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RUSH Best Mastering Guide


diatribein
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I know there are at least two threads dedicated to this topic on forums.stevehoffman.tv but I thought it would be nice to have a dedicated thread on the RUSH Forum. This is also highly subjective. Some people actually like LOUD clipped music. There is no accounting for taste, I guess.

 

Rush - Any Canadian early pressing CD (ANC-1-1001 / WANK-1001)

 

Fly By Night - Any pressing prior to RUSH Remasters (1997). Apparently they are all the same, although from a collection standpoint I would go with a Canadian pressing (ANC-1-1002 / WANK-1002).

 

Caress Of Steel - Any Canadian early pressing CD (ANC-1-1003 / WANK-1003).

 

2112 - Any Canadian early pressing CD (ANC-1-1004 / WANK-1004 / ANMD-1004 ). Due to the popularity of 2112 an additional later pressing (ANMD-1004) was issued in the early to mid 90s. This version has identical mastering to the standard ANC / WANK versions, but has a much nicer sleeve. It is really worth picking up if you can find it.

 

All the World's a Stage - Similarly to Fly By Night any pressing prior to RUSH Remasters (1997) has an identical mastering. The Canadian early pressing CDs are ANC-2-1005 / WAGK-1005 if you are interested in keeping a uniform collection.

 

A Farewell to Kings - Any Canadian early pressing CD (ANC-1-1010 / WANK-1010 / ANK-1010). Like 2112, this more popular album has a third Canadian pressing. Unlike 2112, the sleeve is identical to the earlier versions, so it is not really more desirable.

 

Hemispheres - Any Canadian early pressing CD (ANC-1-1014 / WANK-1014).

 

Permanent Waves - Any Canadian early pressing CD (ANC-1-1021 / WANK-1021 / ANK-1021). Like 2112 & A Farewell to Kings, this more popular album has a third Canadian pressing. Again, unlike 2112, the sleeve is identical to the earlier versions, so it is not really more desirable. In theory Mercury 822 548-2 (both German & US) have an identical mastering, but both have the censored album cover while NONE of the Canadian ones do!

 

Moving Pictures - This one is more complicated. Only Canadian pressings ANC-1-1030 & ANMD-1030 have good mastering. Unlike previous Canadian releases, the later issued copies VANK-1030 and club versions (ANC-11030) have much louder mastering WITH some clipping. Although rare in late 80s / early 90s releases, clipping is sometimes present and it is on many of the Moving Pictures CDs. ANMD-1030 is interesting in the sense that it is later than both VANK-1030 & ANC-11030, but uses the ANC-1-1030 mastering. Some people have postulated that this is purposeful, but more often than not these instances are actually mistakes. In this case it is a very good mistake.

 

Exit Stage Left - Any Canadian early pressing CD (ANC-4-1035 / WAGK-1035). There is a Mercury US pressing (822 551-2) with the same mastering, but you have to be careful. It is only the plain silver disc version that has the Canadian mastering. The atomic CDs (US & German) use a different mastering.

 

Signals - Any Canadian early pressing CD (ANC-1-1038 / VANK-1038 / ANK-1038).

 

Grace Under Pressure - Any Canadian early pressing CD (ANC-1-1045 / VANK-1045 / ANMD-1045).

 

Power Windows - Any Canadian early pressing CD (ANC-11049 (club issue) / VANK-1049 / ANK-1049). Allegedly there is an ANC-1-1049 version of this album, but I have never seen it, so I am dubious it exists. If you have it, please PM me.

 

Hold Your Fire - Any pressing prior to RUSH Remasters (1997). Apparently they are all the same, although from a collection standpoint I would go with a Canadian pressing (ANC-1-1051 / ANK-1051).

 

A Show Of Hands - Any pressing prior to RUSH Remasters (1997).

