Tuesday 2/28/23 10pm ET: Feature LP: Rush – Fly By Night (1975)

Fly by Night is the second studio album by the Canadian rock band, Rush, released on Feb. 15, 1975 on Mercury Records. It was the first Rush album to showcase elements of progressive rock for which the band has become known. It was also the first to feature lyricist and drummer Neil Peart, who replaced original drummer John Rutsey the previous summer just prior to the band’s first North American tour. Peart took over as Rush’s primary lyricist, and the abundance of fantastical and philosophical themes in his compositions contrasted greatly with the simpler hard rock of the band’s debut album.

1. “Anthem” 4:21
2. “Best I Can” 3:24
3. “Beneath, Between and Behind” 3:01
4. “By-Tor and the Snow Dog” 8:37
   I. “At the Tobes of Hades”
   II. “Across the Styx”
   III. “Of the Battle”
   i. “Challenge and Defiance”
   ii. “7/4 War Furor”
   iii. “Aftermath”
   iv. “Hymn of Triumph”
   IV. “Epilogue”
5. “Fly by Night” 3:18
6. “Making Memories” 2:58
7. “Rivendell” 4:52
8. “In the End” 6:44

Geddy Lee – bass guitars, classical guitar, vocals
Alex Lifeson – electric guitars, 6- and 12-string acoustic guitars
Neil Peart – drums, percussion, lyrics

Wednesday 1/4/23 6pm ET: Feature LP: Rush – Test For Echo (1996)

Test for Echo is the sixteenth studio album by the Canadian rock band Rush, released on September 10, 1996 on Anthem Records. It is the final Rush work before the death of Neil Peart’s daughter and wife that put the band on hiatus until the recording of Vapor Trails in January 2001. It is also the final Rush album co-produced by Peter Collins.

The title track reached No. 1 on the mainstream rock chart. The song “Driven” became a bass showcase for Geddy Lee during live performances, while “Resist” was rearranged as an acoustic song on the Vapor Trails and R30 tours. The band did not perform any tracks from the album on subsequent tours. Test for Echo was remastered and reissued twice: in 2004 as a continuation of “The Rush Remasters” set and in 2013 as a part of the box set The Studio Albums 1989–2007. In 2015 it was reissued after being remastered by Sean Magee at Abbey Road Studios following a direct approach by Rush to remaster their entire back catalogue.

1. “Test for Echo” 5:56
2. “Driven” 4:27
3. “Half the World” 3:43
4. “The Color of Right” 4:48
5. “Time and Motion” 5:01
6. “Totem” 4:58
7. “Dog Years” 4:55
8. “Virtuality” 5:44
9. “Resist” 4:23
10. “Limbo” 5:29
11. “Carve Away the Stone” 4:06

Geddy Lee – bass guitar, vocals, synthesizers
Alex Lifeson – electric and acoustic guitars, mandola
Neil Peart – drums, cymbals, hammer dulcimer

Monday 10/10/22 8pm ET: Feature LP: Rush – Roll The Bones (1991)

Roll the Bones is the fourteenth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released September 3, 1991 on Anthem Records. The band began working on Roll the Bones after a brief creative hiatus following the tour promoting their previous release, Presto.

Roll the Bones was a return to commercial success for the band, reaching No. 3 in the United States, No. 10 in the UK, and No. 11 in Canada. Between 1991 and 1992, six songs from the album were released as singles. The album won a Juno Award for Best Album Design at the 1992 awards. In August 2001, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for selling one million copies in the US. It was remastered in 2004 and again in 2013 as part of The Studio Albums 1989–2007 box set.

1. “Dreamline” 4:37
2. “Bravado” 4:35
3. “Roll the Bones” 5:30
4. “Face Up” 3:54
5. “Where’s My Thing? (Part IV, “Gangster of Boats” Trilogy)” (instrumental) 3:49
6. “The Big Wheel” 5:13
7. “Heresy” 5:27
8. “Ghost of a Chance” 5:18
9. “Neurotica” 4:39
10. “You Bet Your Life” 5:01

Wednesday 9/14/22 7pm ET: Feature LP: Rush – A Farewell To Kings (1977)

A Farewell to Kings is the fifth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released in September 1977 by Anthem Records. After touring their previous album 2112 (1976), which saw the group reach a new critical and commercial peak, they started work on a follow-up. They decided to record at Rockfield Studios in Wales, the first time Rush recorded an album outside of Toronto. The band expanded their sound with each member playing new instruments that he had not previously used, and recorded a mix of concise and long songs.

