Rush Compact Disc-ography: Rush In Rio

(Part of the Rush Collector Resources)

© Dave Weller, 2006 - last updated 7^th February

At the end of the ‘Vapor Trails’ tour Rush performed three shows in Brazil. This was the first time they had ever performed in this country so it was hardly surprising that more than 120,000 fans turned out to see them. For some time Rush had been considering releasing a DVD. A few shows from the ‘Test For Echo’ tour were recorded but sound problems prevented them being used. It seemed like contractual problems were going to thwart a DVD from the ‘Vapor Trails’ tour when a planned recording at the Mohegan Sun casino failed to happen due to disagreements with the venue. The November 23^rd date at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro provided one last opportunity and it was seized with some relish. More than 20 cameras were used to record the sell-out show in front of 60,000 fans. The result, "Rush In Rio", now released in the US and Canada, and due for release in the next few weeks in the rest of the World, is a 2-disc package. As well as the full concert it will include behind the scenes footage and rare promotional videos. There is also an accompanying 3-disc CD with two additional tracks that do not appear on the DVD.

This page will document all known stock and promotional copies of the DVD, 3CD and associated collectibles.

Rush In Rio – The Review

In an era of instant pop stars, manufactured by television shows, that see instant chart success followed by almost instantaneous oblivion, the classic rock tradition stands in stark contrast. And Rush epitomise that tradition. A career spanning decades, punctuated with massively successful albums and selling over 35 million records, but not one chart topping single. A career that was formed on the back of incessant touring – hundreds of concerts a year in the early days – that built and still sustains a loyal fan base. After 30 years the tours may now be further apart, cover fewer venues, and the shows grown from 40 minute support slots to 3 hour marathons, yet the importance of the live experience for Rush, and their fans, remains.

For most of their recording career, Rush followed a pattern. Four studio albums and then a live album. Each live album terminating a particular period of the bands’ development and simultaneously signalling a new musical direction. The first, “All The World’s A Stage” was recorded over three summer nights at a hometown gig in the Massey Hall, Toronto. The sheer energy of the performance is what stands out today, covering songs from their first four albums including the just-released and soon to be classic “2112” – a 20 minute opus that made a welcome re-appearance twenty years later on the “Test For Echo” tour. The second, “Exit… Stage Left” was musically far more accomplished but also sounded over-produced and somewhat remote in comparison to the rawness of “All The World’s A Stage”. It was the first live album to have an accompanying video though. Next came “A Show Of Hands”. This album, also with a video recorded at the UK’s National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. Then came “Different Stages”. This was culled from shows recorded during the “Test For Echo” tour where, for the first time, the concerts were billed as ‘An Evening With Rush’, had no support band, and consisted of two sets running to nearly 3 hours in total. In part a celebration of the 25^th anniversary of the band, the length of the shows allowed Rush to re-introduce a number of older songs – much to the delight of their fans. As with the two previous live albums the original intention had been to release a visual record of the tour, this time taking advantage in the latest DVD technology, and a number of shows has been recorded on video. However, these plans were thwarted by problems with the recordings. Perhaps to make up for this fans were treated to a bonus disc featuring a historic concert recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon in London back in 1978 instead.

Since the end of the “Test For Echo” tour, Rush took a lengthy break only punctuated by the release of “Different Stages” in 1998 and a solo album from bassist and vocalist Geddy Lee, “My Favourite Headache”, in 2000. The death of drummer Neil Peart’s wife and daughter in quick succession saw him withdraw totally from music and drumming, and seemed to spell the end for the band. Yet, against all odds, and after a lengthy healing process poignantly documented by Peart in the book “Ghost Rider”, Rush tentativey re-grouped and recorded one of their strongest albums for many years, “Vapor Trails”. Not surprisingly, the release of the album in 2002 was followed by a lengthy tour of North America. The tour echoed the rejuvenation of the band that was apparent in the new album, and a far more relaxed Rush hit the stages, again taking the advantage of two sets and no support band to dust off some old favorites from albums recorded more than 30 years before.

But why break the pattern and now release another live album after just one studio album? Well, the desire to release a DVD of Rush, at their best, playing live was still there. Continuing advances in technology meant the opportunity was just too good to miss and so after a couple of aborted attempts a massive crew were assembled to record the last night of the “Vapor Trails” tour on the 23^rd November at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The result is the first live Rush album to be released on DVD, along with an accompanying triple CD, “Rush In Rio”.

