View source for Rush (Rush album)

{{Short description|1974 studio album by Rush}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=August 2016}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Rush
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[Rush (band)|Rush]]
| caption    = Cover art by [[Paul Weldon]]
| cover      = Rush_self_titled.jpg
| border     = yes
| alt        =
| released   = {{start date|1974|3|18}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/rush/albums-rush.php|title=Rush 1974}}</ref>
| recorded   = November 1973{{sfn|Popoff|2020|p=85}}
| studio     = Eastern Sound and [[Toronto Sound Studios|Toronto Sound]], [[Toronto]]
| genre      = {{flatlist|
*[[Hard rock]]<ref name="billboard">{{Cite magazine |last=Greenwald |first=David |title=Rush's 'Clockwork Angels' Hits June 12 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/496841/rushs-clockwork-angels-hits-june-12 |access-date=April 11, 2012 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=March 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327000402/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/496841/rushs-clockwork-angels-hits-june-12 |url-status=live}}</ref>}}
| length     = {{duration|m=39|s=51}}
| label      = [[Moon Records (Canada)|Moon]]
| producer   = Rush
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title = [[Fly by Night (album)|Fly by Night]]
| next_year  = 1975
| misc       = {{Singles
 | name        = Rush
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = Finding My Way
 | single1date = August 1974
 | single2     = [[In the Mood (Rush song)|In the Mood]]
 | single2date = December 1974<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Rush&titel=In+The+Mood&cat=s|title=Rush singles}}</ref>
}}
}}

'''''Rush''''' is the debut studio album by Canadian [[rock music|rock]] band [[Rush (band)|Rush]]. It was released on March 18, 1974, in Canada by [[Moon Records (Canada)|Moon Records]], the group's own label, before it was released internationally by [[Mercury Records]] later that year. Recorded five years after the band's formation, this first release shows much of the [[hard rock]] sound typical of many of the popular rock bands emerging earlier in the decade. Rush were fans of such bands as [[Led Zeppelin]], [[Yes (band)|Yes]] and [[Cream (band)|Cream]], and these influences can be heard in most of the songs on the album.

Original drummer [[John Rutsey]] performed all drum parts on the album, but was unable to go on extended tours because of complications with his diabetes and so he retired from the band after the album was released. Rutsey worked on lyrics for the album, but never submitted them to the other members of the band. The lyrics were instead entirely composed by vocalist/bassist [[Geddy Lee]] and guitarist [[Alex Lifeson]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/rushs-alex-lifeson-on-40-years-of-2112-it-was-our-protest-album-20160329 |title=Rush's Alex Lifeson on 40 Years of '2112': 'It Was Our Protest Album' |last=Grow |first=Kory |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=2016-03-29 |access-date=2016-03-30 |archive-date=October 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017091904/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/rushs-alex-lifeson-on-40-years-of-2112-it-was-our-protest-album-20160329 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="multiple">{{cite web |url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/DEBUTlyrics.htm |title=Power Windows...The Album Art of Rush (And more) |access-date=2013-03-30 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20020612224100/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/DEBUTlyrics.htm |archive-date=2002-06-12}} Power Windows</ref> Rutsey was soon replaced by [[Neil Peart]], who served as both drummer and primary lyricist on all subsequent Rush albums.

==Recording and production==
{{listen|filename=WorkingMan.ogg|title="Working Man"|description="Working Man" from ''Rush''.}}
The initial recording sessions were produced by Dave Stock at Eastern Sound Studios in [[Toronto]] in two days during the Summer of 1973. They were scheduled late at night during the 'dead' time in studios because of the band's low budget and the rates during this period were the cheapest.{{sfn|Popoff|2020|p=79}} By request of the band's management, Rush included their version of "[[Not Fade Away (song)|Not Fade Away]]", a staple of the band's live-set during that time, for a possible single-release. The song was eventually released as Rush's debut single in September 1973,<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Lee | first1 = Geddy | author-link1 = Geddy Lee | title = My Effin' Life | edition = 1st | publisher = HarperCollins | year = 2023 | page = 148 | isbn = 978-0-06-315941-9}}</ref> backed with "You Can't Fight It", a song originally planned for inclusion on the album, but that idea was scrapped in favour of new songs.
From this original recording session, "[[In the Mood (Rush song)|In the Mood]]" and "Take A Friend" would be included in the final album.{{sfn|Popoff|2020|pp=91–93}}

However, Rush were unhappy with the quality of the first sessions. They moved to [[Toronto Sound Studios]] in November 1973 and produced these sessions themselves while achieving a significant improvement in recording quality, with the help of engineer Terry Brown.{{sfn|Popoff|2020|p=81}} They added new overdubs to existing backing tracks of "What You're Doing", "Before and After" and "[[Working Man]]" from the first session. In the meantime, the band had written new songs that were recorded entirely at Toronto Sound: "Finding My Way", "Need Some Love" and "Here Again". These new songs took the place of songs from the earlier sessions.<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Lee | first1 = Geddy | author-link1 = Geddy Lee | title = My Effin' Life | edition = 1st | publisher = HarperCollins | year = 2023 | page = 152 | isbn = 978-0-06-315941-9}}</ref> Both studios used 8-channel [[multitrack recording|multitrack recorders]], which was quite primitive for 1973, but the group quickly learned to make the best use of the technology that was available.