A Farewell to Kings reached No. 11 in Canada and helped the group to continue to expand its audience internationally, reaching inside the top-40 in the UK and the US for the first time. “Closer to the Heart” was released as the album’s first single, which reached No. 36 in the UK. Rush toured in support of the album from August 1977 to June 1978. The tour saw the band headline major venues across Canada and play in the UK.

1. “A Farewell to Kings” 5:51
2. “Xanadu” 11:05
3. “Closer to the Heart” 2:54
4. “Cinderella Man” 4:20
5. “Madrigal” 2:35
6. “Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage” 10:25
   “Prologue” 5:01
   “1” 0:44
   “2” 1:30
   “3” 3:03

Geddy Lee – vocals, bass and twelve-string guitar, Minimoog, bass pedal synthesizers
Alex Lifeson – electric and acoustic six- and twelve-string guitars, classical guitar, bass pedal synthesizers
Neil Peart – drums, orchestra bells, wind chimes, bell tree, vibraslap, triangle, tubular bells, temple blocks
Terry Brown – spoken vocals on “Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage”

Tuesday 8/23/22 11pm ET: Feature LP: Rush – Caress of Steel (1975)

Caress of Steel is the third studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released on September 24, 1975, by Mercury Records. It marked a development in the group’s sound, moving from the blues-based hard rock style of their debut towards progressive rock. The shift proved to be a commercial and critical nadir for Rush, however, as the album’s darker sound and fantastical compositions initially failed to find an audience and confused some of the band’s peers, while poor sales put the band in danger of being dropped by Mercury. Despite being more positively viewed by the band’s fans in retrospect, Ultimate Classic Rock noted that the album is still considered “the black sheep of their catalog”.

1. “Bastille Day” 4:34
2. “I Think I’m Going Bald” 3:41
3. “Lakeside Park” 4:09
4. “The Necromancer” 12:28
   I. “Into the Darkness” 4:20
   II. “Under the Shadow” 4:25
   III. “Return of the Prince” 3:51
5. “The Fountain of Lamneth” 19:57
   I. “In the Valley” 4:18
   II. “Didacts and Narpets” 1:00
   III. “No One at the Bridge” 4:21
   IV. “Panacea” 3:16
   V. “Bacchus Plateau” 3:15
   VI. “The Fountain” 3:50

Geddy Lee – vocals, bass guitar
Alex Lifeson – 6 & 12-string electric and acoustic guitars, classical guitar, steel guitar
Neil Peart – drums, percussion, lyrics

Tuesday 7/19/22 9pm ET: Feature LP: Rush – Counterparts (1993)

Counterparts is the fifteenth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released October 19, 1993 on Anthem Records. After the band finished touring its previous album Roll the Bones (1991) in mid-1992, the members took a break before starting work on a follow-up.

Counterparts reached No. 2 in the United States, one of the band’s two highest-charting albums in the country, and No. 6 in Canada. The first single, “Stick It Out”, was No. 1 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart for four weeks. In 1994, the instrumental “Leave That Thing Alone” was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. Counterparts was remastered in 2004 and reissued in 2013 as part of The Studio Albums 1989–2007 box set. In 2015 it was reissued after being remastered by Sean Magee at Abbey Road Studios following a direct approach by Rush to remaster their entire back catalogue.

