Scooter Chronicles

Rush – “Moving Pictures”

Tracks:

1. Tom Sawyer
2. Red Barchetta
3. YYZ
4. Limelight
5. The Camera Eye
6. Witch Hunt (Part III of “Fear”)
7. Vital Signs

It may be hard to believe, but I was really introduced to this band by MTV. It’s true. Most of us from the very early MTV generation know that it was basically a rock ‘n roll radio station with videos. So Rush’s “Tom Sawyer” and “Red Barchetta” saw regular air time. Ah, the good ol’ days.

(From left): Geddy Lee (bass, keys, vocals), Neil Peart (drums), and Alex Lifeson (guitars).

I think it was inevitable that I would pick up on these guys. There is an internet term for people that just seem to blindly like anything by a particular artist / author / actor, etc. It’s called “fanboy.” (Or at least for those of us that are males.) That could possibly be the right description for me and my love of this band’s material. It is not that I do blindly love everything they do. Their songs just strike the right notes to me. Very, very rarely is there a song that I don’t like, or an album that I would say is just alright. “Moving Pictures” though is their best. Many that may not like some part of Rush’s history would probably say the same.

The band members excel at their chosen instruments. They have always pushed themselves to play better. And even admit to playing in certain time signatures or using certain chords just to say they did and to purposely show off. But by the time they recorded “Moving Pictures”, most of that was out of their systems and they were just writing great music instead of trying to be pretentious. For instance, “The Camera Eye” and “Red Barchetta” both probably would have been side long epics in the earlier days. Here they only take up 18 minutes combined.

I really have a hard time pinning down what it is about the album that I like so much. There are some many things; whether the arrangement of whole songs or the intricacies that you can hear throughout. Maybe best to list the highlights.

The Moog solo in “Tom Sawyer”, and the drum embellishments after the guitar solo, too. The overall arrangement and wonder of “Red Barchetta”, inspired by the short story “A Nice Morning Drive” by Richard S. Foster. The instrumental “YYZ” based on the flurry of activity found at Lester B. Pearson Airport in Toronto (YYZ is the airport code). The bass line in “Limelight” and the way Alex holds the last few note of the guitar solo forever. The opening instrumental three minutes of “The Camera Eye” and it’s descriptions of London and New York. The venom of the lyrics of “The Witch Hunt”, bashing those that ban things that could “hurt” society. And the sound of the drums in “tWH”, sounding like Neil is using mallets instead of drum sticks. Then there is Geddy’s bass tone throughout the album. Of course he is using a Fender, so it should sound good.

A more recent photo of Geddy, Alex, and Neil.

There are so many other wonders on this album. And no matter how many times I listen to this album, I never get tired of it. It is truly a classic to me. And always will be.