In the Prog Seat: Rush-Our Favorite & Least Favorite Album

[@Wes1969YT]

I'm surprise that no one mention that Lifeson released 3 songs on his website several monts ago. He form a band with Andy Curran (Coney Hatch) and the singer is a woman. The Band and the album is called : "Envy of None". It will be release soon. The cover art was first seen several hours ago. Favorite Rush album : Moving Pictures Least Favorite Rush album : Test for Echo.

[@mr_tom_anvil]

Hold Your Fire is fantastic!! Underrated!

[@charleswagner2984]

Tales From Topographic Oceans is the finest music ever written or recorded in all music history. Hold Your Fire is second on that list. What a phenomenal album.

[@dtltmtgt]

Pete, that was a great lead in......and you still go with MP. Nice.

[@novellahub]

I am going to have to blast "Hold Your Fire" in my car tonight.

[@rockfantasysteve]

I love that album

[@charleswagner2984]

​@@rockfantasysteveHold Your Fire is my second favorite album in all music history. Second only to the masterpiece of all masterpieces, Tales From Topographic Oceans.

[@oskarklang8616]

The addition of Mr Alo on this makes it even more awesome.Sir,you are a legend

[@richardpietroski9263]

Hemispheres is so so good.

[@jimneary2802]

The rare group of people who can distinguish between 'best' and 'favorite'. Nice job guys

[@darrylamaki2470]

2112,Hemispheres and Moving Pictures still my jams…Love the 70’s albums.. Great to see Chris Alo tonight Thank you for the episode..

[@stoisebastian6163]

Not a minute passes, and Chris Alo kills it! Awesome to see him with the prog gang.

[@chrisalo2989]

It was an honor for me to be a guest with these gentlemen!

[@TranquilityFireReid]

@@chrisalo2989 The honour was all ours Chris!

[@titanfox4881]

"The King" - I like that :)

[@franciskocher200]

Amazing show guys...Chris Alo😀👍👍

[@kdiamond]

The hate for HYF is totally lost on me. The lyrics are some of Neil's deepest and most heartfelt. Open Secrets got me through a tough time in my life. But honestly, Lock and Key, Prime Mover, Mission... just amazing amazing pop music writing, yes pop but it only feels like pop, these songs are deceptively complex. Steven I'm with ya man!

[@SteveHughesOfficial]

Personally. I feel if you don’t get Hold your fire there’s something wrong with you. One of the greatest Rush albums there is.

[@colinburroughs9871]

It's the first record that really lost steam and ushered in the era of Neil being lyrically a bit verbose? Pompous? Too serious perhaps? I think Neil himself acknowledges this a bit in one of his books, or perhaps a DVD. HYF to T4E has a lot of this. And frankly so does the later stuff, but for more defined reasons. Who knows why he thought an ode to China was a rockin' thing to do for example. But the music? Pros and Cons abound. Force 10 sounds like Geddy's "here's what I learned to do with MIDI" opus of that time. I liked the prior synth efforts, but this records whole soundscape is sympathetic to the synths where Signals for example sounds like a synth through a PA jamming with a band in a room. They'd been heading this direction since Grace, but by this point it's run its course. Probably the best thing going on, is Open Secrets. Cool bass line, rippin' solo, Neil's lyrically heartfelt if still a bit much. This is one of the rare records I've never really liked and tried to. Usually, I just move on when a record rubs me the wrong way, but given how good Power Windows is, I just never could accept that this record is stuffy and dated in comparison.

[@wolf1977]

@@colinburroughs9871 I'm not a huge lyrics guy but the lyrics to "Mission" are just great, to me anyway. Really made me sit up & pay attention the first time I heard it. Also I have absolutely no problem with Rush moving with the times & going more midi/synth. "Prime Mover" & "Second Nature" are two more pretty good tunes with good lyrics, and what's not to like about "Turn The Page" & "Open Secrets"? "High Water" & "Tai Shan" are cool melodically too. "Force Ten" is super catchy, so is "Time Stand Still". Really to me this whole record overall has pretty good stories to tell with no filler, that's all I ever ask from an album. Also Geddy has his vocals totally under control, none of that screeching/reaching for notes out of his range. I get why a lot of Rush fans of the 70's stuff (the "classic" Rush) don't like anything later but I'm thinking that's not necessarily based on the actual music. Very similar to what happens to classic Purple fans we discussing non-Blackmore albums, or Yes fans re: Yes albums without Howe. I like both Rush periods but my fave TBH is that 80's period, and this album in particular...

