All The World's A Stage

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Thanks to recordings such as KISS’ <i>Alive!</i>, Cheap Trick’s <i>Cheap Trick at Budokan</i>, and Peter Frampton's <i>Frampton Comes Alive!</i>, the '70s were abundant with concert albums. But what put Rush’s <i>All the World’s a Stage</i> head and shoulders above the rest was the band's ability to perform its songs live while sounding just as tight as it did on the studio versions—without any post-production cheating. A flawless rendition of “Bastille Day” opens to an enthusiastic crowd, which sold out Toronto's Massy Hall in 1976 to welcome its hometown heroes. Rush follows this with a charged version of “Anthem” (with an athletic vocal performance by Geddy Lee that rivals the studio version) and the title track to <i>Fly by Night</i>. This awesomely blends into <i>In the Mood</i> from Rush's eponymous 1974 debut album (when John Rutsey was still the drummer). Of course, a spirited take on “2112” upstages the rest of the set, with nearly 16 minutes of unbridled prog-rocking pyrotechnics.

via Apple Music