The 50 Greatest RUSH songs of all-time (featuring # 1 from the 1970's) (1 Viewer)

[Ghost Rider]

21. The Pass (from the 1989 album Presto)

Lyrically, this is easily one of Neil's best songs ever.  An emotional anti-suicide song, one that I overlooked at first since it was from an album that none of my friends had recommended to me when I first got into the band, but when I finally heard this record, I was wowed by this song right away.   The band has also expressed that this is one of their collective favorites as well, and it was great to see it get featured on the tours in 2002 and 2012-2013. 

And despite being in the bottom third of Rush albums (IMO), Presto still managed to get two songs in my top 50, which is pretty good.

"It's not as if this barricade
Blocks the only road
It's not as if you're all alone
In wanting to explode

Someone set a bad example
Made surrender seem all right
The act of a noble warrior
Who lost the will to fight

And now you're trembling on a rocky ledge
Staring down into a heartless sea
Done with life on a razor's edge
Nothings what you thought it would be

All of us get lost in the darkness
Dreamers learn to steer by the stars
All of us do time in the gutter
Dreamers turn to look at the cars
Turn around and turn around and turn around
Turn around and walk the razor's edge
Don't turn your back
And slam the door on me"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NwI2yMRUxU

 

[joey]

21. The Pass (from the 1989 album Presto)

Lyrically, this is easily one of Neil's best songs ever.  An emotional anti-suicide song, one that I overlooked at first since it was from an album that none of my friends had recommended to me when I first got into the band, but when I finally heard this record, I was wowed by this song right away.   The band has also expressed that this is one of their collective favorites as well, and it was great to see it get featured on the tours in 2002 and 2012-2013. 

And despite being in the bottom third of Rush albums (IMO), Presto still managed to get two songs in my top 50, which is pretty good.

"It's not as if this barricade
Blocks the only road
It's not as if you're all alone
In wanting to explode

Someone set a bad example
Made surrender seem all right
The act of a noble warrior
Who lost the will to fight

And now you're trembling on a rocky ledge
Staring down into a heartless sea
Done with life on a razor's edge
Nothings what you thought it would be

All of us get lost in the darkness
Dreamers learn to steer by the stars
All of us do time in the gutter
Dreamers turn to look at the cars
Turn around and turn around and turn around
Turn around and walk the razor's edge
Don't turn your back
And slam the door on me"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NwI2yMRUxU

that "turn around and turn around and turn around..." part is so powerful and emotional. Nice pick.

ETA: but again...higher than The Camera Eye?!?!?!

 

[Fiddles]

Love the pass and it just never loses its impact.   Distant Early Warning is a mid tier song for me.  Its fine.  Much prefer Red Sector A of the 2 singles.  Closer to the heart is an instant skipper for me.  Was so glad they retired that and the trees in their live sets.  Played out.   Manhattan Proj is so killer.  Great pick there.  Cold Fire I already disparaged earlier in the thread.  

 

[Ghost Rider]

ETA: but again...higher than The Camera Eye?!?!?!

Hmmm, let me confer with the judges...yep, still higher than The Camera Eye.

Love the pass and it just never loses its impact.   Distant Early Warning is a mid tier song for me.  Its fine.  Much prefer Red Sector A of the 2 singles.  Closer to the heart is an instant skipper for me.  Was so glad they retired that and the trees in their live sets.  Played out.   Manhattan Proj is so killer.  Great pick there.  Cold Fire I already disparaged earlier in the thread.  

I didn't mind Closer to the Heart being dropped from the sets starting in 2002, as it made it feel all the more special when it would get played again.

Cold Fire is a great song, sir.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Let the top 20 begin...

