Fording the river dawn, they turn south, journeying into the. Both the bands second album to be released in 1975 and the bands third release, caress of steel, marked rush s emergence into more hard progrock styles as opposed to the bluesbased style of the groups first two albums. Caress of steel is a chance to hark back to when rush first broke onto the scene, their third album after rush and fly by night, has a good mixture of heavy rock, terrific guitar rifts, neil pearts always excellent drums and lees voice at his strongest. Im told one is from rochester, but no firm date or venue was given.
The first single from the album, far cry, was posted as ondemand streaming audio on this site at that time. Caress of steel has been newlyremastered on 200gram, heavyweight vinyl at legendary abbey road studios using the direct to metal mastering dmm audiophile copper plating process, all from original analogue masters. Especially noticeable when trying to read the blob on the back. Caress of steel is often considered one of the lesser chapters in the annals of rush. The men are free to run now, from labyrinths below. Paul from rothesay, nb, canada for those of you who still have the vynyl version of the caress of steel album, play the storytellers parts of the necromancer at. Its the one that for some reason you hold high above the rest, for whatever reason.
Its an audience recording from the down the tubes tour which was for promoting the caress of steel album. Ive always thought it really dragged that song down and ive never been a big fan of the necromancer because of the narration. The song departs from the story of the book as part iii sees the return of bytor from fly by. Caress of steel featured long pieces broken up into various sections and long solo passages. The album shows more of rush s adherence to the hard rock and progressive rock styles of the bands first two albums. I remember reading in another article about how the caress of steel cover was supposed to look different.
The wraith of the necromancer soars away in the night. Caress of steel is a music studio album recording by rush heavy progprogressive rock released in 1975 on cd, lp vinyl andor cassette. Rush singerbassist geddy lee rushs first two albums were very led zeppelin ii. I also realized what did not work, at least for me, with caress of steel. Offer valid on standard shipping to addresses within canada. Tolkiens lord of the rings, in which the necromancer, a wizard who either summons the dead or reduces the living into specter form, is confronted by three travelers, sam, frodo, and gollum. The necromancer is subtitled a short story by rush. The caress of steel album cover rush the rush forum. The seminal 2112 totally eclipsed its predecessor and this album stood as the poor step.
Long pieces, pieces broken up into parts, and solo passages of speed and agility are all included. Caress of steel rush 1975 we were convinced we would be dropped and end up back home playing bars. Caress of steel is the third studio album by canadian rock band rush, released in september. When rush finished their third album, caress of steel, the trio was assured that they had created their breakthrough masterpiece. Rush caress of steel appreciation and discussion steve. This was rush s first attempt at writing an epic piece and, along with its partner the fountain of lamneth, was blamed for the commercial failure of the album. Bastille day, i think im going bald, lakeside park, the necromancer, the fountain of lamneth artist name artist genres artist country artist lineup artist labels album title album track listing album genres album lineup album labels album a year advanced artist search advanced. Caress of steel, unreasonably considered something of a fail at the time, is a half crazy and half genius affair, with powertrio hard rock and fantasy prose lyrics and a touch of nostalgia and bombast, all delivered with the truly unique rush musicianship, humour and elegance. As grey traces of dawn tinge the eastern sky the three travelers, men of willowdale emerge from the forest shadow fording the river don, they turn south, journeying. While it was rushs first release that fully explored their prog rock side, it did not contain the catchy and more traditional elements of their future popular work its quite. The necromancer by rush song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart. Caress of steel is the third studio album by canadian rock band rush, released in 1975. Overall caress of steel is a decent album, not nearly rush s best nor nearly their worst, recommended for fans of rush s earlier more progressive song writing just skip the first 3 tracks, the necromancer and the fountain of lamneth make it well worth the listen.
This was rushs first attempt at writing an epic piece and, along with its partner the fountain of lamneth, was blamed for the commercial failure of the album. Limited 180gm vinyl lp pressing including digital download. Reviews of caress of steel by rush album, hard rock page 2. Allmusics greg prato described the album as one of rush s more unfocused albums, while daily vaults christopher thelen called it a tentative step for rush, one which would lead to their masterpiece in conceptual work, in reference to the groups next album, 2112 remasters. Rush are one of the great progrock bands, and caress of steel is their. This album is set apart by the epics the necromancer and the fountain of lamneth. Upon release, the album was a massive flop upon release and turned many young rush fans. On march 12, 2007, the band unveiled a new website at the official rush website, primarily to promote the album. I dont know who did it, but i never did think the narration worked. The album shows more of rushs adherence to the hard rock and progressive rock.
