Rush Boxes Up Vintage Concert Videos

By Johathan Cohen, Billboard, April 5, 2006

Three vintage Rush home videos will make their DVD debut as part of the boxed set "Rush Replay X 3," due June 13 via Mercury/UME. The collection will include 1982's "Exit ... Stage Left," 1985's "Grace Under Pressure" and 1991's "A Show of Hands," plus a previously unreleased audio CD version of "Grace Under Pressure."

As previously reported, Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson created new stereo mixes for the releases, which are presented in 5.1 Surround Sound. Tour booklets from the three concerts have also been reprinted for the set.

Filmed in 1981 in Montreal, "Exit ... Stage Left" spotlights Rush in its early career heyday as it performs such tracks as "Red Barchetta," "YYZ," "Tom Sawyer," "Limelight" and "Closer to the Heart."

"Grace Under Pressure" was taped in Rush's Toronto homebase and blends hits like "New World Man" and "The Spirit of Radio" with more uncommon fare like "Witch Hunt," "The Enemy Within" and "The Weapon." The latter track is accompanied by a video featuring actor Joe Flaherty as his "SCTV" character Count Floyd.

"A Show of Hands" was taped in 1988 in Birmingham, England, and was issued in tandem with a live album of the same name. Peart's nightly drum solo appears here for the first time on an official release. Other highlights include "Turn the Page," "Marathon" and a closing medley of "2112"/"La Villa Strangiato"/"In the Mood."

Rush is in the early stages of work on its first studio album since 2002's "Vapor Trails."