1. “Animate” 6:04
2. “Stick It Out” 4:30
3. “Cut to the Chase” 4:48
4. “Nobody’s Hero” 4:55
5. “Between Sun and Moon” 4:37
6. “Alien Shore” 5:47
7. “The Speed of Love” 5:02
8. “Double Agent” 4:52
9. “Leave That Thing Alone” 4:05
10. “Cold Fire” 4:27
11. “Everyday Glory” 5:11

Geddy Lee – bass, vocals, synthesizer
Neil Peart – drums, cymbals, electronic percussion
Alex Lifeson – electric and acoustic guitars
John Webster – additional keyboards
Michael Kamen – orchestration and conducting on “Nobody’s Hero”

Sunday 6/26/22 5pm ET: Feature LP: Rush – Hold Your Fire (1987)

Hold Your Fire is the twelfth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released on September 8, 1987. It was recorded at The Manor Studio in Oxfordshire, Ridge Farm Studio in Surrey, Air Studios in Montserrat and McClear Place in Toronto. Hold Your Fire was the last Rush studio album released outside Canada by PolyGram/Mercury. ‘Til Tuesday bassist and vocalist Aimee Mann contributed vocals to “Time Stand Still”, appearing in the Zbigniew Rybczyński-directed video.

The album was not as commercially successful as most of the band’s releases of the 1980s, peaking at number 13 on the Billboard charts, the lowest chart peak for a Rush album since 1978’s Hemispheres. However, it was eventually certified Gold by the RCAA.

1. “Force Ten” 4:31
2. “Time Stand Still” 5:09
3. “Open Secrets” 5:38
4. “Second Nature” 4:36
5. “Prime Mover” 5:19
6. “Lock and Key” 5:09
7. “Mission” 5:16
8. “Turn the Page” 4:55
9. “Tai Shan” 4:17
10. “High Water” 5:33

Monday 5/23/22 12am ET: Feature LP: Rush – Signals (1982)

Signals is the ninth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released in September 1982 by Anthem Records. After the release of their previous album, Moving Pictures, the band started to prepare material for a follow-up during soundchecks on their 1981 concert tour and during the mixing of their subsequent live album Exit…Stage Left. Signals demonstrates the group continuing with the use of synthesizers, sequencers, and other electronic instrumentation. It is their last album produced by their longtime associate Terry Brown, who had worked with them since 1974.

The album peaked at No. 1 in Canada, No. 3 in the United Kingdom, and No. 10 in the United States. In November 1982, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for selling one million copies in the United States. Rush released three singles from the album: “New World Man”, which became the band’s highest charting single in the United States and a number-one hit in Canada, as well as “Subdivisions”, and “Countdown”. The group supported Signals with a concert tour from April 1982 to May 1983. Signals has been reissued several times, including a remaster with a new stereo and 5.1 surround sound mix in 2011.

1. “Subdivisions” 5:35
2. “The Analog Kid” 4:47
3. “Chemistry” 4:57
4. “Digital Man” 6:23
5. “The Weapon” (Part II of “Fear”) 6:24
6. “New World Man” 3:42
7. “Losing It” 4:53
8. “Countdown” 5:49

Geddy Lee – bass guitars, synthesizers, vocals, arrangements
Alex Lifeson – electric and acoustic guitars, Moog Taurus pedals, arrangements
Neil Peart – drums, percussion, arrangements, brief vocals on “Subdivisions”
Ben Mink – electric violin on “Losing It”

Thursday 3/24/22 9am ET: Feature LP: Rush – Roll The Bones (1991)

Roll the Bones is the fourteenth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released September 3, 1991 on Anthem Records. The band began working on Roll the Bones after a brief creative hiatus following the tour promoting their previous release, Presto.

Roll the Bones was a return to commercial success for the band, reaching No. 3 in the United States, No. 10 in the UK, and No. 11 in Canada. Between 1991 and 1992, six songs from the album were released as singles. The album won a Juno Award for Best Album Design at the 1992 awards. In August 2001, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for selling one million copies in the US. It was remastered in 2004 and again in 2013 as part of The Studio Albums 1989–2007 box set.