In July 2008, Rush discovered a version of "Working Man" with an alternative guitar solo. They allowed the makers of the popular rhythm game ''[[Rock Band (game)|Rock Band]]'' to use the master tapes for the song's inclusion.<ref name="Working Man on Rock Band">[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/14/arts/music/14guns.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin Working Man in NY Times] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921050324/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/14/arts/music/14guns.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin |date=September 21, 2017 }}, accessed July 21, 2008.</ref>

==Distribution and release==
The band and its management formed their own company, [[Moon Records (Canada)|Moon Records]], and released the album in Canada. Only 3,500 copies of the original Moon Records LP, catalogue number MN-100, were pressed. The promotional version of the LP has a cream-coloured label with a blue Moon Records logo and black type. The remaining 3,500 were blue labeled with a blue Moon Records logo and black type.

The album was soon picked up by [[WMMS]], a radio station in [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]. [[Donna Halper]], a [[Disc jockey|DJ]] working at the station, selected "Working Man" for her regular play list. Every time the song was played the station received phone calls asking where to buy the record. Copies of the Moon Records album were imported to the Cleveland area and quickly sold out. In the 2010 documentary film ''[[Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage]]'', Halper says that "Working Man" was the perfect song for the Cleveland rock audience, as it was still mostly a factory town in 1974. WMMS later sponsored one of Rush's first performances in the United States, in Cleveland on August 26, 1974.

The record's popularity in Cleveland quickly led to the re-release of the album by [[Mercury Records]] on August 10, 1974. The first Canadian Mercury release on the standard red Mercury label is nearly as rare as the Moon version. It also had the Moon number MN-100 between the run-out grooves, indicating that it was pressed from the same metal stampers as the Moon disc. "A special thank you to Donna Halper for getting the ball rolling" was added to the album credits of this and all later versions.

At this point manager [[Ray Danniels]] scraped together an additional $9,000 for producer [[Terry Brown (record producer)|Terry Brown]] to professionally re-mix all of the recordings for better sound quality. This remix version was used for later releases, most of which used the Mercury "skyline" record label instead of the red label. A later Moon Records version of undetermined origin has a pink label with grey moon craters.

The original album logo was red, but a printing error made it appear more magenta in colour. This is one of two Rush albums where the cover artwork had printing errors, the other album being ''[[Caress of Steel]]''.