The quality of the DVD is, as expected, outstanding. The quality of the musicianship, ditto. But what stands out above all is the quality of the fans. Up until this show and the preceding nights at Porto Allegre and Sao Paolo, Rush had never played in Brazil before. Well clearly the wait was worth as a sell out crowd put on a display of energy, emotion and sheer enthusiasm that is just incredible. The Maracarna is primarily a football stadium and the chanting beforehand sounds like it must have been a cup final. The fans sing along in word perfect renditions of songs both old and new. When they can’t sing they literally bounce along to instrumentals like “YYZ” creating a Brazilian wave of bodies to rival any Mexican wave. And the individual connection between the band, their music and each of the 60,000 people in the stadium is seen in each and every close up of the crowd – faces contorted with pleasure, or just displaying total bliss.

The concert itself includes songs from all but two of the bands 17 studio albums with just two that have never featured on a previous live album; “The Pass”, and a beautiful acoustic version of “Resist”. The show weaves together both the old and the new, with four songs from “Vapor Trails”; but it is the older numbers that ultimately come over best, from the opening “Tom Sawyer” thru “Natural Science” and “The Spirit Of Radio” to the encore with “By Tor and the Snow Dog” – last played in about 1978 – the opening of “Cygnus X-1”, and a superb complete workout of “Working Man”.

The second disc in this 2 disc package features a 45 minute documentary produced by long time friend of the band and official photographer, Andrew McNaughtan. It has to be said that this is a total surprise. As a band, Rush have always drawn a hard line between their professional lives as musicians and band members, and their personal lives. Just as the band is the antithesis of the modern manufactured pop star, so the band members are the antithesis of the modern cult of celebrity. So imagine seeing guitarist Alex Lifeson in a hotel room in bed with with his wife… OK, it was only for a moment and it is perfectly decent, but try finding any other picture of any of the band with their families – let alone in bed!

The documentary follows Rush and their crew through the trials and tribulations of the three nights down in Rio. There’s lots of footage of the band rehearsing, warming up, sound checking and escaping from stadiums in people movers at the end of the shows. There’s also in depth interviews with each of Alex, Geddy and Neil as they discuss their relationships with each other and what still makes them tick as a band after being together for so long. What it ultimately comes down to is that they are still above all else great friends. Clearly the relationships between them are very different – Neil lives up to his image as the ‘professor’, cerebral and cultured, Alex as the clown and Geddy as the muso and lynchpin – yet it is only their friendship and trust that has allowed them to survive for so long and to be confident enough to just let things go and give each other the space they need when times are tough, and when times are good.

The second disc also has ‘MX Multiangle’ versions of two songs, “YYZ”, and “La Villa Strangiato”, and Neil’s new drum solo, “O Baterista”. The multiangle feature allows you to see four different camera shots simultaneously at the bottom of the screen, and to select any one of these as the main picture. Other hidden bonus features are a promo video of “Anthem” and the newly created cartoon that was projected during the playing of “By Tor and the Snow Dog”.

“Rush In Rio” captures one of the world’s best rock bands at one of the peaks of their career, at one of their first ever concerts in Brazil. Many European fans are disappointed that the last time Rush set foot on this continent as a band was back in 1991 on the “Roll The Bones” tour. Well, the fans in Brazil had to wait more than 30 years to savour the live Rush experience. In a recent interview Geddy Lee raised the prospect of a European tour, and the rumour mill is running wild. If you can’t wait and want to know what you have been missing then buying this DVD is the next best thing.

Rush In Rio - CD

Rush In Rio

Tracks (Disc 1): Tom Sawyer, Distant Early Warning, New World Man, Roll The Bones, Earthshine, YYZ, The Pass, Bravado, The Big Money, The Trees, Freewill, Closer To The Heart, Natural Science (Disc 2): One Little Victory, Driven, Ghost Rider, Secret Touch, Dreamline, Red Sector A, Leave That Thing Alone, O Baterista, Resist, 2112 (Disc 3): Limelight, La Villa Strangiato, The Spirit Of Radio, By Tor And The Snow Dog, Cygnus X-1, Working Man, Between Sun And Moon, Vital Signs 3-CD, Anthem, 668252000-2, October 2003, Canada 3-CD, Atlantic, 83672-2, October 2003, US 3-CD, Atlantic, 7567 83672-2, November 2003, Brazil 3-CD, Atlantic, 7567 83672-2, November 2003, Argentina 3-CD, Atlantic, 7567 83672-2, November 2003, Germany 3-CD, Warner, WPCR 11695/6/7, October 2003, Japan – digipack 3-CD, Warner, WPCR 11695/6/7, ?, Japan – jewel case 3-CD, Atlantic, 7567 83672-2, November 2003, Taiwan Notes: The first Japanese release comes with a mini reproduction of the Vapor Trails tour programme. The last two tracks are exclusive to the CD and are not on the DVD. ‘Between Sun and Moon’ and ‘Vital Signs’ were recorded earlier on the ‘Vapor Trails’ tour. The CD was released on 21^st October in Canada and the US, the 29^th October in Japan, the 4^th November in South America, and in Europe on the 10^th November. It was issued in a fold out digipack in all countries, but a subsequent pressing in Japan was released in a jewel case.

