Set Me Free

Album: Adventures in Utopia (1979)
Charted: 27
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was the biggest hit for Utopia, a four-piece band from New York State whose most famous member was Todd Rundgren. Like many of their songs, one member came in with the idea and the whole band hashed it out, with songwriting credits split equally. Many of their songs originated with Rundgren, but "Set Me Free" came from their bass player, Kasim Sulton.

    The song sounds like it's about an interpersonal relationship, with the guy asking the girl to cut him loose so he can move on with his life, but it's really about Sulton's professional life. All four members of Utopia were signed to Bearsville Records not just as a band, but individually as well. Sulton desperately wanted to do a solo album, but was rebuffed by Bearsville, so he wrote this song about wanting to be released from his contract. In our interview with Sulton, he explained: "Albert Grossman actually said to me, 'That's fine. You're more than welcome to go. That'll be $50,000 and 15 percent of all the royalties that you'll ever make for the rest of your life.' And I freaked out and I wrote Set Me Free.'"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dino Cazares of Fear Factory

Dino Cazares of Fear FactorySongwriter Interviews

The guitarist/songwriter explains how he came up with his signature sound, and deconstructs some classic Fear Factory songs.

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

TV Theme Songs

TV Theme SongsFact or Fiction

Was a Beatles song a TV theme? And who came up with those Fresh Prince and Sopranos songs?

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.