When you first heard Cygnus X-1

the_hook · #1 06-08-2010, 08:47 AM

What did you think? My first Rush album (vinyl) was A Farewell To Kings. It took me some time to dig into Cygnus, probably due to all the time changes within it, it felt like a very angular song.

Now I have a much better appreciation of Geddy's (and Rush as a whole) bass talents and enjoy it much more. Killer tone too.

T. Alan Smith · #2 06-08-2010, 01:40 PM

I didn't hear it 'til I was 16. That long intro freaked me out.

MonetBass · #3 06-08-2010, 02:08 PM

This was what I looked like the 1st time I heard it:

I had been into their 'newer' stuff before that (Permanent Waves forward).

I was amazed, enthralled, and astounded. After that I started getting all of their albums from Hemispheres on back.

stoolpigeon · #4 06-08-2010, 02:16 PM

I dug it...i was in mid high school i think...my first RUSH record was Hold Your Fire...as soon as I had that I stared listening my way through the catalog.

etechstan · #5 06-09-2010, 08:35 AM

I had to learn it right away!!!

Winterpegbass · #6 06-09-2010, 11:41 AM

I was 15 and thought it was cool. Sci-fi, prog/math rock and a great bass part. My teenage basement band started playing it for fun during practices but not at our gigs. Everyone in the band were Rush fans and we were all in the school music/jazz program so music with time signature changes was fun to do.

tahoebass92 · #7 06-09-2010, 11:44 AM

The first time I heard it was on the Rush in Rio DVD (great show, awful mix, but this one really opened the door for me and Rush) when I was 12 or 13 (yes, I'm young

). I remember thinking "Damn! What a great bass line!" Granted, they didn't play the whole song, but I went out and bought Farewell to Kings shortly thereafter specifically for that song. Still love it.

wagstaff · #8 06-09-2010, 12:12 PM

I thought it was awesome, but my first Rush album was hemispheres so i'd already heard pt 2 and was looking forward to hearing part 1

Mark

the_hook · #9 06-09-2010, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winterpegbass

I was 15 and thought it was cool. Sci-fi, prog/math rock and a great bass part. My teenage basement band started playing it for fun during practices but not at our gigs. Everyone in the band were Rush fans and we were all in the school music/jazz program so music with time signature changes was fun to do.

Cool stuff. That reminds me of being in a music store recently, I was trying out some basses and I ended up playing parts from Xanadu. The staff were all looking at me confused, as they expected the usual familiar 'play in music store' type songs, which I'm sure they've heard for eons. Then I ripped into the intro to Cygnus, still more looks of confusion.

I left the store with 'nah, it's not the tone I'm looking for...'...

stratovani · #10 06-09-2010, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_hook

Cool stuff. That reminds me of being in a music store recently, I was trying out some basses and I ended up playing parts from Xanadu. The staff were all looking at me confused, as they expected the usual familiar 'play in music store' type songs, which I'm sure they've heard for eons. Then I ripped into the intro to Cygnus, still more looks of confusion.

I left the store with 'nah, it's not the tone I'm looking for...'...

Reminds me of last Saturday when I went to Guitar Center to check out some basses. I played a Squier CV Jazz Bass through an Acoustic stack (killer bass, BTW). I started playing Hemispheres, not very well, unfortunately, and the look on people's faces was priceless - "Ooh, look! He's playing Rush!" Pretty satisfying even though I butchered it!

ofsalesmen · #11 06-09-2010, 04:45 PM

The dissonance, disjointedness, and general chaos of the middle part (you know, the one where they switch every measure between 11/8, 12/8, and 13/8) was almost repulsive when I first heard it--even on the Rio DVD. But after learning the bass line, it became one of my favorite Rush songs to play.

The tone of that Ric in that opening groove absolutely kills me every time. Geddy has said he plays with a heavy attack, and that song is proof.

the_hook · #12 06-09-2010, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ofsalesmen

The dissonance, disjointedness, and general chaos of the middle part (you know, the one where they switch every measure between 11/8, 12/8, and 13/8) was almost repulsive when I first heard it--even on the Rio DVD. But after learning the bass line, it became one of my favorite Rush songs to play.

The tone of that Ric in that opening groove absolutely kills me every time. Geddy has said he plays with a heavy attack, and that song is proof.

I also felt like that about Freewill, just couldn't get into it. Eventually I got the sheet music for it...crazy bass work on that song! It has pretty much my favorite crazy Geddy bass lines of all their songs.

The day I can pull that one off will be cause for celebration...

XXL · #13 06-09-2010, 06:57 PM

Mr. Lee still gives me the "fingernail on the chalkboard" feeling on that last verse. Really the only song by Rush that still does that to me. Other than that, a great song on a great album.

Rocinante_x1 · #14 06-09-2010, 07:07 PM

First time I heard it, I was immediately intrigued. The intro is weird, but as soon as the bells start, you get chills (especially if you play it the way it was intended : LOUD) and then the bass intro starts. Holy cow, that bass sound. Coupled with the drums, then the whole song unfolds and evolves. It's a great tune, and a great closer to an amazing album.

73jbass · #15 06-09-2010, 07:21 PM

My first Rush was All The Worlds a Stage. A friend in high school wanted me to hear the drum solo. After hearing the rest of the album,I was hooked. My favorite stuff is from the Farewell,Hemispheres,Moving Pictures era. Just fantastic songwriting and great playing all around. Permanent Waves is right up there also,and I think is their best produced album.

JukeBoxHero · #16 06-14-2010, 09:25 PM

"Damn that is pretty awesome." Still my favorite Rush song and probably my favorite bass line from Geddy Lee.

bwest9 · #17 06-14-2010, 09:36 PM

I recall being 16 and staying overnight at my friends Jeff's, as his parents were away. Had never heard Cygnus before, and put it on his stereo in the morning, very loud, and was standing at his double sliding-glass doors that looked out into his back yard, and beyond that, a dense, dark woods. As the bass began, and then emerged from the reverb during the intro, I was convinced something was coming for me as I stared transfixed into the wood. A wonderful experience.

To this day when I hear the song, I'm transported back to that spot.

Ayliffe · #18 06-14-2010, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwest9

I recall being 16 and staying overnight at my friends Jeff's, as his parents were away. Had never heard Cygnus before, and put it on his stereo in the morning, very loud, and was standing at his double sliding-glass doors that looked out into his back yard, and beyond that, a dense, dark woods. As the bass began, and then emerged from the reverb during the intro, I was convinced something was coming for me as I stared transfixed into the wood. A wonderful experience.

To this day when I hear the song, I'm transported back to that spot.

how high were you....... lol

propel · #19 06-14-2010, 10:16 PM

Hearing Cygnus-X1 for the first time had a huge impact on me. I had just bought A Farewell to Kings and was biking at night and listening to the album all the way through. When Cygnus-X1 started I was enthralled. When the bass started getting audible, I couldn't believe the tone. I knew then and there that I would own a Rickenbacker 4001, there was no other choice for me in life.

And now I have one

, anyways, it's by far my favorite Rush song.

bwest9 · #20 06-14-2010, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ayliffe

how high were you....... lol

Zero. Nothing. Totally entranced by the music alone.