The National Midnight Star #25

Errors-To: rush@syrinx.umd.edu Reply-To: rush@syrinx.umd.edu Sender: rush@syrinx.umd.edu Precedence: bulk From: rush@syrinx.umd.edu To: rush-list-all Subject: RUSH Fans Digest of 08/07/90 (#25)
RUSH Fans Digest, Number 25 Tuesday, 7 August 1990 Today's Topics: Replies to RUSH Fans Digest #24 Backstage Club, Red Tide again, more on Peart and religion RUSH lyrics the moving pictures To soap or not to soap (box, that is) A few tidbits... Bruford v. Peart Re: RUSH Fans Digest of 08/06/90 (#24) RUSH Fans Digest, Number 24 Monday, 6 August 1990 Permanent Waves Headline Liner notes and other stuff ---------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Replies to RUSH Fans Digest #24 Date: Mon, 06 Aug 90 14:28:45 EDT From: David Arnold <davida@umd5.UMD.EDU> In Digest #24, gordon@Stars.Reston.Unisys.COM writes: >And speaking of lyrics: Does anybody have Rush lyrics on-line that >they'd like to share? I'm sure that several people on the list have the entire text of all the RUSH albums online; I know I do, and it's thanks to the generosity and effort of another one of the list original members (hi Jimmy!). Drop me a line if you still want them (you'll probably get mail from a few people). Maybe we could get together a list of people who have them online; we could make the list available to the general list public. That way, if you wanted to get some/all of the lyrics, you could just send mail to the closest person to you and get what you need? That way, we could circulate the lyrics and minimize the impact on the net traffic at the same time. What do the rest of you all think? I'll volunteer the administriva account as the repository of the list caretaker, if I can get some people to send in names & addresses. This would save Brad Armstrong some money, as he wrote: >lyrics. Well..., ok; I work at the company whose name equals photocopy in >this country. If I get some requests for this mailed to my net address, >I'll see what I can do about copying the inner sleeves for Fly By Night, >Caress of Steel, and 2112 (although this one is red on black so it might be >quite a trick to photocopy) and mailing them out. Todd Day wrote: >Anyway, on to album art. I have often found the album art >and liner notes to be as full of hidden messages as their >music. >2112 (1976): > Inside, we find that the boyz didn't >quite escape the disco revolution themselves :-). I don't think this has anything to do with disco; it's probably more attributable to the 'pomp rock' trend at that point in time. Consider bands like Yes, ELP, Kansas, et. al. who were doing similar sorts of long, orchestrated pieces. It was sort of like the uniform of the time for that genre of music. > This is the only album I have by them >that doesn't have the lyrics :-( You don't know the half of it if you don't have the original album lyrics & notes. Before each song, there is a paragraph giving a brief explanation of the situation behind the song; they explain how he finds the guitar in a cave, how he learns to play and then excitedly takes it to the priests, how they grind it to splinters beneath their feet (very symbolic), about his dream, and how he loses hope at the end. The song tells most, but not all of the story. >mentions of Daisy the Dog as voice coach and Oak Manor (what is >this place?) that will be mentioned again. I'd guess Oak Manor is associated with the recording studio they used... >out at Oak Manor. The (xx - xx) where xx is some number usually less >than 30 appear to be volleyball scores. These appear on PW as well. I'd guess they were baseball scores when the band & crew take some time off to play... You know about Geddy & baseball! >Manor again. Interestingly, His Royal Highness King Lerxst is >mentioned... is this they guy Lerxstwood Mall is named after on >the back of Signals? King Lerxt is Alex. The mall reference is also probably to him. One thing I love about RUSH is they don't take anything, including themselves too seriously! >Hold Your Fire (1987): Nothing revealing about the cover, other >than the fact there are three red marbles (planets?) and three >members of the band (I love this cover, is it available as a >poster?). Yes, the RUSH Backstage club was giving it out with new memberships at the time the album was released. You can probably get it from them on the normal list of stuff (just a guess, tho). >Mac Plus, Lynda Barry, and Pee Wee's Playhouse get mentions. ^^^^^^^^^^^ A truely bizarre and excellent cartoonist. Her stuff runs locally in the Washington DC City Paper. She's also a friend of Matt Groening of "Life In Hell" and "The Simpsons" fame. Hey, I like the same car- toons the guys like! :-) Well, enough for now... David Arnold Keywords: Rush, Neville Brothers, Squeeze, Crack the Sky, Peter Gabriel, ELP, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, Inet: davida@umd5.umd.edu Talking Heads, Arc Of Ones (RIP), Stones, BOC, UUCP: uunet!umd5.umd.edu!davida King Crimson, Police, Grass Roots, Hollies ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 6 Aug 90 11:45:26 PDT From: Ron Chrisley <chrisley@parc.xerox.com> Subject: Backstage Club, Red Tide again, more on Peart and religion What's the latest scoop on the Backstage Club? A friend and I joined back in 1982 as "lifetime members". We received some mailings for few months, but then nothing. Is it anything more than a merchandizing outlet now? Also, still wondering what "bringing a sea-change to the factory floor" means, from Red Tide. Oh yeah, we can't let "The Pass" issue rest, can we? #-} Alber Crombie writes: "First off, after reading what Neil wrote about his feeling on Satanism,etc. in music, I feel that 'The Pass' has no connection with religious stuff (actually, I never did). (my $0.02) I don't think Neil would ever write anything about religions unless it was in an article like was just posted." I have to disagree. Given Neil's views as expressed in the Satanism article and elsewhere, I'd be amazed if his bias against religions and what he takes to be "superstitious" thought did not appear in his lyrics. How can you listen to "Freewill", "The Weapon", or "Witch Hunt", with any degree of sensitivity to the lyrics and not sense a commentary on religion? OK, perhaps that's a bit strong, but look at these examples (I'm sure others can find many more): "You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice ...phantom fears... kindness that can kill... [but] I will choose free will." Religious people don't accept responsibility, claims Peart: "The stars aren't aligned, or the gods are malign, blame is better to give than receive", thus equating religion and astrology. "They shout about love, but when push comes to shove, they live for things they're afraid of". Religions, says Peart, use fear, not love, as a weapon. "Thy kingdom's will be done". Do you think Peart throws in references to the Lord's Prayer unaware of the connotations? I won't go through "Witch Hunt", or "The Pass" again. I just want to make it clear that people who are such strong individuals as Neil will often write about things they don't believe in, because they want to state that lack of belief. And one of the (mistaken) messages in the Pass, IMHO, is that Christ's example of sacrifice, regardless of its original intent, has set a bad example for people. Peart doesn't believe in Christ, and he thinks it is important to mention (one of) the reasons why. And it is this aspect of the song with which I disagree. Of course, I agree with Peart that people shouldn't give in to suicide. So would Christ. But I disagree when Peart implies that Christ's teaching is the cause of such problems, by "making surrender seem alright". ---------------------------------------------------------- From: bs@apollo.com (Bill Scoville) Date: Mon, 6 Aug 90 14:46:42 EDT Subject: RUSH lyrics The ulowell lyrics server has ALL the RUSH albums online. To get lyrics from it, send a message to LYRICS@UMASS.BITNET or LYRICS%UMASS.BITNET@MITVMA.MIT.EDU No signature files, No subject line, just a body with the word "HELP" and it will tell you all the options, to get lyrics to 2112 for example send a body of "LYRICS/ALBUM=2112" If enough people can't reach the server maybe I should get the lyrics and post them to the list? -BS- Bill Scoville , Testability and Diagnostics Engineering , Hewlett Packard Co. Apollo Systems Division , 300 Apollo Drive Chelmsford, Ma. 01824, U.S.A. 508-256-6600 x-5894 , bs@apollo.hp.com , {decvax, mit-eddie...}!apollo!bs "I will choose a path that's clear, I will choose freewill." - RUSH ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 6 Aug 90 10:07:41 HST From: Robert Graf <bigtuna!robert@uhccux.