Rush v. Dirk, Pratt, & Lerxst

[pg1067]

I was digging through a drawer in which I keep some of my music memorabilia and came across the inner sleeve of Fly By Night (pictured in the upper right of this photo)



I recall that the first copy of FbN that I bought had only a clear plastic inner sleeve and that I found the album with this inner sleeve in a used record bin at some point.  Anyway, I noticed that the lyrics for the song "Fly by Night" start with the following:

"PROLOGUE:
     airport scurry, flurry faces
     parade of passers-by
     people going many places
     with a smile or just a sigh
     waiting, waiting, pass the time
     another cigarette
     got in line - gate thirty-nine
     the time is not here yet....."

Anyone ever seen this before or know what it's about?  I'm fairly sure I hadn't see this inner sleeve with the lyrics in 25+ years, but I don't recall ever noticing this.  Pretty amazing that, after all this time as a Rush fan, there are still things I wasn't aware of.

[Orbert]

Interesting.  I gotta remember to check out mine when I get home later.

[ytserush]

I was digging through a drawer in which I keep some of my music memorabilia and came across the inner sleeve of Fly By Night (pictured in the upper right of this photo)



I recall that the first copy of FbN that I bought had only a clear plastic inner sleeve and that I found the album with this inner sleeve in a used record bin at some point.  Anyway, I noticed that the lyrics for the song "Fly by Night" start with the following:

"PROLOGUE:
     airport scurry, flurry faces
     parade of passers-by
     people going many places
     with a smile or just a sigh
     waiting, waiting, pass the time
     another cigarette
     got in line - gate thirty-nine
     the time is not here yet....."

Anyone ever seen this before or know what it's about?  I'm fairly sure I hadn't see this inner sleeve with the lyrics in 25+ years, but I don't recall ever noticing this.  Pretty amazing that, after all this time as a Rush fan, there are still things I wasn't aware of.

I forgot about this. When I first became a fan my first version of Fly By Night was the reissue without the lyrics, but later I found some original pressings with the lyrics in both blue and black ink. I'd long forgotten about those words.

That was one of these questions I'd wanted to ask when Geddy was on Rockline in 1987 and '89 but as usual I wasn't able to get through the busy signal. I only ever got through twice but both times I was still on hold when the program ended

Never bothered with any Japanese CD of this.

I always thought it was cool that the cities were listed where the lyrics were written. Never found much information about that period and Caress Of Steel.

[pg1067]

I was having a discussion on Facebook and then with a fellow Rush fan at work:

What was Rush's biggest mistake?

Interpret it however you like.

My answer is the termination of the band's relationship with Terry Brown.

[RodrigoAltaf]

I was having a discussion on Facebook and then with a fellow Rush fan at work:

What was Rush's biggest mistake?

Interpret it however you like.

My answer is the termination of the band's relationship with Terry Brown.

That's a STRONG contender, for sure. Another suggestion would be adopting the keyboard-laden and thin production of Hold Your Fire up to Roll the Bones.

[Nick]

I was having a discussion on Facebook and then with a fellow Rush fan at work:

What was Rush's biggest mistake?

Interpret it however you like.

My answer is the termination of the band's relationship with Terry Brown.

That's a STRONG contender, for sure. Another suggestion would be adopting the keyboard-laden and thin production of Hold Your Fire up to Roll the Bones.

I can see why anyone would say both of these and yet find fault in both. After Signals Rush was moving in a different direction, and if they didn't think Terry was the right guy for that new direction then starting a new relationship instead of potentially souring what they had was probably the right decision. Hard to know what those albums would have been like had he stayed around. I think it's foolish to think Rush's golden-era style records would have just continued had Terry stayed.

Similarly with the synth direction there was no avoiding it. It's not like it was a random experiment or a one off decision, it was something they dedicated themselves to fully.

And without both of these decisions we would not have had a top 5 (if not top 3) Rush album in Power Windows, which was produced by Peter Collins who would later produce Counterparts as well, the nearly undisputed champ of that era of Rush, as Power Windows is for the synth era.

To me the obvious answer is to allow Vapor Trails to sound how it did on initial release. For a band with their budget it was absolutely, 100% inexcusable.

[King Postwhore]

Nick is dead on.  It's the production of VT.

[RodrigoAltaf]

Here's another one, although I'm happy with how that album turned out - they had conversations with Steve Lillywhite to produce Grace Under Pressure but didn't sign a contract, and were left hanging when Steve decided to produce whatever album U2 was recording at the time. It's all good though, I love GUP, but I know it's criticized by many fans.

And I get what Nick was saying, the synth period was a "thing" for that era, and Rush always seemed to adopt parts of what went on in the musical landscape when they recorded something new - the Zeppelin influences in the beginning, then prog in the late 70's, the synths and New wave-ish sound, the grunge style of Counterparts and so on.

[The Letter M]

Nick is dead on.  It's the production of VT.

Agreed. As great as that album and its songs ended up being, the production of it was a series of unfortunate mistakes. The whole idea of the synth era was built upon ideas and experiments the band had already been working on and developing in their music for years, and what Nick said about TB is pretty spot on - a change was needed for the band. Both of these things were very conscious decisions and while the synth era may not be everyone's cup of tea, I think more fans could agree on the VT production being horrible.

Of course, the REAL mistake was letting Rutsey leave the band. Now THERE is an alternate-universe I'd love to peek into...

-Marc.

[KevShmev]

I agree with Nick as well. Terry Brown was important to the band in the early days, but he had to go when he did.