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From here on things change somewhat --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Presto - Go with Audio Fidelity AFZ-182 over the original 1989 release. Although the Audio Fidelity mastering is ever so slightly louder, it does go a little ways to fixing the EQ problems on this album. Both Presto & Roll The Bones suffer from too much high end and too little low end. Although not completely remedying this issue, the Audio Fidelity versions are a little less harsh sounding. The other mastering that is worth a mention here is 48 kHz / 24 bit flac download available with the purchase of the Presto 2015 200 Gram vinyl release. I actually go song by song between this version and the Audio Fidelity, choosing some songs that I feel are better on one and others that are better on the other. It goes without saying that, due to the EQ issues, these two albums are a bit of a mess when it comes to mastering.

 

Roll The Bones - Much the same as Presto and for exactly the same reasons the Audio Fidelity AFZ-116 version is the way to go here. Similarly, it is worth getting the 48 kHz / 24 bit flac download available with the purchase of the Roll The Bones 2015 200 Gram vinyl release. I also go song by song between this version and the Audio Fidelity on this album. Both Roll The Bones and Presto have the same issues.

 

Counterparts - Hands down NO CONTEST it is the Audio Fidelity AFZ-152 CD that is the best version of this album. The 96 kHz / 24 bit flac download is good as well, but not as good. The Audio Fidelity version also contains different versions of Stick It Out and Nobody's Hero. The original final versions are slightly edited. I'm sure it was a happy mistake that Audio Fidelity got the pre-final versions. Aside from the Audio Fidelity version and the 96 kHz flac download ALL the versions (including the original Canadian ANK-1067) are LOUD, compressed and clipped. They should be avoided for listening purposes.

 

Test For Echo - As of right now only ONE decent version of Test For Echo exists. It is the 96 kHz / 24 bit flac download that came with the 2015 200 Gram Vinyl release. They really did a superb job on this remaster. Tons of headroom and a nice soft EQ. All the other versions of this album are loud and clipped including the original Canadian pressing ANSD-1073.

 

Different Stages - No good mastering exists. So far they are all LOUD and all the same. You might as well go for the Japanese version (AMCY-289-2), because it has a bonus track (Force 10) and a larger sleeve. From this point on I will not be providing mastering information on live albums as they are all the same.

 

Vapor Trails - No good mastering exists. They are all LOUD, clipped, and suffer from compression. The worst versions are ALL the versions of the original 2002 release. The remixed version in 2013 is mastered identically to Clockwork Angels, which is better than the 2002 version of Vapor Trails, but not much else. If you are looking for the highest quality, I would go with the 24 bit flac download of Vapor Trails Remixed, but truthfully outside of the fact that the flac files are 24 bit over the 16 bit CD there is little to no difference in mastering in terms of dynamic range.

 

Snakes & Arrows - As of today only one great version of Snakes & Arrows exists. Similarly to Test For Echo, it is the 96 kHz / 24 bit flac download that came with the 2015 200 Gram Vinyl release. Like Test For Echo this has amazing dynamic range and a superb EQ. This remaster really brings the album to life and is worth every penny. Again, all of the original versions are loud, compressed and clipped. This includes the MVI, which is suposedly better quality than the CD version, but suffers from the same ugly mastering.

 

Feedback - This is exactly the same situation as Snakes & Arrows and Test For Echo. The only good mastering is the 96 kHz / 24 bit flac download that came with the 2015 200 Gram Vinyl release.

 

Clockwork Angels - No good mastering exists. They are all loud, including the 24 bit flac files. This album and Vapor Trails Remixed are in exactly the same situation. There is no version of the album out there that isn't overly compressed and loud. Sure, it isn't as loud as the 2002 release of Vapor Trails, but that is nothing to brag about. Go with whichever version of the album you like the best because they are all basically the same. This includes both vinyl releases and the 24 bit flac files. Yes, the overall bandwidth is larger for the 24 bit, but the mastering is virtually identical. Same goes with the vinyl. I realize that vinyl can't be made to be as loud as CDs, but if you make wave files from your record you will see that the waveforms are just as square.

Edited by diatribein
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Cool. Looks like we'll have this thread to ourselves until the trolls get bored.

 

I prefer the Japanese masterings of Vapor Trails and Clockwork Angels (Don't have a Japanese Snakes and Arrows to compare) as they are a little easier on the ears. Don;t have any download versions of any of these so I can't make any comparisons with those.