[@kdiamond]

@@colinburroughs9871 I'm glad you dig Power Windows. I do like PW better than HYF, for reasons you mention, I think HYF just took it maybe a bit too far in the lyrics and the synths. But PW is also a top three Rush album for me. Though many people complain Alex is second fiddle on these records, the times he gets to be front and center he creates some magic, the solo in Mission being one of my favorites. I also think, as someone who came at Rush well after HYF was released, it's probably easier for me to experience their synth era without bias.

[@colinburroughs9871]

@@wolf1977 I'm not really a 70's purist on this stuff (grew up with the 80's, 90's output being my fav), though I have kind of come to appreciate that this kind of music is written by 20 something stoned guys more earnestly than 40/50 something wealthy/made it guys. The 70's stuff has charm that an album like Snakes and Arrows could never sniff. HYF is just totally hit and miss for me, the first record Rush did that wasn't a front to back affair in the catalog (unless you really hate Caress). That's probably a much shorter way of summarizing my feelings about it. Oh and 90125 is a solid record that's sort of in this wheel house. I don't mind the 80's aesthetic- just something about HYF

[@herrdwabash]

We love you Chris!!!

[@sadboi7537]

Until recently, I had never listened to Power Windows and Roll The Bones from start to finish. Wow. What a mistake that was! Those two are amazing mid-period Rush albums.

[@greensombrero3641]

indeed they are both great

[@AviationLBA]

Power Windows is excellent, Roll The Bones is very average.

[@chrissmith3668]

The first couple times I listened to GUP and Power Windows they were just meh. After I went back and really listened to them I don’t think there is a bad song on either one

[@pitpride1220]

​​​@@chrissmith3668Agreed. That period depends on the maturity of the listener. Even more than the earlier stuff. The music is very sophisticated.

[@ledzeplover58]

I'm so old I bought the debut when it came out based on a review in Crawdaddy magazine. When I bought Fly By Night I was initially crushed. What was this fancy pants shit? Where was my metal maaaan? After I calmed down and really listened I was hooked. The follow up,Caress Of Steel absolutely blew my mind. It still remains my favorite Rush album to this day.

[@erikscholten5434]

Love the Hold Your Fire album, helped by being the first tour I saw them playing live. I ranked all Rush albums a year ago and had Hold Your Fire on 3 (after 2112 and Hemispheres). Least favorites Vapor Trails and Roll the Bones, even if the tour for the latter was sensational.

[@andrewdavis4652]

@Pete, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this topic. Rush has been my favorite musical artist and progressive rock band for almost 42 years. I was first introduced to their music two weeks after my 17th birthday, back in 1979. This was unquestionably one of my most favorite and most entertaining episodes of “In The Prog Seat,” ever. I would really love to hear a longer debate on Rush in the future. Since, it would probably also be an appropriate subject for the “Hudson Valley Squares,” it would be amusing to hear the opinions of those particular ladies and gentlemen on this subject.

[@drewrose374]

KING ALO! I spit out my coffee 90 seconds in!!!

[@MackeyWilliams]

Steven "I'm singing along in my head right now." Brilliant! Well done, mate.

[@jcsalty457]

I really do enjoy everything they have done but my favorite album has to be Grace Under Pressure. Really great stuff on that album every track flows really well!

[@gregwatson3300]

Alex has stated that Grace Under Pressure is his favorite album as well, which surprised me. But maybe it shouldn't have.

[@delorangeade]

I think Grace Under Pressure is a great album. Very coherent in terms of sound and songwriting. Up there with Moving Pictures and Hemispheres for me.

[@eatmysteel]

My favorite too, Enemy Within is my favorite Rush tune!

[@mjm5081]

My God I love Grace Under Pressure!

[@arloroan3168]

Under your wheels is a favorite tune. My first Rush album.

[@johnmichaelwilliams6694]

This was great to watch and looking forward to this favorite/least favorite album form being used in the future. As noted when on the broadcast of In The Prog Seat that discussed albums the panelists did not care for, hearing what you don't care for is just as interest - at least for this viewer - as what you do care for. A chance for some differing views and discussions of how people 'came' to know about the band and then pursuing their interest in the catalogue. Adding to this with the immediate energy of adding Chris (The King) Alo to the group and Luis Nasser's description of a Mexican bus journey that will not soon be forgotten, an epic episode. Always a thanks to Steven for keeping U.S. hours in the U.K. to participate in these episodes and also thanks to Eric, George, and you, too, Pete, for keeping these shows so entertaining as well as informative.

[@ericporter344]

As always John, thank you for watching and your comments, always insightful. I hope Pete does more of these as well

[@georgelamie7001]

Glad you liked it, John.