20. Limelight (from the 1981 album Moving Pictures)

Yes, this song is overplayed as hell, but that doesn't away from its greatness.  It has probably their most well-known riff, Alex Lifeson's most iconic solo, and possibly Neil Peart's most famous lyric ("I can't pretend a stranger is a long-awaited friend.").  I will admit that I went through a spell where I was a bit tired of this song because it was so overplayed, but that little break gave me that much more appreciation for it once I was able to make it one of those songs again that I regularly revisit.  Moving Pictures featured a band firing on all cylinders, especially on Side 1 (one of the best album sides of the vinyl era), and they capped it off wonderfully with this killer song that is still a classic rock staple.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiRuj2_czzw

 

[Fiddles]

Hmmm, let me confer with the judges...yep, still higher than The Camera Eye.

I didn't mind Closer to the Heart being dropped from the sets starting in 2002, as it made it feel all the more special when it would get played again.

Cold Fire is a great song, sir.

I'm not sure how you dont hit the skip button when you hear these lyrics:

It was long after midnight
When we got to unconditional love
She said, "Sure, my heart is boundless
But don't push my limits too far"

I said, "If love is so transcendent
I don't understand these boundaries"
She said, "Just don't disappoint me
You know how complex women are"

 

[Ghost Rider]

I'm not sure how you dont hit the skip button when you hear these lyrics:

It was long after midnight
When we got to unconditional love
She said, "Sure, my heart is boundless
But don't push my limits too far"

I said, "If love is so transcendent
I don't understand these boundaries"
She said, "Just don't disappoint me
You know how complex women are"

Because the music in the song is so damn great.  While I love the lyrics in the chorus of that one, I agree that the verse lyrics are not great, but they don't hurt the song at all, IMO.  Writing lyrics about relationships was pretty much foreign to Neil before Counterparts, and I don't hold it against him if some of them came across as a bit tripe.

 

[Apple Jack]

I'd probably have The Pass in the top 10. The lyrics are quintessential Neil. I like Distant Early Warning over Red Sector A, but dig both.

 

[zamboni]

Let the top 20 begin...

20. Limelight (from the 1981 album Moving Pictures)

Yes, this song is overplayed as hell, but that doesn't away from its greatness.  It has probably their most well-known riff, Alex Lifeson's most iconic solo, and possibly Neil Peart's most famous lyric ("I can't pretend a stranger is a long-awaited friend.").  I will admit that I went through a spell where I was a bit tired of this song because it was so overplayed, but that little break gave me that much more appreciation for it once I was able to make it one of those songs again that I regularly revisit.  Moving Pictures featured a band firing on all cylinders, especially on Side 1 (one of the best album sides of the vinyl era), and they capped it off wonderfully with this killer song that is still a classic rock staple.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiRuj2_czzw

One interesting thing in that video is at the 3:28 mark where Geddy has a twin-necked guitar/bass and is playing the bottom guitar part. This is clearly part of the old pre-Moving Pictures interspersed footage, so it's clearly not Limelight. Just not sure what song he's playing there.

 

[Ghost Rider]

One interesting thing in that video is at the 3:28 mark where Geddy has a twin-necked guitar/bass and is playing the bottom guitar part. This is clearly part of the old pre-Moving Pictures interspersed footage, so it's clearly not Limelight. Just not sure what song he's playing there.

Most likely it is Xanadu.  I feel like there was another old song that Geddy busted out the double neck for, but I am zoning out on it at the moment.

 

[zamboni]

Most likely it is Xanadu.  I feel like there was another old song that Geddy busted out the double neck for, but I am zoning out on it at the moment.

Spot on with Xanadu!

https://youtu.be/ZiRuj2_czzw?t=207

https://youtu.be/SEuOoMprDqg?t=573

 

[Whyatt]

The Pass is top 20 for me, for all the reasons noted. 

Am I alone in my appreciation for Show Don’t Tell? Top 25 for me but I think I’m an outlier on that one.

 

[Apple Jack]

Let the top 20 begin...