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I know there are at least two threads dedicated to this topic on forums.stevehoffman.tv but I thought it would be nice to have a dedicated thread on the RUSH Forum. This is also highly subjective. Some people actually like LOUD clipped music. There is no accounting for taste, I guess.

 

 

My ears have been so abused over the years that I probably couldn't hear much difference between the best masters and regular masters but maybe I will give one of my favorites a try! Thank you!

 

I ended up loving the threads on steve hoffman because reading the ones about matrix numbers/deadwax numbers helped me find something that is cool to me (and probably only to me, ever! :P ) But I love it. We used to live in Indiana, and in an old, mostly abandoned part of town there was still a big record pressing plant. I didn't know at the time that they had pressed LPs for Mercury records there, but they did! Through the Steve Hoffman website and Discogs I found out there were a few runs of All The World's A Stage (one of my favorites) pressed there, so I bought one. It was fun finding it! Don't think there were any other Rush albums pressed there, probably luckily for my wallet.

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if Rush ever records anything ever again,I want Nick R as far away from the sessions as possible.

Yup. IMO his work is :scared:

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Cool. Looks like we'll have this thread to ourselves until the trolls get bored.

 

I prefer the Japanese masterings of Vapor Trails and Clockwork Angels (Don't have a Japanese Snakes and Arrows to compare) as they are a little easier on the ears. Don;t have any download versions of any of these so I can't make any comparisons with those.

 

Is that the Japanese pressing you like Vapor Trails Remixed (WPCR-14997) or the original (AMCY-10015). Is there actually a little more headroom or is it just a slightly different EQ? I use this website: http://www.southtexasdiecast.com/rush/rush_cd_masters.html as a tool to get information on versions of albums I do not have and as you can see they seem to think that the Japanese Clockwork Angels (WPCR-14471) is identical to the US Roadrunner version. I have three versions of Clockwork Angels (Canada 6682521722, UK CRP10-06-12 (which has a different sleeve), and the US Vinyl 1686-176561). They all sound the same to me, with obvious variance between vinyl & CD. I also have the 24 bit digital files, which are mastered similarly.

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It is all about what you think you hear.

 

You tell me; do you think these all sound the same?

 

34511104491_77ac0d79d1_b.jpg

 

Vital Signs - ANMD-1030

 

 

 

34511105161_5e2857c1af_b.jpg

 

Vital Signs - VANK-1030

 

 

 

34511105811_4648365f0b_b.jpg

 

Vital Signs - Mercury 314 534 631-2 (Rush Remasters)

 

 

 

These three waveforms are from the SAME SONG (Vital Signs from Moving Pictures) on three different releases. I can assure you the differences are not just to my ears. You can see the clipping throughout the Rush Remaster version and a little bit on the VANK-1030. It is there and it is completely audible when listening to the song.

Edited by diatribein
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It is all about what you think you hear.

 

You tell me; do you think these all sound the same?

 

34511104491_77ac0d79d1_b.jpg

 

Vital Signs - ANMD-1030

 

 

 

34511105161_5e2857c1af_b.jpg

 

Vital Signs - VANK-1030

 

 

 

34511105811_4648365f0b_b.jpg

 

Vital Signs - Mercury 314 534 631-2 (Rush Remasters)

 

 

 

These three waveforms are from the SAME SONG (Vital Signs from Moving Pictures) on three different releases. I can assure you the differences are not just to my ears. You can see the clipping throughout the Rush Remaster version and a little bit on the VANK-1030. It is there and it is completely audible when listening to the song.

I love your work there. :cheers:

Would be interesting to see the waveform of the MFSL release compared to these.

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I love your work there. :cheers:

Would be interesting to see the waveform of the MFSL release compared to these.

 

I don't have it, so I can't really do it. According to this: http://www.southtexasdiecast.com/rush/rush_cd_masters.html#movingpictures it seems like it is a little "hotter" than the original Canadian pressings, but nowhere near as bad as the Rush Remasters. Possibly it is better than VANK-1030. Personally, I am very happy with ANMD-1030.

