Ultimate Rush Album with Mike Portnoy & John Petrucci (Liquid Tension Experiment) - The Prog Report

Mike Portnoy and John Petrucci join Roie Avin and Geoff Bailie on the podcast to talk about the new Liquid Tension Experiment album 'LTE3', and help put together the Ultimate Rush Album from tracks from that band's huge catalog. Order LTE 3 here: liquidtensionex.lnk.to/LTE3/
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#mikeportnoy #johnpetrucci #liquidtensionexperiment

[@ronrubicon1593]

The Necromancer is such a criminally overlooked song.

[@malawigw]

caress of steel is top 5 best album ever recorded imo

[@eddiegalon3714]

Caress of Steel as a whole is always dismissed. I love it. I got it on vinyl when I first got into Rush about 1981ish. I think it has some of Alex's best playing.

[@mpactdesignmedia]

Completely agree!

[@luismangiaterra1031]

I got it from record club when it first released. It wasn't even available in America yet. The only Rush record I can still listen to. I'm glad that they don't mention it and ruin it.

[@JOSEGUTIERREZ-cx3ku]

It has become impossible for me to understand WHY people dislike this album....the more I listen to it, the more I realize what a f***n masterpiece it is

[@trainspotter360]

I love that Portnoy is back in DT. And I love that Petrucci picked Mission.

[@rodrigoaltaf983]

Xanadu was inspired by the poem Kubla Khan, by Samuel Taylor Coleridge!

[@vallangaard]

"Losing it" All time fave. And every single one of us will have to accept it one day

[@RDog4484]

That song took a while to click for me, but once it did, it definitely found its way to my favorites from them.

[@stealingtomorrowband]

So nice to see these 2 dudes communicating and having their friendship repaired..

[@sansubr]

Why? What happened?

[@TheHawkeyeful]

​@@sansubrMike's exit from Dream Theater wasn't mutual or amicable iirc.

[@krioni86sa]

what heppened?? i think mike is ex boyfriend of john and they broke up because mike got jelous

[@pauljordan8033]

@@krioni86sa Huh???????

[@krioni86sa]

@@pauljordan8033 yout mom

[@TheSateef]

when are we going to see Lee, Lifeson and Portnoy?

[@tmc1054]

I'd rather Gavin Harrison play with them. He's more from the Peart mould.

[@bassimprovjams3772]

Dude we need Geddy, Petrucci, I don’t know enough drummer to name one lmao,

[@rushxanthemtcg5607]

​@@tmc1054Gavin is probably the least like Peart of any of the modern greats lol

[@danzemacabre8899]

Portnoy would be the guy if Alex and Geddy decided to do some shows but sounds like Mike's gonna be a busy guy

[@DanielGonzalezC]

Rush's Ultimate Album: 18:14 - By-Tor and the Snow Dog 21:25 - Red Barchetta 23:45 - Subdivisions 26:19 - Countdown 28:08 - Jacob's Ladder 30:24 - 2112 34:05 - Animate 36:13 - La Villa Strangiato (An Exercise In Self-Indulgence) 40:58 - Xanadu 46:12 - Marathon 49:52 - YYZ 53:02 - Mission The 12-track album clocks in at 97 minutes, and encompasses 18 years of Rush's career. 1:04:30 - Track sequence by Mike Honorable mentions: Mike & John: 54:47 - Natural Science, The Trees, Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres, Freewill, The Spirit of Radio, A Passage to Bangkok Geoff: 55:31 - Red Tide, Distant Early Warning, Anthem Roie: 56:18 - The Analog Kid, Bravado, Caravan

[@pitpride1220]

Thank you

[@jpwieczorek]

Very cool!! Great list!

[@bradwest4821]

I like that you added "Animate" ...love that

[@jetklaatu9831]

I created a KZbin Music playlist of the songs they all picked too if anybody wants it... music.kzbin.info/aero/PLMYAKPA_7lytiTjnqpD4cUrNCoK7PM5Ko&feature=share

[@marinhrabric6162]

if i would pick my own ultimate album it would've been different, but there's nothing wrong with this album. fantastic choices and i'm glad there's stuff post-81. i love veriety. if someone gave me this album i would've been perfectly happy.