1. “Dreamline” 4:37
2. “Bravado” 4:35
3. “Roll the Bones” 5:30
4. “Face Up” 3:54
5. “Where’s My Thing? (Part IV, “Gangster of Boats” Trilogy)” (instrumental) 3:49
6. “The Big Wheel” 5:13
7. “Heresy” 5:27
8. “Ghost of a Chance” 5:18
9. “Neurotica” 4:39
10. “You Bet Your Life” 5:01

Wednesday 3/16/22 10pm ET: Feature LP: Rush – Power Windows (1985)

Power Windows is the eleventh studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released on October 11, 1985 by Anthem Records. After touring in support of their previous album, Grace Under Pressure (1984), the band took a break and reconvened in early 1985 to begin work on a follow-up. The material continued to display the band’s exploration of synthesizer-oriented music, this time with the addition of sampling, electronic drums, a string section, and choir, with power being a running lyrical theme. Power Windows was recorded in Montserrat and England with Peter Collins as co-producer and Andy Richards on additional keyboards.

The album reached No. 2 in Canada, No. 9 in the United Kingdom, and No. 10 in the United States. In January 1986, the album reached platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for one million copies sold in the United States. Rush released two singles from the album, “The Big Money” and “Mystic Rhythms”. The band supported the album with their 1985–1986 tour.

1. “The Big Money” 5:36
2. “Grand Designs” 5:07
3. “Manhattan Project” 5:09
4. “Marathon” 6:11
5. “Territories” 6:20
6. “Middletown Dreams” 5:19
7. “Emotion Detector” 5:11
8. “Mystic Rhythms” 5:54

Geddy Lee – lead vocals, bass guitar, bass pedals, synthesizers
Alex Lifeson – electric and acoustic guitars
Neil Peart – drums, percussion, electric percussion
Andy Richards – additional keyboards, synthesizer programming
Jim Burgess – synthesizer programming
Anne Dudley – string arrangement, conductor
Andrew Jackman – conductor, choir arrangements
The Choir – additional vocals

Monday 2/21/22 12:15am ET: Feature LP: Rush – Permanent Waves (1980)

Permanent Waves is the seventh studio album by the Canadian rock band Rush, released on January 14, 1980, through Anthem Records. After touring to support their previous album, Hemispheres (1978), the band regrouped in July 1979 to work on material for a follow-up. This period marked a shift in the group’s sound characterized by more concise arrangements and radio friendly songs, such as “The Spirit of Radio” and “Freewill”, though their progressive rock blueprint is still evident with the over nine-minute closer “Natural Science”. The two former tracks were performed live before Rush entered the studio. Permanent Waves was recorded later in 1979 at Le Studio in Morin-Heights, Quebec with production handled by the group and Terry Brown.

Permanent Waves received a mostly positive reception from critics, and became the band’s most successful album at the time of release, reaching No. 3 in Canada and the UK and No. 4 in the US. The album was certified platinum in the latter by the Recording Industry Association of America for selling one million copies. Rush released “The Spirit of Radio” as a single in March 1980 and toured in support of the album in 1979 and 1980.

1. “The Spirit of Radio” 4:58
2. “Freewill” 5:23
3. “Jacob’s Ladder” 7:50
4. “Entre Nous” 4:37
5. “Different Strings” 3:50
6. “Natural Science” 9:27

Geddy Lee – lead vocals, bass guitar, Oberheim polyphonic synthesizer, Minimoog synthesizer, Taurus pedal synthesizer, Oberheim OB-1 synthesizer
Alex Lifeson – electric and acoustic six- and twelve-string guitars, Taurus pedals
Neil Peart – drums, timpani, timbales, orchestra bells, tubular bells, wind chimes, bell tree, triangle, crotales, cover concept
Additional personnel

Saturday 1/22/22 12pm ET: RadioMaxMusic Special: A2Z of the Hit of 1990 – Part 2

We interrupt our regular Saturday schedule with an installment of Part 2 of our library of 1990. In this segment we’ll feature music from: Vixen, Madonna, Danger Danger, Rush, Lenny Kravitz, Warrant, Fleetwood Mac, Nelson, Soul Asylum, Jon Bon Jovi, Judas Priest, Larry Gatlin and many more.