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Cool. Looks like we'll have this thread to ourselves until the trolls get bored.

 

I prefer the Japanese masterings of Vapor Trails and Clockwork Angels (Don't have a Japanese Snakes and Arrows to compare) as they are a little easier on the ears. Don;t have any download versions of any of these so I can't make any comparisons with those.

 

Is that the Japanese pressing you like Vapor Trails Remixed (WPCR-14997) or the original (AMCY-10015). Is there actually a little more headroom or is it just a slightly different EQ? I use this website: http://www.southtexa...cd_masters.html as a tool to get information on versions of albums I do not have and as you can see they seem to think that the Japanese Clockwork Angels (WPCR-14471) is identical to the US Roadrunner version. I have three versions of Clockwork Angels (Canada 6682521722, UK CRP10-06-12 (which has a different sleeve), and the US Vinyl 1686-176561). They all sound the same to me, with obvious variance between vinyl & CD. I also have the 24 bit digital files, which are mastered similarly.

 

Oh no. I don't think I'll ever bother with the Japanese Remixed. It's the original (Just have the original remixed and the one in the box.)

 

Can't say for sure, but I think there's a bit more headroom on both Vapor Trails original and Clockwork Angels. Sounds a bit more rounded. Never opened my Clockwork Angels vinyl but I have heard a friend play his once and the both sounded better (by a hair) than the US/Canada CD to me. I have the UK book too that came with the fanzine that I just remembered I had, but haven't listened to that since before the US version came out. I don't doubt they are the same mastering though I think the Japanese CDs as a rule are made better so it could just be that difference that I hear.

 

Did they ever fix the times on the Canadian Clockwork Angels?I have the one that's all zeroed out for the song times, but I doubt they would have corrected it. If they did, I'd love to get my hands on one.

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Did they ever fix the times on the Canadian Clockwork Angels?I have the one that's all zeroed out for the song times, but I doubt they would have corrected it. If they did, I'd love to get my hands on one.

 

Mine is 0:00s. It would technically be a repress since all of the first run were zeros. I'm not in Canada anymore, but I doubt it will get repressed if it sells out. That means, as far as I know, all the Canadian Clockwork Angels CDs are misprints.

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I haven't had much luck finding the Anthems in California... so far I've only found Exit..Stage Left and Power Windows (or maybe Grace? Will have to check).

 

 

I have the Mobile Fidelity Moving Pictures; whatever they did to it I like. The consensus is that the Anthem is better?

 

And I love the Audio Fidelity Hemispheres, Bones, and Counterparts. I'll eventually snag a Presto.

 

All my other CDs are the US or West German original pressings....except I do have the Exit and Stage remasters (as the originals are each missing a track), and I do have the '97 Show of Hands. Will eventually get an original (I should have hung on to the one I bought in 1989!)

 

 

I don't really know anything about the Downloads. Not yet anyway.

Edited by Mystic Slipperman
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I haven't had much luck finding the Anthems in California... so far I've only found Exit..Stage Left and Power Windows (or maybe Grace? Will have to check).

 

 

I have the Mobile Fidelity Moving Pictures; whatever they did to it I like. The consensus is that the Anthem is better?

 

And I love the Audio Fidelity Hemispheres, Bones, and Counterparts. I'll eventually snag a Presto.

 

All my other CDs are the US or West German original pressings....except I do have the Exit and Stage remasters (as the originals are each missing a track), and I do have the '97 Show of Hands. Will eventually get an original (I should have hung on to the one I bought in 1989!)

 

 

I don't really know anything about the Downloads. Not yet anyway.

 

If you like the Audio Fidelity Counterparts release you will likely enjoy the Test For Echo, Snakes & Arrows, and Feedback 96 kHz / 24 bit flac downloads. Audio Fidelity use their own in-house guy, Kevin Gray, for mastering and he is very good. The 24bit flac files are mastered by someone else, who may not be as supremely good, but has similar sensibilities. I would say that the Counterparts 24 bit flac download is almost as good the Audio Fidelity and actually a little less loud. Since there are no Audio Fidelity releases for Test For Echo, Snakes & Arrows, and Feedback, the best available mastering is the download.