[@larsschneider2378]

I hear you Steven, I love 80s Rush. Power Windows is an amazing album!

[@TranquilityFireReid]

Thanks Lars!

[@bmardon2112]

​@@TranquilityFireReidpower windows is absolutely fantastic my top 3 I would say. Good choice buddy

[@jmeakin4]

Power Windows isn't just my favorite album too, it can be argued as Rush's best. There's not one filler tune on it, while it can be asserted that Witch Hunt and/or Vital Signs aren't quite the same caliber as Moving Pictures' other tracks (as The Camera Eye is as stellar as anything on side one). It appears Power Windows is a favorite of the band too, seeing how they included so many of its tracks on all of their concert setlists since they created that album.

[@willowfinnvt]

My intro to Rush was Power Window, and it remains my favorite. Territories and Marathon are big favorites.

[@TranquilityFireReid]

Great choice!

[@stuartwexelbaum9070]

Love Moving Pictures, Hemispheres & A Farewell To Kings are my 3 favs...

[@justinburke2890]

My favourite is Hemispheres and least favourite might actually be Test for Echo. That one never grabbed me with the exception of 3 tracks. Also, love when Chris Alo is on a panel! Such a highlight of the channel! What a hoot!

[@chrisalo2989]

thanks justin!

[@raquelyoung8840]

Merrie Brodie I love you. Merrie Brodie you introduced me to Rush when I was in jr high school. You took my mom and I to see Rush with Tommy Shaw in San Diego, an experience ’ll never forget. Merrie Brodie you’re still the only Canadian I know (and I hope I’m spelling your name right). And remember I saw you at the Rush show at the Embarcadero, you were in the front row of course and I felt so cool that I was there too. Merrie Brodie I’m a Rush fan because of you - thank you my friend.

[@ndmich88]

This was awesome!! So glad Chris made it to In the Prog Seat. Was waiting for this day 👍👍

[@masonevans4297]

I don’t know if I could choose a favorite but all the talk over moving pictures I have to say what a fine song I’ve recognized The Camera Eye to be… may be my favorite rush song now but I’m gonna be indecisive on that too

[@utvf68]

Moving Pictures is my all time favorite album! Top five albums: 1. Moving Pictures 2. Hemispheres 3. Permanent Waves 4. A Farewell to Kings 5. Fly By Night Least favorite album is Roll the Bones.

[@-suphur]

Farewell to Kings was new when I discovered them and is still a favorite. I saw them on the Hemisphere tour, great concert.

[@peterspalda1077]

Hemispheres and Test for Echo for me... love Presto and worship Hold Your Fire...

[@charleswagner2984]

Hold Your Fire is my second favorite album in all music history. What a phenomenal album! Almost as amazing as Tales From Topographic Oceans.

[@gregpahl7326]

I came on board during Permanent Waves when The Spirit of Radio was charging up the airwaves in the great white north so that is naturally my favourite album. I already had 2112 and Archives which were both game changers for me. The first new release for me as a fan was Moving Pictures and I'll never forget the day Q107 out of Toronto premiered the album with Geddy and Alex in the studio explaining the back story behind every track.(hearing their voices for the first time and how thoughtful and articulate they were blew me away) Back then my only real connection to the world was a clock radio so it was a huge event for me. Every album release of theirs after that was a hugely anticipated 'event'. Grace Under Pressure was the first album for alot of old school fans that really took awhile to get into but I've grown to love it now. Have to say Terry Browns production defines my favourite era. As much as they wanted to try different producers and remain on the cutting edge of what was possible with the new technology, some producers went alittle too far and the 'sound' suffered abit.(Rupert Hine on Roll The Bones r.i.p. although he was a great fit for other bands) The first time I really thought things got off track and I was hearing 'filler' or 'generic' Rush( which some friends begrudgingly called it) was on Roll the Bones, and have to agree with Louis as 'Face Up' was the song. As the years went on I think the weaker material they released had ALOT to do with the various producers they put their trust in.

[@michaelpurnell5203]

As a younger fan (22), I never grew up following the band’s career like you guys. But having the luxury of looking back and going through at my own pace, Hemispheres still blows my mind and stands above for me. As for worst, I haven’t heard most of the albums that are generally considered their worst but I tried and failed miserably to get into Hold Your Fire. Great episode guys.

[@steveramsey6562]

I would like to see more of these type of videos, group discussion of favorite and least favorite albums by other iconic bands.

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

As I stated at the end, more to come!