The complete album, along with ''[[Fly by Night (album)|Fly by Night]]'' and ''[[Caress of Steel]]'', was included as part of the 1978 Anthem release ''Archives.'' <ref>{{cite web |title=Rush – Archives (1978, Vinyl) |url=https://www.discogs.com/Rush-Archives/release/1513445 |website=Discogs |date=1978 |access-date=26 March 2021 |language=en |archive-date=February 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220053632/https://www.discogs.com/Rush-Archives/release/1513445 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Critical reception==
{{Music ratings
|rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
|rev1score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/rush-mw0000650731 |title=Rush – Rush |last=Prato |first=Greg |work=[[AllMusic]] |publisher=[[Rovi Corporation]] |access-date=June 17, 2011 |archive-date=June 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120611084515/http://www.allmusic.com/album/rush-mw0000650731 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Martin Popoff|Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal]]''
| rev2Score = 7/8<ref name="martin" >{{cite book |last=Popoff |first=Martin |author-link=Martin Popoff |title=The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 1: The Seventies |publisher=[[Collector's Guide Publishing]] |location=Burlington, Ontario, Canada |section=Rush — Rush (Moon '74)|date=October 2003 |page=236|isbn=978-1-8949-5902-5}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
| rev3Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&q=%22Rush%22|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|year=2007|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|edition=4th|isbn=978-0-19-531373-4}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Martin C. Strong|The Essential Rock Discography]]''
| rev4Score = 6/10<ref name="Strong">{{cite book |last1=Strong |first1=Martin Charles  |title=The Essential Rock Discography |edition=8th |year=2006 |publisher=Open City Books |isbn=1-84195-860-3 |pages=938–939 |chapter=Rush }}</ref>
| rev5      = ''[[MusicHound Rock]]''
| rev5Score = {{rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Graff|editor1-first=Gary|editor2-last=Durchholz|editor2-first=Daniel|title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide|publisher=Visible Ink Press|location=Farmington Hills, MI|year=1999|section=Rush|isbn=1-57859-061-2|page=965}}</ref>
|rev6 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
|rev6score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/rush/albumguide |title=Rush: Album Guide |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=February 17, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704223108/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/rush/albumguide |archive-date=July 4, 2013 }}</ref>
|rev7 = ''[[Colin Larkin|The Virgin Encyclopedia of 80s Music]]''
|rev7Score = {{rating|2|5}}<ref>{{Cite book|author=[[Colin Larkin|Larkin, Colin]]|year=2003|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of 80s Music|isbn=1-85227-969-9|publisher=[[Virgin Publishing]]|section=Rush|pages=414–415}}</ref>
}}
''Rush'' received positive reviews upon its 1974 release. Writing for the ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]'', Bill Provick gave praise on the band's "immediate acceleration" and "driving, crisp sound", although he felt that "the energy needs a bit more channeling and the arrangements need a touch more refining".<ref name = "Ottawa Citizen">{{cite web |url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19740530ottawacitizen.htm |title=Rush Rock Sound Crisp And Strong |last=Provick |first=Bill |work=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |date=May 30, 1974 |access-date=October 6, 2013 |archive-date=October 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019202756/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19740530ottawacitizen.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' wrote that it "serves up a dose of good hard rock highlighted by the often Robert Plant-like lead vocals of Geddy Lee and the powerful guitar work of Alex Lifeson and solid drumming from John Rutsey."<ref name = "Billboard">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19740824billboard.htm |title=Rush Album Review |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=August 24, 1974 |access-date=October 6, 2013 |archive-date=October 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019202608/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19740824billboard.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

However, critical reception in later years has been more negative. Greg Prato of [[AllMusic]] stated in his review of the album that it was weaker than some of the band's later works, such as ''[[Hemispheres (Rush album)|Hemispheres]]'' and ''[[Moving Pictures (Rush album)|Moving Pictures]]'', because [[Neil Peart]] was not yet a part of the band. He finished his review by saying, "While longtime Rush fans can appreciate their debut because they never returned to this style, newcomers should stick with their classics from later years."<ref name="allmusic"/>

==Remaster==
A remaster was issued in 1997.
* The tray has a picture of the star with man painting (mirroring the cover art of ''[[Retrospective I]]'') with "The Rush Remasters" printed in all capital letters just to the left. All remasters from ''Rush'' through ''Permanent Waves'' are like this.

''Rush'' was remastered again in 2011 by Andy VanDette for the "Sector" box sets, which re-released all of Rush's Mercury-era albums. The album is included in the ''Sector 1'' set.<ref name="themasterdiskrecord">{{cite web |url=http://www.themasterdiskrecord.com/2011/11/andy-vandette-on-remastering-14-rush-albums |title=Andy VanDette On Remastering 15 Rush Albums {{pipe}} The Masterdisk Record |publisher=themasterdiskrecord.com |access-date=September 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140823055546/http://www.themasterdiskrecord.com/2011/11/andy-vandette-on-remastering-14-rush-albums/ |archive-date=August 23, 2014}}</ref>

The album was remastered and re-released on vinyl in April 2014 as part of a box set to celebrate its 40th anniversary. The 2014 vinyl version included a replica of the original Moon Records label on the LP.

''Rush'' was remastered for vinyl in 2015 as a part of the official "12 Months of Rush" promotion.<ref>{{cite web |title=12 MONTHS OF RUSH: 14 ALBUMS FROM MERCURY ERA FOR RELEASE IN 2015 |url=http://www.rush.com/12-months-of-rush-14-albums-from-mercury-era-for-release-in-2015/ |website=Rush.com |access-date=July 10, 2015 |archive-date=July 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711024744/http://www.rush.com/12-months-of-rush-14-albums-from-mercury-era-for-release-in-2015/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The high definition master prepared for this release was also made available for purchase in 24-bit/96&nbsp;kHz and 24-bit/192&nbsp;kHz formats, at several high-resolution audio online music stores. These masters have significantly less [[dynamic range compression]] than the 1997 remasters and the "Sector" remasters by Andy VanDette.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}