[@ILSRWY4]

John's pic for countdown brings me this story to tell... For nearly 40 years I listened to Countdown... imagined what a launch would be like... played that RUSH song over and over and over.... I got my pilot's certificate when I was older. Studied science in school... I actually saw Discovery just before its maiden flight in 1984 as it sat on the pad weeks before its first flight. I vowed then as a small child I would return to see Discovery fly, witnessed in person. Well I got to see a shuttle launch, in person, from the VIP seating at the Saturn V building. 3 miles from the launch pad. It was STS-127, Endeavor's launch. I was now 39 years old. I was pumped... I listened to Countdown over and over leading up to the launch... and now here I stood 3 miles from the pad waiting to see my first ever launch with Neil's descriptive words in my head "a thunderous roar like the whole world exploding... Scorching blast of golden fire as it slowly leaves the ground ... tears away with a mighty force as the air is shattered by the awesome sound" 5-4-3-2-1 .... nothing..... then the golden fire... ok here it comes, the thunderous roar... nothing.... just a distant rumble.. so I waited... again... just a little louder, but not much... a rumble... like the sound of distant thunder from a far off storm. That's it? That's all the sound there is? From 3 miles away? OMG talk about anti-climatic... It was NOT AT ALL how Neil described it. No thunderous roar... No air being shattered by the awesome sound..... just a distant rumble. But.. and this is a BIG BUT.... the blast of golden fire.... now that was VERY ACCURATE!! It was like a Golden welding arc... it was so bright it blinded us, in the day light. So that was very true.. but the sound.. that was a disappointing thud... nothing but a rumble. Maybe the wind blowing away from us had something to do with sound? Who knows? But it was Not loud at all.

[@thomaswalkowiak815]

I saw Rush in 75 as they led off for Frank Zappa. Incredible concert

[@fcamiola]

Rush opened for Zappa??!!

[@Ignore14]

This was pre 2112, makes sense they opened for Frank ad they were not as well known then

[@LungMing23]

Woah! Rush and Zappa on the same bill!?

[@JonathanDLynch]

Xanadu is my favorite song. My family knows to play it at my funeral.

[@dtmania]

Pretty cool that I was at a Rush show in Worcester Mass Power Windows Tour 85 in the same building as a young Mike Portnoy and John Petrucci. :)

[@drfabianchaman]

My Rush album: 1. Anthem 2. By Tor 3. The Necromancer 4. 2112 5. Xanadu 6. Cygnus X1 7. Hemispheres 8. Circumstances 9. Jacob’s Ladder 10. Natural Science 11. The Camera Eye 12. Between The Wheels

[@scottwood5515]

Anthem would be my # 1 as well 🙂

[@BayouMaccabee]

That's a solid album.

[@pizzicatoprod]

It's very cool to see that Mike and John are working , and getting along well again.

[@commonman317]

I know that Exit Stage Left gets criticized sometimes. But, that Side 3...Broon's Bane, The Trees, and Xanadu is just so perfect! That transition from the end of The Trees into that long atmospheric intro into Xanadu is pure RUSH in full flight! It is so beautifully done, and sounds great.

[@davidsanderson5918]

I liked Exit Stage Left at the time but didn't LOVE it. Plus when I got to see them on the Signals tour they were EVEN BETTER! BUT.....I listened to it recently and decided it was a 5 out of 5 album. Enjoyed every moment.

[@joepplaysdrums]

Why does it get criticized?

[@commonman317]

@@joepplaysdrums Some fans have said that it sounds almost too good. Crowd is in the background, and the songs have been touched up, or re-recorded. But, I've never felt that way.

[@drmidnight680-kz2le]

Olivia Newton John did Xanadu, I liked her version better. Tony Orlando and Dawn did Xanadu on TV before Rush.

[@LungMing23]

Exit Stage Left is still my favorite Rush live album.

[@tyandambika]

My fave 12 songs from Rush on One Album: 1) By Tor and the Snow Dog 2) Fly By Night 3) Lakeside Park 4) Xanadu 5) The Trees 6) La Villa Strangiato 7) Spirit of Radio 8) Freewill 9) YYZ 10) Camera Eye 11) Subdivisions 12) Countdown

[@janspiljard]

Here is one band that went longer in the same linup: Golden Earring from the Netherlands. 50+ years.