[@iansnodden7861]

I love hold your fire " prime mover and high water " are two of my favourites from the 80s

[@Skycladatdusk78]

Favorite: 1 - Fly By Night 2 - 2112 3 - Moving Pictures 4 - Clockwork Angels 5 - Hemispheres Least Favorite: Hold Your Fire Test For Echo I like most of Roll The Bones, Ghost Of A Chance and Dreamline are two of my favorite Rush tunes.

[@dougreeder6774]

Power Windows is one of my favorites. Glad to see it mentioned here.

[@TranquilityFireReid]

Great choice Doug!

[@alder456]

Cheers Proggers and Chris. My first purchase and will always be my sentimental favorite Permanent Waves. That record started my lifelong love of Rush. Just all around solid guys- Geddy- Alex and Neil. A rarity for Rock bands that almost lasted 45 years, they liked each other. I like/love most of their discography but Vapor Trails is my least favorite.

[@tanvirchoudhury122]

Praise Allah, I love ❤ RUSH.

[@wokebloke7019]

Great show ! I’ve always appreciated rush but now I’m diving into their catalogue. Thanks S of T. These shows have helped me find tons of gems from the 70s and early 80s

[@trevdowson5810]

Chris Alo on 'In the Prog Seat'? Always like to hear what Chris has to say I just didn't expect to see him grace this particular platform. Thanks to all, Prog Seat is great show.

[@ericporter344]

Thanks for watching Trev, was great having Chris on

[@trevdowson5810]

@@ericporter344, I really enjoy 'The Prog Seat' and all the great people who appear, you included of course, make it interesting and I'm inspired to listen to/buy music that I've never heard or even heard of in some cases so I thank you and the rest of you gentlemen (and Niamh when she's on) for doing such a fine, fun job. I also love The Monster's Den which is thee place to see Chris Alo in all his expressive glory.

[@ericporter344]

@@trevdowson5810 appreciate you watching, and thanks for leaving such nice compliments for all the Prog seaters! Just be careful, my wallet is much lighter these days

[@luciusblackwood2640]

Fantastic show! The more Rush talk the better.

[@quintbromley2112]

Amazing episode, guys. Rush is my favorite band and the variety of takes were entertaining and informative. Permanent Waves is the one for me. Presto is the low water mark. So happy they ended their career with a killer album and one of the greatest tours of all time. 🤘

[@drewrose374]

Another great show!!! awesome discussion!

[@SwanShadow]

I can relate to Chris as a latecomer to Rush. I didn't get into them until I was a sophomore in college, when Moving Pictures -- still my favorite Rush album, and among my favorite albums ever -- came out. Then I went back and rediscovered all of their earlier albums. Hard to pick a least favorite, because I like something about all of Rush's albums. But if pushed to the wall, I'll say Test for Echo... or maybe Presto.

[@markdodge7605]

Definitely one of my favorite episodes you guys have done in a while. Love it & very funny shit

[@ericporter344]

Thanks Mark

[@mikeharradence6549]

Fantastic episode guys, and was great to see Chris involved too - such a funny bloke!

[@jpmcmullan8666]

In September my father was in the Hospital for an emergency heart surgery, so I bought him the Neil Peary illustrated quotes book hoping it would be a source of inspiration for him on his challenging road to recovery. He passed away a week later and now it has become a source of inspiration for me on my road to recovery. Thank you Rush and thank you Pops 🤍

[@ericporter344]

Sorry for your loss jp, music has helped me through some tough times, nice to hear you found inspiration from Neil's book.

[@kennycraig6769]

What a great episode. Cheers lads.

[@ericporter344]

Thanks for watching Kenny

[@acknowledgingourdiscontent]

This was extremely entertaining, thanks so much! I was thinking Favourite & Least Favourite Album for Marillion could be so divisive and extremely enjoyable also.

[@mattshaw5179]

Another fantastic In The Prog seat!! Here's mine... Favourite: Permanent Waves Least Favourite: Roll The Bones.

[@Justin_Kipper]

Good episode! Rush fan since 1976. My favorite album is "Grace Under Pressure", with "Signals" being a close 2nd. My least favorite is "Hold Your Fire". I find it to be uninspired and forgettable. I do think that "Presto" was a worthwhile album and got things back on track; the guitar work is great and Neil seems to get back to playing more than that four-on-the-floor disco beat that was getting old.

[@harizonflamingice3167]

Honestly, I think I put Grace Under Pressure right up with 2112, Farewell to Kings, Hemispheres and Moving Pictures. Kind of a weird take because I think Signals is good but I'm not as crazy about it start to finish, but there's just something about Grace Under Pressure that I loved the moment I heard it. I think 2112 is still my favorite as a whole, but it's not an easy choice.

