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. Especially noticeable when trying to read the blob on the back. The album shows more of rush s adherence to the hard rock and progressive rock styles of the bands first two albums. Caress of steel the necromancer, the fountain of lamneth, bastille day. Caress of steel featured long pieces broken up into various sections and long solo passages. Fly by night was february and caress of steel was september of 1975. Cover art for caress of steel by rush 1975, mercury. I remember reading in another article about how the caress of steel cover was supposed to look different.
Jan 01, 2009 snakes arrows is the eighteenth fulllength studio album by the canadian rock band rush. The song departs from the story of the book as part iii sees the return of bytor from fly by. Rush caress of steel appreciation and discussion steve. Caress of steel rush 1975 we were convinced we would be dropped and end up back home playing bars. When rush finished their third album, caress of steel, the trio was assured that they had created their breakthrough masterpiece. Cd caress of steel shop the rush backstage official store. Day to ethereal epic the necromancer, which references tolkien. 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. Rush singerbassist geddy lee rushs first two albums were very led zeppelin ii. 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. The album shows more of rushs adherence to the hard rock and progressive rock. 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.
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. Im told one is from rochester, but no firm date or venue was given. Ultimately they will become empty, mindless spectres. 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. Fording the river dawn, they turn south, journeying into the dark and forbidding lands of the necromancer. Even now the intensity of his dread power can be felt, weakening the body and saddening the heart.
Featuring the return of bytor from fly by night, the necromancer tells an epic story in three movements. Reviews of caress of steel by rush album, hard rock. Offer valid on standard shipping to addresses within canada. 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. 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. But when the album dropped off the charts soon after its release, it proved otherwise. Reviews of caress of steel by rush album, hard rock page 2. Limited 180gm vinyl lp pressing including digital download. Caress of steel is the third studio album by canadian rock band rush, released in september.
However, the album is unfairly demonized and as a whole offers a solid piece of music that opened a future pathway for rush. I also realized what did not work, at least for me, with caress of steel. Rush are one of the great progrock bands, and caress of steel is their. Its the one that for some reason you hold high above the rest, for whatever reason. For the first time in their career though far from the last, they had crafted a record with no. 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. 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. Upon release, the album was a massive flop upon release and turned many young rush fans. 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. Later come two odysseys that signal their voyage into prog. 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. The caress of steel album cover rush the rush forum.
Last year, sometime, i received the somewhat infamous rush album caress of steel reissued on vinyl. I think im going bald was written for kim mitchell, who at the time was the frontman of the band. 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. It is often considered notable for the inclusion of the bands first two epic pieces, the necromancer and the fountain of lamneth. 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. The first single from the album, far cry, was posted as ondemand streaming audio on this site at that time. Producer, associated performer, recording arranger. This album is set apart by the epics the necromancer and the fountain of lamneth. 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.
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. Caress of steel is the third studio album by canadian rock band rush, released in 1975. 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. The necromancer into the darkness under the shadow return of the prince medleyalbum version.
Rush, caress of steel vinyl reissue new music, songs. 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. On march 12, 2007, the band unveiled a new website at the official rush website, primarily to promote the album. Fly by night bytor and the snow dog, anthem, fly by night. The necromancer is subtitled a short story by rush. Long pieces, pieces broken up into parts, and solo passages of speed and agility are all included. The album has been mastered at the legendary abbey road studios from the original analog masters. The necromancer and the nearly 20minute the fountain of lamneth. 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. If it came down to it though, id take the narration on the necromancer over the unforgivable rap on rtb any day. Fording the river dawn, they turn south, journeying into the. And while rush would eventually excel in composing lengthy songs, the albums two extended tracks the 12. Rush caress of steel 1975, gatefold, vinyl discogs. The seminal 2112 totally eclipsed its predecessor and this album stood as the poor step.
I first heard caress via a used copy of archives that i bought when i was in the 10th grade. Several of the tracks are hints of the longer epic prog rock tracks to come in later albums. The album is often considered notable for the inclusion of the bands first two epic pieces. Feb, 2014 the wraith of the necromancer soars away in the night. 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. Buy rushs album titled caress of steel to enjoy in your home or car, or gift it to. Caress of steel was released a few months later the same year as fly by night. 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. Caress of steel is often considered one of the lesser chapters in the annals of rush. The album eventually became known as one of rushs most obscure and overlooked recordings.
The men are free to run now, from labyrinths below. Though long ago purchased on cd, cassette and vinyl the new record was meant to fill out the. The wraith of the necromancer soars away in the night. In the old tales of quests, the travelers were always restless and with a goal. Caress of steel is a music studio album recording by rush heavy progprogressive rock released in 1975 on cd, lp vinyl andor cassette. The necromancer by rush song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart. Everything except the barcode is very blurry compared to other anthemmercury rush releases. I dont know who did it, but i never did think the narration worked. Background and commentary the necromancer is subtitled a short story by rush. 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. Its an audience recording from the down the tubes tour which was for promoting the caress of steel album. You know that expensive reissue on 200 gram virgin vinyl.
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 as a thoughtful and imaginative lyricist. 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. This 8mm silent video is taken from two shows on the caress of steel tour. Ive always thought it really dragged that song down and ive never been a big fan of the necromancer because of the narration. At this particular show, rush was the opening act for kiss, that is why the setlist is only an hour long. 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.
1514 248 409 1363 316 945 1229 1510 324 811 111 985 962 1252 462 1231 1035 35 1287 775 382 1328 1526 1095 864 1199 257 1183 476 1161 874 539