#2 - Rush - 2112 (Full Album) 1975

My #2. Wow! What an EPIC!! 2112 is the fourth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released in March 1976 by Anthem Records.

Rush finished touring for their unsuccessful previous album Caress of Steel in early 1976. The band was in financial hardship due to the album's disappointing sales, unfavourable critical reception, and a decline in attendance at its shows. The band's international label, Mercury Records, considered dropping Rush but granted the band one more album following negotiations with manager Ray Danniels. Though the label demanded more commercial material, the band decided to continue developing its progressive rock sound. 2112 was recorded in January 1976 in Toronto with regular producer Terry Brown. ???? (Yea, Not Me, tho I'd love to take the credit! It's not mine to take! Lol!) ???? Its centerpiece is the 20-minute title track, a futuristic science-fiction song that takes up the entire first side of the album. There are five individual tracks on side two.

2112 was released to favourable reviews from music critics and quickly outsold the band's previous albums. It peaked at No. 5 on the Canadian Albums Chart and No. 61 on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tape and was the band's commercial breakthrough in the country. Rush supported the album with a tour of the United States, Canada, and for the first time, Europe, from February 1976 to June 1977. 2112 remains the band's second-highest-selling album (behind 1981's Moving Pictures) with more than 3 million copies sold in the United States. It is listed in 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, and ranked second on Rolling Stone's reader's poll, Your Favorite Prog Rock Albums of All Time. 2112 has been reissued several times; a 40th Anniversary Edition was released in 2016 with previously unreleased material, including the album performed by artists including Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Billy Talent, Steven Wilson, and Alice in Chains.

In January 1976, Rush ended its 1975–1976 tour to support the band's third studio album, Caress of Steel. The band members had enjoyed writing and recording the album, but Lifeson recalled the group in a state of confusion after the tour, sensing the disappointing reaction from crowds after playing songs from it on stage. The progressive rock-themed album with lengthy, story-based songs, complex song structures, and hard-to-grasp lyrics, made it difficult to receive radio airplay and promote effectively. Lee said the band could not understand the underwhelming response, and later dubbed the tour the "Down the Tubes Tour" as the band members struggled to meet their $125-a-week salary while crowds declined. Lee added, "That really shakes your confidence. We were so confused and disheartened." In 1980, Lifeson said this was the only moment in Rush history when he felt close to giving up.

The band's international label, Mercury Records, considered dropping them. Rush manager Ray Danniels flew to the label's head offices in Chicago to try to regain confidence and spoke highly of the band's new ideas for a new album without having heard any of it. Mercury approved one more album. Despite pressure from the label and management to make a more commercial record, the band ignored the advice and proceeded with material as they saw fit. Lifeson said, "I remember having these conversations about, 'What are we going to do? Are we going to try to make another mini-Led Zeppelin record or are we going to do what we are going to do and continue forward and whatever happens, happens?' ... We fully intended to [not] go down in flames but we were prepared to do that."

Following the commercial success of the album and tour, the band vowed to take full creative control of their music from that point on.

"2112" tells a story set in the city of Megadon in 2112 "where individualism and creativity are outlawed with the population controlled by a cabal of malevolent Priests who reside in the Temples of Syrinx". A galaxy-wide war resulted in the planets forcefully joining the Solar Federation (symbolized by the "Red Star"). By 2112, the world is controlled by the priests who take orders from giant banks of computers inside the temple. Music is unknown in this world absent of creativity and individuality, but in "Discovery", a nameless man finds a beaten guitar inside a cave and rediscovers the lost art of music.

Rush
Geddy Lee – vocals, bass
Alex Lifeson – guitar
Neil Peart – drums, percussion
Additional musician
Hugh Syme – ARP Odyssey synthesizer, synth guitar, Mellotron on "Tears"

Track listing
Original release
All lyrics are written by Neil Peart, except where noted

Side one

1. "2112"
I. "Overture" – 4:31
II. "The Temples of Syrinx" – 2:16
III. "Discovery" – 3:25
IV. "Presentation" – 3:41
V. "Oracle: The Dream" – 2:00
VI. "Soliloquy" – 2:19
VII. "Grand Finale" – 2:16"

Side two

1. "A Passage to Bangkok" 3:32
2. "The Twilight Zone" 3:16
3. "Lessons" 3:51
4. "Tears" 3:30
5. "Something for Nothing" 3:59