Posted on 02/12/2021 5:21:30 PM PST by DoodleBob
Today marks the 40th anniversary of the release of Rush's classic eighth studio album, Moving Pictures, which is the Canadian prog-rock trio's best-selling record.
Released on February 12, 1981, Moving Pictures became Rush's first #1 record in its home country and reached #3 on the Billboard 200, making it the band's highest-charting album in the U.S. at the time. It's sold over 4 million copies in the U.S. alone.
The album spawned two of Rush's most enduring songs, "Tom Sawyer" and "Limelight," which reached #44 and #55, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100, and #8 and #4 on the publication's Mainstream Rock tally.
Moving Pictures also features the popular "Red Barchetta" and the beloved instrumental track "YYZ." The latter piece, which was a showcase for Neil Peart's impressive drumming skills, gave Rush their first Grammy nomination, for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.
"YYZ" was named after the airport identification code for Toronto Pearson International Airport. The intro to the instrumental features a time signature that corresponds to Y-Y-Z in Morse code.
The album's front and back cover were created by Hugh Syme, who also played synthesizer on the track "Witch Hunt." The cover offers a triple entendre on the Moving Pictures title, with the front cover showing movers carrying paintings and people crying while looking at a painting, while the back features a film crew capturing the whole scene.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnewsradioonline.com ...
One of the all-time greatest bands in my humble opinion.
One of my favorite albums. It was a generational treasure. I saw a bumper sticker recently that said “I may be old but at least I saw great bands.” Rush is one example.
Indeed.
Great album, great band featuring the greatest drummer of all time, Neil Peart.
Hear that, New Rush? Don’t just post a bunch of sentence fragments from your Rush blog tonight. Here’s some actual Rush news!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjGpa0GuiaI
Above is the concert video clip of the three goofballs doing their “skit” or whatever. After their break and leading into Tom Sawyer. Their “Time Machine Tour” where they played the entire Moving Pictures album.
“Girls, please - STOP moving pitchers!”
R.I.P. Neil Pert.
Hemispheres is still thier best album.
Loved it. Watched a documentary a while back about them. Was great if you like rush. Like watching that stuff.. Was one of my favorite albums. Ever.
Rush has a history similar to Led Zeppelin. The critics of the day said they would bomb and be forgotten.
..and THE BEST Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall Of Fame inductee acceptance speech of all time, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHjQZJ1RLQA
Another good one. The “eras” of Rush are interesting and I think the choices are based more on how old you were when the album came out. They were all very talented (RIP Neil) and creative and probably the best band I ever saw “live”.
The idea that 3 talented geniuses with OCD would somehow form a band of that longevity is still amazing.
I think “pro-rock” is a lame label to put on Rush. From their head banging hard rock first album to the incredible musical complexity of Moving Pictures they were a group of incredibly talented musicians who were always evolving artistically. And it was awesome every step of the way.
Ha. I had forgotten about that.
I did my part in celebrating by listening to it on my booze walk last night.
One interesting thing is that whenever you hear Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley asked who the band they ever played with they most most admire they immediately say Rush. It’s clear they have the highest respect. Whatever you think of Kiss, they’ve seen it all and played with everyone.
True, and I’m old so I guess that plays apart.
But I can listen La Villa Strangiata all day and never get tired of it. And that is a rare.
Just a great band all around, and an amazing live experience.
Got to see them perform the entire Moving Pictures album about 10 years ago. The Camera eye and witch hunt were killer live.
I thought you were posting about Rush Limbaugh. He is the only “Rush” I consider relevant.
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