Exit Stage Left [Remaster] by Rush (CD, Jul-1997, Mercury)

RUSH - Exit stage left is the epitome of great older RUSH songs. This would make a great album for introducing someone to older RUSH music. It has a very fine selection of RUSHs music throughout the previous years. The ever-so-coveted Neil Peart drum solo in the song YYZ is on here. If you are anything of an aspriring rock drummer, this solo will be music to your soul. Neil Peart sacrifices NO QUALITY what-so-ever in this BRILLIANT live solo perfromance. EVERY SINGLE TIME I have watched a live drum solo from Neil Peart, he has gotten a very looooong standing ovation. I personally love this album in its entirety. Every song is an introduction to the different eras of RUSH. I would think that anyone who bought this album would be inspired to buy more old RUSH albums. This is what I would consider to be a great "gateway" album. Moving Pictures comes to mind as well. I have owned the album, the tape and CD. This is truly amongst the greatest older RUSH albums. Enjoy!

I wanted "A Passage To Bangkok" live...the original analog CD didn't have it. Plus, they'd just started releasing all the Rush CDs out in remastered format. The perfect excuse to buy more! My wife never understood...Well, she's got a new beau now who listens to elevator music. Her loss, my gain!

The CD is well arranged, wonderfully mastered, and contrary to popular belief, does indeed have 'the energy'. "Where's the guitar"? Where isn't the guitar? This is before Alex was sidetracked by the Moog and Yamaha that the record execs forced on Da Boyz starting with "Signals". It's good to see the keyboards in the backseat nowadays; They were the bane of the '80s music scene. And this CD, even with some keyboard in it, still brings Alex's virtuosic talents to the frontline equally along with Neil's legendary hits and Geddy's bass notes which are anything but average.

The tracks which stand out profoundly in my mind are "Red Barchetta", "A Passage To Bangkok", "Beneath, Between And Behind", "The Trees", "Xanadu" and "La Villa Strangiato". Not to negate the other selections, but these are the ones that seem to glide...Live perfection.

You simply won't find a better-balanced group in existence today...That's why I got all their CDs in my library. Long live Rush!

RUSH is a rock band. A very good rock band at that. They have been around for a long time. 30 plus years and have inspired and influenced countless muscians and music lovers. This is a great live cd. Buy it.