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Soundboard 9.4 - Powerful, living room clarity in your face and just as good a mix as you can do. -
London 1978 Audience 8.5 - This is a show that has seen limited release as a bootleg CD but I have to assume one that only hardcore fans ever purchased. Now, many years later and thanks to the revolution in collecting shows, many of these sub-par recordings have re-emerged with the layers of muck and grime removed, and previously unheard frequencies and sounds uncovered. This is one such tape, and might I say it is really not that bad! I specifically highlight this tour because of the amazing set lists, so when “new” tapes surface, I think it is just great for the collectors as they rediscover this excellent period of Rush. Note: The filler on disc 2 is St. Paul 1978 which is only a fragment of the show as that is all that exists. Milwaukee 1978 Audience 8.3 - Another rare recording that would not have been given a second thought, due to the extremely poor dynamics and recording quality, has surfaced. This tape source has been thoroughly re-mastered and revealed itself to be listenable. Careful re-mastering is taking otherwise dismal recordings and making them to where you really have to stop and give pause, because it is yet further proof that we are living during an amazing time for collectors. The set lists during this time period are simply awesome, and the band is just firing on all cylinders, as they also were carrying over into 1979. Rush On Tour 1978 DISC 1 Hammersmith Odeon, London, England February 19, 1978 01 - Bastille Day 02 - Lakeside Park 03 - Bytor And The Snowdog 04 - Xanadu 05 - A Farewell To Kings 06 - Something For Nothing 07 - Cygnus X-1 08 - Closer To The Heart 09 - Anthem DISC 2: 01 - 2112 02 - Working Man - Fly By Night - In The Mood 03 - Drum Solo - Cinderella Man Civic Center, St. Paul, Minnesota December 9, 1978 04 - Anthem 05 - A Passage To Bangkok 06 - Bytor And The Snowdog Disc 3 Milwaukee Arena. Milwaukee, Wisconsin December 7, 1978 01 - Introduction - Anthem 02 - A Passage To Bangko 03 - Bytor And The Snow Dog 04 - Xanadu 05 - Something For Nothing 06 - The Trees 07 - Cygnus X-1 08 - Hemispheres 09 - Closer To The Heart DISC 4 01 - Circumstances 02 - A Farewell To Kings 03 - La Villa Strangiato 04 - 2112 05 - Working Man 06 - Bastille Day 07 - In The Mood 08 - Drum Solo -
Audience 9.7 - Almost as good as you can stand for an amateur capture. It won't even be apparent to you at first, it will be three or four songs in when you find you are completely captivated by this show. I mean, literally it sounds like you are right there. One of the best of the best for this tour without a doubt. Crisp clean and refreshing! -
Audience 8.8 - This is considered to be one of those recordings that every Rush collector should have, possibly because it is a great recording of arguably their peak performance year. I really do think 1979 was them at their best, and this recording shows clearly why that remains my opinion. -
Soundboard 9.4 - Killer, rehearsals for the Counterparts Tour. -
Soundboard 9.7 - If you can't get into this, you are dead from the neck up. Totally badassery here! Get it. -
Audience 8.8 - This recording features tons of atmosphere and sometimes struggles over a loud audience. It is, however, very clear, with the majority of the sound mix favoring drums and bass but most prominently, Geddy’s vocals – which is fine – but Alex needs to be LOUDER man! He’s there, he’s just not up as front here as I would prefer. In my quest to obtain every 2015 recording, I do not decide a preference for which ones I offer as most of them are very good to excellent and this here is no exception. Rush US Airways Center Phoenix, AZ July 27, 2015 Disc 1 01 -Video - The World Is...The World Is 02 -The Anarchist 03 -The Wreckers 04 -Headlong Flight (with “Drumbastica” mini drum solo) 05 -Far Cry 06 -The Main Monkey Business 07 -How It Is 08 -Animate 09 -Roll The Bones 10 -Between The Wheels 11 -Subdivisions Disc 2 12 -Video - No Country For Old Hens 13 -Tom Sawyer 14 -The Camera Eye 15 -The Spirit of Radio 16 -Jacob's Ladder 17 -Hemispheres- Prelude 18 -Cygnus X-1 (with drum solo #2) 19 -Closer To The Heart Disc 3 20 -Xanadu 21 -2112 (Overture - Temples of Syrinx - Presentation - Grand Finale) 22 -Video - Mel’s Rock Pile 23 -Lakeside Park 24 -Anthem 25 -What You're Doing 26 -Working Man (with Garden Road teaser) 27 -Video - Exit Stage Left 28 -Outro music - Closer To The Heart (polka version) -
