Rush v. Dirk, Pratt, & Lerxst

[Mladen]

All four are fantastic. Chain lightning is another one of the more obscure Rush songs that I'd add to the list of underrated and forgotten Presto material. What a great album that is.

[TAC]

Yeah, I love Chain Lightning, and I am a huge fan of that album.






Except The Pass, which sucks, and War Paint, which blows!

[ytserush]

Middletown Dreams for me folks.

Great pick!

And yeah, Rush in Rio doesn't sound too good. Neither on the CD nor DVD.

It was never going to sound good, when you think of the stadium where it was held. I went to many shows there (Rush in Rio included, but also Pearl Jam, Judas Priest, Megadeth, The Police, Guns n Roses...), and while there's an incredible atmosphere, the sound is never 100%.

Never had a problem with the sound of the DVD. Its the CD that's the problem.

That DVD is one of the best DVD's they've ever done.   Must have been amazing to witness that.

[RodrigoAltaf]

Middletown Dreams for me folks.

Great pick!

And yeah, Rush in Rio doesn't sound too good. Neither on the CD nor DVD.

It was never going to sound good, when you think of the stadium where it was held. I went to many shows there (Rush in Rio included, but also Pearl Jam, Judas Priest, Megadeth, The Police, Guns n Roses...), and while there's an incredible atmosphere, the sound is never 100%.

Never had a problem with the sound of the DVD. Its the CD that's the problem.

That DVD is one of the best DVD's they've ever done.   Must have been amazing to witness that.

It is by far the best concert I've ever been to. And I've seen A LOT, including Maiden's Rock in Rio, Dream Theater in several continents, AC/DC in Australia, etc etc etc...

[ProfessorPeart]

What's everyone's non-opener/non-closer song from each album? It always seems that the opener is a catchy, very memorable "single" tune, and the closer is often a bombastic, or very epic piece, and because of these things, they're often some fan-favorites! So excluding those two pieces, which song in the middle of an album is your favorite?

Late to the party, but I liked this challenge. Took my favorite from each album between the opener and closer. Some were very close, but I went with my gut and first choice all around.

Here Again
By-Tor
The Necromancer
Tears
Xanadu
The Trees
Freewill
The Camera Eye
The Weapon
Red Sector A
Territories
Prime Mover
The Pass
Bravado
Nobody's Hero
Driven
Secret Touch
Armor And Sword
Headlong Flight

[The Curious Orange]

Chain lightning is another one of the more obscure Rush songs that I'd add to the list of underrated and forgotten Presto material. What a great album that is.

The way they were dusting off deep cuts on the last few tours convinced me that it was only a matter of time before they played Chain Lightning again... Oh well, it was not to be 

[KevShmev]

Despite the issues many, including myself, have had with the sound of Presto, Chain Lightning is one song where the production works strongly in its favor. 

[AngelBack]

Despite the issues many, including myself, have had with the sound of Presto, Chain Lightning is one song where the production works strongly in its favor.

Do you know if there is a Presto re-master?  I have the HYF re-master and it sounds fantastic.

[King Postwhore]

Despite the issues many, including myself, have had with the sound of Presto, Chain Lightning is one song where the production works strongly in its favor.

Do you know if there is a Presto re-master?  I have the HYF re-master and it sounds fantastic.

Yes there is as well as RTB.  It's a little more "bassy" but not that it's worth buying.

[DTA]

Despite the issues many, including myself, have had with the sound of Presto, Chain Lightning is one song where the production works strongly in its favor.

I'm baffled by how they never played this live. Best song on Presto (well, maybe tied with Available Light - also never played live!). Rush confuses me so much with their setlist choices over the years.

[bill1971]

Despite the issues many, including myself, have had with the sound of Presto, Chain Lightning is one song where the production works strongly in its favor.

I'm baffled by how they never played this live. Best song on Presto (well, maybe tied with Available Light - also never played live!). Rush confuses me so much with their setlist choices over the years.

Cut to the Chase baffles me. I think that would be an amazing high energy rocker. Instead they break out How it Is. Which I like by the way.