 

Presto & Roll The Bones are a little more problematic. I'll give you an example: On Presto I use Red Tide and Superconductor from the 24 bit flac download rather than the Audio Fidelity CD because the EQ helps mitigate the very flat & tinny high end that dominates those songs. The same goes for Face Up and You Bet Your Life on Roll The Bones. The rest of the songs I am fairly happy with the Audio Fidelity mastering. These problems are not really the fault of the mastering, but rather poor production choices at the time the albums were mixed. Both could use a remix, but I feel like the time has long since passed for that and there would be little interest regardless. The main point is that there are differences between these masters and that both the Audio Fidelity and 24 bit flac files have merit.

 

May I ask how do you like the Audio Fidelity Mastering of Hemispheres? Is it similar to the Audio Fidelity Counterparts and Roll The Bones? I absolutely love the original Canadian Anthem version I have, and most of the people who have both that posted on forums.stevehoffman.tv seem to prefer the Canadian mastering. The price for the Audio Fidelity Hemispheres has really gotten out of hand too, so I feel no real need to buy it since the mastering of the original compares favourably.

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I haven't had much luck finding the Anthems in California... so far I've only found Exit..Stage Left and Power Windows (or maybe Grace? Will have to check).

 

 

I have the Mobile Fidelity Moving Pictures; whatever they did to it I like. The consensus is that the Anthem is better?

 

And I love the Audio Fidelity Hemispheres, Bones, and Counterparts. I'll eventually snag a Presto.

 

All my other CDs are the US or West German original pressings....except I do have the Exit and Stage remasters (as the originals are each missing a track), and I do have the '97 Show of Hands. Will eventually get an original (I should have hung on to the one I bought in 1989!)

 

 

I don't really know anything about the Downloads. Not yet anyway.

 

If you like the Audio Fidelity Counterparts release you will likely enjoy the Test For Echo, Snakes & Arrows, and Feedback 96 kHz / 24 bit flac downloads. Audio Fidelity use their own in-house guy, Kevin Gray, for mastering and he is very good. The 24bit flac files are mastered by someone else, who may not be as supremely good, but has similar sensibilities. I would say that the Counterparts 24 bit flac download is almost as good the Audio Fidelity and actually a little less loud. Since there are no Audio Fidelity releases for Test For Echo, Snakes & Arrows, and Feedback, the best available mastering is the download.

 

Presto & Roll The Bones are a little more problematic. I'll give you an example: On Presto I use Red Tide and Superconductor from the 24 bit flac download rather than the Audio Fidelity CD because the EQ helps mitigate the very flat & tinny high end that dominates those songs. The same goes for Face Up and You Bet Your Life on Roll The Bones. The rest of the songs I am fairly happy with the Audio Fidelity mastering. These problems are not really the fault of the mastering, but rather poor production choices at the time the albums were mixed. Both could use a remix, but I feel like the time has long since passed for that and there would be little interest regardless. The main point is that there are differences between these masters and that both the Audio Fidelity and 24 bit flac files have merit.

 

May I ask how do you like the Audio Fidelity Mastering of Hemispheres? Is it similar to the Audio Fidelity Counterparts and Roll The Bones? I absolutely love the original Canadian Anthem version I have, and most of the people who have both that posted on forums.stevehoffman.tv seem to prefer the Canadian mastering. The price for the Audio Fidelity Hemispheres has really gotten out of hand too, so I feel no real need to buy it since the mastering of the original compares favourably.

 

Thanks for the info. I really like the Audio Fidelity Hemispheres a lot. One thing I dig about it is there's no more 4-second space between the Prelude and the rest of Cygnus Book 2. I never had the Canadian mastering.. only a couple different US/WG pressings (and the 97, which I sold first) before the A.F. I didn't do a blind test, but I like the tonality of the A.F.

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I haven't had much luck finding the Anthems in California... so far I've only found Exit..Stage Left and Power Windows (or maybe Grace? Will have to check).