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu> Subject: the moving pictures todd@ivucsb.sba.ca.us (Todd Day) writes: >Moving Pictures (1981): Front cover shows the obvious... pictures >moving into a museum. The first one in looks like a composite of >2112 and Hemispheres, the second one is the famous "dogs playing >poker", and the third looks like something that would accompany >the song "Witchhunt". I have no idea what the signifigance of the >people on the right are... the woman looks like she might be crying, >but for what reason, I don't know. The woman is crying because "the pictures are so moving" according to Neil. -Robert ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 6 Aug 90 17:17 EDT From: AlberCrombie - The one and only <CESNYD01%ulkyvx.bitnet@pucc.PRINCETON.EDU> Subject: To soap or not to soap (box, that is) First off, to our Mgr: But we LIKE sending you messages about doubles. It keeps your mailbox full of love. (said in a very geeky voice). (so, I'm weird, so what.) next album art: I have over 350 albums, and would trade any CD for any album any time. You can't see have the shit on CD covers. One, execption I've fou nd - the three pictures of the boys on Presto, they are smaller on the album. Personal to Puanani Akaka : [comment on ROCK GROUPS ARE SATANISTS] Stuff like that can get you flogged from where I come from. ;~) AlberCrombie P.S. My next posting will be responses to the flames I get from this one. ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 6 Aug 90 16:21 CDT Subject: A few tidbits... From: skennedy@ihlpb.att.com! A couple of things I have read in the last posting that I thought I would throw my $0.02 in.... YYZ, in a boot I have called "Rush - Nassau Coliseum - 1982", Geddy called the song "Why-Why-Zen" (phonically). I have also heard "Why-Why-Zed", so there are two ways to pronounce it. I had also read in a book called "Success Under Pressure" (made with their cooperation), Geddy stated that the title YYZ originally came the tags placed on the luggage at the Toronto Airport. And, speaking of boots, I have been working on an "extensive" (i.e loonngg!!) detailed listing about the boots I have access to. So, until then, all I can come up with is the extremely short listing. Here is: Name Year Type/Quantity ---- ---- ------------- Stellar Dynamics 1974 Album/4 sides Temples Of The Syinx 1980 Album/4 sides [ I thought this was one album, and "Xanadu" was the double album? :rush-mgr ] Rush'n Roulette 1981 Album/6 sides Nassau Coliseum 1982 Album/4 sides *Rush Through Time 1983 Album/2 sides Rush Hour (In Lakeland) 1984 Cassette/60 minute **Anthology 1984 Album/2 sides ***Saliling Into Destiny 1985 Album/4 sides * - "Rush Through Time" was a Holland album through Mercury. It's all studio cuts. ** - "Anthology" was a Venezuela album via Polygram. All studio cuts. *** - "Sailing Into Destiny" is the P/G video on album with five songs from the "Exit... Stage Left" video. Worst sounding "boot" (not counting the studio albums...) was "Rush Hour (in Lakeland)". The best non-studio was "Temples Of The Syrinx". (No, I didn't get the name wrong; that's the name listed on the cover.) The "Rush Hour" album sounded like it was taped with a walkman with the batteries running down. As you go through the tape, it gets faster and faster.... "Sailing Into Destiny" has a very sci-fi type cover. Kinda neet. As always, feel free to correct anything I may be wrong with. ---- Shawn Kennedy att!ihlpb!skennedy AT&T Bell Labs - Naperville, IL skennedyihlpb.att.com ORQ: ".... sailing into destiny, closer to the heart" ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 6 Aug 90 18:44:12 -0500 From: zawada@ei.ecn.purdue.edu (Paul J Zawada) Subject: Bruford v. Peart cwalters@ducvax.auburn.edu writes: > Whoever decided to not compare Bill Bruford to Neil Peart was wise :) The > two don't have anything in common with their playing styles (Bill is more > into jazz and jazz fusion than rock these days, although he's 1/5th of the > way through a 5-album contract with ABWH) **I** was the one who decided not to compare Bill Bruford with Neil Peart. :-) ...And it wasn't because they don't have anything in common...