD, though there is unfortunately no audio clip of it on the site. Quite a career Lasley has had, and quite a voice--I don't know another white man who sounds so much like a black woman.

By Mark Speck (65.56.217.48 - 65.56.217.48) on Tuesday, April 30, 2002 - 04:50 am:

Is this the same David Lasley who had the minor hit "If I Had My Wish Tonight" around '79-80?

Best,

Mark