Backtracking

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Welcome to Backtracking – the podcast where two old friends take a second listen to influential bands' catalogs. For our first season, we've selected none other than legendary Canadian power trio Rush.

How many times do you hear it? It goes on all day long. Everyone knows everything except our email address: backtrackingrox@gmail.com.

Rush "A Show of Hands" (1989) Live Album, with Guests Ara and Dave Jun 05, 2024

Show notes

Rush's 1989 live album "A Show of Hands", with guests Ara and Dave Niles, a Snowblind reunion, and the move to synths considered.

We dig into the tracklist and the missing tracks, Hugh Syme's cover, fade-outs (again), Rush live at The Aud, and the end of the Skinny Ties era.

LISTEN TO THE ALBUM:

Rush “A Show of Hands”

CHAPTERS:

0:00: Gamers game.

0:27: Cold open, warm Hands, can’t lose.

2:52: The Circle of Willis

4:50: Meet Ara! Meet Dave!

9:20: Snowblind Revisited

17:46: The transition to synths, considered.

31:00: Fade-outs… again.

33:40: Let’s discuss skinny ties.

38:23: A Show of Tracklists

46:21: The Best of Syme

50:38: Missing Tracks?

55:45: Rush Live @ The Aud

1:09:09: A Show of Cover, A Cover of Show

1:11:11: Ditching the ties in favor of the tees.

1:28:20: The best of skinny ties, the worst of skinny ties.

1:40:20: We love you all. Thank you, and good night!

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Big email goes around the world. Big email in our box: backtrackingrox@gmail.com.

Rush "Hold Your Fire" (1987), Side B: Mission, Tai Shan, High Water May 29, 2024

Show notes

Rush's 1987 album "Hold Your Fire", Side B: "Lock and Key", "Mission", "Turn the Page", "Tai Shan" and "High Water".

Then we decide which fire to hold and which to extinguish, and fade the synths out.

LISTEN TO THE ALBUM:

Rush “Hold Your Fire”

CHAPTERS:

0:00: I feel so alone, gonna consult my doc about my damn Crohn’s.

0:24: Let’s give it short script.

0:58: I am elk, hear me bleat.

3:03: Side B, Track One: “Lock and Key”

13:00: Side B, Track Two: “Mission”

23:39: Side B, Track Three: “Turn the Page”

31:47: Side B, Track Four: “Tai Shan”

41:20: Side B, Track Five: “High Water”

51:20: Which fire to hold and which to extinguish?

56:20: Time to fade these synths out, Collins.

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We each pay a fabulous price, for our ticket to podcast paradise. But a spirit with a comment is a fan… with an email: backtrackingrox@gmail.com.

Rush "Hold Your Fire" (1987), Side A: Force Ten, Time Stand Still May 22, 2024

Show notes

Rush's 1987 album "Hold Your Fire", Side A: "Force Ten", "Time Stand Still", "Open Secrets", "Second Nature" and "Prime Mover".

Personal history, praise for producer Peter Collins, and a debate over Hugh Syme's cover. It runs so long it's like time is standing still.

LISTEN TO THE ALBUM:

Rush “Hold Your Fire”

CHAPTERS:

0:00: As cold as Steve Inskeep.

0:09: Hold your scripted open.

3:00: Don’t pass over this dinner! (SFX: rimshot)

4:28: Personal history, and an Ode to Mssrs. Carney and Chase.

9:47: The Basics of “Hold Your Fire”

14:16: In praise of Peter Collins and the gosh done gear.

19:22: Syme gilds the rose? Or buries the lede? Or blows it?

27:44: Side A, Track One: “Force Ten”

37:55: Side A, Track Two: “Time Stand Still”

57:26: Side A, Track Three: “Open Secrets”

1:03:09: Side A, Track Four: “Second Nature”

1:11:07: Side A, Track Five: “Prime Mover”

1:17:46: It’s so long it’s like time is standing still.

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A memo to a higher office? An open letter to the powers that be? To a God, a king, a head of state? Backtracking’s email would be: backtrackingrox@gmail.com.

Rush "Power Windows" (1985), Side B: Territories, Mystic Rhythms May 15, 2024

Show notes

Rush's 1985 album "Power Windows", Side B: "Territories", "Middletown Dreams", "Emotion Detector" and "Mystic Rhythms".

