Utah Saints! U-U-U-Utah Saints! Legendary rave act set to reissue debut album

With singles such as What Can You Do For Me, Believe In Me and Something Good, Utah Saints burst onto the nascent rave scene of the early 90s with their mix of sampling, turntablism and upfront beats.

Fronted by Jez Willis and Tim Garbutt, and formed in Leeds in 1991, Utah Saints would go on to be described by The KLF’s Bill Drummond as ‘the first true stadium house band’, something they put into practice as they supported U2 on their Zoo TV tour.

As the 90s progressed, they incorporated rock, dance and hip-hop elements into their sound, always with the sampler at the forefront, and while Willis and Garbutt’s productions would be sporadic from the early 2000s on, their early tracks would reappear in new guises – Something Good 08, released in 2008, reached #8 in the UK charts.

But you can’t keep a good Saint down, it seems, and Utah Saints are currently in the middle of a UK tour – with performances at Camp Bestival, Beautiful Days, Solfest, Party in the Park and others behind them, they have gigs coming up in London, Nottingham, Birmingham and other locations between now and the end of the year.

They’ve also just announced plans to reissue their self-titled debut album, Utah Saints, on National Album Day, 19 October, with the remastered re-release featuring additional rarities and choice reworks by the likes of David Morales, CJ Bolland and Andrew Weatherall.

“Our debut album ‘Utah Saints’ was released just over 30 years ago, and we are super-excited for it to be re-issued this October on double vinyl and double CD,” Willis commented. “National Album Day is such a great event, helping us all to value the arts and creativity – we need ideas more than anything! Thank you to everyone who has supported Utah Saints, in whatever capacity, we value every single one of you.”

The album can be pre-ordered here.

Ahead of the release of the album, Utah Saints have also just released a speed garage remix of their track What Can You Do For Me, which has been reworked by fellow Yorkshiremen Soul Mass Transit System. You can check that out here.

Album Tracklisting

VINYL

Side One
A1 New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)
A2 What Can You Do For Me
A3 Soulution

Side Two
B1 Believe In Me
B2 Too Much To Swallow (Part 1)
B3 Something Good
B4 I Want You

Side Three
C1 States Of Mind
C2 Trance Atlantic Glide
C3 Kinetic Synthetic
C4 My Mind Must Be Free

Side Four
D1 Highlander (CJ Bolland Mix)
D2 Ohio (DJ Misjah Mix)
D3 Star (Union Jack Mix)

CD

Disc One
1 New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)
2 What Can You Do For Me
3 Soulution
4 Believe In Me
5 Too Much To Swallow (Part 1)
6 Something Good
7 I Want You
8 States Of Mind
9 Trance Atlantic Glide
10 Kinetic Synthetic
12 My Mind Must Be Free

Disc Two
12 Utah Saints Take on The Theme From Mortal Kombat
13 What Can You Do For Me (Madness Mix)
14 Something Good (051 Mix)
15 I Want You (DJ Tim’s Funky Bliss Mix- Short Version)
16 I Still Think Of You (Perfecto Mix)
17 Highlander (CJ Bolland Mix)
18 Ohio (DJ Misjah Mix)
19 Star (Union Jack Mix)
20 I Want You (Sabres 130)