20. Limelight (from the 1981 album Moving Pictures)

Yes, this song is overplayed as hell, but that doesn't away from its greatness.  It has probably their most well-known riff, Alex Lifeson's most iconic solo, and possibly Neil Peart's most famous lyric ("I can't pretend a stranger is a long-awaited friend.").  I will admit that I went through a spell where I was a bit tired of this song because it was so overplayed, but that little break gave me that much more appreciation for it once I was able to make it one of those songs again that I regularly revisit.  Moving Pictures featured a band firing on all cylinders, especially on Side 1 (one of the best album sides of the vinyl era), and they capped it off wonderfully with this killer song that is still a classic rock staple.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiRuj2_czzw

Wow, this is really low (high?). Contender for #1 here.

 

[Apple Jack]

The Pass is top 20 for me, for all the reasons noted. 

Am I alone in my appreciation for Show Don’t Tell? Top 25 for me but I think I’m an outlier on that one.

The riff in SDT is all time. I also dig the title track from a musical standpoint.

 

[Ghost Rider]

The Pass is top 20 for me, for all the reasons noted. 

Am I alone in my appreciation for Show Don’t Tell? Top 25 for me but I think I’m an outlier on that one.

I like Show Don't Tell, but I don't love it. 

Wow, this is really low (high?). Contender for #1 here.

I know many would have it higher, and I do love it for sure, which is why it is number 20.

The riff in SDT is all time. I also dig the title track from a musical standpoint.

I was never that wild about the Presto title track until they played in on the Time Machine tour. Geddy's vocals were rough that tour, but he did well enough on that song to elevate my opinion of it.

 

[Mr. Ected]

Let the top 20 begin...

20. Limelight (from the 1981 album Moving Pictures)

Yes, this song is overplayed as hell, but that doesn't away from its greatness.  It has probably their most well-known riff, Alex Lifeson's most iconic solo, and possibly Neil Peart's most famous lyric ("I can't pretend a stranger is a long-awaited friend.").  I will admit that I went through a spell where I was a bit tired of this song because it was so overplayed, but that little break gave me that much more appreciation for it once I was able to make it one of those songs again that I regularly revisit.  Moving Pictures featured a band firing on all cylinders, especially on Side 1 (one of the best album sides of the vinyl era), and they capped it off wonderfully with this killer song that is still a classic rock staple.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiRuj2_czzw

One of my favorites. What was that outfit that Geddy was wearing?!?! I'll take the open, chest hair showing kimono any day over that!  C'mon!

One interesting thing in that video is at the 3:28 mark where Geddy has a twin-necked guitar/bass and is playing the bottom guitar part. This is clearly part of the old pre-Moving Pictures interspersed footage, so it's clearly not Limelight. Just not sure what song he's playing there.

I thought about that as I was watching the video. [non musician making comments, so take this into account ] It sounds like at the end of the solo, when Alex is pulling on the whammy bar,  there is a subtle, simple guitar part. Live, would Geddy have played that? Or would they have used a recording? There also seems to be a bass part, as well as keyboards, so they pulled out their extra arms to play!

 

[BassNBrew]

Wow, this is really low (high?). Contender for #1 here.

Agreed.  It's in my running mix and usually gets a tap back for repeat especially if I'm hill climbing.  It may be overplayed, but that's because it's freaking awesome.

 

[Fiddles]

Freaking love limelight and the slow and low version they opened with on the S&A tour is my favorite version.  Best opener ever.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exa61MdUI_Q

 

[Ghost Rider]

One of my favorites. What was that outfit that Geddy was wearing?!?! I'll take the open, chest hair showing kimono any day over that!  C'mon!

I thought about that as I was watching the video. [non musician making comments, so take this into account ] It sounds like at the end of the solo, when Alex is pulling on the whammy bar,  there is a subtle, simple guitar part. Live, would Geddy have played that? Or would they have used a recording? There also seems to be a bass part, as well as keyboards, so they pulled out their extra arms to play!

More like, they used their feet to trigger the other stuff.

