Show 44 - "That 70's Rush Show"

[Rick and Roll]

It was inevitable that I would feature one of the greatest bands ever....and to make it comprehensive, I'm playing Rush over two shows.

If it weren't for a certain rustic British flautist, Rush would be my favorite band. All I'll say in defense is what incredible songwriting, musical, and lyrical skill possessed by just three members. Rarely a guest performer or any tricks. No B-sides, rarities, or any songs hiding in the vault. They write, record, and produce. How refreshing!

This week we'll hit the first CD through Hemispheres. Next week will be Permanent Waves through Vapor Trails, and all will be done chronologically by CD, except for this week's final song. Less CD's covered this week, but more songs per CD and longer songs.

Reading through old Rush forums, you get different favorite records. That's the mark of of a great band. Except for no-brainers like Xanadu, you may even get different favorite tunes.

As much as I love Rush, I had protested in prior threads that they were not realy progressive. I have to change my stance here. After listening to them on the way to the beach with my 9 and 11 year olds, it kind of hit me how intricate the music is for a rock and roll band. Funny how you can recite every note, song times, and other sundry and stupid information and not really appreciate the progressive element.

Finding My Way
Take A Friend
Before And After
Working Man

After that spiel above, now I play four basic rock tunes Sans Neil Peart, this record's a damn good debut. Along with Counterparts (more on that omission next week), not on the Moon. Fans of lower-register vocals may want to cover their ears.

Anthem
Best I Can
By-Tor And The Snow Dog
Fly By Night
Making Memories

Fly By Night is a fantastic record. Anthem is an about face for a band that was thought to be just another rock band. And the title cut is one of the most compact of rock classics.

Lakeside Park
The Fountain of Lamneth

Caress of Steel marks the end of the heavily guitared early records. The Fountain epic hints at the transformation they would make into connecting concepts, but really is just seperate musical themes stitched together by the same opening and closing tune. Lakeside Park is a personal favorite, it's just got a perfect connection between the lyrics and the music. (I actually heard that song on May 24...a rare time a commercial DJ had done their homework cool: ). I forgot to introduce Lamneth on my voice over.....

A Passage To Bangkok
2112
The Twilight Zone
Something For Nothing

From a song about pot to an Ayn Rand adaptation...ok...
In high school, I adapted the lyrics to 2112 to a story called "21 Shelves" about Prohibition being extended into space and Geddy finding a keg and evertually dying of alcohol poisoning. I wish I still had the notes...I was a weird kid.

If you turn the end of the tune up to 45rpm on the turntable, you'll hear a nasally Geddy speaking the words "All planets of the solar federation....". The same is true for the Necromancer speaking parts on Caress of Steel. It's pretty funny....And on the Twilight Zone, listen for Geddy whispering the chorus behind the singing. Good effect.

Something for Nothing is a powerful tune both musically and lyrically. If this was written a few years later, the vocals would be a lot lower, and would make it even better.

Xanadu
Closer To The Heart
Cinderella Man
Cygnus X-1

Hate to leave the title track off from A Farewell To Kings, but 6 hours of Rush is plenty. On one tour, they went into "Superconductor" after verse one of Xanadu. It was horrible! Xanadu is simply the best Rush tune ever done. Closer To the Heart is in the same vein of "Fly By Night", lean and taut. Cygnus X-1 I believe has the 45rpm Geddy again...Cygnus leads us into....

Cygnus X-1 Book 2 - Hemispheres
Circumstances
The Trees
La Villa Strangiato

Here's the entire Hemispheres CD. I really enjoy the title cut, it has such outworldly feel to it. It's my favorite of the epics, a song that truly is one continuous theme and not songs cobbled together.

On Circumstances, note Neil hitting the cymbal once during the first chorus intro, twice during the second, and three times during the third. A subtle, unimportant yet neat factoid. The Trees may be the most impressive "played" song ever made. the "Monsters" theme of La Villa is lifted from 1950's Looney Tunes music.

YYZ (live)

Not "CC" (Chronologically Correct), but I didn't want to split up CD's, and had just enough time to toss another song in. the Professor goes off.

Next week Geddy lowers the vocals, and raises the keyboards.

I'm off on another mini-vacation, back in time for the first airing....

and thanks to Dinosaur for a groaner of a joke (No Rush) from the other thread, yet very funny

[Bob Lentil]

Originally posted by Rick and Roll
If you turn the end of the tune up to 45rpm on the turntable, you'll hear a nasally Geddy speaking the words "All planets of the solar federation....". The same is true for the Necromancer speaking parts on Caress of Steel. It's pretty funny....

According to the Rush FAQ, which may or may not be a reliable source of information, Neil does the aforementioned speaking parts. Also, Terry Brown does the narration on Cygnus X-1.

[Rick and Roll]

Originally posted by Bob Lentil
According to the Rush FAQ, which may or may not be a reliable source of information, Neil does the aforementioned speaking parts. Also, Terry Brown does the narration on Cygnus X-1.

ok, I should be packing, but I had to check it out. Agree with the Terry Brown. I can see Neil on 2112, it's a bit less distinguishable than I remember. But I'm dead certain on the Necromancer. Trouble is, I can't find my "Archives" 3-disc record (bought for $12.19 (my birthday) at Korvette's in 1977 I believe). And I can't slow down the CD

How many more records am I missing? Does it really matter? Damnit Bob!

Actually, thanks for pointing those out.

[podakayne]

can't say i liked Rush much back in the day, perhaps it was just the FM radio selections that weren't cutting it for me, however upon my landing here at Aural Moon and hearing many Rush titles & tunes, i've come to appreciate them more, even like 'em (especially after my son dubbed getty "girl-voice")....and having said that and being won over by the many Rush addicts here, i'm going to enjoy the Rushfest— it was also a real pleasure to laugh at an ol' sod and his ever growing tantrums against Rush.

looking forward to the show rick

[Yesspaz]

Originally posted by Rick and Roll
Sans Neil Peart, this record's a damn good debut. Along with Counterparts (more on that omission next week), not on the Moon.

...but 6 hours of Rush is plenty....


On one tour, they went into "Superconductor" after verse one of Xanadu. It was horrible!

Ok, first album is TERRIBLE (vomoticon). Blech! There's a good reason it's not on the Moon! However, now's a good chance to vouch for Counterparts' inclusion. I know Jim loathes that album, but, I say it should be here.

... SIX HOURS ...

I have a high quality bootleg of that tour (the Roll the Bones tour) where they did Xanaconductor. I thought they pulled it off well.

[VAXman(Admin)]

YYZ wasn't is the '70s.

[Rick and Roll]

Originally posted by VAXman
YYZ wasn't is the '70s.

True - here's an excerpt from my initial post......

and all will be done chronologically by CD, except for this week's final song.

[Rick and Roll]

Originally posted by Yesspaz
Ok, first album is TERRIBLE (vomoticon). Blech! There's a good reason it's not on the Moon! However, now's a good chance to vouch for Counterparts' inclusion. I know Jim loathes that album, but, I say it should be here.

... SIX HOURS ...

I have a high quality bootleg of that tour (the Roll the Bones tour) where they did Xanaconductor. I thought they pulled it off well.

Yes they pull it off well, but you don't do that to a tune like that. It's just wrong.

I went against type and will play chronologically. The first album is great...it's just heavier and not proggy.

As for Counterparts, whether it gets on the Moon is of no concern to me. I do like it a lot though.

Nice avatar