Soundboard 9.4 - Killer! -
Audience 9.1 - Incomplete show but man, get this one now! Superb capture with a good tight bass, some airiness in the drums but maintaining lovely timbre both high and low, guitar good but maybe just behind bass and drums…overall yeah this smokes! -
Audience 8.8 - Most likely master tape source here, there’s no tape noise it is super clear. More emphasis on the upper mid and highs, but it’s not shrill or anything like that. This is a very good recording. Rush - Streets of Diversity Date: May 24, 1981 Location: Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island, USA DISC 1: 01 - 2112: Overture / The Temples of Syrinx 6:40 02 - Freewill 6:06 03 - Limelight 4:39 04 - Hemispheres: Prelude 4:26 05 - Beneath, Between & Behind 2:43 06 - The Camera Eye 11:22 07 - YYZ / Drum Solo 8:37 08 - Broon's Bane 1:38 09 - The Trees 4:32 10 - Xanadu 12:42 DISC 2: 01 - The Spirit of Radio 5:47 02 - Red Barchetta 6:58 03 - Closer to the Heart 3:54 04 - Tom Sawyer 4:55 05 - Vital Signs 5:10 06 - Natural Science 8:28 07 - Working Man 1:23 08 - Hemispheres: Armageddon 0:52 09 - By-Tor & the Snow Dog 3:57 10 - In the End 1:40 11 - In the Mood 1:33 12 - 2112: Grand Finale 2:38 13 - La Villa Strangiato 9:46 -
Audience 8.8 - A wide open and bright recording that highlights the fact that you are in a big venue. The show has that huge feel to it, the vocals sort of slightly echo off the walls (not in a bad way), and the P.A. system pushing out a massive wall of sound…not pinpoint accurate but it gets the job done. Rush Lawlor Events Center Reno, Nevada June 1, 1992 DISC 1 01 - Intro 0:45 02 - Force Ten 4:42 03 - Limelight 4:19 04 - Freewill 4:04 05 - Distant Early Warning 4:27 06 - Time Stand Still 6:13 07 - Dreamline 5:04 08 - Bravado 6:36 09 - Roll The Bones 6:15 10 - Show Don't Tell 6:16 11 - The Big Money 6:09 12 - Vital Signs 4:44 13 - The Analog Kid 5;16 DISC 2 01 - Ghost Of A Chance 5:47 02 - The Trees 4:50 03 - Where's My Thing? 5:30 04 - The Rhythm Method 7:44 05 - Closer To The Heart 4:41 06 - Xanadu 6:41 07 - Superconductor 5:05 08 - Tom Sawyer 6:06 09 - The Spirit Of Radio 4:46 10 - 2112 Overture 3:19 11 - Finding My Way 2:05 12 - La Villa Strangiato 3:15 13 - Anthem 1:44 14 - Red Barchetta 1:34 15 - The Spirit Of Radio Reprised 0:47 16 - Cygnus X-1 0:51 -
Audience 7.8 - Everyone knows of this one, it’s one of the MUST HAVE’S for Rush fans but that doesn’t mean it is perfect audio – there’s a bit of distortion (not too much) and some phasing here and there, and other little flaws but man oh man, just do yourself a favor and get it because it is one of the painfully few times the band performed The Necromancer and here it is in reasonably good quality and it does KILL in every sense of the word. Again, a MUST have! -
Sale!
Audience 8.8 - For the time, this is a wonderful sounding audience capture. Usually you get a very one dimensional and boomy sound but this one is refreshingly stereophonic and wide, warm, punchy with just that little touch of vocal reverb that allows you to get a sense of the venue. Really really good! (Atmospheric) -
Audience 9.0 - This recording, while captured from the wilds of the audience, is very deep, full-bodied and pleasing to the ears. You will have to deal with the fans, but they aren’t ruining this capture they are just present. I liked this one a lot, I listened all the way through in fact. You will appreciate the taper’s efforts as I did. Rush California Expo Sacramento, CA June 26, 1990 DISC 1 01 - Force Ten 5:22 02 - Freewill 3:51 03 - Distant Early Warning 4:14 04 - Time Stand Still 5:48 05 - Subdivisions 5:21 06 - Marathon 6:32 07 - Red Barchetta 6:38 08 - Superconductor 5:01 09 - Show Don't Tell 6:21 10 - The Pass 4:58 11 - Closer To The Heart 4:54 DISC 2 01 - Manhattan Project 4:57 02 - Xanadu 6:26 03 - YYZ 3:06 04 - Drum Solo 4:57 05 - Scars 4:33 06 - War Paint 5:36 07 - Mission 5:25 08 - Tom Sawyer 6:13 09 - The Spirit Of Radio 4:53 10 - 2112 Overture 3:12 11 - La Villa Strangiato 4:42 12 - In The Mood 2:05 13 - Pipeline - Jazz Bass 1:11 -
Sale!