Freaking love limelight and the slow and low version they opened with on the S&A tour is my favorite version.  Best opener ever.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exa61MdUI_Q

Fun fact: that was the first tour where the first song played had not been track 1 on its original studio album.

 

[Mr. Ected]

One of my favorites. What was that outfit that Geddy was wearing?!?! I'll take the open, chest hair showing kimono any day over that!  C'mon!

I thought about that as I was watching the video. [non musician making comments, so take this into account ] It sounds like at the end of the solo, when Alex is pulling on the whammy bar,  there is a subtle, simple guitar part. Live, would Geddy have played that? Or would they have used a recording? There also seems to be a bass part, as well as keyboards, so they pulled out their extra arms to play!

More like, they used their feet to trigger the other stuff.

That's what I meant by a recording.

 

[Grace Under Pressure]

The Pass & Limelight, amazing. How to rank those? Tough, tough call. These remaining songs are going to be unbelievable. 

 

[joey]

Let the top 20 begin...

20. Limelight (from the 1981 album Moving Pictures)

Yes, this song is overplayed as hell, but that doesn't away from its greatness.  It has probably their most well-known riff, Alex Lifeson's most iconic solo, and possibly Neil Peart's most famous lyric ("I can't pretend a stranger is a long-awaited friend.").  I will admit that I went through a spell where I was a bit tired of this song because it was so overplayed, but that little break gave me that much more appreciation for it once I was able to make it one of those songs again that I regularly revisit.  Moving Pictures featured a band firing on all cylinders, especially on Side 1 (one of the best album sides of the vinyl era), and they capped it off wonderfully with this killer song that is still a classic rock staple.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiRuj2_czzw

Top 10 for me personally. Maybe even top 5 these days since my son is learning it on drums so the greatness keeps coming back every day when he hacks, er, plays through it. I’m also hacking through the guitar part just to keep his place in the song and it’s fun to play along with him. Safe to say, neither of us is doing it justice, but we're having a blast trying!

 

[Ghost Rider]

19. Dreamline (from the 1991 album Roll the Bones)

Even though I loved it right away and it was integral in my Rush discovery phase, this wasn't initially my favorite song from this record, but over time it has become so.  It was always a killer live tune, as it brought out the lasers every time!  Rush has a lot of great driving songs, but this has to be one of their best.  I am amazed I have yet to get a speeding ticket while listening to it!   Alex's simple guitar lead is so infectiously catchy, Geddy's delivers one of his best vocal performances of the 90's, and Neil crushes it yet again with a lyrical masterpiece.  I never get tired of cranking this song.

"When we are young
Wandering the face of the earth
Wondering what our dreams might be worth
Learning that we're only immortal for a limited time"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYCOCIHObtg

 

[Whyatt]

Fantastic tune!! 

Dreamline is in my top 10. Tremendous energy in this song which is magnified when heard live.

You just HAVE to sing along the lyrics quoted above.

 

[lardonastick]

19. Dreamline (from the 1991 album Roll the Bones)

Even though I loved it right away and it was integral in my Rush discovery phase, this wasn't initially my favorite song from this record, but over time it has become so.  It was always a killer live tune, as it brought out the lasers every time!  Rush has a lot of great driving songs, but this has to be one of their best.  I am amazed I have yet to get a speeding ticket while listening to it!   Alex's simple guitar lead is so infectiously catchy, Geddy's delivers one of his best vocal performances of the 90's, and Neil crushes it yet again with a lyrical masterpiece.  I never get tired of cranking this song.

"When we are young
Wandering the face of the earth
Wondering what our dreams might be worth
Learning that we're only immortal for a limited time"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYCOCIHObtg

Excellent pick here, big fan of Dreamline. It's not my favorite Rush song, most likely somewhere in the 20's or 30's if I made a list, but it is BY FAR the song most often "stuck" in my head. I commented in the Voice In Your Head thread that along with having an inner voice, I ALWAYS have a song playing in the background of my thoughts too. Dreamline seems to be the default song in my head, for whatever reason.  

