By early 1976, things were looking bleak for Rush. Despite their relentless touring schedule and 3 albums - Rush, Fly By Night, Caress of Steel - the record company wasn't happy. The band called the Caress of Steel Tour the Down The Tubes Tour as their crowds got smaller and their record didn't sell. Mercury records wanted radio friendly hits or something more like the Zeppelin-y first record or they would drop the band.

Instead of changing their sound and bowing to the powers that be, they decided to do their own thing. That thing was a full side of an album with 7 distinct parts of a suite called 2112. Instead of sappy love songs, they created a planet that had come under the rule of The Solar Federation whose priests rule thanks to a supercomputer that has all the answers and has taken away individuality and creativity. It doesn't sound like a chart topper does it?

However, the hard rock, prog rock and AOR fanbase absolutely loved it, eventually sending it to triple platinum. From the epic Overture and fan favorite The Temples of Syrinx to the coda Grand Finale, the boys take you on a tale of the individual vs. the system (borrowed from Ayn Rand). Alex Lifeson's guitar work shows why he's so beloved and why fans in the 80s wondered what happened to him? Neil Peart's drumming is extraordinary but so are his lyrics which create a world through intelligence, faith and forthrightness.

But that's not the whole album. A Passage to Bangkok talks about all the places you can visit to score some good pot. The Twilight Zone is an ode to their favorite sci-fi show while Something for Nothing teaches that you can't wait around for someone to give you a break - you have to make your own. Alex and Geddy Lee each take a stab at writing the music and lyrics on their own on Lessons and Tears, respectively, but the real magic comes when all 3 meld their own powers into something that is much greater than the sum of the parts.

It's the album that not only put Rush on the map but saved their careers and set them up for success for decades. Yes - we will be checking them out this summer and we will be talking about it - watch this space for updates!!

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UAWIL #277: Rush - 2112