The National Midnight Star #670

From temples@syrinx.umd.edu Wed Apr 28 22:10:35 1993 Return-Path: <temples@syrinx.umd.edu> Received: from syrinx.umd.edu by dsys.ncsl.nist.gov (4.1/NIST-dsys) id AA26758; Wed, 28 Apr 93 22:10:29 EDT Received: by syrinx.umd.edu (5.57/Ultrix2.4-C) id AA22740; Wed, 28 Apr 93 21:35:10 -0400 Date: Wed, 28 Apr 93 21:35:10 -0400 Message-Id: <9304290135.AA22740@syrinx.umd.edu> Errors-To: rush-request@syrinx.umd.edu Reply-To: rush@syrinx.umd.edu Sender: rush@syrinx.umd.edu Precedence: bulk From: rush@syrinx.umd.edu To: rush_mailing_list@syrinx.umd.edu Subject: 04/28/93 - The National Midnight Star #670 Status: R
** ____ __ ___ ____ ___ ___ ** ** / /_/ /_ /\ / /__/ / / / / /\ / /__/ / ** ** / / / /__ / \/ / / / / /__/ / \/ / / /___ ** ** ** ** __ ___ ____ ** ** /\ /\ / / \ /\ / / / _ /__/ / ** ** / \/ \ / /___/ / \/ / /___/ / / / ** ** ** ** ____ ____ ___ ___ ** ** /__ / /__/ /__/ ** ** ____/ / / / / \ ** List posting/followup: rush@syrinx.umd.edu Administrative matters: rush-request@syrinx.umd.edu or rush-mgr@syrinx.umd.edu (Administrative postings to the posting address will be ignored!) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The National Midnight Star, Number 670 Wednesday, 28 April 1993 Today's Topics: Re: 04/27/93 - The National Midnight Star #669 TSOR Mis-Quote Anagram (for Mongo) Pina Colada? HYF Re: RUSH on vinyl Unplugged slow songs RE: 04/27/93 - The National Midnight Star #669 Hold Your Fire Cover ESL Unplugged .... Rocinante and Warning Lables!! Rush Convention ?? Imitation IS the sincerest form Contrasting Songs (A Poll) Rush on Vinyl 1st RTB show Random stuff MESSAGE ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 27 Apr 93 21:45:31 CDT From: Tahoma <TMT794S@vma.smsu.edu> Subject: Re: 04/27/93 - The National Midnight Star #669 re: Rocinante Yes, Rocinante was the name of Don Quixote's horse. I believe the name means something to the order of 'old nag'. I always took the name of the ship, then, to be something of the same order of humor as it is in Cervantes' book. Picture Don Quixote the valiant :) warrior riding into battle on his majestic steed the Rocinante (read: tired, about-to-die horse). That's all for my $.02... My 'Rocinante' sailed by night On her final flight tmt. ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1993 22:06:00 +0000 From: "Robert (R.A.) Herrage" <herrage@bnr.ca> Subject: TSOR Mis-Quote I've noticed a few people quoting a line from The Spirit of Radio in their >.signature file. The lyrics that I got with my CD say: For the words of the profits, are written on the studio wall | not prophets Just thought I'd clear that up ;) Rob ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1993 23:22:58 -0500 (CDT) From: KWR08495@ACUVAX.ACU.EDU (Karl W. Reinsch) Subject: Anagram (for Mongo) Someone (I don't recall who) was wanting analysis of the lyrics to Anagram. Well, here's my 0.20 Galactic Pus. "Image just an eyeless game" In fact, 'game' is an 'i'-less 'image'. "He and she are in the house, but there's only me at home." Well, there's also 'he' at home. ObHockey: I don't have any idea, but one of my classmates says the Canucks are the best. Goodbye Jets!! ObDisclaimer: He's from Vancouver. ObMeaningfullRushQuote: I hear in the rate of her heart A tear in the heat of the art ================================================================================ Karl W. Reinsch Internet: kwr08495@acuvax.acu.edu Bitnet: kwr08495@acuvax "Nothing disturbs a bishop quite so much as the presence of a saint in the parish." ================================================================================ ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 00:27:40 -0400 (EDT) From: "Anthony J. DelBusso" <delbusso+@pitt.edu> Subject: Pina Colada? Hello Rush-loving people, I don't know if this has been answered yet, but this is for the guy who asked if Rupert Hine did the Pina Colada song. No, he didn't. The name of the guy who did the song is Rupert Holmes [ta da]. No, I am not a fan of his, I just know this because he is one of my sister's many idols. Oh well, enough rambling... Tony P.S. --> Anyone hear the new Aerosmith album yet? ==delbusso+@pitt.edu========================================================= Anthony J. DelBusso Forbes Quad Computer Lab Assistant Supervisor 240 DLH (412)648-2348 office Computing & Information Services 1E01 FQ (412)624-7143 lab University of Pittsburgh ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1993 22:46:24 EST From: jenkinsp@kenyon.edu Subject: HYF I am impressed by the number of people who know the story of Don Quixote. BTW, did you know that Rocinante was the name of his horse? That was sarcasm in case you missed it. For those of you who don't know Spanish, a "rocin" is a work horse. Anyway, someone mentioned, I think Jeremy, that the lyrics on HYF were the best. I think I agree, although