[Lethean]

Despite the issues many, including myself, have had with the sound of Presto, Chain Lightning is one song where the production works strongly in its favor.

I'm baffled by how they never played this live. Best song on Presto (well, maybe tied with Available Light - also never played live!). Rush confuses me so much with their setlist choices over the years.

Cut to the Chase baffles me. I think that would be an amazing high energy rocker. Instead they break out How it Is. Which I like by the way.

How It Is is one of the very few Rush songs that I don't like. I didn't mind hearing it live but certainly would have preferred Cut to the Chase (or just about anything).

[DTA]

Cut to the Chase baffles me. I think that would be an amazing high energy rocker. Instead they break out How it Is. Which I like by the way.

Yeah CTTC is great. Again, how the hell did they not play that on the actual CP tour? It's too bad they didn't start their Evening With shows back in the 80's. I'm just imagining how creative they'd have to get with their setlists with another hour of time.

[KevShmev]

It's too bad they didn't start their Evening With shows back in the 80's. I'm just imagining how creative they'd have to get with their setlists with another hour of time.

Oh man, I have gone through dozens of imaginary set lists they could have done back in the 80s if they were doing "Evening With..." shows then.

[ytserush]

Despite the issues many, including myself, have had with the sound of Presto, Chain Lightning is one song where the production works strongly in its favor.

Do you know if there is a Presto re-master?  I have the HYF re-master and it sounds fantastic.

Hold Your Fire has been remastered twice on CD and once on vinyl.



Presto has been remastered three times on CD and once on vinyl.

There's the first Atlantic Remaster (with crap artwork) from around 2004 or so (forgot the exact year) which was a slight improvement. A bit more punch in the bass department.

There is also a version of Presto in the Atlantic Studio Box (1989-2007). Don't know about this one because I never opened my copy.



Then there was the Audio Fidelity release which is the one I always play. It's not a miracle worker but there is a bit more clarity and more punch than the other versions that I've heard. This is the one I always pull out to when I want to hear Presto. It's more expensive than the others but if you REALLY enjoy the album it might be worth it for you.


Of course you have the original vinyl, which is kind of on the weak side as well, and the reissue vinyl which I do not have (and have not heard.)

If you're into the HD thing, supposedly the HD of the 2016 vinyl reissue is supposed to be a slight upgrade. Have no experience with those downloads so I can't say one way or the other.

[Fritzinger]

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19TH, 2017
A FAREWELL TO KINGS 40TH ANNIVERSARY RELEASE

On December 1, Rush will release a lavish, new and expanded edition of the  landmark album A Farewell to Kings — the fifth studio album originally released in 1977, which introduced the radio hit “Closer To The Heart,” album tracks “A Farewell To Kings,” “Madrigal,” “Cinderella Man,” as well as enduring fan favorites with “Xanadu” and “Cygnus X-1.”

A Farewell to Kings—40th Anniversary will be available to fans in four distinct configurations including (1) Super Deluxe Edition, (2) three-CD Deluxe Edition, (3) four-LP Deluxe Edition, and (4) the Deluxe Digital Edition.

Super Deluxe | 4LP | Deluxe 3CD

The Super Deluxe Edition includes three CDs, one Blu-ray Audio disc and four high-quality 180-gram vinyl LPs.  The set encompasses the Abbey Road Mastering Studios 2015 remastered edition of the album for the first time on CD; a complete Rush concert recorded in February 1978 at London’s Hammersmith Odeon, newly mixed by longtime Rush engineer and original A Farewell to Kings producer Terry Brown from the multi-track live tapes; four newly-recorded cover versions of songs from the original album by Dream Theater, Big Wreck, The Trews and Alain Johannes; and an instrumental studio outtake of the spacey sound effects the band has creatively titled “Cygnus X-2 Eh.”  The Hammersmith show features, for the first-time ever, over 34 minutes of unreleased performances including a complete “2112” suite, “Lakeside Park,” a drum solo and “Closer To The Heart.” The Super Deluxe Edition’s audio content on its CDs is duplicated on its vinyl discs.  Meanwhile, the Blu-ray Audio disc contains a brand new 5.1 surround mix of the album by four-time Grammy® nominated surround sound producer Steven Wilson, along with three original 1977 promo videos from a newly found 2-inch quad video master significantly improving the video quality for “Closer To The Heart.”  The Super Deluxe package also includes an elaborate new 40th anniversary cover treatment by longtime Rush creative director Hugh Syme, who has also created a new piece of artwork for each of the album’s six songs, and an extensive 12,000-word liner notes by Grammy®-winning rock historian Rob Bowman.

