Rush: ‘Hemispheres’
RUSH
HEMISPHERES
Released on October 29, 1978 (Anthem); remastered on November 16, 2018 (Mercury Records)
Review:
Just in time for (another) Christmas, Rush have released a new 40th year anniversary set, this time for Hemispheres. This follows previous years’ packages for 2112 and A Farewell to Kings. Full disclosure – I am a HUGE fan of this era of Rush, but will try to maintain some objectivity in this review! I received the previous two for Xmas gifts. For Hemispheres, I couldn’t wait, and went straight to the record store!
Hemispheres (the original) was released at the end of October 1978, followed by another mammoth world tour by the band. On to this anniversary package (the two CD set)… Let’s get the quibbles out of the way. First off, only two discs, whereas the previous two releases had three discs of goodies 
(my main beef — not enough Rush!). Among other things, the previous two contained some fascinating cover versions of the Rush originals by contemporary artists. And this new package features a 2015 ‘remaster’ of the original; my other (undated) Hemispheres disc is titled The Rush Remasters… What gives? Regardless, the original Hemispheres tracks sparkle on this new package. Another quibble — the enclosed booklet’s essay by Rob Bowman is much shorter than those in the previous two packages. Final quibble — the ‘bonus’ live takes on disc two; the November 20 1978 recording of “2112” from Tucson, Arizona, is coincidentally also a widely bootlegged show. I suspect that this included track is a cleaned up version from that soundboard boot, especially because the crowd sounds distant on the recording.
On to the plus side of this 40thanniversary release, the (almost) full set from the Pinkpop Festival in the Netherlands on June 4 1979, the final date of the Hemispheres tour is included. The recording was a radio broadcast, and is a very nice representation of Rush’s live show during this era. It is a muscular performance; what a treat to hear Alex Lifeson’s heavily distorted Gibson ES-355 raging throughout the concert. Geddy Lee and Neil Peart are also in top form… This recording makes the package a truly worthwhile purchase for any and all die-hard Rush fans. Rush previously released a video of “La Villa Strangiato” from this show, which makes me wonder whether the entire concert is also in the band’s possession. If so, it would have been a nice addition to this release.
This is probably the last Rush album which could be described as “metal”, before the band drifted into different musical territories. Next time (set your clock for the 40th year anniversary of Permanent Waves next Christmas), I hope that the band digs a little deeper into the vaults and spoils us with a bigger selection of previously unreleased music. Also, bring back the cover versions! Permanent Waves‘ six tracks would be fertile ground for some inspired tributes!
Finally, I saw the Hemispheres tour at the Ottawa Civic Centre on December 21 1978. It was my first ‘real’ rock concert (after the Bay City Rollers, don’t ask). First impressions are probably lasting ones, but this show is still in my top three all-time concerts. I was absolutely blown away by the volume, lights, and overpowering smell of herb. The opening band was fellow Anthem artists Wireless. Particular memories are a single yellow spotlight on Alex when he played the opening riff to “A Passage to Bangkok”, and a cool, and heavy, seasonal rendition of “The First Noel” as an encore. Hard to believe it was 40 years ago!
Track List – Disc 1:
01. Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres
• I. Prelude
• II. Apollo (Bringer Of Wisdom)
• III. Dionysus (Bringer Of Love)
• IV. Aramgeddon (The Battle Of Heart And Mind)
• V. Cygnus (Bringer Of Balance)
• VI. The Sphere (A Kind Of Dream)
02. Circumstances
03. The Trees
04. La Villa Strangiato (An Exercise In Self-Indulgence)
• I. Buenos Nochas, Mein Froinds!
• II. To Sleep, Perchance To Dream…
• III. Strangiato Theme
• IV. A Lerxst In Wonderland
• V. Monsters!
• VI. The Ghost Of The Aragon
• VII. Danforth And Pape
• VIII. The Waltz Of The Shreves
• IX. Never Turn Your Back On A MOnster
• X. Monsters (Reprise)
• XI. Strangiato Theme (Reprise)
• XII. A Farewell To Things
Track List – Disc 2:
01. A Passage To Bangkok (live at Pinkpop Festival, Netherlands/1979)
02. Xanadu (live at Pinkpop Festival, Netherlands/1979)
03. The Trees (live at Pinkpop Festival, Netherlands/1979)
04. Cygnus X-1: Book II Hemispheres (live at Pinkpop Festival, Netherlands/1979)
05. Closer To The Heart (live at Pinkpop Festival, Netherlands/1979)
06. La Villa Strangiato (live at Pinkpop Festival, Netherlands/1979)
07. In The Mood (live at Pinkpop Festival, Netherlands/1979)
08. Drum Solo (live at Pinkpop Festival, Netherlands/1979)
09. Something For Nothing (live at Pinkpop Festival, Netherlands/1979)
10. 2112 (live in Arizona/1978)
Band Members:
Alex Lifeson – 6 and 12-string electric and acoustic guitars, classical guitar, Roland guitar synthesizer, Moog Taurus pedals
Neil Peart – drums, orchestra bells, bell tree, tympani, gong, cowbells, temple blocks, wind chimes, crotales
Geddy Lee – bass, Minimoog synthesizer, Oberheim polyphonic synthesizer, Moog Taurus pedals, vocals
Production:
Produced and arranged by Rush and Terry Brown
Engineered by Pat Moran and Declan O’Doherty
Mixing assistance by John Brand
Mastered by Ray Staff
Band Websites:
Official Website
Facebook
Reviewed by John Lewis for Sleaze Roxx, November 2018
Rush‘s “The Trees” video:
Rush – The Trees (Official Music Video)
No Description