(It was along article at that point, and I didn't feel like using any more bandwidth at the time.) They have a lot in common... First and formost, they both do an incredible job in playing in odd metres. Both of them make playing in 2/4 and then switching to something crazy like 9/8 sound incredibly easy. I guess the best word that comes to mind right now is smoooooooth... (Yes, with 7 Os) Have you ever heard Bill Bruford in a multi-percussion situation? Oh that's right, he didn't generally do that with Yes... You have to go towards his Jazz work... (OH MY GOD NOT THAT!!!!!:-)) I've particularly enjoyed the marimba solos Bruford worked into some of his songs... I'll admit, he doesn't play the exact same way Neil does, but there is a resemblance there. If you think Bruford can't possibly show any resemblance to Peart in playing style based on the fact that he is more of a Jazz musician, I would ask you to listen to Jeff Berlin's first solo album, _Champion_. Neil plays on two songs. It shows that Neil can play with Jazz artists as well as he can play with Rock artists... I don't feel the type of music you play heavily influences your style... BTW, Jeff Berlin is a bass-player friend of the Boyz... He's done a lot of work with Bill Bruford... He Blows Geddy away on bass... Well I guess I've wasted enough bandwith.... pjz... Paul J Zawada | zawada@ei.ecn.purdue.edu Titan P3 Workstation Support | ...!pur-ee!zawada Purdue University | _ .... . ... .__. .. ._. .. _ Engineering Computer Network | ___ .._. ._. ._ _.. .. ___ ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 6 Aug 90 18:44:18 PDT From: essl@sim.Berkeley.EDU (Jake Essl) Subject: Re: RUSH Fans Digest of 08/06/90 (#24) RUSH Fans Digest, Number 24 Monday, 6 August 1990 Just to clarify: The Yes Albums are the following (This is ALL of them I see some other names floating around which have nothing to do with Yes): Yes - a somewhat sixties/beatlesque album that shows promise of things to come in some spots. Time and a Word - very similar to the first but a bit more progressive. The Yes Album - The first album with Steve Howe, one of their best contains a lot of their classics. Fragile - Considered the classic album only for the inclusion of "Roundabout" IMHO a bit disjointed but some great songs. Close to the Edge - three songs, last with Bill Bruford on drums. Always on my list of the greatest albums of all time. Yessongs - A triple live album, contains all of their early great songs. i.e. the ones that got airplay. Sound quality isn't so great but the 17 minute version of "Close to the Edge" makes it all worth it. Tales From Topographic Oceans - A good album, a critical disaster. Definitely not good for a first exposure to Yes but "Ritual" is one of their all time greats. Relayer - The closest yes ever got to Jazz Fusion. My all time favorite. Just listen to the drums in "Soundchaser" or the instrumental section preceeding the "soon" section of "Gates of Delerium", absolute heaven. Going for the One - Good album, different sound! Not as accessible as some of their eariler work but very good. Great acoustic guitar and piano on "Turn of the Century" and seriously rocking bass on "Paralells" and lets not forget the immense power of "Awaken" Tormato - Possibly the most bashed Yes album of all time. It has been in and out of print over the years. Has real high and low points. Drama - Very different. Similar to Relayer but trades Jon Anderson's Vocals for Trevor Horn's and we've got Geoff Downes playing Keys. MUCH more metal sounding than anything else they ever did (The were always heavy at times but this is different). Classic - A Greatest hits sort of thing. Good for the initiate and definitely worth the investment for the collector for the live versions of "Roundabout" and "All Good People". Yesshows - their second live album. Very good but not as filled with the well known songs as "Yessongs" 90125 - The biggest departure for yes. I'll withold comment since most people have heard it or at least parts of it. Big Generator - I'll withold all comment other than that I think the cover art matches the music on the album very well (If you find it appealing to each their own). Anderson Bruford Wakeman and Howe - Took me a while to really get into it. Has its ups and downs but I think its the closest thing we've heard to yes since 1978. Hope this is helpful to the original poster. Pardon me for saying this on this list (But we Yes fans do not have one of our own at the time) Yes is the greatest band to come out of the progressive wave and probably