The Super Deluxe Edition of A Farewell to Kings—40th Anniversary will also include several exclusive items, including a unique King’s Ring, with custom velvet pouch and neck chain; two lithographs with original artwork by Hugh Syme; a special 12-inch turntable mat featuring distinctive artwork by Hugh Syme; and a reproduction of Rush’s original 1978 A Farewell To Kings tour program.

A Farewell to Kings—40th Anniversary second configuration will be released in a three-CD Deluxe Edition, with the newly reasserted A Farewell to Kings album, the Hammersmith Odeon show, the four new cover songs, “Cygnus X-2 Eh” outtake, Hugh Syme’s song-specific artwork and Rob Bowman’s liner notes.

The third configuration will be offered as an audiophile 180-gram four-LP Deluxe Edition featuring the same audio content as the three-CD edition with double-gatefold packaging, 32-page vinyl-size booklet, the special 12-inch turntable mat, along with Syme’s artwork and Bowman’s liner notes.

The fourth configuration, the Deluxe Digital Edition, will feature the original album as disc 1, the complete Hammersmith concert unedited as disc 2, and the four covers songs plus the “Cygnus X-2 Eh” outtake as disc 3.

TRACKLISTING

4-LP VINYL

LP 1 – SIDE A
Original Album - Produced by Rush and Terry Brown
A FAREWELL TO KINGS
XANADU

LP 1 – SIDE B
Closer to The Heart
Cinderella Man
Madrigal
Cygnus X-1

LP 2 – SIDE C
Live at Hammersmith Odeon – February 20, 1978
BASTILLE DAY
LAKESIDE PARK*
BY-TOR & THE SNOWDOG
 
LP 2 – SIDE D
Live at Hammersmith Odeon – February 20, 1978
XANADU
A FAREWELL TO KINGS
SOMETHING FOR NOTHING
 
LP 3 – SIDE E
Live at Hammersmith Odeon – February 20, 1978
CYGNUS X-1
ANTHEM
CLOSER TO THE HEART*
 
LP 3 – SIDE F
Live at Hammersmith Odeon – February 20, 1978
2112*
 
LP 4 – SIDE G
Live at Hammersmith Odeon – February 20, 1978
WORKING MAN
FLY BY NIGHT
IN THE MOOD
DRUM SOLO*
CINDERELLA MAN
 
LP 4 – SIDE H
XANADU – Dream Theater*
CLOSER TO THE HEART – Big Wreck*
CINDERELLA MAN – The Trews*
MADRIGAL – Alain Johannes*
CYGNUS X-2 EH*

A Xanadu cover by Dream Theater! But the vinyl edition is 80 bucks... :/ Still, awesome news, I'm looking forward to DT's Xanadu version!

[The Letter M]

https://www.rush.com/a-farewell-to-kings-40th-anniversary-release/

For anyone looking to pre-order right away! I'm mostly into this for the complete Hammersmith show! I really want the super deluxe set but dropping $159 after shipping is a bit much for me right now. I might have to stick with the 3CD set...*sigh*

-Marc.

[Fritzinger]

https://www.rush.com/a-farewell-to-kings-40th-anniversary-release/

For anyone looking to pre-order right away! I'm mostly into this for the complete Hammersmith show! I really want the super deluxe set but dropping $159 after shipping is a bit much for me right now. I might have to stick with the 3CD set...*sigh*

-Marc.

Ha, I ninja'd someone in this forum for the first time ever

[The Letter M]

https://www.rush.com/a-farewell-to-kings-40th-anniversary-release/

For anyone looking to pre-order right away! I'm mostly into this for the complete Hammersmith show! I really want the super deluxe set but dropping $159 after shipping is a bit much for me right now. I might have to stick with the 3CD set...*sigh*

-Marc.

