Marking
45 years on the shelves, Rush’s fifth studio album, A Farewell to
Kings, was released on September 1st, 1977. After their breakthrough
release, 2112, from the previous year, A Farewell to Kings succeeded in
expanding their burgeoning audience while introducing one of the groups
most seminal and memorable singles.
After touring in support of
2112 for a grueling 16 months, rather than indulge in any vacation
time, the trio plowed straight into recording a followup album to keep
their hard won momentum rolling. With the first blush of success at
their backs, they decided to record in the UK for a change of pace and
set off to Rockfield Studios in Rockfield, Monmouthshire in Wales. In
addition to the unfamiliar surroundings, the group decided to further
challenge themselves with some unfamiliar instrumentation, with each
member tackling something new for the sessions. This was where the
group began introducing synthesizers to their sound, with Geddy, in
particular, finding his palette expanded by the use of a synth bass
pedal, which feed up his hands to play a Mini-Moog synth. This
configuration was actually something he picked up from Cameron Hawkins
of fellow Torontonian prog-rock trio, FM (which also featured Nash the
Slash). Cam had this same kind of setup and he helped Geddy acclimate
to this new performing technique.
Rush spent three weeks
recording in Wales before heading to London to spend two more weeks
mixing the album at Advision Studios. The album featured a mix of
longer conceptual pieces with more concise, radio friendly tracks,
particularly the song, Closer to the Heart, which was chosen as the
single. The album did well, cracking the top 40 zones of the charts in
Canada, the UK and the US, further advancing the band’s popularity. The
single has gone on to become a signature song for the group and one of
their most recognizable compositions.
The tour in 1977 to
promote the album happened to come through my home town of Thunder Bay,
ON, and their show at the Fort William Gardens became my first proper
rock & roll concert at the tender age of 14. My older cousin took
me to see them and I recall Max Webster were the opening act for the
show. This was the era of silk kimonos with big billowing sleeves for
Rush’s stage attire, which I thought looked pretty cool at the time,
though they’ve been razed for their threads of the time over the years.
The big concrete echo chamber of the stadium wasn’t a great place for
acoustics, but it sure was LOUD and I marveled at the throngs of jean
clad teens smoking weed and rocking out. It was a scene I’d never quite
witnessed before and it was a little intimidating! I suppose, for a
Canadian teen of the 1970s, you can’t complain about having your first
concert be by one of Canada’s most iconic bands touring on the heels of
what would become one of their most notable albums.