[@Justrespect2112]

Two hit wonders

[@TonysMusic1974]

@@Justrespect2112 Not in the Netherlands. They are huge there. It's where they are from.

[@147pablox]

@@Justrespect2112 Who cares about the hits?

[@wildcountry72]

@@Justrespect2112 Yeah, two hits that still get tons of airplay even today. Where are your hits? Radar Love and Twilight Zone both get covered extensively. Fun fact, they get more airplay than dream theater and liquid tension experiment put together. And those two bands had one hit put together. Sounds like a big deal especially from where they're from.

[@jaegervand2112]

Listening back to the 80s catalogue, cuts like Between The Wheels, Analog Kid, Show Don't Tell, Open Secrets, Middletown Dreams or anything from A Show Of Hands sounds even better that I remembered. Such beautiful melodies, such brilliant lyrics.

[@misterchippie]

I think I could sit and talk Rush with Mike for about 10 days and not get bored!

[@driverbwm]

Great show!! My first album was Hemispheres, La Villa Strangiato will always be my most fav. Saw them Nov. 85 at the Forum in Inglewood (LA), California on the Power Windows tour with Steve Morse Band opening, nose-bleed seats with the binoculars glued to my face the whole show, watching Neal. Thanks for the memories. 😎

[@joedolenza7944]

Speaking to Red Barchetta how amazing that Neil wrote these lyrics 40 years ago and how relevant they are now. I am fifty one and knew that this would happen eventually but never in my lifetime. Crazy! Great show and thany you all! Also I have been a Dream Theater fan from When Dream and Day Unite and that is my favorite record fom you guys and in my lifetime top five. Cheers from Canada!

[@bctravelers4163]

It's awesome to hear Mike and John talk about their first Rush show being Signals! That was mine also, I was 12! Saw them in Detroit.

[@commonman317]

As a 53 year old amateur drummer and RUSH fan, Subdivisions is still my favorite RUSH song to drum along to. And, yes they could of filmed the video at my high school as well. What great times to grow up in.

[@paulluongo2756]

That is probably my favorite Rush song to listen to.... The isolated bass and drums track... Totally incredible...

[@blackbird351]

My personal track-listing: 1. 2112 2. Tom Sawyer 3. The Spirit of Radio 4. Xanadu 5. Closer to the Heart 6. La Villa Strangiato 7. Subdivisions 8. YYZ 9. Limelight 10. Cygnus X-1, Book I: The Voyage 11. Cygnus X-1, Book II: Hemispheres 12. The Garden

[@ephesians.6]

That's effin amazing!!! 👏

[@jetklaatu9831]

I put a KZbin Music playlist of all the songs they picked here (in order of how they picked it) if anybody wants it too... music.kzbin.info/aero/PLMYAKPA_7lytiTjnqpD4cUrNCoK7PM5Ko&feature=share

[@rudyrodriguez3125]

My 12 All-Time List 1). Free will 2). Between The Wheels 3). Ghost of a Chance 4). Anthem 5). La Villa Strangiato 6). After Image 7). Something For Nothing 8). Fly By Night 9). Limelight 10). Vital Signs 11). The Enemy Within 12). The Garden (Easily could be first)

[@rjculliford]

Was very interesting to hear Mike and John geek out about my favorite band. Also happy with the choices all four of you made! My ultimate album would go something like this: subdivisions tom saywyer yyz natural science bravado marathon second nature la villa strangiato the spirit of radio earthshine hemispheres

[@brettking1014]

Smiled through this entire video! Great guys all around!

[@toroscholakyan1505]

Love watching this , anytime it’s about rush I love watching it

[@r.a.fiallos234]

Great podcast guys--serously, one of the best I've heard....really fun and it felt good. No awkward moments that can sometimes happens with some guests.

