"Look Back" 1976: "2112" by RUSH

The year was 1976.....

.....and what an incredible year for music! The year that saw KISS have their footprints added to the sidewalk outside Hollywood's Grauman's Chinese Theatre on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, top Grammy honors were Paul Simon's "Still Crazy After All These Years" (Album of the Year), Captain & Tennille's "Love Will Keep Us Together" wins Record of the Year, and Judy Collins' version of "Send in the Clowns" wins Song of the Year...Queen played the biggest show in Europe that year at Hyde Park (200,000 people) while Yes and Peter Frampton played to 130,000 in Philly....chart topping songs like "Tonight's the Night" (Rod Stewart), "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (Elton John & Kiki Dee), "Silly Love Songs" (Paul McCartney), "Disco Lady" (Johnny Taylor), "December, 1963" (Four Seasons), and "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" (Paul Simon) ruled the charts, as well as one hit wonders like the incredible Starlight Vocal Band's "Afternoon Delight"....the year we lost legends like blues legend Howlin' Wolf, jazz giant Vince Gauraldi, songwriting great Johnny Mercer, classical composer & theorist Walter Piston, guitar icons Freddie King and Tommy Bolin, and future legends were born like Melanie C (real name Emma Bunton), country singer Blake Shelton, rapper Ja Rule, vocalist Chester Bennington (Linkin Park),and singer Brandon Boyd (Incubus). We saw the birth of bands like U2, Foriegner, The Cure, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and The Clash, and the death of bands Deep Purple, Ike & Tina Turner, The Band, Three Dog Night, and Steppenwolf.....and so much more!

A host of amazing albums were released in 1976 and I hope to have time to write about many, including Boston's debut self-titled release, Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key of Life", TWO albums by The Eagles ("Greatest Hits" as well as "Hotel California"), the legendary "Rocks" by Aerosmith, and of course, "Frampton Comes Alive" by Peter Frampton!

Today, however, we'll look at the groundbreaking album by RUSH, "2112"!

"2112" (pronounced twenty one twelve) is Rush's fourth album (after "Rush", "Caress of Steel", and "Fly By Night") and first major commercial success.

For context, due to the relatively low sales of the first three albums (despite some modicum of success with songs like "Working Man", "Fly By Night", and "Lakeside Park"), the band was under serious pressure to produce radio hits and a commercial sound. In fact, the band had been slated to be dropped by Mercury Records, but their manager had negotiated one more album. The band, however, decided that if they were to go down, they'd go down in flames doing the music they wanted to do.

With that attitude firmly in place (and half the album written on the road while on tour), RUSH entered the studio in January of 1976 - with minimal gear - and started recording.

The album was complete in only 4 weeks.

Side one is the song concept song "2112" (made up of 7 individual tracks) while side two contains 5 stand-alone songs.

Released in March to fabulous reviews and raced up the charts (peaking at #5 on the Canadian charts and #61 on the US charts) and staying on the US charts for 37 weeks, was the first RUSH album to be certified gold, and the band embarked on a 147 date tour of North America and Europe.

The album has since sold over three million copies in the US alone, been voted number two on Rolling Stone's favorite prog-rock album of all time (behind only Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon"), and listed in the book "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".

Let's look at each song!

side one:

1) "2112"

The title track is a seven piece concept track (the songs are "Overture", "Temples of the Syrinx", "Discovery", "Presentation, "Oracle: The Dream", "Soliloquy", and "Grand Finale").

"Overture" starts off with a space-age synth swirling to the abrupt full band rocking in with a angular rhythmic intro, which then explodes into a chordal theme and Geddy's voice soaring above the fray. It also serves as an introduction to the complex drums of Neil Peart, the airtight yet busy bass lines of Geddy Lee, and the guitar wizardry of Alex Lifeson.

"And the meek shall inherit the earth...."

"Temples of the Syrinx" blasts into the ears with monstrous guitars and Geddy's shrill yet powerful vocals belting out the primary lyrical theme of the album.