[@cozmicpfunk]

My Favorite cycles like the 7 days of the week: 2112, A Farwell to Kings, Hemispheres, Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, Signals, Grace Under Pressure. So depending on the day, I have 7 to choose from. Honorable Mentions: Hold your Fire, Power Windows, Vapor Trails... No least favorites, not possible! Thank all of you for sharing :)

[@knightvisioniixv]

Favorite is easily A Farewell to Kings. Not quite sure what my least favorite would be; It would have to be something amongst their final three albums (Only by way of the fact that I spent the least amount of time with those.) I never thought I'd see the day when Chris Alo would make an appearance on 'In the Prog Seat'!

[@comickaraoke]

Chris Alo was a fine addition to into the prog seat. Definitely a breath of fresh air. Get that man trained-up in prog stat so he can re-appear on a permanent or semi-annual basis!

[@chrisalo2989]

Thanks Mark!

[@comickaraoke]

@@chrisalo2989 You're welcome! you rocked it!

[@Powerage_86]

Been binge watching your shows and it's been awesome listening to you all have fun talking about these bands. This specific ep just spurred me to listen to some Rush. Fly By Night is my personal favourite.

[@ericwalker6068]

Favorite: Moving Pictures Least: The debut I don’t care what they say-Presto is a damn good album.

[@stevesmith3990]

I really like Presto too, for me it was the last really good one, before the pretty tedious RTB came along - which was the last one I bought for a long time..

[@AviationLBA]

The debut is brilliant, despite not having Neil Peart. It’s one of the greatest hard rock albums of the 70s.

[@RickNBacker]

Top Five: Hemispheres, Farewell to Kings, Signals, Perm Waves and Moving Pics. Bottom Five: Roll the Bones, Counterparts, Presto, Snakes & Arrows, Hold Your Fire

[@TonVenhuizen]

I have CD's of Presto and Roll the Bones. On Presto I like Superconductor (has balls) but rest is not a favorite (maybe Show Don't Tell a bit), I was expecting more from Roll the Bones, when I saw there was an instrumental on it, but it's not even near YYZ. I do like the title track and the rap though (and the first few songs are OK). I got both albums as a present. I bough Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures myself though (and like them very much). Also I'm more an old Ruch guy (so I got the other vinyls. 2112 is awesome (great). Nice show guys, as said, even a bad Rush album is better than many other bands can do..

[@RickNBacker]

I actually saw the 1974 Don Kirshner TV show promoting Fly By Night, just after Neal joined. Thought they were raw but had promise. Fast forward to 1977 and the TV videos promoting Farewell to Kings and I was floored; ran out and bought the album the next day and eventually got all the prior albums.

[@rexpresto]

I’m a lifelong Rush fan. Seen them 9 times in concert. The highlight of my journalism career was interviewing Alex Lifeson for the Quincy (Mass.) Patriot-Ledger ahead of Rush’s “Test For Echo” tour in 1996. He even put up with me being a fanboy when I asked if I could meet him after their show in Boston and told me who to call at Rush’s office to arrange some backstage passes. This is a longwinded way of getting around to saying that “Presto” is my favorite Rush album.

[@thomaswery3087]

I love everything Rush does.They might of added keyboards or whatever,but they're a prog band.Prog bands always change.There are Rush albums I like more but I don't hate any of them.If I play a Rush album I don't skip any song

[@bmardon2112]

You rock, my favorite band my friend.

[@fendergibs]

Why was it a weaker mix than PW which had the same production team? PW had more dynamics & punch, HYF pushed drums further back in the mix distant hallow sounding & compressed the range, less full sounding. Rush is prob is the most talented band with some of the worst production sound on average than any other band of there class.

[@robm9999]

Awesome show guys! Really enjoyed everyone’s perspectives. And great idea Pete. I hope you make many more episodes like this one. Canadian here, love Rush, pretty much a religion here in Canada. For me, fav album is Permanent Waves and least fav is Hold Your Fire, for all the reasons everyone else stated, and also because it just didn’t connect with me personally. Still doesn’t. Thanks again for a great show, and love the channel!

[@mattwhite6291]

Another fantastic show guys! I'm an 80's kid so i like the sound that Rush had then, but that doesn't mean i don't like any of their that came before then. To be honest i like all their albums but my favourite is Snakes and Arrows the sound is stunning. I was lucky to see them live at the 02 in London 2013, wow fantastic!