 

[Todem]

Huge fan of Dreamline. Easily one of their very best tunes live. The Different Stages live version being the signature version of the song on an official release. The lyrics are incredible. The music a driving force.

 

[joey]

19. Dreamline (from the 1991 album Roll the Bones)

Even though I loved it right away and it was integral in my Rush discovery phase, this wasn't initially my favorite song from this record, but over time it has become so.  It was always a killer live tune, as it brought out the lasers every time!  Rush has a lot of great driving songs, but this has to be one of their best.  I am amazed I have yet to get a speeding ticket while listening to it!   Alex's simple guitar lead is so infectiously catchy, Geddy's delivers one of his best vocal performances of the 90's, and Neil crushes it yet again with a lyrical masterpiece.  I never get tired of cranking this song.

"When we are young
Wandering the face of the earth
Wondering what our dreams might be worth
Learning that we're only immortal for a limited time"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYCOCIHObtg

Good song. No way it’s above Limelight for me. But you expected this response from folks on this thread, I’m sure  

 

[kevzilla]

Good song. No way it’s above Limelight for me. But you expected this response from folks on this thread, I’m sure  

I counted eight songs from 20-50 I would put ahead of Dreamline. Still a good song, though. The discography is just amazing, and I wouldn't try this exercise myself.

 

[joey]

The discography is just amazing, and I wouldn't try this exercise myself.

Agree 100%! I’m happy to make comments about someone else's list but would never dare to do this myself. The amount of time and effort to go through their WHOLE discography, pull out all my favorites from each album (which would require a bunch of re-listening for a few albums in the 90's) and then try to sort them? Impossible. (Though I might come up with my own top 10-15 that I post here once Ghost Rider is done). 
 

big props to @Ghost Rider for taking on this big task and allowing us to all re-re-re-enjoy our years of listening to and loving this band. 

 

[Ghost Rider]

Good song. No way it’s above Limelight for me. But you expected this response from folks on this thread, I’m sure  

Well, I definitely expect opinions to vary, but I would never list songs in a specific order just for reactions (not that you said that, I am just saying).

big props to @Ghost Rider for taking on this big task and allowing us to all re-re-re-enjoy our years of listening to and loving this band. 

No problem, it's been fun!  I plan on doing honorable mentions later on, where the albums not being represented in the top 50 get a little love as well. 

 

[Caesar]

Sorry I'm late.  This ten went pretty fast, and I was taking a little break.  But wow, what a ten.  

30. Cygnus X-1 (from the 1977 album A Farewell to Kings)  There are no bad songs here, but this is too high for me.  Some of the long songs drag on for me.  Like GR said about Camera Eye being an easy listen, you forget its 10+ minutes.  This one, not so much for me.  

29. Double Agent (from the 1993 album Counterparts)  Maybe a little high, but only because there are so many good Rush songs.  This one is pretty damn good.

28. Witch Hunt (from the 1981 album Moving Pictures)  I alluded to this as the worst song on A Show of Hands (for me), so no surprise I find this a little high.  I still love this song and would contend for top 50.

27. Between the Wheels (from the 1984 album Grace Under Pressure)  Perfect placement for a near perfect song.

26. Bravado (from the 1991 album Roll the Bones)  One of my personal favorites.  I like to sing and this one is in my range, unlike a lot of early Rush, which is probably one big reason I love this era so much.  Would be higher on my list, for sure.

25. Cold Fire (from the 1993 album Counterparts)  I really liked this song when it came out.  I felt like it was in the Spirit of Radio theme, more making fun of love songs than trying to be a love song (this isn't fantasy land  )  But here is a bit high for me.  Maybe I overplayed it when it first came out.  Still has great riffs, and as stated, a great chorus.