"...We've taken care of everything
The words you hear, the songs you sing
The pictures that give pleasure to your eyes

It's one for all, all for one
We work together, common sons
Never need to wonder how or why...."

"Discovery" opens with a beautiful, multi-part guitar and the lyrics telling the story of a lone man discovering a "strange device" (a 6 string guitar that opens the track by exploring and, ultimately, tuning up). Without a doubt some of the best acoustic & clean electric guitar work of the entire decade by any musical act!

"....What can this strange device be?

When I touch it, it gives forth a sound
It's got wires that vibrate and give music
What can this thing be that I found?"

"Presentation" is, as the name implies, the un-named narrator presenting music to the Priests. The lyrics sing above Alex's single guitar (just as in "Discovery") until the Priests reply, where Geddy's voice changes radically and the band roars in.

"....Yes, we know, it's nothing new

It's just a waste of time
We have no need for ancient ways
The world is doing fine...."

They return, musically, to the primary theme from "Syrinx" and a blistering guitar solo. In the story, the priests destroy the guitar and dashing the hopes of the narrator, who, after wandering away and falling asleep, has a dream.

"Oracle: The Dream" tells us of the narrator's dream, where he sees the "elder race" where music and individuality still exist and, indeed, flourish (unlike the Solar Federation, which is run by the Priests and computers). He then awakens, depressed that he will never live in such a world, and laments.

The music perfectly matches the mood and thoughts of the narrator, swinging from quiet & contemplative to dark & heavy.

"Soliloquy" rages musically, covering multiple time changes, complex rhythms, intricate bass lines, and furious guitar solos. Lyrically, it wraps up the story of our narrator, who takes his own life.

"....My spirits are low in the depths of despair

My lifeblood

Spills over...."

"Grand Finale" returns to several musical themes, their compositional and instrumental chops on full display, and the story concludes with the return of the Elder Race.

"....Attention all planets of the solar federation
We have assumed control
We have assumed control
We have assumed control...."

side two:

1) "A Passage to Bangkok"

A song presumably about marijuana and "drug tourism", it was inspired by, among many other things, Led Zeppelin's song "Kashmir" and features a more upbeat approach than anything on side one! Much more straightforward than a lot of RUSH songs (straight 4 and no key or changes), its a heavy yet fun opening for side two.

"....We’re on the train to Bangkok

Aboard the Thailand Express
We’ll hit the stops along the way
We only stop for the best...."

2) "The Twilight Zone"

Inspired by the TV series (and specifically two particular episodes), the track is an interesting mix of quiet introspection and straight hard rock with an incredibly subtle drum line and dreamy guitar solo.

"....Use the key, unlock the door

See what your fate might have in store
Come explore your dreams’ creation
Enter this world of imagination...."

3) "Lessons"

One of the few songs written solely by guitarist Alex Lifeson, incredible bass burns under the lyric while Alex and Neil hammer out the rhythm and Geddy falls back on his patented high-octane vocal wail that we hear on the first three albums. More guitar solo shredding from Alex on this one, too!

"....Sweet memories, flashing very quickly by

Reminding me, giving me a reason why
I know that, my goal is more than a thought
I’ll be there, when I teach what I’ve been taught...."

4) "Tears"

An achingly beautiful ballad composed by Geddy Lee, it features a gorgeous guitar theme with haunting synth backup and complete restraint by the band.

"....What would touch me deeper

Tears that fall from eyes
That only cry?"

5) "Something for Nothing" 

The final song on the album is an absolute rocker! Peart was lyrically inspired by graffiti he saw in LA that read "Freedom isn't Free", that led to lyrics that bring the album full circle back to individualism crashing into control. The music mirrors this by fusing a perfect blend of 3 fiercely independent individual working together as a single unit (while still breathing real musical life into the work with incredible individual and highly technical instrumental lines throughout).

"....You don’t get something for nothing

You don’t get freedom for free
You won’t get wise with the sleep still in your eyes
No matter what your dreams might be...."

Amazing album and definitely on my list of "100 albums to hear before you die"!

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