[@bemersonbakebarmen]

Liquid Tension Experiment was the Quintesential Progressive Metal band. It was even better than Dream Theater at the time. To this day no other metal band has pushed so radically the limits of the genre overnight. Opeth, Messhugha, Mastodon, BTBAM, Ayreon, Pain of Salvation, Riverside, Dillinger Escape Plan, Devin Townsend Project etc. They CHANGED the Prog Metal Style because no one can Improve LTE, not even Dream Theater.

[@DanielGonzalezC]

Well that's one hot take.

[@123612100]

Don't forget Watchtower.

[@frlong1]

JP at the end with Mission ! Love the Hold Your Fire album ..

[@juanvsreviews]

Xanadu was the song that got me into Prog... like that was it, then I discovered Dream Theater because of that. Marathon is my current favorite song it just brings me back to my highschool years, very nostalgic. I love the middle instrumental part with the powerful keyboards. My all time favorite song of any band is Red Barchetta and they pretty much covered why. My ultimate Rush Album: 1.-Xanadu 2.-Red Barchetta 3.-Mission 4.-The Pass 5.-Marathon 6.-A Farewell to Kings 7.-The Trees 8.-Cygnus X-1 9.-Time Stands Still 10.-The Big Money 11.-Tom Sawyer 12.-Natural Science

[@stevenashurst819]

Yes , Pink Floyd , King Crimson and then RUSH blew my mind. DTR are my favorite band and debate adding them to my Tattoo adornment.... Fantastic artists who make me smile outward and inward all the time....

[@westernartifact580]

I believe “The Pass” was the band’s own favorite. At least over a certain period.

[@malawigw]

it's a sick song, probably best Rush 90's song

[@stuartmiller7419]

Yes, they were very proud of Presto, and rightly so.

[@ArisAlamanos]

Nobody ever mentions "a show of hands" which represents all the synth era in an amazing way and "presto" with such amazing songs

[@vinnykster]

I totally agree. I'm lovin Presto more and more as I get older. Loved it when it came out too. Still sounds solid and fresh today. A Show of Hands too.

[@nathanfreeman3217]

Repeat after me "Available Light is the best Rush song. Available Light is the best Rush song. Available List is the best Rush song."

[@driftless7134]

I absolutely love Presto.

[@JeromeDukes]

Man, finally Countdown gets some love, thank you John. Loved this upload.

[@luigizanellato2959]

Great interview. This made me geek out on Rush again! lol Awesome band.

[@rick4135]

Is so nice they talk back and forward in and out DT career!!!

[@inthedream9127]

This list is great! Love seeing the mention of Countdown, that song is super underrated. My 12:) 1. Cygnus X-1 book ll: Hemispheres 2. Subdivisions 3. Natural Science 4. Losing It 5. Countdown 6. Red Barchetta 7.The Necromancer 8. 2112 9. A Farewell to Kings 10. The Analog Kid 11. Different Strings 12. Cygnus X-1 book 1: the voyage (Honorable Mentions: The Trees, Lakeside Park, Mystic Rhythms, Limelight, YYZ)

[@caligulapontifex5759]

Great list. My Top 10 1. Xanadu 2. Trees 3. YYZ 4. La Villa 5. Cygnus X-1 Book 1: the voyage 6. Tom Sawyer 7. Subdivisions 8. Necromancer 9. Limelight 10.The Spirit of Radio Cheers!

[@andrehughes1]

When Neil died the first thought that came into my head was.. Mike Portnoy. Yes we are all crushed by the loss. But the time for Geddy and Alex is also short. The thousands of people that were employed by the Rush behemoth. The music and legacy, their ability to put on that big live production. Mike, make it happen

[@cygnus1965]

Nah. Tony Carey is the logical choice and before MP I’d say Chad Smith.

[@coffeemachtspass]

You went with By-Tor, but I love Beneath, Between and Behind. Those drum parts never fail to make me drive too fast and feel young again. That’s my soul viagra.

[@MnyFrNthng]

This was really really awesome. Respect to DT and of the great RUSH!!!