24. Manhattan Project (from the 1985 album Power Windows)  Again perfect placement.  As much as I love this song, there are just so many good Rush songs.  This one is top 25 for me as well, so we will call this perfect. 

23. Closer to the Heart (from the 1977 album A Farewell to Kings)  Seemed to be a mixed bag on the comments for this one.  Because until Chronicles came out, it was the only song to appear on three different albums (AFtK, Exit..Stage Left, and Show of Hands).  I actually remember one time I was driving to Florida and listening to only Rush on shuffle.  This song came on 3 consecutive times on the shuffle.  Yeah, I overplayed it.  Still a great song, but moved down the list for me. 

22. Distant Early Warning (from the 1982 album Grace Under Pressure)  If I had to choose between this and Red Sector A, I don't think I could do it.  They are both top 10 for me.  Just great tunes with so much energy.

21. The Pass (from the 1989 album Presto)  This song may have saved my life.  I don't know.  We all go through tough times.  In my 20s I had a rough stretch, and Rush got me through, not the least of which was this song.  Great placement in the countdown.  Has a special place for me.  

I will echo again the thanks to Ghost Rider for the list.  Not only is he doing a great job, but I love the comments from others.  Keep em comin'

 

[Ghost Rider]

Keep 'em comin'?  Oh, okay.

18. Red Sector A (originally from the 1984 album Grace Under Pressure)

This is the one Rush song where I almost never listen to the studio version.  It's good, but the live versions are all a hundred times better.  The A Show of Hands version (link below), to me, is the definitive version.  This is one of those songs that I loved from the start and I have never wavered at all on how great this song is.  The atmosphere is awesome, and the new wave elements, like the incorporation of some electronic drums by Neil, really give the song a very futuristic feel.  And I believe this is the only song the band ever played live where Geddy played only keys (he did all of the bass stuff on pedals with his feet).  Amazing song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySUl2iDimO8

 

[Grace Under Pressure]

Keep 'em comin'?  Oh, okay.

18. Red Sector A (originally from the 1984 album Grace Under Pressure)

This is the one Rush song where I almost never listen to the studio version.  It's good, but the live versions are all a hundred times better.  The A Show of Hands version (link below), to me, is the definitive version.  This is one of those songs that I loved from the start and I have never wavered at all on how great this song is.  The atmosphere is awesome, and the new wave elements, like the incorporation of some electronic drums by Neil, really give the song a very futuristic feel.  And I believe this is the only song the band ever played live where Geddy played only keys (he did all of the bass stuff on pedals with his feet).  Amazing song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySUl2iDimO8

Now we're talking! Really glad to see this in front of Distant Early Warning. Such a great song, and as mentioned so good live.

Oh, and: 

 

[Caesar]

Keep 'em comin'?  Oh, okay.

18. Red Sector A (originally from the 1984 album Grace Under Pressure)

This is the one Rush song where I almost never listen to the studio version.  It's good, but the live versions are all a hundred times better.  The A Show of Hands version (link below), to me, is the definitive version.  This is one of those songs that I loved from the start and I have never wavered at all on how great this song is.  The atmosphere is awesome, and the new wave elements, like the incorporation of some electronic drums by Neil, really give the song a very futuristic feel.  And I believe this is the only song the band ever played live where Geddy played only keys (he did all of the bass stuff on pedals with his feet).  Amazing song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySUl2iDimO8

This is one of the songs I was going to say I actually prefer the live version of as well.  Maybe it is my imagination, but I really feel like Geddy's voice really comes through with the emotion of the content of this song on the Show of Hands version.  As I just mentioned, its top 10 for me, but I won't argue your inclusion here at 18.  Such a great song.

 

[joey]

Keep 'em comin'?  Oh, okay.