Ha, I ninja'd someone in this forum for the first time ever

I saw your post, I was just adding the link for convenience as you only posted the information.  :tip

-Marc.

[Stadler]

So two questions: 
- is this the first of "Super Deluxe Versions"?  Does that mean there are more to come?

- I want the 5.1 surround mix; am I correct that that only comes in the Super Deluxe version?   I don't want, need or use vinyl, so that sucks balls.

[Anguyen92]

DT covering Xanadu?  Big Wreck covering Closer to the Heart?  Jebus, that's got potential.

[ProfessorPeart]

So two questions: 
- is this the first of "Super Deluxe Versions"?  Does that mean there are more to come?

- I want the 5.1 surround mix; am I correct that that only comes in the Super Deluxe version?   I don't want, need or use vinyl, so that sucks balls.

This is not the first of the 40th Super Deluxe Editions. 2112 got one last year, which I own. I fear that I cannot resist this one either.

[Fritzinger]

https://www.rush.com/a-farewell-to-kings-40th-anniversary-release/

For anyone looking to pre-order right away! I'm mostly into this for the complete Hammersmith show! I really want the super deluxe set but dropping $159 after shipping is a bit much for me right now. I might have to stick with the 3CD set...*sigh*

-Marc.

Ha, I ninja'd someone in this forum for the first time ever

I saw your post, I was just adding the link for convenience as you only posted the information.  :tip

-Marc.

Ah nards.

[Stadler]

I wish they would do something like Genesis; three (or four) boxes, each era, all in 5.1 surround.  That's really what interests me.   

[Ben_Jamin]

Does this mean we get to hear Mangini do Xanadu? Awesome.

[Nick]

I wish they would do something like Genesis; three (or four) boxes, each era, all in 5.1 surround.  That's really what interests me.   

Yes, that would be nice. All I want from this is the Blu-Ray with all the content on it. That's it. But I have to pay $160 to get it? I'm sure it's a nice set, and god knows I'll probably end up buying it as it is my favorite album of all time, but these types of cash grabs by Rush in the later years just leaves a really sour taste in my mouth.

[Orbert]

I just wanted to say that I love the title  "Cygnus X-2 Eh".

[Mladen]

I'm looking forward to hearing Dream Theater covering Xanadu. None of us had any idea this was in the works. 

[Stadler]

I wish they would do something like Genesis; three (or four) boxes, each era, all in 5.1 surround.  That's really what interests me.   

Yes, that would be nice. All I want from this is the Blu-Ray with all the content on it. That's it. But I have to pay $160 to get it? I'm sure it's a nice set, and god knows I'll probably end up buying it as it is my favorite album of all time, but these types of cash grabs by Rush in the later years just leaves a really sour taste in my mouth.

Exactly how I feel.  PLus I just feel guilty with these nice vinyl sets sitting on the shelves unplayed and possibly being ruined (AC/DC's box was the same way). 

[Fritzinger]

Does this mean we get to hear Mangini do Xanadu? Awesome.

I ann actually more excited about that than the actual remaster

[Ben_Jamin]

Does this mean we get to hear Mangini do Xanadu? Awesome.

I ann actually more excited about that than the actual remaster

I'll get it just for the live release and cover songs.

[Lethean]

The Blu Ray is just audio, I don't have a Blu Ray player or surround sound anyway, so I think I'm good with the cheap version. Can't wait to hear Xanadu and the live show.

[ProfessorPeart]

Pretty sure the Hammersmith show is the same one that was released as a bonus disc with Different Stages. This one is just the full show remixed by Terry Brown. Either way, pretty cool to get the full show. Also curious to hear Terry's mix of it.

[deggs37]

I am so excited to hear DT's version of Xanadu. I've been on a major Rush kick lately, and that song is by far my favorite. What a nice surprise.

[goo-goo]

Does this mean we get to hear Mangini do Xanadu? Awesome.

Could this have been the reason why Mangini and Chycki where at LA in a studio recording drums for some project?