Audience 8.6 - This recording straddles the fence a little. On the one hand, it’s got very defined highs and good overall acoustics but also a pretty rowdy audience that whoops and hollers (this is Texas after all). I can’t really blame them though, this is actually THE best Presto gig I have ever heard as far as the performance. Not all Rush shows are homogenous by the way. Listen to Alex rip on La Villa Strangiato for example. They are firing on all eight (with the lone exception being a marginal effort on the beginning of Xanadu). -
Audience 8.8 - You know right away that this is a decent recording but it takes a song to find the sweet spot. You keep hoping it opens up more, and it does, and then just sit back and enjoy…until the power failure (hence the title). Things are resolved quickly though and the fun begins again. A delightful show! Rush Sports Arena, San Diego, CA February 3, 1986 This might be a new source put into circulation. This date has never been on TTD. This was the Power Windows tour, and ironically, the band has a power failure durng Marathon, after the power returns, starts Marathon over again. Band line up: Geddy Lee - bass & lead vocals Neil Peart - drums, percussion Alex Lifeson - guitars & backing vocals Total Time = 01:55:08 Disc 1 01 Intro 02 The Spirit of Radio 03 Limelight 04 The Big Money 05 New World Man 06 Subdivisions 07 Manhattan Project 08 Middletown Dreams 09 Witch Hunt 10 Red Sector A 11 Closer To The Heart Disc 2 12 Marathon (Take 1) 13 power failure 14 Marathon (Take 2) 15 The Trees 16 Mystic Rhythms 17 Territories 18 YYZ 19 Drum Solo 20 Red Lenses 21 Tom Sawyer 22 2112 Overture 23 The Temples of Syrinx 24 Grand Designs 25 In the Mood -
Audience 8.5 - -This is a somewhat distant recording, my guess is from somewhere in the middle of the venue. It lacks punch in the middle, definition, and volume in general. In my estimation this one won't get much play except by someone who is not getting enough 1996 tour ROIO's in the o'l collection. Pass if you are a casual fan, collector's who need more 1996 (of which, strangely enough, there's not a preponderence of), you can get this to round out the collection.
Rush San Diego Sports Arena San Diego, California November 23, 1996 DISC 1 01 - Intro - Dreamline 6:35 02 - The Big Money 6:11 03 - Driven 5:48 04 - Half The World 3:55 05 - Red Barchetta 6:35 06 - Animate 6:22 07 - Limbo 5:51 08 - The Trees 5:08 DISC 2 01 - Red Sector A 5:09 02 - Virtuality 5:51 03 - Nobody's Hero 5:15 04 - Closer To The Heart 4:45 05 - 2112 20:27 DISC 3 01 - Test For Echo 6:55 02 - Subdivisions 5:23 03 - Freewill 5:32 04 - Roll The Bones 5:54 05 - Resist 4:45 06 - Leave That Thing Alone - The Rhythm Method 11:47 07 - Natural Science 7:57 08 - Force Ten 4:37 09 - The Spirit of Radio 4:47 10 - Tom Sawyer 6:19 11 - YYZ 4:25 12 - Cygnus X-1 0:49 -
Audience 8.2 -
Audience 8.8 - Easily one of the best pre-Fly By Night live recordings! -
Audience 9.3 - Some might not agree with my super high rating here, but a rating in my opinion should combine not only fidelity (which is great here) but also performance and atmosphere. This is a must have to my ears. -
Audience 7.8 - What can I say about this? It is a MUST have for any self respecting fan. Is it an amazing soundboard? No. Is it a spectacular audience? No. It is a decent audience recording of a typical UK tour 1977 gig except for one thing – They play The Necromancer and it SMOKES! This is akin to discovering a Zeppelin tape where they play a complete Good Times Bad Times. This is the stuff of dreams for Rush collectors. -
Soundboard 8.7 - Some age in the tape present, but you’ll be able to live with it as this just smokes! -
Audience 8.7 - A nicely atmospheric recording without reverb which is nice. Sound mix is good, you hear everyone in pretty good detail. Sounds like it might be maybe 1/3 of the way back in the hall but it’s done with good equipment seems like. Overall a good recording here. Rush St. Paul Civic Center Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA March 25th, 1986 Disc 1: 01 - Introduction 02 - The Spirit Of Radio 03 - Limelight 04 - The Big Money 05 - New World Man 06 - Subdivisions 07 - Manhattan Project 08 - Middletown Dreams 09 - Witch Hunt 10 - Red Sector A 11 - Closer To The Heart Disc 2: 01 - Marathon 02 - The Trees 03 - Mystic Rhythms 04 - Distant Early Warning 05 - Territories 06 - YYZ 07 - Drum Solo 08 - Red Lenses 09 - Tom Sawyer 10 - 2112 Overture / Temples Of Syrinx 11 - Grand Designs 12 - In The Mood -
Sale!