18. Red Sector A (originally from the 1984 album Grace Under Pressure)

This is the one Rush song where I almost never listen to the studio version.  It's good, but the live versions are all a hundred times better.  The A Show of Hands version (link below), to me, is the definitive version.  This is one of those songs that I loved from the start and I have never wavered at all on how great this song is.  The atmosphere is awesome, and the new wave elements, like the incorporation of some electronic drums by Neil, really give the song a very futuristic feel.  And I believe this is the only song the band ever played live where Geddy played only keys (he did all of the bass stuff on pedals with his feet).  Amazing song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySUl2iDimO8

Love this song. So many good songs on GUP imo. 
 

The drum part I love in this song is in the chorus, where Neil is playing a 16beat pattern, with his right hand on the bell of the ride cymbal and his left had on the hi hat. Gives that beat such drive. You can see this pattern at 1:45 of this live video

https://youtu.be/djxL4qnDmhg

but unfortunately (on my iPad at least) you can really hear the upbeat ping of that ride bell like you can in other versions. 
Neil plays this pattern on other songs as well (can’t think of which ones right now) but I know that he’s the one who taught me this trick. Love to use it in songs where it fits. 

 

[joey]

Oh, I have to add how great and unselfish Alex's playing is throughout Red Sector A.
From his screaming intro guitar chords for his very harmonic and melodic guitar solo, he just finds a sonic space to both fit it and stand out. The "unselfish" part to me is the solo: in a song and album that is very synth-heavy, Alex could say "he comes my solo, I’m gonna ####### shred!" But instead he plays that lovely piece of music. Props to him!

 

[Todem]

Oh, I have to add how great and unselfish Alex's playing is throughout Red Sector A.
From his screaming intro guitar chords for his very harmonic and melodic guitar solo, he just finds a sonic space to both fit it and stand out. The "unselfish" part to me is the solo: in a song and album that is very synth-heavy, Alex could say "he comes my solo, I’m gonna ####### shred!" But instead he plays that lovely piece of music. Props to him!

Easily some of his finest guitar work ever. This song is simply brilliant. It is my favorite track from Grace Under Pressure. But....there is one more I expect to see on GR's list still from this gem of an album. 

Suddenly.....you were gone.

 

[Ghost Rider]

I love Afterimage, but that will probably be one of the honorable mentions I do later.  Red Sector A is my favorite G/P song.

And I totally agree about Alex's guitar work.  He has never been a show-off.   He can let it rip when the songs call for it, but has always been about playing for the song.  Never a wasted note.

 

[dhockster]

So I made a top tier of my favorite Rush songs and there were 15. So far two have made the countdown, Analog Kid (#42) and The Camera Eye (#35). I think 5 possibly will not make the countdown. I am curious where the other 8 will land.

 

[Whyatt]

So, how many instrumentals? 

I probably would have guessed 3 in total a couple of weeks ago. 

 

[Ghost Rider]

So, how many instrumentals? 

I probably would have guessed 3 in total a couple of weeks ago. 

Your minds will all be blown when Limbo is number 1.

 

[joey]

Easily some of his finest guitar work ever. This song is simply brilliant. It is my favorite track from Grace Under Pressure. But....there is one more I expect to see on GR's list still from this gem of an album. 

Suddenly.....you were gone.

my #1 P/G song as well!

 

[Connections]

I just wanted to interject to ensure that people were aware about....

....the bag....

 

[Ghost Rider]

17. By-Tor and the Snow Dog (from the 1975 album Fly by Night)

Ah yes, we harken back to the band's 2nd album and this ferociously fantastic rocker.  Named after two dogs they encountered at a friend's house - one was a little white dog (the snow dog) and one kept trying to bite everyone the by-tor), the youthful energy and spirit of this song is so easy to love, and the band's chops are on display in this one, as Alex crushes you with killer riffs and crazy leads, Geddy's rumbles like a lion's roar, and Neil's drums sound so primitive (in a good way) and loose.  On the list of Rush songs that always make you reach for the volume knob, this one is right near the top.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UU62UcP_BA

