... I found 'Caress of Steel' a big fat disappointment. I had heard the opening track before and loved it, but the rest just seemed a bit lame.
Before I continue, I will just say a few words about Rush because there are always going to be people out there who wonder, ''Rush''? Who the heck are ... Read review
Advantages: Good, solid intro to the band, heavy rock at its finest. Disadvantages: Bit of a 'quiet' production.
...I am talking about the Caress of Steel age. They are absolutely fantastic musicians and the singer has a very unique voice, similar to Jon Anderson of _Yes_.
_Rush _have evolved during their time on this earth, immensely since their debut 'Rush.' In fact they seem to change just a bit each album and this, their third, is no exemption. They have not changed personnel in that time though, and the three members write all the song ... ...on the songs and Lee and Lifeson write the music. 'Caress' is not an album I fell in love with immediately, but one which grew on me the more I did listened. It shows a maturity and also shows that they are not scared to break the mould.
==BITS==
Geddy Lee - Bass and Vocals Alex Lifeson - Guitars Neil Peart - Drums . Release date 1975 . Full track list . Bastille Day more
This band don't just 'rock,' they ''wrowkk!''
I still have vivid memories of waking one Christmas morn to see that the big white bearded guy in the red outfit had left me this album in my Christmas stocking, along with another ''Rush'' album, 'All the world's a Stage.' I must admit that at the time I was more impressed with the latter of the two. I found 'Caress of Steel' a big fat disappointment. I had heard the opening track before and loved it, but the rest just seemed a bit lame.
Before I continue, I will just say a few words about Rush because there are always going to be people out there who wonder, ''Rush''? Who the heck are they then?' They were formed in Toronto in 1969 by Geddy Lee on Bass, Alex Lifeson on Guitars and John Rutsey on Drums. They started life as Led Zeppelin wannabes but soon developed their own sound and originality. Their first album was released in 1974 and was simply titled 'Rush.' Soon after John Rutsey left and the enigmatic and fantastic lyricist/drummer Neil Peart took over the stool and sticks.
The Tracks
****************
Bastille Day begins this album and it is a simple hard rocking number: 'And we're marching to Bastille Day, le guillotine will claim her bloody prize.' The bluesy and comical I think I'm going bald is next, followed by the gentle Lakeside Park, based on an actual park in Toronto.
The Necromancer is the forth song up and it is a beaut. I always loved this song, about the fantasy battle between mythic creatures. Very Lord of the Rings, which was what obviously inspired it, as Peart was reading all that sort of stuff at the time…
The Necromancer shifts between passion and anger and rolls onto the epic Fountain of Lamneth. At just under twenty minutes in length it begins crisply and shifts to higher levels of passion. I did not like it much when I first heard it, but it is a very accomplished and classy song.
The RUSH Sound
How can you explain the Rush sound? Early they were a heavy rock outfit, very similar to Led Zed and Cream and Free. They seemed to bypass the glam rock era though and still kept their rock, but in a fresher way. In later years they evolved even more, but here I am talking about the Caress of Steel age. They are absolutely fantastic musicians and the singer has a very unique voice, similar to Jon Anderson of Yes.
Rush have evolved during their time on this earth, immensely since their debut 'Rush.' In fact they seem to change just a bit each album and this, their third, is no exemption. They have not changed personnel in that time though, and the three members write all the song - Peart in the lyricist on all but a few on the songs and Lee and Lifeson write the music. 'Caress' is not an album I fell in love with immediately, but one which grew on me the more I did listened. It shows a maturity and also shows that they are not scared to break the mould.
BITS
Geddy Lee - Bass and Vocals Alex Lifeson - Guitars Neil Peart - Drums . Release date 1975 . Full track list . Bastille Day I think I'm going Bald Lakeside Park The Necromancer i Into the Darkness ii Under the Shadow iii Return of the Prince The Fountain of Lamneth i In the valley ii Didacts and Narpets iii No one at the Bridge iv Panacea v Bacchus Plataeu vi The Fountain
. .
I have seen Rush twice, the most recent being during there 30th anniversary tour (they 'wrowked' big time), and they are still going strong. Check them out, if you have not done so yet.