 

 

I have the Mobile Fidelity Moving Pictures; whatever they did to it I like. The consensus is that the Anthem is better?

 

And I love the Audio Fidelity Hemispheres, Bones, and Counterparts. I'll eventually snag a Presto.

 

All my other CDs are the US or West German original pressings....except I do have the Exit and Stage remasters (as the originals are each missing a track), and I do have the '97 Show of Hands. Will eventually get an original (I should have hung on to the one I bought in 1989!)

 

 

I don't really know anything about the Downloads. Not yet anyway.

 

I don't have have an Anthem Moving Pictures CD so my fave so far is the Mobile Fidelity. I like the warmness of it.

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I haven't had much luck finding the Anthems in California... so far I've only found Exit..Stage Left and Power Windows (or maybe Grace? Will have to check).

 

 

I have the Mobile Fidelity Moving Pictures; whatever they did to it I like. The consensus is that the Anthem is better?

 

And I love the Audio Fidelity Hemispheres, Bones, and Counterparts. I'll eventually snag a Presto.

 

All my other CDs are the US or West German original pressings....except I do have the Exit and Stage remasters (as the originals are each missing a track), and I do have the '97 Show of Hands. Will eventually get an original (I should have hung on to the one I bought in 1989!)

 

 

I don't really know anything about the Downloads. Not yet anyway.

 

I don't have have an Anthem Moving Pictures CD so my fave so far is the Mobile Fidelity. I like the warmness of it.

 

Can you put up a picture of the Waveforms of Vital Signs so we can compare to the 3 I have up?

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I haven't had much luck finding the Anthems in California... so far I've only found Exit..Stage Left and Power Windows (or maybe Grace? Will have to check).

 

 

I have the Mobile Fidelity Moving Pictures; whatever they did to it I like. The consensus is that the Anthem is better?

 

And I love the Audio Fidelity Hemispheres, Bones, and Counterparts. I'll eventually snag a Presto.

 

All my other CDs are the US or West German original pressings....except I do have the Exit and Stage remasters (as the originals are each missing a track), and I do have the '97 Show of Hands. Will eventually get an original (I should have hung on to the one I bought in 1989!)

 

 

I don't really know anything about the Downloads. Not yet anyway.

 

I don't have have an Anthem Moving Pictures CD so my fave so far is the Mobile Fidelity. I like the warmness of it.

 

Can you put up a picture of the Waveforms of Vital Signs so we can compare to the 3 I have up?

 

Sorry. I have no idea how to do any of that. I don't listen to too much on a computer/phone.

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I haven't had much luck finding the Anthems in California... so far I've only found Exit..Stage Left and Power Windows (or maybe Grace? Will have to check).

 

 

I have the Mobile Fidelity Moving Pictures; whatever they did to it I like. The consensus is that the Anthem is better?

 

And I love the Audio Fidelity Hemispheres, Bones, and Counterparts. I'll eventually snag a Presto.

 

All my other CDs are the US or West German original pressings....except I do have the Exit and Stage remasters (as the originals are each missing a track), and I do have the '97 Show of Hands. Will eventually get an original (I should have hung on to the one I bought in 1989!)

 

 

I don't really know anything about the Downloads. Not yet anyway.

 

If you like the Audio Fidelity Counterparts release you will likely enjoy the Test For Echo, Snakes & Arrows, and Feedback 96 kHz / 24 bit flac downloads. Audio Fidelity use their own in-house guy, Kevin Gray, for mastering and he is very good. The 24bit flac files are mastered by someone else, who may not be as supremely good, but has similar sensibilities. I would say that the Counterparts 24 bit flac download is almost as good the Audio Fidelity and actually a little less loud. Since there are no Audio Fidelity releases for Test For Echo, Snakes & Arrows, and Feedback, the best available mastering is the download.