[@larsschneider2378]

Sooo looking forward to this episode, cool to have Chris on! My picks in advance: My favorite is Signals (it's just the closest to my heart, but I have like 10 runner-ups...); least favorite is the debut. Objectively speaking the best is surely Moving Pictures, no doubt about it. And it doesn't matter what you think of the album - even someone who hates the album (not that anybody does, but just for argument's sake) could well argue why this is a perfect album in every way.

[@jamiethorstenberg1033]

I have to say A Show Of Hands is really what got me started as well. I listened to that album over and over and picked up Signals and Power Windows right after that. I had Hold Your Fire first and A Show Of Hands became my soundtrack in 1988

[@claymccoy]

One of my favorite songs from Rush is actually on the Roll The Bones album: "Ghost Of A Chance".

[@SteveHughesOfficial]

Ghost of a chance is an absolutely brilliant song. As is Bravado which no one ever mentions.

[@Rushan2112]

My old band used to cover Bravado!! People would actually ask later what it was, we’d say it was a Rush tune, and they’d be like…really?? Much easier to sing and play, mellow, pleasant sounding. Ghost of a Chance and Bravado has killer Alex solo tones.

[@shurik121]

Bravado and Dreamline are in my top 10 Rush songs.

[@gopherindian]

Makes my iPod rotation all the time

[@johnhenfrey5936]

Nearly missed this, you are pumping so much out. My favourite Rush Record is, Hemispheres, and my least favourite is Vapor Trails.

[@bsicotte]

Chris Alo is consistently hilarious! Favorite is a tie between Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures...Permanent Waves in a photo finish. Honorable mention: Counterparts. Just love that album. Least favorite? That's a tough one but I'm going to go Caress of Steel...It's just the one that I listen to the least.

[@arunsabherwal6256]

Awesome.presentation. RUSH is always Closer To The Heart. Yes they have some weaker albums from the synth pop era (names covered in the episode) but as the saying goes "All Rush is good Rush". Even if I were to mention HYF or Presto but there are very strong sentiments attached to these albums which extend much beyond the songs on the albums. Presto was the first RUSH album purchased and HYF was procured by traveling on a bus several Kms from an underground music store (which is no longer in existence), so it's really beyond the music on these albums. As far the favourite RUSH album is concerned it is 2112- that is the album with which the love with RUSH started. It's awesome imho🤘

[@raymondschmalz4300]

Favorite is Hemispheres and least favorite is Presto. My first show was Radio City Music Hall 1983, blown away!! Didn’t know about them; went with friends who had an extra ticket. So glad I went! Became a fan for life after that. 🤘

[@chrissmith3668]

Wow you were at the Radio City Grace Under Pressure warm up shows? I’m envious but I was also 2 years old so I don’t think I would have appreciated it lol

[@sspbrazil]

Difficult one for me, It was “Permanent Waves” that was my introduction to the band and I love that album and “Grace Under Pressure” is one of my other favorites as is “Signals”, but I have to agree with Luis, it was “Hemispheres” that really blew me away, there is no Rush album that pushed them so hard like that album. My least favorite album was tough too because I like all their albums, I was thinking of “Presto”, the majority of album just falls flat on me and the thin production turns me off, but I have to agree with Eric as well as Luis again, “Roll The Bones” is the one for me, they just really lost the plot on that album. I know the consensus here would be “Hold Your Fire”, but that gets too much flack I think.

[@wildkeeper]

Way to go King Alo. Great having him on the Prog Seat.

[@TranquilityFireReid]

What a pleasure it was having Chris join us. He's welcome back any time!

[@mikep9377]

Luis’ comment about Hemispheres being Rush’s Tommy and Moving Pictures being their Who’s Next is a perfect analogy👌

[@wolf1977]

I'd say maybe 2112 was their Tommy, or actually more like their Quadrophenia since on 2112 every band member is kind of represented in the main story line. Not as directly as on Quadrophenia but that album always reminded me a bit of Quadrophenia...

[@drummer78]

@@wolf1977 Interestingly enough, 2112 is extremely similar story wise to The Whp’s “Lifehouse” was abandoned and scaled down to become “Who’s Next”.

[@m053168]

Every Rush album has something good on it in my opinion, I actually love Hold Your Fire (minus Tai Shan), to me Test for Echo is the one where they really ran out of steam, but still has some good songs.

[@63mckenzie]

I don't know why people hate Hold Your Fire. It's great.

[@m053168]

Also Hold your Fire is the logical progression from Signals through Power Windows....it's only shocking if you compare it with 2112 or Hemisphere

[@wolf1977]

@@m053168 Sure, it's the band progressing/keeping up with the times. Music would get pretty boring if bands just stuck with repeatedly making the same album over & over, even if that record was great. You can only make 2112 or Moving Pictures so many times...Actually Rush fans should not have been surprised at this band going in a new direction in the 80's, after all they made 2112 at a time when their entire career literally hung in the balance. Who else would put out a sci-fi based concept album when it really counts?