Advantages: a masterpiece Disadvantages: too short
This album would have been my introduction to Rush back in the latter 70's and even now, some 28 years on it still sounds as fantastic, as the first time I played it.
Rush had already given us '2112', 'Fly By Night', 'Caress of Steel' and their debut album simply called 'Rush'; and each of these were to give us some hints of what was to follow.
The album has two lengthy tracks Cygnus X1 and Xanadu, both of which are Rush classics and favourites with the fans, and if that's all there was on this recording, then it would still be a classic album.
The 3 performers, Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart, all superb musicians in their own right, really excel themselves on the album and I would consider it a peak on the Heavier side of Rush's music.
The other tracks on this album include 'Closer To The Heart', which is considered ...
Advantages: A great cross section from several albums Disadvantages: None
Rush formed in the early seventies and began to produce a heavy rock that was distinctive and unique. This band is perhaps Canada’s best know export aside from Bryan Adams and Celine Diom. Geddy Lee (Bass and Vocals), Neil Peart (Drummer) and Alex Lifeson (Lead Guitar) all combined they keen skills to provide a strong rock group that has produced many timeless classical rock tunes.
Rather than bring out a ‘greatest hits’ album, they decided to create several ‘Retrospective’ albums that took the best music from a period in their career.
Retrospective 1 covers the period 1974 to 1980 and contains music from the following albums:
Rush (1974)
Caress of Steel (1975)
Fly by Night (1975)
2112 (1976)
All the worlds a stage (1976)
Farewell to Kings (1977)
Hemispheres (1978)
It shows ...
Advantages: Great for RUSH fans Disadvantages: Not different enough from Rush
Back in the 70s and 80s Rush produced some classic music ranging from albums like ‘Fly by Night’ , ‘Caress of Steel’ to the album ‘Power Windows’ which signified a slight turning point and modernization for Rush. Geddy Lee, the bass guitarists and vocalist was at the forefront of Rush as they strove to write and produce music that could be performed live without major differences or compromises.
As Rush undergo a brief quiet time, with rumors of a new album rife, and Neil Peart still devestated from the loss of his daughter and wife, both Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee have produced solo albums. Whereas Lifeson’s album was in contrast to Rush, Geddy Lee’s new album is in harmony with Rush and many of the Rush fans will be more than happy with this album.
Shades of the early Rush combine ...
Product Information for "Caress Of Steel - Rush" »
Product details
Title
Caress Of Steel
Performer
Rush
Genre
Rock & Pop
Sub Genre
Progressive Rock
Release Date
09/1998
Recomended Retail Price
8.99 GBP
Original Release Year
1975
Label / Distributor
Mercury / Universal Music
Producer
Rush; Terry Brown
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
731453462526
Catalogue Number
5346252
Additional notes
Album Notes
All tracks have been digitally remastered. After building up a cult following with years of non-stop touring, Rush nearly lost their fans with CARESS OF STEEL. Taking their cue from British bands like Yes and Genesis, they began to expand their sound beyond that of a typical power trio. Gone were the riff-based songs and extended jams, replaced with more intricate arrangements, multi-part songs and deeper, introspective lyrics. Ironically, it was these elements that would later win them an international audience. The album kicks off with "Bastille Day," a tough account of the French revolution, followed with an almost comical song "I Think I'm Going Bald," which finds Geddy Lee lamenting his advancing age (he was all of 21 or 22 at the time). The main reason to own this album is the second half: a song in six parts called "The Fountain of Lamneth" tracing the story of a boy who finds a purpose for his life and can not rest until it is fulfilled. After years of setbacks and dodging obstacles, he finally reaches his goal as an old man and discovers that the purpose is the journey. This theme would surface many times in later songs, the band adopting it as their philosophy.
Titles on disc 1
1.
Bastille Day
2.
Fountain Of Lamneth
3.
In The Valley
4.
Didacts And Narpets
5.
No One At The Bridge
6.
Panacea
7.
Bacchus Plateau
8.
Fountain
9.
I Think I'm Going Bald
10.
Lakeside Park
11.
Necromancer
12.
Into The Darkness
13.
Under The Shadow
14.
Return Of The Prince
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02/04/2006
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