 

Presto & Roll The Bones are a little more problematic. I'll give you an example: On Presto I use Red Tide and Superconductor from the 24 bit flac download rather than the Audio Fidelity CD because the EQ helps mitigate the very flat & tinny high end that dominates those songs. The same goes for Face Up and You Bet Your Life on Roll The Bones. The rest of the songs I am fairly happy with the Audio Fidelity mastering. These problems are not really the fault of the mastering, but rather poor production choices at the time the albums were mixed. Both could use a remix, but I feel like the time has long since passed for that and there would be little interest regardless. The main point is that there are differences between these masters and that both the Audio Fidelity and 24 bit flac files have merit.

 

May I ask how do you like the Audio Fidelity Mastering of Hemispheres? Is it similar to the Audio Fidelity Counterparts and Roll The Bones? I absolutely love the original Canadian Anthem version I have, and most of the people who have both that posted on forums.stevehoffman.tv seem to prefer the Canadian mastering. The price for the Audio Fidelity Hemispheres has really gotten out of hand too, so I feel no real need to buy it since the mastering of the original compares favourably.

 

Thanks for the info. I really like the Audio Fidelity Hemispheres a lot. One thing I dig about it is there's no more 4-second space between the Prelude and the rest of Cygnus Book 2. I never had the Canadian mastering.. only a couple different US/WG pressings (and the 97, which I sold first) before the A.F. I didn't do a blind test, but I like the tonality of the A.F.

 

I like the tonality myself. But I don't have a Canadian CD for comparison. I think I like it better than the WG Atomic though.

(Have the '97s of everything but I consider those to be the bottom feeder in any comparison and usually don't even mention those.)

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Yeah, If I knew how to do the waveform thing I would :)

 

 

I pulled some of my CDs out of storage over the weekend, and realized that I have 3 Anthems - Exit, Grace, and Power Windows.

Edited by Mystic Slipperman
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Yeah, If I knew how to do the waveform thing I would :)

 

 

I pulled some of my CDs out of storage over the weekend, and realized that I have 3 Anthems - Exit, Grace, and Power Windows.

 

What is the catalogue number on your Power Windows? ANC-1-1049, ANC-11049, VANK-1049, or ANK-1049?

And while you are at it, let us know the # on Grace Under Pressure as well.

 

Thanks!

 

 

.

Edited by diatribein
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Yeah, If I knew how to do the waveform thing I would :)

 

 

I pulled some of my CDs out of storage over the weekend, and realized that I have 3 Anthems - Exit, Grace, and Power Windows.

 

Only have a handful of Anthems myself. I'd have a lot more but I didn't find out the different masterings until much later.

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Yeah, If I knew how to do the waveform thing I would :)

 

 

I pulled some of my CDs out of storage over the weekend, and realized that I have 3 Anthems - Exit, Grace, and Power Windows.

 

Only have a handful of Anthems myself. I'd have a lot more but I didn't find out the different masterings until much later.

 

I just picked up A Show Of Hands A2-1055 (https://www.discogs.com/Rush-A-Show-Of-Hands/release/5400570) to finally complete my collection. It is still mostly VANK & WANK with the ANMDs of Moving Pictures & 2112, but those very first pressings in the mid-80s are super hard to find since they made so few of them. Think about this, our population was 26 Million in 1985. CDs were expensive (roughly double the price of cassettes) and therefor an item that was only really affordable for a small subset of that population. To top it off, the majority of music sales were to people under 25 (especially teenagers) and you can see why there was little demand for these very first CDs ever pressed. Even a popular band like RUSH couldn't expect to sell more than a few thousand nationwide! It was only in the very late 80s and early 90s, when CDs started to become the more dominant format, because of people replacing their collection, that prices went down a bit and more units were sold. It was then that Anthem did larger pressings and those were all VANK & WANK. If those second pressings sold out then you got to the ANK & ANMD runs, but as you can see, only the most popular albums ever got to have a third run before the RUSH Remasters.

 

They are difficult to find, but in my opinion very much worth it.

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Same here.. if I'd known, I would have started collecting the Anthems a long time ago! These three all happened to be at the same store in the used bin about a year ago. I haven't seen any others in stores here yet. I have a good friend in Vancouver whom I might ask to hunt down some of these for me if he can.

 

I'll get those catalog numbers in a day or 2 :)

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