The sound of VT is definitely a travesty, although the Xanadu into Superconductor medley on the RtB tour stands alone as their biggest WTF

[King Postwhore]

This is a small one but Grand Designs played as an encore on the Power Windows tour.  An album cut from a new album felt out of place.

[TAC]

This is a small one but Grand Designs played as an encore on the Power Windows tour.  An album cut from a new album felt out of place.

Every album cut felt out of place on that tour.

[King Postwhore]

This is a small one but Grand Designs played as an encore on the Power Windows tour.  An album cut from a new album felt out of place.

Every album cut felt out of place on that tour.

You high bro, high!

[TAC]

Well, I was then!

[King Postwhore]

 


Too funny.  I was looking at the setlist.  It's fun to look back at shows you went to 33 years ago. 

[KevShmev]

Too funny.  I was looking at the setlist.  It's fun to look back at shows you went to 33 years ago.

Is this where you tell us a Mr. Mister set list?

[King Postwhore]

Too funny.  I was looking at the setlist.  It's fun to look back at shows you went to 33 years ago.

Is this where you tell us a Mr. Mister set list?

Only saw them once.


I could still tell you.

[TAC]

Too funny.  I was looking at the setlist.  It's fun to look back at shows you went to 33 years ago.

Is this where you tell us a Mr. Mister set list?

Steve Morse opened the Power Windows show here.

[King Postwhore]

Too funny.  I was looking at the setlist.  It's fun to look back at shows you went to 33 years ago.

Is this where you tell us a Mr. Mister set list?

Steve Morse opened the Power Windows show here.

Kev is mocking my concert going prowess.

[TAC]

Not sure attending Mr Mister equates to prowess.

[King Postwhore]

Not sure attending Mr Mister equates to prowess.

 

Come at me bro!   

[TAC]

 So prowess 

[King Postwhore]

I think you don't know the definition of the word.

Also, Welcome To The Real World is a fantastic album.

[TAC]

I think you don't know the definition of the word.

Pretty sure you're not too clear on it either.

[King Postwhore]

Prowess - skill or expertise in a particular activity or field.
The "activity" of going to concerts.  The amount of concerts.

Silly grumpy old man.

[pg1067]

I was having a discussion on Facebook and then with a fellow Rush fan at work:

What was Rush's biggest mistake?

Interpret it however you like.

My answer is the termination of the band's relationship with Terry Brown.

That's a STRONG contender, for sure. Another suggestion would be adopting the keyboard-laden and thin production of Hold Your Fire up to Roll the Bones.

I can see why anyone would say both of these and yet find fault in both. After Signals Rush was moving in a different direction, and if they didn't think Terry was the right guy for that new direction then starting a new relationship instead of potentially souring what they had was probably the right decision. Hard to know what those albums would have been like had he stayed around. I think it's foolish to think Rush's golden-era style records would have just continued had Terry stayed.

Similarly with the synth direction there was no avoiding it. It's not like it was a random experiment or a one off decision, it was something they dedicated themselves to fully.

And without both of these decisions we would not have had a top 5 (if not top 3) Rush album in Power Windows, which was produced by Peter Collins who would later produce Counterparts as well, the nearly undisputed champ of that era of Rush, as Power Windows is for the synth era.

To me the obvious answer is to allow Vapor Trails to sound how it did on initial release. For a band with their budget it was absolutely, 100% inexcusable.

Power Windows top 5?  LOL!  And yes, it's the "champ of . . . the synth era," but that's only because it's competition is even worse.  Anyway...opinions....

As far as Broon, when I pan the "synth era," it's not because of the synths.  Synths were all over Signals, but THAT is a great album (albeit not without its own flaws).  If Broon had been allowed to produce GUP through HYF (and if he had been willing to be more flexible), I feel like those albums could have been much better.  I've written previously that some of the recent live versions of Red Sector A demonstrate that GUP could potentially have been much better with better production.

The quality of Vapor Trails is another good candidate.  I distinctly recall playing it and wondering if there was something wrong with my stereo.

Of course, the REAL mistake was letting Rutsey leave the band. Now THERE is an alternate-universe I'd love to peek into...

LOL!  Had Rutsey stuck around, I'm pretty sure this thread wouldn't exist and Rush might be held in about the same regard as Grand Funk Railroad.

This is a small one but Grand Designs played as an encore on the Power Windows tour.  An album cut from a new album felt out of place.

Every album cut felt out of place on that tour.

The inclusion of Grand Designs felt even more awkward sandwiched between Temples of Syrinx and In the Mood.  But the Power Windows tour was an improvement over the GUP tour with The Trees and Limelight back in the set list.

[KevShmev]

Power Windows is a top 3 Rush record.

Grace Under Pressure could have used a better producer, especially for some of those Side 2 songs, which aren't bad but could have been better (Between the Wheels notwithstanding), but Terry Brown was not the man to produce Rush albums that were synth-heavy, which Signals demonstrated quite clearly when you listen to the mix.

[TAC]

Yes, Power Windows is a Top 3 album during the run of Signals through HYF.


I think Signals sounds great. It has aged very well.

[King Postwhore]

Sorry.  Power Windows is amazing. The majority speaks.  The minority mocks.

[KevShmev]

The remasters of Signals have helped its sound greatly; the original was a mess.

[TAC]

I didn't mind the original. I mean the album wanted to make me want to gag at first. But over time, and especially what would follow it, it has aged quite well. I'd give the remaster a listen though.

[King Postwhore]

The remaster is better than the Gold Disk.

[TAC]

Gold Disk?

[King Postwhore]

[TAC]

So is that like better than the original but not as good as the remaster?