But when the album dropped off the charts soon after its release, it proved otherwise. The necromancer and the nearly 20minute the fountain of lamneth. Day to ethereal epic the necromancer, which references tolkien. Caress of steel still has some of the poporiented rock numbers that defined the first pair of albums, but theyre dwarfed in significance by the necromancer and the fountain of lamneth, both of which rank among my favourite early rush tracks. Ultimately they will become empty, mindless spectres. The album has been mastered at the legendary abbey road studios from the original analog masters. Producer, associated performer, recording arranger. Caress of steel has been newlyremastered on 180gram, heavyweight vinyl at legendary abbey road studios using the direct to metal mastering dmm audiophile copper plating process, all from original analogue masters.
Even now the intensity of his dread power can be felt, weakening the body and saddening the heart. Caress of steel was released a few months later the same year as fly by night. Cover art for caress of steel by rush 1975, mercury. Fording the river dawn, they turn south, journeying into the dark and forbidding lands of the necromancer. Though long ago purchased on cd, cassette and vinyl the new record was meant to fill out the. Everything except the barcode is very blurry compared to other anthemmercury rush releases. And while rush would eventually excel in composing lengthy songs, the albums two extended tracks the 12. The necromancer is an epic progressive rock song by rush from their 1975 album caress of steel and is currently their fourth longest song, behind cygnus x1, book ii, 2112, and the fountain of lamneth. Jan 01, 2009 snakes arrows is the eighteenth fulllength studio album by the canadian rock band rush. Reviews of caress of steel by rush album, hard rock. At this particular show, rush was the opening act for kiss, that is why the setlist is only an hour long. I think im going bald was written for kim mitchell, who at the time was the frontman of the band. Several of the tracks are hints of the longer epic prog rock tracks to come in later albums.
Buy rushs album titled caress of steel to enjoy in your home or car, or gift it to. Caress of steel the necromancer, the fountain of lamneth, bastille day. Into darkness as grey traces of dawn tinge the eastern sky, the three travelers, men of willow dale, emerge from the forest shadow. Background and commentary the necromancer is subtitled a short story by rush. Caress of steel 1975 was the bands 3rd album, and the 2nd one to feature their new drummer neil peart, who brought to the mix not only his singular percussion skills, but also his talent as a thoughtful and imaginative lyricist.
Last year, sometime, i received the somewhat infamous rush album caress of steel reissued on vinyl. You know that expensive reissue on 200 gram virgin vinyl. Allmusics greg prato described the album as one of rush s more unfocused albums, while daily vaults christopher thelen called it a tentative step for rush, one which would lead to their masterpiece in conceptual work, in reference to the groups next album, 2112. Rush caress of steel 1975, gatefold, vinyl discogs. Stealthily attacking bytor slays his foe the men are free to run now from labyrinths below the wraith of necromancer shadows through the sky another land to darken with evil prism eye. Both the bands second album released in 1975 and the bands third release, caress of steel, marked rushs emergence into more hard progrock styles as opposed to the bluesbased style of the groups first two albums. Featuring the return of bytor from fly by night, the necromancer tells an epic story in three movements.
Jan 12, 2018 cover art for caress of steel by rush 1975, mercury. The seminal 2112 totally eclipsed its predecessor and this album stood as the poor stepdaughter of the family while rush went on to release classic after unabashed classic. Its definitely from that tour because of neils bass drumhead and theres also a caress of steel banner with the album cover hanging above the stage. For the first time in their career though far from the last, they had crafted a record with no. Caress of steel is a chance to hark back to when rush first broke onto the scene, their third album after rush and fly by night, has a good mixture of heavy rock, terrific guitar. Caress of steel 1975 was the bands 3rd album, and the 2nd one to feature their new drummer neil peart, who brought to the mix not only his singular percussion skills, but also his talent.
Although the band initially had high hopes for caress of steel, it sold fewer copies than fly by night and was considered a disappointment by the record company. However, the album is unfairly demonized and as a whole offers a solid piece of music that opened a future pathway for rush. Rush caress of steel album 1975 1 bastille day 2 i think im going bald 3 lakeside park 4 the necromancer all parts iiii 5 the fountain of lamneth all parts ivi. The album eventually became known as one of rushs most obscure and overlooked recordings. Nov 02, 2006 i dont know who did it, but i never did think the narration worked. Vinyl rush caress of steel shop the rush backstage. This 8mm silent video is taken from two shows on the caress of steel tour. Cd caress of steel shop the rush backstage official store. Feb, 2014 the wraith of the necromancer soars away in the night.
Fly by night was february and caress of steel was september of 1975. In the old tales of quests, the travelers were always restless and with a goal. Later come two odysseys that signal their voyage into prog. Apr 01, 2018 i figured caress of steel would provide a third of this list helping me reach the 10 song plateau, but i was wrong.
I first heard caress via a used copy of archives that i bought when i was in the 10th grade. Fly by night bytor and the snow dog, anthem, fly by night. If it came down to it though, id take the narration on the necromancer over the unforgivable rap on rtb any day. It concerns a necromancer, someone who practices necromancy, a type of. It is often considered notable for the inclusion of the bands first two epic pieces, the necromancer and the fountain of lamneth.
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