It's true to say there is nothing quite like a Rush gig and both 'Exit Stage Left' and 'Different Stages' capture the incredible atmosphere experienced at the shows

In a recent podcast, both me and Paul picked Rush albums in our top 10 live progressive rock albums of all time, we both chose 'Exit Stage Left' which is a given. I placed it at #9 in my top 10 and Paul placed it at #4. Now in my defence the only reason why it only got to #9 is simply because there are a lot of great live prog albums and at least it was in my top 10. To be honest on any other day it would easily made the top 5. Paul's #9 was another great live Rush album called 'Different Stages'.

Exit Stage Left

The double live album 'Exit Stage Left' from Canadian power trio Rush is right up there with my favourite live albums of all time. This was MY Rush, the band we used to go to see at the tail end of the 70's. At that moment in time they were one of the best bands I had ever experienced live, and I've seen a few in my time.

But Rush gigs were different... They had an excitement and energy like no other, an the fans were, well.. fanatical. For weeks before a Rush show we would gather in the pub and talk about nothing else.

I was lucky enough to see Rush on their very first tour in the UK. It was Saturday 4th of June 1977 at Hammersmith Odeon in London. They had started the UK tour in Sheffield, then went to Manchester and Birmingham before hitting the Hammy Odeon. They then went to Stockholm for some reason before carrying on their led of the UK tour in Newcastle, Glasgow and Liverpool.  

I then went to both London gigs in 1978 and three of the four nights they played in London in 1979. I think you could safely say I was a committed Rush fan. 

By the time Exit Stage Left came out in October 1981, I hade seen them again on the 1980 and had tickets to see them in the November of 1981. You could say that Exit Stage Left was a perfect reminder of all those nights watching my beloved Rush.

The tracks on the album are like the best of Rush to that point

1. Spirit Of Radio (5:12)
2. Red Barchetta (6:48)
3. YYZ (7:44)
4. Closer To The Heart 3:09)
5. Beneath, Between and Behind (2:34)
6. Jacobs Ladder (8:47)
7. Broon's Bane (1:37)
8. The Trees (4:50)
9. Xanadu (12:10)
10. Freewill (5:33)
11. Tom Sawyer (5:01)
12. La Villa Strangiato (9:38)

I have to say that this is how I remember those gigs, with Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee speorting twin necks and Neil Peart on THAT kit!

Different Stages

Another great Live album from Rush was Different Stages. The album released in 1998 was recorded during their 1997 Test for Echo tour at the World Music Theatre in Tinley Park, Illinois. The third disc however was recorded at one of the gigs I went to at the Hammersmith Odeon in London during the A Farewell to Kings tour in 1978. This was a sad time for drummer Neil Peart as his daughter died in 97 and his first wife in 98. I can't imaging what he would have been going through at the time. 

The album was produced by Geddy Lee and producer Paul Northfield whist Peart grieved. His emotional journey was later chronicled in his book Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road which is a fascinating read.