[@elimalinsky7069]

Test For Echo is perhaps my least favorite album, but I do like their last three records very much, that's when they went back to hard rock full time. Moving Pictures is also not one of my favorites, even though I agree it's basically a perfect album. Their 1976-1980 outings are my favorite with no particular order. All four albums released in those years are absolutely stellar. I also don't dislike Hold Your Fire, I think it's a good album and I find myself listening to it more than any of the 90s albums.

[@UFO314159]

I love Hold Your Fire, including Tai Shan.

[@mjm5081]

Being a huge Rush fan for the last 35+ years, I've probably listened to Permanent Waves more than any other album...The sound...My God the sound!...The production is just perfection...I don't think they ever matched that kind of clarity...And the songs...My God the songs!...Unique, strong, stand-alone tracks that just happen to work so well together. Frankly, I can't imagine my musical life without this album...But my dark mistress...My evil temptress...is Grace Under Pressure...It's cast a spell over me I can't break...And frankly, I'm not sure I want to.

[@keithhanisek2465]

Power Windows has over time became one of my favorite records.

[@dennismeans7350]

Pete - good to see Chris on this show. No invite to Sydney ? 🤣

[@darenbergstrom9565]

I happened to see every Rush tour from Permanent Waves till their last tour And what makes some of their less desirable Albums sound better is watching them do them live and then when you get home you pop that particular album/CD on again and the music sounds so much better!! Maybe it’s me but that’s what got me through some of the tougher years. My least desirable Rush Albums are Hold your fire Counter parts Vapor Tails But with each album there is always a song or two that I do like from each one. Thank you for the segment guys.

[@dusty3913]

My first real exposure to Rush-someone gave me A Show of Hands on cassette, so I love that keyboard-heavy era. But, of course it made me go back and get it all. My first concert was their triumphant return with Vapor Trails, and the songs have special meaning-the concert was phenomenal. I can’t hate any album, but I agree that there’s a weakness in production and rock edge among the trio of turds albums, of course. MP is a perfect album, but so is Permanent Waves just before it. The bottom line is-even when they put out the trio of turds albums, Rush continued to be amazing live-and they continued to play the staples. Always worth the ticket price and effort of attending their live show.

[@commonman317]

My fav is "Power Windows" too. It has such a full sound to it, with lots of low end. Neil's snare tone is perfect on this album. Least fav is "Caress Of Steel". You get lost in the progressive weeds on this album. It takes "Lakeside Park" to bring you back a little. A big miss.

[@augustgeary5538]

Favorite: Permanent Waves. The perfect mix of 70s prog Rush with some 80s flare and production. Every song is perfect. Least favorite: Test for echo. Not a bad album but I do find it boring. Some good songs like drive but overall an album I find myself wishing it would end.

[@esteeb67]

I never got all the hatred for Presto. It's far from my favorite Rush album, but I thought it was a return to form after all those synthy albums. I love Available Light, Show Don't Tell, Chain Lightning and The Pass. My least favorite is probably Vapor Trails. Never been a big fan of their 90s output. My favorite will always be 2112. Moving Pictures may have been my first Rush record, but I still get that feeling that I got when I first put on 2112 and the Overture began with those swirling synths. Hardly any record that I loved still has that same impact.

[@wolf1977]

I thought Presto was really good...

[@esteeb67]

@@wolf1977 I remember at the time it was being billed as a return to form with the guitar more prevalent, as well.

[@janspiljard4181]

I am a big Rush fan. Like Steven and Luis, my first hearing of Rush was a live album. A friend of mine gave me a tape and said, "You should listen to this. I am sure You'll love it". That live album was All the World's a Stage. It blew me away and I have been a fan of Rush ever since. My favorite album is Permanent Waves. But it could easily be either of the following: Moving Pictures, Hemispheres, A Farewell to Kings, Caress of Steel or Signals. Least favorite Rush album: Hold Your Fire.

[@wolf1977]

For me listening to a live Rush album is just like listening to the studio version, but with an audience added. I want to hear extended versions, alternate versions & jamming on my live records and Rush does very little of that (at least judging by what ends up on record). Fantastic musicianship but personally give me a few mistakes as a tradeoff for some different/longer versions, maybe some unexpected covers of others' songs

[@daanthing6002]

My first Rush cd was Moving Pictures and i liked it but didn't become a fan. Then Vapor Trails came along and i saw Rush in Rio at a friends house and i was blown away! From then on i started searching for old vinyls and bought the 90's ones on cd. The albums i play the most are Farewell to kings Permanent Waves and Power Windows. The ones i play the least are Rush, Hold your fire and Snakes & Arrows. But i like all of them. A band i return to every year.