12pm to 4pm ET

Saturday 12/25/21 12:15am ET: Feature LP: Rush – 2112 (1976)

2112 (pronounced “twenty-one twelve”) is the fourth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released on April 1, 1976 (or March 1976, according to some sources) by Anthem Records. Rush finished touring for its unsuccessful previous album Caress of Steel, in early 1976. The band was in financial hardship due to the album’s disappointing sales, unfavorable critical reception, and a decline in attendance at its shows. The band’s international label, Mercury Records, considered dropping Rush but granted the band one more album following negotiations with manager Ray Danniels. Though the label demanded more commercial material, the band decided to continue developing its progressive rock sound. 2112 was recorded in February 1976 in Toronto with regular producer Terry Brown. Its centerpiece is a 20-minute title track, a futuristic science-fiction song that takes up the entire first side of the album. There are five individual tracks on side two.

2112 was released to favorable reviews from music critics and quickly outsold the band’s previous albums. It peaked at No. 5 on the Canadian Albums Chart and No. 61 on the U.S. Billboard Top LPs & Tape and was the band’s commercial breakthrough in the country. Rush supported the album with a tour of the United States, Canada, and for the first time, Europe, from February 1976 to June 1977. 2112 remains the band’s second-highest-selling album (behind Moving Pictures) with more than 3 million copies sold in the United States. It is listed in 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, and ranked second on Rolling Stone’s reader’s poll, Your Favorite Prog Rock Albums of All Time. 2112 has been reissued several times; a 40th Anniversary Edition was released in 2016 with previously unreleased material, including the album performed by artists including Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Billy Talent, Steven Wilson, and Alice in Chains.

1. “2112”
   I. “Overture” – 4:31
   II. “The Temples of Syrinx” – 2:16
   III. “Discovery” – 3:25
   IV. “Presentation” – 3:41
   V. “Oracle: The Dream” – 2:00
   VI. “Soliloquy” – 2:19
   VII. “Grand Finale – 2:16” 20:34
2. “A Passage to Bangkok” 3:32
3. “The Twilight Zone” 3:16
4. “Lessons” 3:51
5. “Tears” 3:30
6. “Something for Nothing” 3:59

Geddy Lee – vocals, bass guitar
Alex Lifeson – electric and acoustic guitar
Neil Peart – drums, percussion
Hugh Syme – ARP Odyssey synthesizer, synth guitar, Mellotron on “Tears”

Monday 4/12/21 12am ET: Feature LP: Rush – Presto (1990)

Presto is the thirteenth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush. It was released November 21, 1989 by Anthem Records and was the band’s first album released internationally by Atlantic Records following the group’s departure from Mercury. After the Hold Your Fire (1987) tour ended in 1988, the group members reconvened in December to decide their next step and agreed to take six months off before starting on a new album. Presto marked another change in Rush’s sound, with guitar taking a more dominant role in the writing and a reduction in synthesizers and a return towards more guitar-driven arrangements.

Presto reached No. 7 in Canada and No. 16 in the United States. Rush released “Show Don’t Tell,” “The Pass” and “Superconductor” as singles from Presto; the former charted at No. 1 on the U.S. Album Rock Tracks chart. Rush supported the album with the Presto Tour from February to June 1990. Presto reached gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America for selling 500,000 copies. The album was remastered in 2004 and 2013, the latter as part of the 2013 box set, The Studio Albums 1989–2007.

1. “Show Don’t Tell” 5:01
2. “Chain Lightning” 4:33
3. “The Pass” 4:52
4. “War Paint” 5:24
5. “Scars” 4:07
6. “Presto” 5:45
7. “Superconductor” 4:47
8. “Anagram (For Mongo)” 4:00
9. “Red Tide” 4:29
10. “Hand over Fist” 4:11
11. “Available Light” 5:03

Monday 1/11/2021 4pm ET: Across The Tracks – In Memoriam 2020

In this edition of Across The Tracks we salute the music artists that passed away in 2020.

Featured in the program:  Uriah Heep, Hal Ketchum, McGuire Sisters, Mountain, KT Oslin, Charlie Pride, Van Halen, Spencer Davis Group, Rance Allen, Billy Joe Shaver, Johnny Nash, Outfield, Helen Reddy, Mac Davis, Four Seasons, Kool & The Gang, Bay City Rollers, Sweet, Wayne Fontana, Fleetwood Mac, Charlie Daniels Band, Bobby Lewis, Millie Small, Bonnie Pointer, John Prine, Fountains of Wayne, Kingston Trio, Robert Parker and Rush.