[@howieh7877]

Saw those tours with DT in Toronto and my fave was the Camera Eye... They did it justice

[@tedtosterone2262]

The instrumental jam on Freewill (short as it is) still blows me the fuck away! 2112 & Hemispheres (sides 1) always thought could make some really cool Sci-Fi Rock operas specially with todays CGI, or even animated film (like the 80's Heavy Metal)

[@MarkyMarc413]

I'm glad you guys put the final sequence at the end! I was wondering if I had to hunt down a random Tweet from Mike regarding it! Wonderful choices, picking just 12 Rush songs is quite a task!

[@anthonylv64]

I’ve been a Rush’s fun since I first listened to them, in the very early 80’s; after discovering “Moving Pictures”, that opened the gates to searching for everything Rush❤❤❤❤❤❤ And I’m open to accept Mike Portnoy as their new drummer; Dream Theater can always bring back that Mangini dude, who is very good too.

[@gregoriogarcia793]

1.between the sun and moon 2.secret touch 3.grand designs 4.earthshine 5.time and motion 6.double agent 7.afterimage 8.natural science 9.cygnus x1 book1 10.driven 11.chemistry 12.mission 13.vital signs 14.the garden 15.yyz

[@LonelyRocker]

Wow! I have such a great story about camping out overnight for tickets on the Power Windows tour in the middle of a cold, Canadian winter. Perhaps I'll get to share it sometime. Awesome video!! Thoroughly enjoyed this!!!

[@mikevivian9384]

I do believe Mike is wraring a Letterkenny shirt.....classic Canadian show....love it

[@commonman317]

Marathon, along with the rest of Power Windows is my go-to choice for RUSH listening. Very sentimental. I met my wife in '85, graduated in '85 etc. I love the booming lower end foot pedal synths and textures in those songs. As an amateur drummer, I think Neil's drums were perfectly produced. His snare really "cracked" and cut through. His 24 inch bass drums were up front in the mixes. Just a great sounding album altogether.

[@driftless7134]

In my opinion, one of Rush's finest albums.

[@drmidnight680-kz2le]

My car has power windows too.

[@thumperrabbit6570]

My first concert was Rush moving pictures. They were peaking. They had mastered their art in all phases.

[@bladawiec]

Props to you Gentlemen!

[@Gorbyrev]

What a joyous exploration through the wonder of Rush's back catalogue. "It was all Rush and Maiden back then!" So it was for many of us. My deep cuts not mentioned would include: Circumstances Rivendell Losing It Show Don't Tell Kid Gloves The Twighlight Zone Force Ten I could go on...

[@howie5th]

Circumstances is awesome!

[@KyleBrianAbbott]

Surprised by the lack of Caress of Steel!!!

[@petepassiglia8564]

Agreed. Bastille Day, Lakeside Park, The Necromancer

[@pabloriverafernandez7799]

I know.... but lets faced, us on the same position, the choices would be SO different...! :)

[@howie5th]

Yes! Bastille Day, Lakeside Park, and others.

[@robertdendooven7258]

That is the thing about Rush fans. You ask 10 of them their favorite song from Rush and you will have a good chance of having 10 different songs.

[@nexuslang]

I agree, especially since Dream Theater did an incredible cover of the Necromancer live, Petrucci looked like he was orgasming during the solos... it was absolutely monstrous.

[@progatrontheeloquent9844]

Jacob's Ladder was at Massey Hall, John. ;) I know because I was there (for all those jaw-dropping Toronto Rush covers!)

[@apprentice70]

So glad to see Power Windows and Marathon get love. Underrated album. Hands down.

[@YuTuboTuTubas]

Such a grrrreat albun Power Windows

[@driftless7134]

I think it's one of their very best albums.

[@drmidnight680-kz2le]

All cars have power windows now.

[@nicholaslatsaras3631]

Hey guys I just subscribed so thank you for letting me join. I love prog & I especially love the Holy Trinity RUSH

[@closetotheedge91]

Call me crazy but I much much prefer Cygnus X-1 Book II Hemispheres over 2112 as far as Rush epics go.

[@rjculliford]

Same here, but both are so great. I find Hemispheres more musically interesting, but 2112 is very iconic and unique.

[@TheJMFG]

Same

[@shantanunathan]

I completely agree with you. I always felt that Book II was overlooked among the epics and even across all the songs. Unparalleled storytelling about an extremely intelligent concept, legendary opening chord and my favourite part, the solo section between the Apollo and Dionysus sections when all 3 go crazy which is definitely my favourite section in all of rock n roll.

