Been off for a couple of weeks due to life getting in the way and monopolizing all my time but I’m back with a very robust LP of the Week. Since I missed a couple weeks, I’m going to do something a bit different here and try and make up for lost time by highlighting 2 albums (in 2 parts) that were meant to be played back-to-back. Hopefully there is something here that you have never heard before and can appreciate.

During my couple weeks off from writing I began reading Neil Peart’s book, “Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road“, and what followed was a deep dive of the Rush discography. That is how we got here.

(As a side note, anyone who is interested in Neil Peart’s story or motorcycles or adventures, I highly recommend picking up a copy of this and giving it a read. I also do have plans to add a page on this blog with books i’ve really enjoyed, all music related, so keep an eye out if you are looking for something new to pick up)

Now, as many of you probably already know, I fucking love Rush. If I absolutely had to pick a favorite band from any place in time, Rush would be my choice. In my opinion, they have it all… an incredible rhythm section (greatest rock drummer/greatest rock bassist of all-time), some of the best guitar playing to come out of the 70’s & 80’s (Alex Lifeson is highly underrated), and a lot of Lord of the Rings references. Rush was just 3 normal guys who really enjoyed playing and creating music together while continually trying to push the limits of what they thought was possible. I’ve also really respected and looked up to how they didn’t fall into the typical Rock ‘n’ Roll lifestyle like so many bands before and after them. I can’t remember where I read it but I remember Gene Simmons mentioning how Rush just wanted to hang in their hotel room and be quiet/read after shows (Rush toured with Kiss on their “Hotter Than Hell” tour in 1975).

There was never any overplaying/underplaying with Rush. Each member was an absolute expert in their field and knew their exact place in each composition which is an incredibly hard thing to accomplish, especially for a trio (for anyone who has ever tried to write music with other people, you know what I mean).

Now, the normal go-to albums from the Rush catalogue for most humans are Fly By Night, 2112 and Moving Pictures which are all fine and dandy but there are so many other Rush albums that have songs that just didn’t get the same play on the radio. Because of this, generations that came after Rush (mine included) have not had the same type of exposure to these other gems that really are the core of the Rush discography.

One year after 2112 came out (1977), Rush released an album called, “A Farewell To Kings”, where they doubled down on the idea of writing full compositions as opposed to 3-4 minute songs. What they came up with was an album that I believe to be their most ambitious and probably my favorite overall Rush record (when playing front to back). This album was the one that set them off on their journey as prog rock kings and fully catapulted them into fame.

This record is truly unique and deserves a proper 37 minutes to work through. Much like DSOTM, this is one of those albums that you just need to put on some headphones, close your eyes and let the music take you on its intended journey.

Before I go, I want to leave you with a coupe of thoughts/facts about each song to ponder while listening…

• The opener and album title is a play off of Ernest Hemingway’s, “A Farewell to Arms”.
• The second track, Xanadu, was inspired by the poem “Kubla Khan“, which was written by a British poet named Samuel Taylor Coleridge
• The main acoustic guitar ridf on Closer To The Heart was written by Geddy Lee
• Cinderella Man is notable as it’s one of the few Rush songs that Geddy Lee wrote all of the lyrics for after Neil Peart joined the band in 1974
• Madrigal is the 3rd shortest Rush song clocking in at x:xx
• Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage, which closes the album, is the first part of the Cygnus X-1 sci fi story…..

Well, what are you waiting for? Go give it a listen and then meet back here tomorrow at Noon for part 2.

Rush – A Farewell To Kings (1977)

Tracklist

Accompanying Material

Canadian trailer trash meets Canadian Rock Royalty – quite possibly my favorite ending to any episode of the Trailer Park Boys.