the greatest band of all time! - Jake ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 6 Aug 90 23:35:24 PDT From: spike@d31mf0.Stanford.EDU (John T. Fourkas) Subject: Permanent Waves Headline The headline originally read, "Dewey Defeats Truman". The newspaper was, in fact, a copy of the paper with that infamous headline. The headline was removed from all American editions of the album other than the first printing for copyright infringement reasons, and it is similarly illegible on the CD version. However, a quite legible version of the cover can be found in the "Rush Complete" songbook, which, by the way, is also a fine source for the lyrics of all Rush albums through Signals. __________________________________________________ John Fourkas Stanford University spike@d31mf0.stanford.edu ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 6 Aug 90 22:05:43 hst From: Hinano Akaka <bigtuna!hinano@uhccux.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu> Subject: Liner notes and other stuff MUSICAL PREFERENCES: Alex is into, I believe, everything! Geddy once remarked that Alex's music collection was quite varied--including selections from Martha and the Muffins! Frankly, I've never heard of them before, but a friend of mine says they're a punk group. Anybody know different? I'm not sure about Neil, but I do know that he does/has listened to reggae mainly for gaining drumming knowledge about the rhythm of reggae music. Whether he *likes* it or not (one would assume he would) is unbeknownst to moi. I think, he too, would be into a whole bunch o' stuff. oh yeah, I do know he likes, at least to some extent, jazz/big bands as he has mentioned that his father listened to that, so he "soaked in into his skin", as they say. LINER NOTES: If I'm not mistaken (and I probably am) Oak Manor is a studio in England that they "frequent" when over there on "recording runs". Sam Charters is listed on Permanent Waves as being the Personal Shreve. I can't find his name on any other albums, but I would suspect he was a very good friend of the band. Grace Under Pressure (here goes): "Afterimage" was, in fact, written for Robbie Whelan, who died in a car accident. That is partly the reason for the dark mood of the album. However, I'll let Neil tell all: (ED NOTE: He's talking about 1983) "Yes, it was a year of crisis and tragedy-both globally and on the home front. While we were at 'Writing Camp', the Toronto _Globe & Mail_ was delivered to our doors each morning. Since it was there, I found myself reading it over breakfast everyday, before I would start working on lyrics. the topics of the day, especially as expressed in the editorials and letters to the editor, were necessarily on my mind, and this circumstance affected the lyrics to certain songs profoundly. This was the time of the Korean 747 mrders, the on-going cruise missle controversies, acid rain (one of my pet protests) was large in the Canadian news, wars raged everywhere--and we, our families, and our friends were trying to cope with economics, death, illness, stress, romantic problems, unemployment, and depression (Well, not all at once!) Songs like "Distant Early Warning", "red lenses", and "Between the Wheels" were definitely interwoven with these thoughts and feelings. Like the newsman Peter Trueman says: "That's not news; but that too is reality." That was from the GUP Tour Book. The tour books really give you an insight into the songs, and the band as well. Anyway, I hope that answers some questions. The Tour Book also mentions Roger Kneebend who is given credit in the liner notes. He was Geddy's son's 10" action figure whom the band adopted. As Neil says, "He was placed prminently atop Alex's tape machine so he could stay on top of the recording! (Groan)" Groan is right! Also, Hentor the Barbarian was a joke put upon the producer, Peter Henderson. Peter had brought over a bass, but it was too big for Geddy's taste. Alex promptly put the letters spelling "Stratocaster" on it, but the bass is really non-existent. I know I'm missing a huge chunk of the story--I have it somewhere. I'll look it up (goodness knows I have nothing better to do...!). Hope that answers some questions you hadn't ever considered asking. Later... Puanani Akaka ----------------------------------------------------------
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