[@anthonydebot45]

I'm with you, that overture gives me chill every time. I suspect many Rush fans feel that way, even though 2112 usually gets all the attention. I'm also a huge fan of Fountain of Lamneth and Necromancer (I'm susprised they weren't mentioned by the guys, btw).

[@ebayjim]

Hemispheres has always been my favorite Rush album. Saw the Hemispheres tour @ the Fox in Atlanta. Incredible.

[@j.p.lovecraft1826]

My perfect Rush album: from the first album, keep only Working Man and cut the rest. Then follow it by every thing Rush ever recorded and there you go....the perfect Rush album. It’s long but you’ll be okay.

[@RDog4484]

I love the fact that they included Marathon. Easily one of my absolute favorites of theirs.

[@stevenashurst819]

RUSH RULES AND MY TATTOO DEFINES MY PASSION FOR THEM ......

[@stevenashurst819]

Masters of their trade !!!! Skillzzzzzzzz.....

[@justincamp5716]

I was hoping for "The Garden" to close, but, good pick John, "Mission" is my all-time favorite.

[@toddashton9696]

Guys I really loved the picks and background shared by each. No doubt there is so much left out, but that just leaves room for the second disc of the double album

[@scuzzbopper5150]

...and BOOM! A new playlist is born! Just for fun.

[@JohnnyRecently]

Good vibrations.

[@imaxximus]

Best podcast episode ever

[@progreport]

THANKS!

[@christopherpiccirillo8020]

Love this video! My top 12 would be: 1 Anthem 2 Camera Eye 3 Digital Man 4 The Body Electric 5 Between The Wheels 6 Ghost of a Chance 7 Circumstances 8 Xanadu 9 Cold Fire 10 Natural Science 11 Turn The Page 12 New World Man

[@pjones8404]

Awesome show! Congrats to Mike and John. The new LTE sounds amazing so far and can't wait to hear the rest of it. Here is my list...and in order Anthem A Passage to Bangkok By-Tor & the Snow Dog Xanadu Something For Nothing The Trees Cygnus X-1 Cygnus X-1 Book II Complete Closer to the Heart Circumstances A Farewell to Kings La Villa Strangiato Sticking just to 12 tracks this list is only PART of the exact set list I saw on December 15, 1978 at the Chicago International Ampitheater. By far....the single best concert I have EVER seen. BUT..here is the rest of the show I left off... 2112 parts I, II, III, IV, VI and VII Working Man Bastille Day - In The Mood - Drum Solo. Unstoppable magic!

[@LungMing23]

Welcome home Mike

[@glennh7297]

No mention of Freewill. This opened my mind to feel ok to question it all. It has remained one of my mantras for 40 years. Mentally life changing for a kid raised with forced fundamentalism . Neil inspired me to search out literature.

[@rickeaton3085]

If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice...

[@nathanfreeman3217]

It is literally an honorable mention at the end of the video. :)

[@glennh7297]

@@nathanfreeman3217 That is correct, but not on any of their lists. It would be my first. 👍

[@BangerSoundtracks]

Great picks! And I'm glad Marathon made it in there; beautiful song! I would add Roll The Bones, it's another one I find myself listening to over and over.

[@frankfrohmann1504]

One of the best videos about music that I ever saw. 2 heroes from Dream Theater value their major influence which was Rush. Fantastic.

[@mvunit3]

This is the show that comes close to what I imagine sitting in my living room, as folks randomly look at my Sci-Fi/Fantasy Artist Portfolio & Making-Of Movie Books (especially Portnoy being the movie aficionado ;), and reaching in to play Lp's and CD's in my collection, while having drinks, snacks and talking about our fave albums and bands currently on our radar, but especially all things RUSH (and I'd get into my other fave band, Kansas). That was fun! And I would have not minded at all if this went on for 2 or 3 hours. Its not that I don't have a life :p but my life is FILLED with music, and love to share with like-minded people . . . just don't eat all the snacks! :D Please bring the guys back for another session, its always cool to hear how Rush played an important role in their love of music, and striving to be the best they can be. Also . . . I created this Playlist in early 2020 for those uninitiated to Rush, to share, and for anyone to listen to on the go, with some fun and "unusual" stuff in-between: kzbin.info/aero/PL2DU3TBNutEeeEPVH9hfmfMJpscrYoBh0 (more details in the description of the playlist) - Thanks again!