[@roberthardin2133]

I'm with team Hemispheres. it's such a musically adventurous album that doesn't have a dull moment (for me at least). I'd like to mention that Grace Under Pressure has wormed its way up to 2nd place for me. my least fav: I'm with the majority-it's Hold Your Fire. I personally find the songs unmemorable. whereas small pockets of greatness exist in Power Windows and Presto.

[@irishflink7324]

Caress of steel was my first album with Rush and I still Love this album , my second album was Fly By Night and it's still good I was in my teens and now I am 61 years old and still Love these Albums

[@ericporter344]

That's often the case, the first thing you hear/own just stays with you! Thanks for watching

[@wolf1977]

@@ericporter344 Nostalgia cannot be overrated in terms of explaining the music you like

[@zer0ed779]

Chris absolutely rules!

[@mattyboywalker9094]

Absolutely bloody brilliant a few.mins in laughing already and cannot wait to hear about one of the greatest bands in the world Omg Chris "the mission" absolutely floored me face still sore from laughing

[@SWEETFA24]

Rush for me was 1st to Signals. Hold your fire was the last one I bought. Only played it less than 5 times.

[@mbacko1]

Favorite: Moving Pictures Least Favorite: Roll The Bones I came into the band in the late 1980s and my very first concert was Rush on the Presto tour. I saw them at the Baltimore Arena and I was supposed to go with my best friend, but when his parent's found out we were going into the city they told him he couldn't go because he might get stabbed. I couldn't find another person to join me on short notice, so I went by myself and met a whole group of bikers in leathers who thought it was awesome that I had the stones to go by myself anyway. The concert was awesome and cemented Rush as one of my favorite bands.

[@genwcd91]

Quite enjoy Hold The Fire/Presto/Roll The Bones , more mellow but still great , especially as I get older

[@geronimo9097]

I was glad to see that someone (although not present) chose my favorite album, Permanent Waves. I was extremely disappointed when Signals came out. I thought they took a HUGE change in style. I wasn't convinced to buy it, however, I had a coworker convince me that Grace Under Pressure was worth buying. I liked it. But never was into any more Rush albums until Test For Echo. After that, I just lost touch with their new material.

[@kamranmalik8546]

My favorites: 1. Moving Pictures 2. 2112 3. A Farewell to Kings 4. Permanent Waves 5. Presto 6. Roll the Bones

[@thewal1ofsleep]

Personal Favorite: Hemispheres (if you asked me tomorrow and I might pick AFtK or MP) Least: Hold Your Fire through Roll the Bones (yes, I'm cheating)

[@yauybob]

Rush's catalog is as diverse as the fans that love (or hate) them. Love that.

[@andrewthornton8059]

Great video, guys ! My favourite Rush album - Moving Pictures My least favourite Rush album - Hold Your Fire The choices above are just purely based on my own taste, and they don't necessarily mean that these 2 albums are the best/worst Rush albums - they are just my personal favourite and least favourite.

[@Darrylizer1]

I'm so glad the I'm not the only one that loves Caress Of Steel. Theres something extremely special about that album though Rush's reach definitely exceeded their grasp. My favorite will always be Permanent Waves. For me it's their best album. Edit: I came in during the "two lesbian witches and their drug dealer" era, i.e. 2112.

[@ingolfrvargr]

Great episode. I love most of their albums, but the three albums I could never properly get into are Presto, Counterparts and Test for Echo. If I had to name one in each case I'd probably go for Hemispheres as my favorite and Test for Echo as the least.

[@petetobey3933]

Eric - a fellow Saratoga guy! My first introduction to Rush was Exit… Stage Left, and at the time (at age 15) Grace Under Pressure was out. I got both cassettes, loved them, and immediately set out to collect their back catalog. My favorite Rush album fluctuates between 2112, Hemispheres, Permanent Waves and of course, Moving Pictures. My least favorite is probably Roll the Bones or Power Windows, I just never got into that era of Rush when I was in college - I probably like Hold Your Fire best of that synth era, but they did not sound like Rush from Power Windows to Presto.

[@ericporter344]

Hey Pete, thanks for your comments, nice to have a fellow Saratogian onboard! Thanks for watching

[@shaunfulton7261]

Compliments to Steven Reid on his curtains. I have the same ones, from Argos. 👍