Then the best power and the worst windows, and a detour into Microsoft's Power Windows 1985. Day drinking was involved.

LISTEN TO THE ALBUM:

Rush “Power Windows”

CHAPTERS:

0:00: Day drinking for the people.

0:13: Scripted Open, Abbr.

2:17: Side B, Track One: “Territories”

15:28: Side B, Track Two: “Middletown Dream”

33:20: Side B, Track Three: “Emotion Detector”

46:18: Side B, Track Four: “Mystic Rhythms”

54:00: The Best Power and the Worst Windows

58:20: Microsoft’s Power Windows 1985

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In the secret well of emotions, buried deep in our email: backtrackingrox@gmail.com.

Rush "Power Windows" (1985), Side A: The Big Money, Marathon May 08, 2024

Show notes

Rush's 1985 album "Power Windows", Side A: "The Big Money", "Grand Designs", "Manhattan Project" and "Marathon".

We talk Montserrat, producer Peter Collins and synth-chronicity, plus the cover with Hugh Syme, Dimo Safari and Neil Cunningham.

LISTEN TO THE ALBUM:

Rush “Power Windows”

CHAPTERS:

0:00: Raf, what are you talking about?

0:40: …A lot of useless scripted open.

3:33: BPOE #2616

4:50: The Basics

6:53: Hugh Syme, Dimo Safari, & Neil Cunningham

9:05: An Aside Regarding Boardner’s

10:40: And we’re back to Syme-Time.

12:48: Montserrat, Peter Collins, and Synthchronicity

26:38: Side A, Track One: “The Big Money”

38:40: Side A, Track Two: “Grand Designs”

48:00: Side A, Track Three: “Manhattan Project”

1:07:07: Side A, Track Four: “Marathon”

1:16:20: Get this marathon over the finish line.

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Rush “Grace Under Pressure”

Big money got a mean streak. Big money got no email: backtrackingrox@gmail.com.

Rush "Grace Under Pressure" (1984), Side B: Kid Gloves, Red Lenses May 01, 2024

Show notes

Rush's 1984 album "Grace Under Pressure", Side B: "The Body Electric", "Kid Gloves", "Red Lenses" and "Between the Wheels".

Plus personal memories of Barrie, Ontario, a mid-album check-in, and all tracks considered. Vaya con robots.

LISTEN TO THE ALBUM:

CHAPTERS:

0:00: http://www.coachshorts.com

0:52: The Abbreviated Scripted Open

1:27: Personal Memories of Barrie, Ontario

6:49: Ye Olde Mid-Album Check-In

10:15: Side B, Track One: “The Body Electric”

19:38: Side B, Track Two: “Kid Gloves”

28:05: Side B, Track Three: “Red Lenses”

33:40: Side B, Track Four: “Between the Wheels”

48:44: All Tracks Considered

53:53: Vaya con robots, amigos.

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Rush “Grace Under Pressure”

Trying to change your program? Trying to change the mode? Crack the code? Use the following text string for an email overload: backtrackingrox@gmail.com.

Rush "Grace Under Pressure" (1984), Side A: Distant Early Warning Apr 24, 2024

Show notes

Rush's 1984 album "Grace Under Pressure", Side A: "Distant Early Warning", "Afterimage", "Red Sector A" and "The Enemy Within".

We cover producer Peter Henderson and all that gated reverb, Hugh Syme's cover, and the Raf and MJ connection. Corrections included, as always.

LISTEN TO THE ALBUM:

CHAPTERS:

0:00: Special Guest Opening: Geddy Lee!

0:15: 1001001… Scripted Open!

3:12: The Raf and MJ Connection Discussed

5:08: The Basics

8:00: Housekeeping & Corrections

11:40: A Fine Time to Chat About Hugh Syme

21:55: Peter Peter “Gated Reverb Eater” Henderson

27:44: Side A, Track One: “Distant Early Warning”

40:30: Side A, Track Two: “Afterimage”

47:45: Side A, Track Three: “Red Sector A”

58:47: Side A, Track Four: “The Enemy Within”

1:09:40: Wrap it up, nerds.

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