Rush - The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974 - 1987

1. Working Man – 7:11
2. Fly by Night – 3:22
3. 2112 Overture / The Temples of Syrinx – 6:45
4. Closer to the Heart – 2:53
5. The Trees – 4:42
6. The Spirit of Radio – 4:57
7. Freewill – 5:23
8. Limelight – 4:20
9. Tom Sawyer – 4:33
10. Red Barchetta – 6:10
11. New World Man – 3:43
12. Subdivisions – 5:34
13. Distant Early Warning – 4:58
14. The Big Money – 5:35
15. Force Ten – 4:32
16. Time Stand Still – 5:09

Released February 2003
Mercury Records

It's funny, like I said, I love Rush. A lot. But I don't know a lot about them. Thus this journey. However, I know the majority of these songs and I haven't even gotten to their albums yet. I also learned new favorites and learned a little something about my husband. One of his favorite Rush songs is "Subdivisions". I'm totally with him on that one. (Do you see why I married him?) "The Spirit of Radio" is one of my new favorites. It reminds me of hanging out in my brother's room. Just when he would yell at me, "Get out of my room, meathead!" It was a term of endearment.

Anyway, I bought this Greatest Hits just before the August 11, 2010 concert. Just to help bring me up to speed a little. It made me super impatient for the upcoming albums. But, I will be patient and go in order. 2112 is my next album and I can't wait!

Rush - Caress Of Steel

Caress Of Steel
1. Bastille Day - 4:37
2. I Think I'm Going Bald - 3:37
3. Lakeside Park - 4:08
4. The Necromancer - 12:30
I. Into the Darkness - 4:12
II. Under the Shadow- 4:25
III. Return of the Prince - 3:52
5. The Fountain of Lamneth - 20:01
I. In the Valley - 4:18
II. Didacts and Narpets - 1:00
III. No One at the Bridge- 4:19
IV. Panacea- 3:14
V. Bacchus Plateau - 3:16
VI. The Fountain - 3:49

Released September 1975 by Anthem (Canada) and Mercury Records.

Songs on this album I knew previous to this project:
Bastille Day

Bastille Day has always been my favorite Rush song. That was before this project. Now it's hard to say what my favorites are. When I first started listening to this album, I had a hard time getting into it. I understood why it didn't do so well on the music charts. But then I listened and listened and listened and am still listening and I'm starting to love and appreciate it more and more. This album isn't just an acquired taste, it's much more than that. An Acquired taste requires you to taste something over and over until you like it. This album is more of a dance of the 7 veils. It takes it's time revealing more sounds and solos and lyrics every time you hear it. I get that no one likes a 20 minute song. Hell, I myself was a little intimidated by it. When you are listening, you don't even notice 20 minutes go by.

I read that during the production of the album there was a printing error. The cover was to have a silvery steel look in color but the printers messed up and made it copper. Yeah.. you would think that after Rush Rush turned out pink they would get a new printer.

My favorite songs on this album:
Bastille Day (still)
Lakeside Park
III. Return of the Prince (from The Necromancer)

Rush - Fly By Night

Fly By Night - The Rush Remasters
1. Anthem
2. Best I Can
3. Beneath, Between & Behind
4. By-tor and the Snow Dog
I. At the Tobes of Hades
II. Across the Styx
III. Of the Battle
1. Challenge and Defiance
2. 7/4 War Furor
3. Aftermath
4. Hymn of Triumph
IV. Epilogue
5. Fly By Night
6. Making Memories
7. Rivendell
8. In The End

Released 1975 by Mercury Records / Anthem (Canada)

Songs on this album I knew previous to this project:
Fly By Night
Anthem (vaguely)

From the first note second on this album you can clearly hear the difference in drum style from John Rutsey (may he rest in peace) and Neil Peart. I could only imagine what a phenomenal jam session Anthem was for the guys. Anthem plus Best I Can got me to work in half my normal time. (uh.. no I wasn't speeding or anything) Anthem is so cool, because it sounds like the bass, drums and guitar are all trying to hit the same beat in the intro. It's kind of fitting since you can tell that these three guys really compliment each others talents perfectly. Alex's Guitar screaming back at Geddy with Neil keeping the beat, what could be better?

In this album, to me it seems like Geddy Lee has started to test the boundaries of his vocal ability. I am in awe of the way he ingeniously delivers lyrics. Quite fun and a little challenging to sing along to.

My favorite songs (for now) on this album are:
Anthem
Best I Can
In The End

Rush - Rush: My Thoughts On The Album

Songs on this album I knew previous to this project:
Finding My Way
Working Man
What You're Doing (I did not know the name to this song)

I've spent not even a full week with this album and already I'm sentimental to it. This album has officially become the soundtrack to my early days at Rush School. Just learning the ABC's of Rush.

This album reminds me of a summer you have when you are young. Fun, ingenuous, memorable and idealistic. Your summer starts out hopeful with Finding My Way, headstrong and true. Then you've got a little angst with Need Some Love. Who cares because you just Take A Friend and throw a BBQ. At that BBQ you run into your ex and find that you're Here Again, and you think you know What You're Doing. You learn you don't, and it's humbling but you bounce back better than ever. That alone is enough to put you In The Mood. It turns out you're fooling yourself, and find thoughts of Before and After your ex. Just when you are ready for another start, summer ends and you become a Working Man again.

I've had that summer. Rush's debut album would have been the perfect soundtrack to the summer I was 20. You can tell Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson may have been in an uncomplicated time in their lives when they wrote these lyrics. Focusing on this album made me recognize Alex Lifeson for putting out an amazing sound and wicked solos, Geddy Lee for his underestimate bass skills and untouchable vocals, and John Rutsey for impeccable timing.

What I also learned about this album is that it was originally recorded on a 8-channel multitrack recorders. Kind of old school for '74 don't you think? However, I think they made due. Also, the Rush logo was originally red on this cover but there was a printing error and it turned out more pink.

Let's take a moment to honor the three original co-founders of Rush Jeff Jones, Alex Lifeson and John Rutsey. However, let's be eternally grateful for the members today Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart.

I don't know about you but I'm ready to meet Neil Peart.

Rush - Rush

Rush - The Rush Remasters
1. Finding My Way
2. Need Some Love
3. Take A Friend
4. Here Again
5. What You're Doing
6. In The Mood
7. Before And After
8. Working Man

Released 1974 by Mercury Records

These days the only time I have to listen to music is in my car. I've listened to this album once over in my car and I can't wait to get back in my car to listen again. Riddle me this Batman, why is Rush the perfect driving music? I'm totally energized and relaxed all at the same time. Have you ever hear one of your jack-ass friends state "I drive better drunk"? Well, I drive better under the influence of Rush.

First of all, the intro to this album could not be more perfect. Finding My Way... forget about it. Geddy Lee had me at his first "oooh, yeah!" Call me sentimental and cheesy but I love Take A Friend. It's a simple and profound message. Seriously, what's better than having a good friend? And of course Working Man. Who doesn't like that song.

Don't worry I'll talk more about the music on this album soon. I think I need to listen a little more before I break it down. I can tell you one thing, this album makes me want to cut down my nails and pick up my guitar and walk the path of the righteous man. (Which of course means learning to play guitar)