With very few exceptions, the economy of devotedly following a particular musical group is this: you always wish there were more songs, albums, tours, bootlegs, etc to choose from. (I am making the assumption that Grateful Dead fans have more than enough material to last a lifetime). Sometimes the desire comes down to the length of a favorite song--you wish that that three minute gem were just a little longer. Like many bands, Rush has augmented their studio output with a string of live album releases. For many years, their habit was to put out a live album after three studio albums had been released. Interestingly, the band’s musical direction would often change after these tour mementos. As band members have repeatedly said, their goal in concert is to reproduce as closely as possible, note for note, the music captured on their LPs. Their live releases are certainly testament to this.
So why bother? The live versions of Rush’s songs offer a pleasing difference to the ear from their studio work. The studio versions are perfect, completely realized, and artfully “tuned” to bear repeated listenings. The live versions, on the other hand, show the trio in all of their raw power. One song that comes to mind is ‘The Trees.’ The studio version on Hemispheres has a smoky, almost folky feel to it. On their live album, Exit Stage Left, there’s this heavy reverb that gives the song an energy lacking on the original. Also, Geddy’s bass is louder in the live mix and Alex is using a flanger that totally kicks butt. I don’t know how to test this, but the the live version also seems to me to have a slightly quicker, more exciting tempo. Otherwise, it’s a note-for-note repro of the original. Those changes, however, to a fan like me, nearly make it an entirely different song. Practically speaking, that means that sometimes I want to hear the studio version of ‘The Trees,’ sometimes I want to hear the Exit Stage Left version and sometimes I want to hear the Rush in Rio version.
When I was a kid, Rush used to put out an album a year, which was just enough to keep me satisfied. Now that output is more like one every four or five years--and there’s a constant threat that their latest release will be their last. Still, I’m grateful to the band for having the foresight to release so many live records over the years. Because of that I’ve got a lot more of their awesome music to keep me going.
1 comment:
You had me at... "So why bother?"
My biggest lament is that their concerts seldom are open to improvisational playing - though I try to see them on each tour, and though they are incredibly talented, they are just too efficiently mechanical & structured in that respect. While it gives the concert-goer/listener a standard amount of entertainment for the money, the downside is that their concerts become predictable & almost a caricature of themselves at times.
The repeated selling of live albums is just another efficient way to extract more money from a very loyal fan base.
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