Remastered Rush on CD - and remasters in general

Posted by: HTK on 14 August 2003

Anybody splashed out on remastered Rush? Refurbished amp plus new xps coming home next week (a week without decent music - arrrggghhh) and I'm thinking of indulging myself.
Thinking back nearly as far as I can remember, remastered LPs were usually worth the extra.
But does the "perfect sound" (hahahaha) of CD mean that remasters are just a marketing ploy to get my money?

Anyone?

Thanks.
Posted on: 14 August 2003 by Brucie
HTK,

Which ones have been remastered?

Do you listen to the more recent Rush albums (last 10-15 years)? I lost interest in them after Grace Under Pressure. I found them a bit boring after that.

b
Posted on: 14 August 2003 by HTK
I believe everything up to Presto has been "remastered". I'm cogitating over Moving Pictures, Signals and Power Windows. They ain't that expensive but if they sound the same or worse, why pay twice?

Almost ashamed to admit that I listen to everything from Hemispheres to date - someone's got to. Most of their stuff can give any half decent system a good work out and I find them particularly good for tweaking the bass. In my room there's a fine line between not enough and far too much.

I figure that many here will have gone down the remastered route on CD and I'd really appreciate any opinions before I start chucking money at stuff I already have sitting on the shelf.

Thanks

Harry
Posted on: 14 August 2003 by Brucie
Harry,

Are you not keen on their pre-Hemisphere's stuff? There are some real classics there.

b
Posted on: 14 August 2003 by Tim Williams
I like everything Rush have ever done, and I'm not afraid to admit it! They were the first 'proper' band I ever saw live (Hemispheres tour). Loved them ever since.

Most of the CD's were remastered several years back. Are these the ones you mean, or are they releasing them all again? (I've heard rumours that they are slated for SACD release, but little other than vinyl really interests me these days...).

Talking of Rush and vinyl... if anyone out there has 'Chronicles', 'Roll The Bones', or 'Counterparts' on vinyl, my wallet and I would like to hear from you!
Posted on: 14 August 2003 by davidm
I have an 'original' Moving Pictures and a remastered version.

There is a signifcant improvement in the new version - cleaner and more open soundstage with extended bass.

I have a few other's but that is the only double I have. £5 each at the local music store - can't be bad for a bit of my youth Smile

Music should be 'original' and played 'live'. No more overpaid Karaoke singers.
Posted on: 14 August 2003 by DavidY80
I've been a Rush fan for 25 years now, and can honestly say I think they're the greatest live act I've ever seen. I've always been disappointed with the production of their albums. If the remasters are an improvemnt I'd certainly be interested.

How do you like Vapor Trails?
Posted on: 14 August 2003 by Tim Williams
Artie, my man!! (Do you work for Polymer Records...?) If you want to sell or trade your RTB and / or Counterparts LP's please let me know (I might surprise you...!)

David. - Initially I was disappointed with Vapor Trails, but I eventually got into it. The songs they performed live came across far better than on record (not that they toured in the UK sadly!). Looking forward to the DVD...
Posted on: 14 August 2003 by HTK
A collective reply:

I do dip into the pre Hemispheres catalogue but not as much as the post Hemi work.

They're not releasing any newer remastered stuff as far as I know. My question concerns the ones that were released a few years back. My impending reintroduction to my amp next week just got me thinking about getting some remasters.

Extended bass on Moving Pictures? Bloody hell! I'll defenitely be buying that.

Last LP was Power Vindows. Sounded lean and edgy (but exciting) on vinyl (Rega Planar 3, Exposure X, Ruark Talismans - yeah, Mullet, I know) but is just too rough on CD for my liking. I've always thought their stuff was a bit "processed" on CD, a bit dyunamically squashed, if you will. Best efforts here to my ears are Counterparts and Test For Echo (in parts). Best LP for me is Signals with Moving Pictures a very close second. I don't buy vinyl any more - in fact, due to my seperation from the system for a week, I'm getting all my old vinyl not on CD on to the PC (Bonzo Dog stuff going on as I type...)

Vapour Trials. Interesting. Didn't like it at all (still bought it!). Thought it sounded simple and paired down - until a HiCap arrived for the CD5. Now it's right up with my favourites. there's a DVD out in Autumn of the Rio leg of the Vapour Trails tour - I'll pre order it as soon as it comes up in the listings.

