RUSH – ELECTRIC LADYLAND STUDIOS 1974 BROADCAST (CD-R)

Description

Electric Ladyland Studios, New York, NY 5th December 1974

　This live album features broadcast recordings from RUSH’s 1974 tour, the year they reunited with Neil Peart and embarked on their first nationwide tour.

　This release contains two stereo soundboard recordings. The main focus is the classic FM broadcast from Electric Ladyland Studios on December 5, 1974, with the famous program “Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert” added as a bonus. 1974 was a pivotal year, marking the birth of what is considered one of the greatest rock trios in history with the addition of Neil Wood. We archive as many masterpieces as possible, so let’s begin by examining the activities of that era and then explore the position of this release within that context.

・February 4th-23rd: Canada (8 shows)
《March 1st ‘RUSH’ released》
・March 18th-May 17th: Canada #1 (31 shows)
・May 18th: East Lansing (first US performance)
・May 19th-July 25th: Canada #2 (38 shows)
《July 29th: Neil Peart joins》
・August 14th-December 22nd: North America (72 shows) ←★HERE★

　This is RUSH in 1974. Neil joined at the end of July, and after that they started their first full-scale US tour. Both of the recordings on this album were made during that “North American” leg. Let’s take a closer look at the dates and check their relationship to our store’s collection.

● Details of the “North American” leg
: August 14th-24th (10 shows)
* August 26th: CLEVELAND 1974: PRE-FM MASTER
* August 27th-October 9th (28 shows)
* October 16th: DKRC appearance ←★Bonus for this release★
* October 17th-23rd (7 shows)
* October 24th: MASSEY HALL 1974
* October 25th-November 16th (18 shows)
* November 19th: SEATTLE 1974
* November 20th-27th (4 shows)
* November 28th: ​​WHISKY A GO GO 1974
* December 5th: Electric Ladyland ←★Main content of this release★
* December 6th-29th (9 shows)

[Broadcast soundboard overflowing with the initial impulse of the strongest trio]
…and so on. The main Electric Ladyland recording is from the latter part of the “North America” ​​tour, while the bonus DKRC appearance was from a stage approximately two months prior.

　First, regarding the main Electric Ladyland recording, its quality is as expected of a long-loved classic. While it’s a vintage soundboard recording, and I hesitate to call it “official-grade,” the freshness of the CD version, made from the best master, is outstanding. Furthermore, the studio live feel, which is different from a regular concert, is wonderful. Because it’s a studio where the sound can be freely controlled, each instrument is separated in a well-balanced way, and Geddy Lee’s bass and powerful vocals, Alex Lifeson’s sharp guitar, and Neil’s masterful drumming are all clearly and distinctly audible down to the smallest detail. Conversely, studio live recordings often suffer from the awkwardness of not having an audience, but there is no such concern with RUSH in 1974. The tension, fully savoring the feeling of having formed the strongest trio, is incredibly high, and it is clear that the music itself is driving them, whether there is an audience or not.

　Meanwhile, the bonus DKRC recordings are also the best masters. While the quality is slightly inferior to the original TV broadcast audio, it has a realism that makes you feel like you’re listening to the broadcast directly.

[A studio live performance where the potential of “Night Flight” explodes]
　This broadcast soundboard captures the essence of early RUSH’s scorching live performance. The repertoire not found on the classic pressed album “CLEVELAND 1974” is also a key point, so let’s compare and organize it.

● RUSH in the Flash (5 songs)
・Finding My Way (*) / In The Mood (*) / Need Some Love / Here Again / Working Man
● Others (4 songs)
・Night Flight: Best I Can (*) / Anthem (★) / Fly By Night (★)
・Cover: Bad Boy (Larry Williams)
*Note: “*” indicates songs that can also be heard on the bonus DKRC recordings. “★” indicates songs that were not on the classic pressed album “CLEVELAND 1974 PRE-FM MASTER”.

　This album includes tracks from “Night Flight,” such as “Anthem” and “Fly By Night,” which were not present on “CLEVELAND 1974.” The recording of “Night Flight” took place in December 1974, and this album was recorded around the same time. This album is essentially a studio live recording that could be called “another second album.”

　If the classic pressed album “CLEVELAND 1974: PRE-FM MASTER” is the “starting point” that marks the beginning of the golden trio, then this album is the “experience” of their grueling US tour. This album explodes with the band’s potential, which was just about to create “Night Flight,” through the tension that only a live performance can provide. Please enjoy it to your heart’s content.

★This is a stereo soundboard recording mainly from the FM broadcast at Electric Ladyland Studios on December 5, 1974, with the famous program “Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert” added as a bonus. It also includes “Fly By Night” and “Anthem,” which were not on the classic pressed album “CLEVELAND 1974,” making it a studio live album that will make the evolving early RUSH invade your mind.

Electric Ladyland Studios, New York, NY 5th December 1974
01 Finding My Way
02 Best I Can
03 In The Mood
04 Anthem
05 Need Some Love
06 Fly By Night
07 Here Again
08 Bad Boy
09 Working Man

Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert 16th October 1974
10 Best I Can
11 In The Mood
12 Finding My Way

STEREO SOUNDBOARD RECORDING