What is your favorite Rush album and why?

[IMMusicRulz]

Originally beginning as a blues/psychedelic rock band, Rush was formed by guitarist Alex Lifeson, bassist and singer Geddy Lee, and drummer John Rutsey. Their debut, was released in 1974, and while it did not receive a heavy amount of promotion, it was a great debut.



Rutsey left due to health issues and he was eventually replaced on drums by the professor himself, Neil Peart. Fly By Night, released in 1975, was the first album to feature the classic lineup, and its title cut has received constant classic rock airplay.



Their third album, Caress of Steel, featured the track The Fountain of Lamneth, which took up the entire second side. It was largely ignored, but in 1976 Rush put out 2112, their first big success and their most successful album before Moving Pictures was released.



Apparently the album was inspired by the book Anthem by Ayn Rand. It is about a boy who accidentally discovers music, which is banished by the Temples of Syrinx.

1977 saw the release of A Farewell To Kings, which is a great album. A Farewell To Kings, and its follow up, Hemispheres, featured a rock opera called Cygnus X1, about a spaceship entering a black hole. Critics panned it, but it has been considered a landmark in the Rush catalogue.

By 1980, Permanent Waves saw a more pop flavoured approach, led by the songs Freewill and The Spirit of Radio.



Moving Pictures will always be my favorite. Almost everyone's mom or dad had this album in their collection. I know every lyric to Tom Sawyer.


To me, my top 3 albums by Rush are Moving Pictures, 2112 and Hemispheres. I'm also into their Power Windows album.

If you have a favorite Rush album please post it here.

 

[bassGtar]

Moving Pictures is also my favorite because all the rest s…… imply aren't as good. That said I've only heard about 5% of their recordings, which is enough for me.

 

[MonetBass]

Hemispheres is my favorite. I think it's because of the flow of the tracks, and they're all great in their prog-rockness. "La Villa Strangiato" is epic! Moving Pictures is a close 2nd.

 

[bassbrad]

2112 was and still is my favorite Rush record, the first one I bought, but I knew them from the first. I was familiar with the band from back in the day through one of my dearest , sadly departed, friends who was a Rush fiend. He had discovered the band by accident as he was a Frank Marino of Mahogany Rush fan buying the eponymous debut in the record store. We treked to Dallas and San Antonio to see them on tour and he was playing their records and 8trak tapes constantly.
I've kept up with the band eagerly listening to each new record to see where the music may takes us, the journey has been worth it.
Currently I am listening to one of Neal Peart's books on audible.

 

[CletusMarley]

Prob Moving Pictures. My first show ever was Rush on the Moving Pictures tour. Such a great record. Rush blends together for me. It's all so good. They managed to record timeless music throughout their whole career.

 

[WG Plum]

Yeah, probably Moving Pictures, but Signals is up there for me too.

 

[Ancientwhale]

Moving pictures, hemispheres, aftk

 

[Spectrum]

It depends on my mood. My first Rush concert was on the Grace Under Pressure tour, and that album is sometimes my favorite. It's a good musical description of how I viewed the 80s.

Signals is also up there with GUP, the two kind of rotate for my favorite spot. To me Signals and GUP are almost 2 parts of one album. The best combo of synths and "regular" rock instruments.

Of course, if I'm in the mood for some heavy prog then Farewell to Kings and Hemispheres wind up vying for my top spot.

Moving Pictures is great, of course, but side 1 has kind of been overplayed on radio. I love the deep cuts on side 2. The album suffers amongst diehard fans from being "too popular", which is a nice problem to have for any band.

 

[WG Plum]

Grace Under Pressure was my first Rush record, and it's a sentimental favorite.

 

[Funky Ghost]

Hemispheres, probably. I could cop out and say all their B sides combined into one album. I've always been drawn to their quiet companions to the giants of their cannon.

Some personal stand outs:

Tears

I was obsessed with learning The Trees when I was in high school. The guitar

Witch Hunt

Emotion Detector

My favorite song by them is actually The Garden. As a man of a certain age, it's achingly familiar and poignant ( but in the best possible way ).

 

[SkylineFiver]

Signals
Favorite Rush song is Digital Man
I'm a big fan of Alex's 80's chorus drenched guitar sound on this album
Neil's cymbal pattern on Subdivisions during the chorus? is a little hidden gem.

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

Moving Pictures will always be my favorite.

Same here

Almost everyone's mom or dad had this album in their collection.

My kids agree with this.

- Steve

 

[Les Fret]

Signals
Favorite Rush song is Digital Man
I'm a big fan of Alex's 80's chorus drenched guitar sound on this album
Neil's cymbal pattern on Subdivisions during the chorus? is a little hidden gem.

Same here: Signals and GOP are my favorites. And Power Windows.

Least favorite: all albums after Hold Your Fire. After Counterparts they lost me completely.

 

[Spidey2112]

They're just like Lays potato chips... I can't have just one. I like them all.

Okay... Snakes and Arrows, or Clockwork Angels. Vapor Trails is special, too.

 

[Funky Ghost]

They're just like Lays potato chips... I can't have just one. I like them all.

Okay... Snakes and Arrows, or Clockwork Angels. Vapor Trails is special, too.

This one grew on me after I read Ghost Rider. Having gone through the loss of a child I felt a deep connection to this book, and subsequently the "return" album, Vapor Trails. For me, personally, it's a bit too cathartic to dip into very often. It is however a nice place to visit when the need arises.

 

[DrBnz]

Well jez.... Its from the 10 albums from '74-'84 (10 years). All of those were good. Once you go past 1985'ish.... I dunno bout those. But its really cool to listen to the early (RUSH, Fly by nite) albums of 74-75. You can hear how young they were, how raw the sound was. But 76-78 (2112, Farewell to Kings, Hemispheres) were my favorites..... Pick one...... Hemispheres..... last song La Villa Strangiato ... now that's a classic.

 

[Spidey2112]

This one grew on me after I read Ghost Rider. Having gone through the loss of a child I felt a deep connection to this book, and subsequently the "return" album, Vapor Trails. For me, personally, it's a bit too cathartic to dip into very often. It is however a nice place to visit when the need arises.

So sorry about the loss, FG!

 

[Funky Ghost]

So sorry about the loss, FG!

Thank you I appreciate that. It was 22 years ago in April.

 

[MonetBass]

This one grew on me after I read Ghost Rider. Having gone through the loss of a child I felt a deep connection to this book, and subsequently the "return" album, Vapor Trails. For me, personally, it's a bit too cathartic to dip into very often. It is however a nice place to visit when the need arises.

So sorry for your loss. I can't imagine that.

 

[SteveC]

Hard not to like Moving Pictures, although I can do without Tom Sawyer. So overplayed.
I also like 2112 - but the OTHER side. Great songs.
Just so much to like on all of them.