MP comes pretty close. The lyrics for Limelight and The Camera Eye are exceptional IMHO. Also, although Rush is undoubtedly my favorite band, I'm also a huge Bob Marley fan. Is there anyone out there other than Eric Jarmon who is a Marley fan? Later-- Peter Jenkins ---------------------------------------------------------- From: cap2624@ultb.isc.rit.edu (C.A. Peskin) Subject: Re: RUSH on vinyl Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 00:46:03 -0400 (EDT) I have found all the rush albums on vinyl, including the red hemispheres, and archives. They are not too hard to find, just go into any half decent new/used record shop, and you should find some albums. I dont have a record player either, but find the value in the covers and pictures inside. Some live albums have tripple fold-outs. You can often find these records for under three bucks. I just got the origonal 'RUSH' on record for $1.99. I think 8 bucks is a bit high, don't you? +------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Rochester Institute of Technology Chris A. Peskin | | Electrical Engineering | +------------------------------------------------------------------+ ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1993 22:12:51 -0700 (MST) From: jeffrey r brinkman <brinkmaj@gas.uug.arizona.edu> Subject: Unplugged Well, I was reading the NMS yesterday and fell upon the post about the difference in guitar sounds and techniques in Alex's playing. Couldn't agree more. First of all, I have a hard time seeing the three of them just sitting around playing on a stage with acoustic instruments, with the crowd yelling and cheering and snaping their fingers in 7/8 time to Tom Sawyer!! 2nd: yes, alex's sound would have to change drastically. He uses to many large sustaining chords. Those chords sustain so long because of the amplification, and they would sound hollow. A good point was brought up about alex's tendency to use the tremolo system. I think he first started using it about PeW. The dive in the Spirit solo. He's pretty much used it since then, whether it was the Strat thru GUP, to the Signature up thru Presto, to the PRS's he uses now. Have you noticed that he uses the bar a lot more in concert than in the studio? Right off the top of my head, the version of Marathon on SOH has a lot of whammy bar stuff _with_ sustained chords. Another thing I've noticed is that when bands do this unplugged thing, they usually slow down their songs or blues them up or both. Ever noticed that the majority of bands playing there are blues based, or at least blues progressions and/or blues scales (pentatonics and the blues scale) ? IMHO, rush isn't blues based, at least, not any more. They used to be, but anymore, the rush I listen to (usually middle rush to HYF) seems to be more blues or fusion based than anything else. I don't believe this lends itself well to the unplugged format. I just don't think that it would be too hot of an idea, they just don't seem the band to do it. It would never happen anyway. eMpTV only covers the new and trendy, not masterful and classic(except Clapton!) Anyway, sorry to ramble on about a moot question. Let's get those flames going!! :) Jeff Brinkman Univeristy of Arizona Biochemistry and Microbiology Brinkmaj@gas.uug.arizona.edu ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 28 Apr 93 02:03:08 -0500 From: jtstrzyn@papaya.wustl.edu (Jeremy Todd Strzynski ) Subject: slow songs i agree with chris from yesterday's NMS: i like the slowdown to SDT alot, especially the intro, and in general like songs when they are slowed down. it gives me the impression of more deliberation, for lack of a better word. (a good word, actually.) on the other hand, i also like when songs are sped up. that gives the impression of raw power. as an example, the version of "Temples of Syrinx" on the bootleg of the same name (from the P/G video i believe, and the same as _Currently in Vogue_, _Life Under Pressure_, and whatever other boots have been taken from that video) is roughly 140% of the speed of the studio version, which wasn't too slow to begin with, and it just ROCKS. which brings me to a question i have, which will certainly cause a lot of responses (i like starting threads): what bootlegs have particularly good versions of songs on them? i'd like to know so that i can look out for them, because i really don't want to buy a bootleg and have it sound almost exactly like a studio album. take _A New Reality_ for example. good boot and all, but "Tom Sawyer", "Red Barchetta" and "Limelight" are MP clones. which is understandable, since it was recorded right after MP was released, but you get my point. (By-Tor and In the End/Mood make the bootleg worth it--don't think i'm putting it down.) so, does anyone know of really distinctive versions of these songs and others. i'd love to know. jeremy play of light, a photograph, the