Rush In Rio – US Advance Promo, CD-R

Tracks: same as album Label: Atlantic Catalogue #: n/a Format: 3CD-R Country: US Notes: Each disc is housed in a separate slimline jewel case with a generic printed inlay. The discs are individually numbered and electronically ‘watermarked’.

Rush In Rio – UK Advance Promo, CD-R

Tracks: same as album Label: Atlantic Catalogue #: n/a Format: 3CD-R Country: UK Notes: Each disc is housed in a separate plastic sleeve with a printed insert

Rush In Rio – German Advance Promo, CD-R

Tracks: same as album Label: East/West Catalogue #: n/a Format: 3CD-R Country: UK Notes: Each disc is housed in a separate plastic sleeve with a printed insert

Rush In Rio – Japanese Promo and Press Pack

Tracks: same as album Label: Warner Catalogue #: n/a Format: 3 Cassette Tapes Country: Japan Notes: Three cassette tapes housed in a video-cassette box with a nine page press release.

Rush In Rio Sampler– US Promo

Tracks: Working Man, One Little Victory, 2112, Dreamline, YYZ, Resist (Acoustic) Label: Atlantic Catalogue #: PRCD 301227 Format: CDR Country: US Notes: Housed in a clear slimline jewel case, no inserts.

Rush In Rio Sampler – US Promo

Tracks: Working Man, One Little Victory, 2112, Dreamline, YYZ, Resist (Acoustic) Label: Atlantic Catalogue #: PRCD 301227 Format: CD Sampler Country: US Notes: Released to radio stations on Thursday 2^nd October. Features a picture disc and is housed in a foldout digipack..

Rush In Rio - DVD

Rush In Rio

Tracks (Disc 1): Tom Sawyer, Distant Early Warning, New World Man, Roll The Bones, Earthshine, YYZ, The Pass, Bravado, The Big Money, The Trees, Freewill, Closer To The Heart, Natural Science, One Little Victory, Driven, Ghost Rider, Secret Touch, Dreamline, Red Sector A, Leave That Thing Alone, O Baterista, Resist, 2112, Limelight, La Villa Strangiato, The Spirit Of Radio, By Tor And The Snow Dog, Working Man. (Disc 2): Documentary - The Boys In Brazil, MX Multiangle – YYZ, O Baterista, La Villa Strangiato 2-DVD, Anthem, 668251099-9, October 2003, Canada (Region 1, NTSC) 2-DVD, Zoe Vision, 01143-1040-9, October 2003, US (Region 1, NTSC) 2-DVD, Sum Records, 1030-5, October 2003, Brazil 2-DVD, Sanctuary, SVE 3036, November 2003, Europe (Region 0, PAL) 2-DVD, Sanctuary, SVEM0234, January 2006, Europe (Region 0, PAL) – Sanctuary Midline edition 2-DVD, JVC, VIBP-20/1, November 2003, Japan (Region 2, NTSC) 2-DVD, Liberation, LIBDVD 1004, October 2003, Australia (Region 4, PAL) Notes: The DVD includes a 45 minute documentary produced by long time Rush photographer Andrew McNaughton as well a live performance of ‘Anthem’ recorded in 1975. The DVD was released on 21^st October in Canada and the US, on October 27^th in Australia, in South America on 11^th November, in Japan on 21^st November, and in Europe on 24^th November.

Rush In Rio – UK Advance Promo

Tracks: same as album

Label: Sanctuary
Catalogue #: SVE 3036
Format: 2DVD
Country: UK

Notes: Each DVD is housed in a clear slimline jewel case with a sticker on the cover. The discs themselves are printed in black ink. There are two slightly different designs for the sticker – one set includes a reference to the disc number, the other doesn’t.

Rush In Rio - Singles

Resist – US Promo CD

Tracks: Resist Label: Atlantic Catalogue #: P1ZOE 1279P Format: CD Single Country: US Notes: Comes in card sleeve with lyrics printed on rear.

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