Thanks for the feedback. Think I'm gonna "upgrade" a few of by back catalogue.

Harry
Posted on: 14 August 2003 by Tim Williams
Harry... before you do, I've just had it confirmed that almost all of the Rush CD's are about to be re-issued on SACD (not 5.1 surround mixes though).

Might be worth waiting awhile...
Posted on: 14 August 2003 by greeny
quote:
but is just too rough on CD for my liking. I've always thought their stuff was a bit "processed" on CD, a bit dyunamically squashed, if you will.


You are dead right here, Rush albums through the late 80's and 90's became more and more compressed, with very audible 'digital' distortion audible on several albums. Doesn't particularly bother me 'cos I don't like the post Moving Pictures stuff anyway.

2112 and A Farewell to Kings are two of my most played albums, with excepts from Permenant Waves and Hemispheres also getting regular airings. I can't say that for many of my 70's albums.

Is there any stuff already available on DVD that's any good??
Posted on: 14 August 2003 by Pete
Are these another round of remasters, or are we still on the original Rush remasters...

Had everything up to Roll the Bones on Vinyl anyway except for Exit... Stage Left, but that is very much improved from the first CD version (and you get A Passage to Bankok, or whatever it was they left off the first attempt, back on the index).

Really haven't got into Vapor Trails at all, but everything else is worth having (well, maybe not Caress of Steel, and I've never owned, or even heard, All The World's a Stage, and am not especially tempted to investigate).

Pete.
Posted on: 14 August 2003 by HTK
quote:
Originally posted by Tim Williams:
Harry... before you do, I've just had it confirmed that almost all of the Rush CD's are about to be re-issued on SACD (not 5.1 surround mixes though).

Might be worth waiting awhile...


I'm still in therapy for post vinyl stress disorder. Don't think my poor little brain could take another format change, and my wallet's not exactly stepping forward either.

If Naim release a SACD player in the £1.5-2.5k rance which is at lease as good as a CD5 I'll probably get restless.

If it can take a HiCap I'll probably get interested.

When my CD5 breaks for the last time and can no longer be repaired (assuming I haven't moved up the Naim CPD range in any case), I'll probably start drooling - but by then I might be so old that drooling is part of my daily activities anyway.

But then again, never say never.

Cheers

Harry
Posted on: 14 August 2003 by HTK
quote:
Originally posted by greeny:
Is there any stuff already available on DVD that's any good??


Chronicles is the only one I know. If you're a big fan you've gotta have it, but it's not much good - too short, patchy and not well laced together. The Rush in Rio DVD slated for release later this year is said to be the mutt's nuts. But they would say that wouldn't they? I'll buy it anyway, I'm a hopeless cause.
Posted on: 14 August 2003 by Brucie
Pete,

Get Caress of Steel. It has some really cool tracks.

b
Posted on: 15 August 2003 by Pete
quote:
Originally posted by Brucie:
Get Caress of Steel. It has some really cool tracks.


No need, I've had it for years. I just don't think it's worth the effort if you don't already own it. There are a few bits of Fountain of Lamneth that are okay but the whole thing really lacks any sort of focus, rather unusualy for a Rush album. They were moving into artiness at that point, but hadn't really got the skills for the job until 2112 came along. 2112 has focus, energy and cohesion, which you need if a 20 minute concept track is going to hold itself together, and the Fountain of Lamneth ain't got it.
I do occasionally dig CoS out for The Necromancer, but that's about it, and frankly By-Tor was better when getting a proper kicking from the Snow Dog.

Pete.
Posted on: 15 August 2003 by Brucie
Aye, the Necromancer is cool. Fair enough about CoS in general but its worth getting if you can find it for a couple of quid. Agree totally with 2112 comments.

b
Posted on: 17 August 2003 by Peter Stockwell
So was there a clear answer to the original question ? new remasters, not SACD, of the Rush Catalogue.

?

thanks

Peter
Posted on: 18 August 2003 by HTK
Hi Peter

No new remasters on CD. I was referring to the ones that have been our for a few years now. SACD in the pipeline, looks like most (if not all) of the back catalogue.

Thanks again folks for the feedback. Remasters of Singals and Moving Pictures here now, Power Windows in the post from Amazon.com. Now I must chase up Boarder Patrol about my amp - my wife and I are getting a bit strung out on the audio front, it's been a week.....

Cheers