way i used to be some half forgotten stranger, doesn't mean that much to me trick of light, moving picture, moments caught in flight make the shadows darker, or the colors shine too bright ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 28 APR 93 11:09:55 GMT From: BLTSBARRY@VAX.LIVERPOOL-JOHN-MOORES.AC.UK Subject: RE: 04/27/93 - The National Midnight Star #669 Hi there! I don't know whether someon emight have already mentioned this, but on 'Over The Europe' has anyone heard the Alex bit on Closer To the Heart?? He sounds as if he's shouting and sscreaming in a sort of japanese voice, and imitates gun sounds,etc!! It's really funny!! I do agree that Over the Europe isn't very good on the singing, but overall it's still a very good CD to buy (i paid 25 pounds for it over here) and I am well pleased with it. I've got some others too: Atmospheric Rush One and Rush two Spirit of St Loius Run from the Fans The Fly I'm sure there was something else I wanted to say.......oh well never mind!! That's my 2 pence worth!! Shaun Barry ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 28 Apr 93 10:13:25 EDT From: Michael <EVK102@URIACC.URI.EDU> Subject: Hold Your Fire Cover Heyya! I remember eariler some people were discussing the meaning of the cover of HYF. Here is my evaluation. In The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand (an author we all know Neil is influenced by, and Geddy also to some degree), there is a dialogue between two characters that goes something like this: "So, if you were to create a symbol symbolizing humanity, what would you make?" "I would have just three guilded balls." This symbol bears an uncanny resemblance to HYF. Also, the basic topic of the lyrics of Hold Your Fire is humanity. Anyone agree, disagree? - Michael - ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 28 Apr 93 09:54:19 -0500 From: bgc1@cec2.wustl.edu (Brian Glenn Carlson) Subject: ESL Just wondering if anyone has any idea what Geddy says during La Villa Strangiato on ESL. I haven't been able to come up with anything so far and I couldn't find anything in the FAQ. Brian G. Carlson (bgc1@wucec2.wustl.edu) "We claim to know the secrets The answers have been found But how can one fool make another wise" - Kansas , No One Together P.S. Brett Hull is a WEENIE! ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 28 Apr 93 15:16 GMT From: BELGARION <JTAYLOR1@GENVAX.COMPUTER-CENTRE.GLAMORGAN.AC.UK> Subject: Unplugged .... Unplugged --------- >"Michael J. Miller" <mumjm02@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu> writes: > Second, I was wondering why Rush couldn't do an Unplugged set without > (oopsie) redoing their songs. I realize that acoustic and electric guitars > do sound different, but since they're both still guitars, shouldn't they > sound at least somewhat the same? Or at least close enough that they > shouldn't have to rework everything. The main problem with an accoustic set as far as the guitar work is concerned is the matter of sustain, as Allan Murphy pointed out in #669 all manner of distortion gain, reverb, delay, pitch modulation, chorus etc etc is added to Alex's Guitar sound - you simply can't get that knid of sound out of an accoustic guitar, the sustain is a lot less. The prblem is not sring bending, take a listen to some of the early jazz and blues guitarist who string bend away like feury on their accoustics, but the matter of sustain. Equally there has not yet been an accoustic guitar developed with a tremolo bar (or musically more correct vibrato bar) so you can't get the kind of swooping sounds produced in solos such as _Spirit of the Radio_. An accoustic set therefore involves a lot of re-writing of electric guitar work. Alan J Murphy writes: > Much of the early work >solo work used string bending on Gibson guitars, and in later work, he uses >a tremolo bar on his Paul Reed Smith to achieve similar effects. >( corrections welcome, but I think this is right ) The Gibson Les Paul Alex used I think until AFTK had no trem bar, and so much of the solo work relies on string bending - see above thats not really the problem with an accoustic set. He then went onto use a semi-solid, I think it was a Gibson ES -335, but I've never seen a decent photo of it so I can't be exactly certain of the make or model, that had an old Biggsby Travis trem. on it this can be heard on _Hemisphers_ onward. And of course the beautiful if ungainly Gibson SG 12/6 Twin neck. Signals saw Alex on new guitars - A Fender Telecaster (notable on New World Man), Strats and the fabled Hentor(on Power Windows). HYF saw Alex using Signature guitars - which he obviuosly didn't like 'cos he was criticising them in the HYF tour programme. I think he continued using them along with the Hentor (a guitar he had custom made) and a Strat on _presto_ . It wasn't until RTB that he started using PRS