==Track listing==
All songs written by [[Geddy Lee]] and [[Alex Lifeson]], except "Need Some Love" which its lyrics were written by Lee with [[John Rutsey]],{{efn|Although the sleeve credits Lee and Lifeson as writers of "Need Some Love", Lifeson admitted in a 2011 ''[[MusicRadar]]'' interview Rutsey and Lee wrote the lyrics.<ref>{{cite book|last=James|first=Richard|year=2024|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1rQwEQAAQBAJ&dq=rush+%22Before+and+After%22+%22john+rutsey%22&pg=PT17|title=Rush 1973 - 1982: Every Album, Every Song|section=Need Some Love|isbn=978-1-78952-120-7|publisher=Sonicbond Publishing|access-date=January 20, 2025}}</ref>}} and "In the Mood", written solely by Lee.
{{Track listing
| headline = Side one
| title1 = Finding My Way
| length1 = 5:03
| title2 = Need Some Love
| length2 = 2:16
| title3 = Take a Friend
| length3 = 4:27
| title4 = Here Again
| length4 = 7:30
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Side two
| title1 = What You're Doing
| length1 = 4:19
| title2 = [[In the Mood (Rush song)|In the Mood]]
| length2 = 3:36
| title3 = [[Before and After (Rush song)|Before]]" (2:17) and "[[Before and After (Rush song)|After]] 
|note3 = 3:16) ({{efn|"Before"/"After" is the actual name of the track, in Lee's handwritten lyrical sheet.<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Lee | first1 = Geddy | author-link1 = Geddy Lee | title = My Effin' Life | edition = 1st | publisher = HarperCollins | year = 2023 | page = 142 | isbn = 978-0-06-315941-9}}</ref> On the album sleeve, it was stylized as "Before" and "After".}}
| length3 = 5:33
| title4 = [[Working Man]]
| length4 = 7:07
}}

==Personnel==
'''Rush'''
*[[Geddy Lee]] – lead vocals, bass
*[[Alex Lifeson]] – guitar, backing vocals
*[[John Rutsey]] – drums, percussion, backing vocals

'''Technical personnel'''
*[[Terry Brown (record producer)|Terry Brown]] – engineer, remixing
*Dave Stock – engineer
*[[Paul Weldon]] – album cover
*BIC Photography – photography
*SRO Productions – executive production

==Release history==
{| class="wikitable"
|+Overview of release formats for ''Rush''
|-
!scope="col"|Country
!scope="col"|Label
!scope="col"|Format
!scope="col"|Catalog
!scope="col"|Year
|-
|Canada
|Moon
|Vinyl
|scope="row"|MN 100
|1974
|-
|Canada & US
|Mercury
|Vinyl
|scope="row"|SRM 1-1011
|1974
|-
|Canada
|Anthem
|Vinyl
|scope="row"|ANR 1-1011
|
|-
|US
|Mercury
|CD
|scope="row"|534623
|1987
|-
|Canada
|Anthem
|CD
|scope="row"|ANC 1-1001
|1977
|-
|Canada
|Anthem
|CD
|scope="row"|WANK 1001
|
|-
|Canada
|Anthem
|CD
|scope="row"|ANMD 1001
|
|-
|Canada
|Anthem
|CD
|scope="row"|ANMD 1075
| 1997
|-
|Canada & US
|Mercury
|8 Track
|scope="row"|MC8 1-1011
|1974
|-
|Canada
|Anthem
|8 Track
|scope="row"|8AN 1-1001
| 1977
|-
|Canada & US
|Mercury
|Cassette
|scope="row"|MC4 1-1011
|1974
|-
|Canada
|Anthem
|Cassette
|scope="row"|4AN 1-1001
|
|-
|Canada
|Anthem
|Cassette
|scope="row"|4AN 1-106
|
|-
|}

==Charts==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Chart performance for ''Rush''
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1974)
! scope="col"| Peak<br /> position
|-
{{album chart|Canada|86|artist=Rush|album= Rush|chartid=5022b|rowheader=true|access-date=6 February 2022}}
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|105|artist=Rush|rowheader=true|access-date=5 February 2022}}
|}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for ''Rush''}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|artist=Rush|title=Rush |award=Gold|relyear=1974|certyear=1976}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist= Rush|title=Rush |award=Gold|relyear=1974|certyear=1995}}
{{certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

==Notes==
{{noteslist}}
==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
*{{cite book |last1=Popoff |first1=Martin |title=Anthem: Rush in the '70s |date=2020 |publisher=ECW Press |location=Toronto |isbn=978-1-77041-520-1}}

==External links==
* {{Discogs master|type=album|7764|name=Rush}}

{{Rush}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rush (Rush Album)}}
[[Category:Rush (band) albums]]
[[Category:1974 debut albums]]
[[Category:Anthem Records albums]]
[[Category:Mercury Records albums]]