[@thomvogan3397]

I grew up in Kingston, Ontario, a small city east of Toronto. I went to a concert to hear Nazareth, a band who had a radio hit at the time. The other band that night was Rush, nobody had ever heard of them, they had just released their first album and radio stations hadn't picked up on them yet. Nazareth played first and my buddy and I were somewhat disappointed by their performance, then Rush came on. To say we were blown away is an understatement. We both went out the next day and bought their album which the store had just gotten in and kept playing it over and over. The real kicker to this story is a short time later Rush played at my high school. I still have to pinch myself to believe it

[@chrispehora7987]

The middle section of Bytor on the All the Worlds a Stage live album is so haunting. It’s epic!

[@DF-ee8vt]

That live version is the best in my opinion.

[@nexuslang]

@@DF-ee8vt Agreed! The live version of Working Man from this album is also waaaay better than the Cleveland video that's going around KZbin.

[@DF-ee8vt]

@@nexuslang My favorite version of almost any song is the one I heard(and loved) first. I like the versions from ATWAS except anything from 2112. Those, I like the studio version.

[@Murdernadofdeth]

I love the endless Rush debate. Rush means so much to so many people.

[@rickeaton3085]

So many incredible choices but it would have been nice to bookend the list with The Garden. To spotlight how incredible of writers they were through their last studio work. Such a beautiful song and solo by Alex. To have to pick 12...

[@polarbear2579]

Completely agree. I'm sure "The Garden" wasn't planned that way, but I can't imagine a better epitaph for Rush collectively or Neil in particular.

[@tortillasarenotbiceps7622]

That live version had me sobbing like a baby after Neil passed.

[@driftless7134]

I can't listen to The Garden since Neil passed. I tried and couldn't do it.

[@klantic2]

My favorite Rush song is "Losing It" actually. The lyrics are just so powerful! Honorable mentions for me are "Red Sector A" and "Natural Science" and lastly "The Garden"

[@rickeaton3085]

It was so cool that they pulled Losing It out for the last tour.

[@klantic2]

@@rickeaton3085 I used to go to every Rush tour not looking at the set list(s). So every song was a surprise to me. I pretty much knew they weren't going to play Losing It, but when it came on I broke down right there. The best Rush moment I ever had.

[@rickeaton3085]

@@klantic2 Music can really pluck on emotional strings but Rush really hits you at your core. They've been the soundtrack to my life and I know I'm not a rare case. I listened to my Signals album so many times in my room as a kid. Reading the lyrics. Absolutely great album for a 7th grade nerd in 1982... and 51 year old nerd in 2021. 😀

[@howie5th]

Yes, especially Natural Science!

[@danieldegeorges9993]

Me too! Favorite song of all time. So cool to see that someone else loves it as much as I do.

[@negedex]

I love this. An impossible task to narrow it to 12 songs. But I agree with each choice. If you did this again next week, you’d most likely get 12 different songs. There are NO WRONG ANSWERS. Well done.

[@myturbulance]

6:29 John started to talk about old lover... you can see the glow in his eyes.

[@csantana1971]

"You bought me that kit many years ago" JP... sounds like MP bought the kit with the intention to invite himself to play at JP's house, lol.

[@ClassofEighty2]

"An Evening with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson" (w/special guest Mike Portnoy) a limited Tour 2023

[@tjflash60]

Awesome

[@JayBaggio]

Loved Mike choices, no typical favs. By tor, Jacob and Xanadu are just perfect. The first 5 tracks of Fly by night are perfect too. So it's Bastille day as an opener

[@gpdaelemans]

Signals was my first Rush tour. Capital Center, Landover MD.