Soundboard 9.8 - One of the best board tapes I have heard, I love where each instrument sits in this mix. It also helps that the gig is exceptional, therefore I must categorize this one as a must have. -
Audience 7.4 - Thin, AM radio like but good AM radio. -
Audience 8.9 - Very clear recording, the kind where you know you are hearing exactly what your ears would be hearing at this place and time. The highs are nice here too, the crystalline “tink” of the ride cymbals even coming through with clarity. The mid range is well represented, the guitar and bass though do sound indistinct for all practical purposes so don’t expect detail on the bass notes. It’s a stadium after all. But this is very decent. Rush Ice Palace Tampa, Florida December 09, 1996 DISC 1 01 - Thus Spake Zarathustra 1:32 02 - Dreamline 5:10 03 - The Big Money / Wipeout 6:20 04 - Driven 6:08 05 - Half The World 3:51 06 - Red Barchetta 6:58 07 - Animate 6:30 08 - Limbo 6:02 09 - The Trees 5:37 10 - Red Sector A 5:09 11 - Virtuality 5:46 12 - Nobody's Hero 5:44 13 - Closer To The Heart 5:21 DISC 2 01 - 2112 21:45 DISC 3 01 - Test For Echo 7:04 02 - Subdivisions 5:32 03 - Freewill 5:53 04 - Roll The Bones 5:50 05 - Resist 4:59 06 - Leave That Thing Alone 4:50 07 - The Rhythm Method 8:30 08 - Natural Science 8:06 09 - Force Ten 4:52 10 - The Spirit Of Radio 5:02 11 - Tom Sawyer 5:43 12 - YYZ / Cygnus X-1 (teaser) 5:09 -
Audience 9.5 - Spectacular! I mean there are times when you’d swear it was a board. This is a must have! -
Audience 7.4 - Someone mastered this, it sounds so much better than what I remember. Good Job! -
Audience 7.3 - Raucous show, loud but does not distort. Not too bad. -
Audience 7.2 - Oh how I wish these mid 70’s Toronto shows were well recorded, because the band was always fired up about playing there. This one suffers from a lack of sonic clarity and separation of instruments, has background noise, and occasionally drifts over to one channel and back again. A flawed jewel for collectors only. -
Audience 8.7 - This is a really nice and rare treat. I have been collecting every known Toronto show by Rush and this fills a nice place in the 70’s portion…and wow man I gotta say the quality is surprising since most of the other 70’s tapes are really not that great. I am not saying this is sparkling minty fresh, but it’s much more clear and present than the others and that is good for us because this is the earliest known AFTK performance and features tracks yet to be released. Rush Exhibition Stadium, Toronto, Ontario 23 August 1977 Disc 1 01 - Intro 02 - Bastille Day 03 - Lakeside Park 04 - By-Tor And The Snow Dog 05 - Xanadu 06 - A Farewell To Kings 07 - Something For Nothing Disc 2 08 - Cygnus X-1 09 - Anthem 10 - Closer To The Heart 11 - 2112 12 - Working Man 13 - Fly By Night 14 - Drum Solo 15 - Best I Can -
Audience 7.6 - I have it in my mind to collect every single performance the band did in Toronto. That means I am gonna get some good, some bad, some in between. This is probably some in-between. Not horrible but not great either. Now, I will say this, let your ears adjust and you get a reasonably clear but phasing sound. Recorded from somewhere pretty well back of the auditorium, sounds like.