 

[Fiddles]

dreamlines a great tune love that dog bark

RSA so good

By tor love that heavy middle section but honestly I've never been a huge fan of those first two albums and rarely listen to them

 

[lardonastick]

17. By-Tor and the Snow Dog (from the 1975 album Fly by Night)

Ah yes, we harken back to the band's 2nd album and this ferociously fantastic rocker.  Named after two dogs they encountered at a friend's house - one was a little white dog (the snow dog) and one kept trying to bite everyone the by-tor), the youthful energy and spirit of this song is so easy to love, and the band's chops are on display in this one, as Alex crushes you with killer riffs and crazy leads, Geddy's rumbles like a lion's roar, and Neil's drums sound so primitive (in a good way) and loose.  On the list of Rush songs that always make you reach for the volume knob, this one is right near the top.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UU62UcP_BA

Love, love this song! Top 5 for me.

 

[BassNBrew]

17. By-Tor and the Snow Dog (from the 1975 album Fly by Night)

Ah yes, we harken back to the band's 2nd album and this ferociously fantastic rocker.  Named after two dogs they encountered at a friend's house - one was a little white dog (the snow dog) and one kept trying to bite everyone the by-tor), the youthful energy and spirit of this song is so easy to love, and the band's chops are on display in this one, as Alex crushes you with killer riffs and crazy leads, Geddy's rumbles like a lion's roar, and Neil's drums sound so primitive (in a good way) and loose.  On the list of Rush songs that always make you reach for the volume knob, this one is right near the top.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UU62UcP_BA

Probably top 5 for me.  Had a Brittany Spaniel named By-Tor and he was hell on wheels and live to hunt.  It was rare anyone would get the origin of the name.  Unfortunately that dog died unexpectedly.  Best memory was I would get calls while I was at work that By-Tor was running around the neighborhood loose.  This happened repeatedly and everytime I came home he was in the backyard.  I was telling people for months that it wasn't him.  Live in a townhouse complex in with fenced backyards at the time.  Eventually caught him in the act...That dog was belly crawling under four fences and returning home everyday before I got home.

 

[Dickie Dunn]

I love Afterimage, but that will probably be one of the honorable mentions I do later.  Red Sector A is my favorite G/P song.

And I totally agree about Alex's guitar work.  He has never been a show-off.   He can let it rip when the songs call for it, but has always been about playing for the song.  Never a wasted note.

I was hoping Afterimage would make the cut. One of my favorite tracks off GUP.

Well, right after Between the Wheels.

And Red Sector A.

Oh, and Distant Early Warning.

And maybe Body Electric.

Ah, hell ... the whole album is great. But Afterimage has been particularly poignant for me the last couple of months.

 

[Todem]

By-Tor was so amazing to see brought back on the Vapor Trails Tour. It freaking growled. 

The signature recording of this gem was on All The Worlds A Stage. Easily my got to version of the song. Also the shorter more compact version as my go to is on the third disc on Different Stages (The Hammer Oden show from the Farewell To Kings Tour). That also includes my absolute go to version for Anthem. 

 

[Ghost Rider]

I was hoping Afterimage would make the cut. One of my favorite tracks off GUP.

Well, right after Between the Wheels.

And Red Sector A.

Oh, and Distant Early Warning.

And maybe Body Electric.

Ah, hell ... the whole album is great. But Afterimage has been particularly poignant for me the last couple of months.

Don't get me wrong, I am a big fan of Afterimage, but everything can't make it.

By-Tor was so amazing to see brought back on the Vapor Trails Tour. It freaking growled. 

The signature recording of this gem was on All The Worlds A Stage. Easily my got to version of the song. Also the shorter more compact version as my go to is on the third disc on Different Stages (The Hammer Oden show from the Farewell To Kings Tour). That also includes my absolute go to version for Anthem. 

I love the All the World's a Stage version as well.  The extended mellow middle section is killer.