Forty-seven tracks into Rush 50 - A comprehensive career-spanning compilation featuring 50 tracks over almost five hours introduces an intriguing auditory surprise. Early in "Headlong Flight," a song from Rush’s last studio album released in 2012, this hidden gem can be discovered. Clockwork Angels , Alex Lifeson delivers a cutting guitar solo, which Geddy Lee and Neil Peart respond to with swift synchronized bass and drum hits. This instance is deliberate , nearly identical to a section from "Bastille Day," which was initially released 37 years earlier and placed as track 10 on the compilation. It serves not only as an entertaining revisit but also demonstrates, when heard in this new setting, how Rush 50 chronicles the group's extensive, over-four-decades journey as a single grand narrative.
This narrative quality is Rush 50 Its main advantage isn’t a compilation akin to what was seen in 1990’s. Chronicles Although it includes several of the band's most recognizable tunes, this compilation isn’t just another greatest hits package. It’s not solely focused on rare tracks either; instead, it offers a chronological musical journey through Rush’s discography, featuring both studio recordings from all their albums and choice live performances—culminating with the final medley they played during their last concert in 2015. Offered in multiple formats such as a four-disc CD set and a seven-record LP edition, it stands out as the inaugural post-breakup anthology from Rush, brimming with content fans will find deeply gratifying. death of Peart In 2020, this collection was thoughtfully selected, arranged, and presented. It serves perfectly as both a final chapter for one’s journey and a starting point for newcomers, all while being a valuable resource alongside previous works for dedicated fans.
For individuals belonging to the latter group, one significant attraction is the very first re-release of Rush’s inaugural single. This 45rpm record came out in 1973 under the band's independent label, Moon Records, featuring a rendition of Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away" alongside "You Can't Fight It." The latter track was penned collaboratively by Neil Peart—referred to as Lee—and founding drummer John Rutsey. Individually, these recordings do not stand out much; however, considering that this same period saw the release of albums like Led Zeppelin's, things take an interesting turn. Houses of the Holy , Genesis' Selling England Based on Weight And other achievements by bands that paved the way for Rush. (The band apparently concurs: "My God, we hated "It," Lifeson explains to David Fricke about the single in one of two liner-note essays featured within a comprehensive, over-100-page hardbound book accompanying the collection. The volume also includes numerous photographs and fresh, track-specific artwork crafted by long-time Rush illustrator Hugh Syme. However, these recordings provide crucial insight into the remarkable transformation that would unfold in the coming years.
Rush 50 Does justice to Rutsey, particularly through "Need Some Love" and "Before and After," which are live recordings from an October 1974 performance at a high school in Ontario—these tracks were notably featured in the 2010 documentary about Rush. Beyond the Lighted Stage - which stomps significantly harder than the studio versions on their eponymous first album. Nonetheless, the compilation’s beginning segment serves mainly as an introduction to what could be considered the most significant drum replacement in rock music: the addition of Peart in August 1974.
It's fascinating to contrast a pair of previously unreleased tracks from a Cleveland gig that took place less than two weeks after Peart's debut - R&B cover "Bad Boy" and the early original "Garden Road" - with a live-in-studio version of Fly by Night The opener, "Anthem," was recorded just four months afterward. In the earlier track, Peart presents his authoritative style with Rush during their initial phase; conversely, the latter demonstrates his signature mix of intense power and astonishing accuracy, setting the groundwork for the group’s developed sound.
Rush 50 It beautifully captures the band's significant growth during the mid-to-late seventies via both well-known tracks ("2112"'s beginning segments, "Closer to the Heart") and intense live performances. By 1976’s rendition of “Something for Nothing” performed at Toronto’s Massey Hall, all components defining them as the definitive power trio had solidified: Neil Peart’s powerful drumming, Alex Lifeson’s aggressive guitar work, and Geddy Lee’s distinctive vocals. The exceptionally cohesive performance of the complex instrumental piece "La Villa Strangiato" from the 1979 concert at Holland's Pinkpop Festival demonstrates not only their enhanced compositional skills but also their capacity to push boundaries without losing audience appeal—evident in fans' roaring approval post-performance. This edition includes an unreleased version of “The Trees,” previously restricted to private vault releases. Rock Band The video game includes an alternative Lifeson guitar solo; much like a comparable version of "Working Man" featured earlier in the compilation, which was released digitally before, this serves as a small incentive for buyers.
The first half of Rush 50 includes many of the band's well-recognized hits, making space for a comprehensive look at the lesser-appreciated periods that came after the American commercial high point of their 1981 album. Moving Pictures Selections from the group's synthesizer-focused late Eighties era now resonate more firmly than ever when placed within the broader timeline. Rush 50 , challenging the conventional rock purist view that the trio ventured too far during this phase. "The Big Money," from 1985's Power Windows , showcases some of Lifeson's most innovative guitar performances – such as a solo characterized by its dazzling textural brilliance – whereas “Time Stand Still,” from 1987’s Hold Your Fire , discovers Peart skillfully adjusting his exceptional agility to suit the style of modern, sophisticated pop-rock.
Similarly, the sections dedicated to the Nineties and 2000s strongly advocate for underappreciated albums such as the one from 1993. Counterparts (the raw intensity of 'Stick It Out' truly stands out here) from 2007's Snakes & Arrows (represented by the vibrant, exotic instrumentals like "The Main Monkey Business" and a lively version of the moving track "Working Them Angels.") It’s delightful to witness the band energetically delving back into their older material during performances, such as an intense snippet from the progressive rock journey “Cygnus X-1” released in 1977, captured live in Rio in 2002, along with a somber take on "Between the Wheels,” a lesser-known song from 1984. Grace Under Pressure (The aforementioned song is one of multiple tracks on Rush 50 Whose lyrics written by Peart now appear ominously prophetic? Moving Pictures For instance, the song "Witch Hunt," when experienced in an intense live performance, inevitably brings to mind Trump-era xenophobia through lyrics such as, "They warn of outsiders who menace us / Our immigrants and non-believers."
In addition to the introductory "NotFadeAway" single, the most historically significant track on this album is the last one – a never-before-released recording that captures an earlier performance. The final roughly 10-minute performance that Lee, Lifeson, and Peart shared on stage. Wrapping up their R40 tour, where the setlist followed a chronological order starting from recent releases backward, they revisited their beginnings by performing a medley of songs from their debut album—namely "What You're Doing" and "Working Man"—and ended with a piece of "Garden Road." These performances were powerful, yet what came next left an even deeper impact. Halfway through expressing gratitude toward both the audience and the team, Lee exclaimed, “Whoa, what a surprise.” This reaction stemmed from the surprising presence beside him of Peart—a move unprecedented for the drummer who typically adhered to his own rule known as the "back-line meridian,” avoiding appearing upfront alongside his fellow musicians post-show. By capturing this touching instant effectively, Rush 50 celebrates both a sense of fraternity and a collection of albums, ultimately wrapping up an appropriately grand journey through one of rock's most enriching and satisfying eras.
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