guitars, and in my opinion about time too, since they are some of the best guitars around. >Secondly, Alex uses stuff like distortion and so on a lot, and playing >something like Limelight on an acoustic doesn't sound just quite as hot. I was rather suprised by this comment - in comparison to a lot of guitarists Alex doesn't use all that much distortion, prefering instead to stick with a nice "crunch" sound and put lots of effects over it, eg; chorus, reverb, delay, flanger, etc. OK as he comes to a solo he sticks on the gain a bit for more sustain, but its not really an out and out dirty sound. Granted _Limelight_ has got quite a gain ridden solo, but I would have thought the rest of the song would transfer well to an accoustic, I'll have to try it !! Geddy's Wal Basses ------------------ Clayton Gould kindly sent me an old posting of this guitar world interview around the time of Presto coming out, which contains full details of Geddy's and Alex's set ups and their guitars: > Guitar World - March 1990 article > On the album [Presto], Geddy played his Wal four-string bass (which he first > acquired for the _Hold Your Fire_ sessions) on every track. This rather disproves the theory that Geddy used the Wals on _Power Windows_, I really do not think that most of Power windows even *sounds* like he uses the Wal (IMHO of course). Wal thats all for now folks ;-) ******************************************************************************* * * * James Taylor * * "Here comes the War! Put out the lights on the age of reason!" * * - New Model Army * * BELGARION <jtaylor1@glamorgan.ac.uk> * * * ******************************************************************************* ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 28 Apr 93 08:23:51 PDT From: brent@ufo.llnl.gov (Kevin B. Fournier) Subject: Rocinante and Warning Lables!! >but it's my recollection that Rosinante was the name >of Don Quixote's horse. Now, for the life of me, I have never been able >to figure out how this fits into the song, if indeed it's the right >connection As I see it, the connection is subtle, but very logical. Don Quixote was famous (infamous) for his unrealistic quests (/to dream the impossible dream/) In Hemispheres, the pilot of the Rocinante decides to plunge his ship into a black hole in search of elder gods in order to bring peace to his world. (In Cygnus, just the hope of surviving the trip is enough to make the flight of the Rocinante a Quixotic venture) Enough literary input. Now, I think Rush albums SHOULD HAVE PARENTAL WARNING LABELS!!! No, not for sordid sexual innuendo or satanic messages, but because everytime I play Red Barchetta in my car, I find myself doing well above the speed limit, and this time, I, ah, well, ah..., I got nabbed and ticketed. The officer didn't believe I was a product of my evironment (ie. a Rush fanatic) and gave me the ticket anyway. C'est le vie... Brent ============================================== The coffee's not bad for Nectar of the Gods ============================================== ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 10:30:04 CDT From: shawstaj@uwwvax.uww.edu Subject: Rush Convention ?? If anybody is planning on traveling through southern Wisconsin to get to the convention, PLEASE PLEASE contact me Joel shawstaj@uwwvax.uww.edu ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 13:19:48 -0230 From: wgough@kean.ucs.mun.ca Subject: Imitation IS the sincerest form As one who is working on parodizing several Rush songs, I have no problem with it, especially since I have nothing against the group. In fact, I love the music (PoW is #1). I am parodizing songs because it is a challenge to write something funny within the constraints laid down by the original writer. For me, both tasks are a challenge, and it's fun. Watch for The Beer Trilogy on alt.music.rush! Coming soon to an Internet node near you! Bill Gough Excerpt: "I drink like a fish, he says proudly But that cockroach is shuffling too loudly" (Credit due to Jeffo) The Hangover, Part II of Beer ---------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Contrasting Songs (A Poll) Date: Wed, 28 Apr 93 12:05:16 EDT From: dws@acpub.duke.edu (DANIEL SHIMA) People, Here's a poll question: Which two RUSH songs demonstrate two greatest extremes in RUSH's style? I hope people think of something other than 'Temples of Syrinx' and 'Rivendell'. And they don't have to be complete opposites either. I was thinking that 'In the Mood' and 'Losing It' would show a change from basic guitar/bass/drum rock and roll to the intense use of synthesizers and electronic music. Well, you get the point. Send your ideas to the NMS or to me dws@hercules.acpub.duke.edu Thanks. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 28 Apr 93 12:22:14 -0400 From: kbullock@acpub.duke.edu (Kenneth Bullock) Subject: Rush on Vinyl Andrew: Rush on vinyl is not a rare collector's item, at least not yet. But if you don't yet have those Rush titles on CD, that's a great way to build your Rush collection within a reasonable budget. Almost all of my Rush collection is on vinyl, and I've obtained much of it recently at used record stores. Ken ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: 28 Apr 1993 14:05:50 -0500 (EST) From: S72UJOH@TOE.TOWSON.EDU Subject: 1st RTB show Does anyone have a copy of the first RTB concert? E-mail me. p.s. Audio or Video ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 28 Apr 93 14:43:39 EDT From: Benjy <ST000145@BROWNVM.brown.edu> Subject: Random stuff Howdy, rush folk..... I'm a bit behind in my NMS reading, so forgive me if anything here has been mentioned in the past week or so. I was listening to A Show of Hands recently, and noticed that right before "Distant Early Warning" there's a short little keyboard-y ditty (which goes into the fuzzy distortion). Does anyone know where that came from? I haven't seen the video in a while, and can't remember what's happening on the video screen. #2 - Anybody know a good place to get old Rush posters in the Providence and/or Long Island areas? #3 - Does anyone have a bootleg of the 6/20/92 Jones Beach show? It was my birthday (quite the present, eh?) and 'twould be a really cool momento. On these same lines, I've been looking for quite some time now for anything with The Camera Eye live. Did they ever play this live? It's one of my absolute favorite tunes, but have been fruitless in my searches. Same goes for Hemispheres, although I'm sure they must have played it during its tour. Can anyone help this poor soul? (respond to #s 2 and 3 privately, pleez) I'm not giving up on impossible dreams, Benjy -.-- -.-- --.. / -.-- -.-- --.. / -.-- -.-- --.. / -.-- -.-- --.. ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 28 Apr 93 14:12:05 -0500 From: jjbaker@iastate.edu Subject: MESSAGE Hello weckle fans, SCREW weckle... I am sorry to jump all over someone's opinions here, but I am gettig so sick of reading in TNMS that weckle is better than Neil. Who really cares which guy can paradittle faster, who's mom is cooler, who holds their sticks (or stick in weckle's case) better. They are both great drummers... but can weckle write the best lyrics in music history (and future) Does weckle play with guys as awsome as Ged and Alex? No, No, No............ He doesn't. How can you compare the music the two play anyway? weckle and his little jazzy mombo pretty stuff, and Neil with his, well, I don't need to tell you what Neil plays... I guess my point is, lets find something else besides who is better than Neil to talk about. Don't get me wrong, I am not shitting on peoples opinions here. Maybe I'm over reacting. I just think that this is the wrong place to make Neil look less than perfect...Sorry One more thing, whats all this talk of Rush unplugged. You all know as well as I do that they would never do it... Besides, if they did they would have to do it on the Rap infested MTV, the station that played the video for RTB once at like 3:00 in the morning and then threw it away. It will never happen...Besides, how could you play a powerful song like Tom on an acoustic...The day I see that anywhere is the day I renounce Rush as my gods and dust off my sisters old Micheal Jackson Lp's.......... P.S. Neil would whoop weckle's ass in a fight...Now thats something I would like to see, even on MTV... /\ ___/ \___ \ / \ / / \ /__/-\__ \ "Hold the red star (That thing is a red star) proudly high in hand" ----------------------------------------------------------
To submit material to The National Midnight Star, send mail to: rush@syrinx.umd.edu For administrative matters (subscription, unsubscription, changes, and questions), send mail to: rush-request@syrinx.umd.edu or rush-mgr@syrinx.umd.edu There is now anonymous ftp access available on Syrinx. The network address to ftp to is: syrinx.umd.edu or 129.2.8.114 When you've connected, userid is "anonymous", password is <your userid>. Once you've successfully logged on, change directory (cd) to 'rush'. There is also a mail server available (for those unable or unwilling to ftp). For more info, send email with the subject line of HELP to: server@ingr.com These requests are processed nightly. Use a subject line of MESSAGE to send a note to the server keeper or to deposit a file into the archive. The contents of The National Midnight Star are solely the opinions and comments of the individual authors, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the authors' management, or the mailing list management. Copyright The Rush Fans Mailing List, 1993. Editor, The National Midnight Star (Rush Fans Mailing List) ******************************************** End of The National Midnight Star Number 670 ********************************************