[@feralkitty9378]

Side 1 1. Xanadu 2. Red Barchetta 3. Between the Wheels 4. Signals 5. A Farewell to Kings 6. Fly by Night 7. La Villa Strangiato 8. YYZ Side 2 9. Closer to the Heart 10. 2112 11. Cygnus X1 12. Hemispheres

[@TRWilley]

Glad to see the love for the 80's era - it usually gets a lot of flack, but it is my favorite era - even "Hold Your Fire" (I'll admit that is probably nostalgia, but I still appreciate it.)

[@RogerBaxterYWGNYC]

Great list. AND I have to add... the late career of RUSH deserves more respect. I would have liked to see The Anarchist from Clockwork Angels. It rocks so hard, and the writing is fantastic.

[@jetydosa1]

with the exception of Animate, the last 30 years were ignored. I get it, we love the music we grew up on, but the latter half of the Rush catalouge is fantastic

[@BayouMaccabee]

@@jetydosa1 One of my favorite tracks from the 90s that nobody ever really talks about is "Driven". "Test For Echo" seems to be a largely underappreciated album by most Rush fans.

[@joelservo]

I would have had to have added "Analog Kid" to this list. It is so awesome to finally see Rush getting the respect they deserve. Always thought I was weird for being such a Rush fan and now I feel like I was right all along!

[@ruminator3570]

My favorite early albums are hemispheres and caress of steel. Listening to these albums makes me realize Rush was not meant to be the prisoner of 70s and 80s radio. These guys were not hit makers they were movie score composers. In essence they write the soundtrack for the books that Neil read. Listening to Geddy and Alex provide the voicing on the Fountain of Lamneth is beyond description. It's one part somewhere out of a memory and another part look into the eye of the storm.

[@jakesklodowski9321]

Xanadu has gotta be my favorite rush song. So so goddamn hard to choose though, Every song they have ever released, I love.

[@sejunjang5327]

Great.

[@ronnelson8876]

great show, as a big fan of both dream theater and rush, I enjoyed it very much. also, looking forward to the new LTE. question: what's the "artbook" pre-order choice of the new LTE about?

[@brotherscoobs]

I saw rush with marillion at the worcester centrum...sweet

[@michaelespinosa9168]

34:50 Counterparts was late 93/94 as I saw them with Candlebox opening in January 1994.

[@LearnWithGern]

I was hoping when they were talking about Animate from Counterparts, they'd discuss why Neil counts it in when he's the only one starting it. I want to know :)

[@chrissmith3668]

Maybe it originally started with the snare fill being accompanied by guitar and or bass and they decided to cut it

[@michaelespinosa9168]

Roll the Bones is S Tier amazing and so underrated, top 5 for sure!

[@michaelhintz6187]

My first concert was RUSH Moving Pictures outdoors on a 4th of July night.

[@stealingtomorrowband]

My dad turned me on to rush when i started taking a real intrest in playing bass. Being born in 84 i really missed all the great music of zep floyd rush and you know the list lol. And If time machines existed i would be well on my way back to see all of my favorites...

[@andyharman3022]

Reminiscences about some of their choices: Countdown: As an engineering student at the time Signal came out, I loved Countdown. It captured every reason that I went into engineering. "Technology high on the leading edge of life." Jacob's Ladder: Seems to be every Rush fan's favorite deep track. It's really just a piece of Neil's poetry about a rainstorm set to music, as only Rush could do it. Too many time signatures to count. When I first heard it, I thought "Whoa, that one's out of left field, even for Rush." And I saw them perform it live on the Permanent Waves tour. They weren't afraid of that beast. 35 years later, I saw them perform it again on the R40 tour, and the crowd erupted; I think with the biggest ovation of the show. 2112: Had to be in there. My first Rush album. Heard it once, and I was a fan for life. Animate: Opening song on Counterparts. To me, it was the first indication they were coming out of the 80's trip through synth purgatory and the banishment of Alex's guitar to the background.

[@SlimJimJoey]

I love how Portnoy is wearing a Letterkenny shirt 😂 Great show

[@maverick_trail]

"Headlong Flight" is their modern epic and should be mentioned in the same breath as "Natural Science" or "La Villa Strangiato".

[@bananapuddingpop3867]

Bytor was my first thought too.