For years this was the dark horse of the catalog as far as albums went. This album was basically despised originally, but has since become a cult favorite. For the record, I have always loved this album.
Caress of Steel is my favorite Rush album. Rush's first four albums are etched into my mind. And that's a good thing because my memory started slipping about twenty years ago.🕊💖🎸
Neil was only 22 or 23 when he wrote these lyrics, but they are his top 5 best! I tell my Rush fan friends that we are in the Bacchus Plateau point of our lives, and they get it.
My introduction to Rush, when I was 15, was this song. My best friend had played the record for me in the summer of 77, and was killed in an accident the following year. This song has always held a special place in my heart. 'It's not the end ... I'll be coming up again' - - Ambergris was used to make perfume ... this is a song about a lady - - 'Bacchus Plateau' is me now ... I've got more to give, but not necessarily the time to do it - - Journey before Destination'👍
I love how both bands remained so respectful of each other over the decades. Geddy said he learned so much from touring with Kiss from how to put on a show and be professional. Kiss learned…….. ummmm …. They learned ….. ummmm two more chords? I’m joking! I’m joking!!!!!
This was my first RUSH album, i went into the record store intending to buy Fly By Night, i was already a RUSH fan, but this album was on the end cap with the sign New Release, so i figured WTH I'll buy it. Took me a little time to appreciate it, but it's become a favorite and to hell with the haters and detractors, This is great music.
To answer you question, they were about 22-23 yrs old when they wrote this!! They were musical geniuses beyond their years! The drum solo part is “diddacts and narpets” is suppose to mean addicts and parents! You can kinda hear the parents yelling at the kid and at the end, telling him to LISTEN!! Love the comment below where someone said Paul Stanley didn’t get it, but you did! Loved it!! Be well and God bless… from Texas!!
Actually, it’s “didacts” not “diddacts”. A didact is a teacher and “narpets” is an anagram of “parents”, so this section is about those in authority over school age teens (the parents and teachers) telling them how to live and the rebellious nature of teens responding to them.
The song that nearly ended Rush. The record company wanted more shorter 'hits' from them so Rush responded with a middle finger & another full side song, 2112 and the rest as they say is history. This was Rush attempting the epic & probably over-reaching themselves at that time. Without this though there wouldn't have been 2112.
I’m always amazed at how well Rush was able to marry Neils’s lyrical content to the perfect music to capture the mood. This is one of my favorite deep cuts by Rush but at first listen I was a little thrown off until I realized they were metaphorically talking about one’s journey in life.
So agree that the lyrics and music connect so well. Just working at a Phish concert I can appreciate more taking the technical playing, but make it a song, not a string of noises
Thank you so much for doing this song! When I was 15 years old in 1976 I bought this record because of the album art on the cover. And this song touched my soul.I was definitely a dreamer and an outcast and rush became my religion basically after this. I had been abused and turned to drugs and music. The drugs almost killed me but the music saved my life. Rush and their music basically guided me through life along with a couple other bands like Kansas and Pink Floyd. thank you again for doing this song I really enjoyed your interpretation. And I am looking forward to you investigating the band Kansas and some of their earlier stuff. it’s very spiritual music and lyrics. and did I say thank you yet lol I know I did but thank you again that was awesome.
Thanks so much for sharing part of your story. Glad you are still here! I can definitely relate to the part of being a dreamer and drugs (alcohol too). For me its mostly books that saved me, but music was a very big part of it too. Definitely will check out Kansas too.
Rush was one of my first concerts back in 1975. K-SHE 95 Real Rock Radio in St.Louis, one of if not the oldest rock station in the world now in their 54th year, played a small but important role in Rush's success they were one of the few stations that gave them airplay, having Working Man in their regular rotation and giving Geddy Lee his first live radio interview and using Rush's 2112: Overture as their intro to their music news which made that song one of their most requested songs. K-SHE sponsored all the big rock shows and brought Rush in to open for The Charlie Daniels Band in 1975 for their kite fly and free show in Forest Park I was lucky enough to "see" the show, I was so far back that I couldn't really see anything, but I wasn't alone there were an estimated 70,000 people there. In an interview Geddy Lee has said it was one of his favorite memories and that the band owes K-SHE a debt of gratitude.
I love your reactions, have watched many . Rush is the band that made me open a dictionary ,a thesaurus. Forever grateful for these three . Born in 1965 .
Nice one Saeed. Glad you went all the way back to do another from this album. As others have said, not one the record company were pleased with which led to them being given an instruction to make their next album to be shorter more commercial songs. They stuck to their guns and made 2112. The most epic tale of the freedom of art and creativity triumphing over autocracy. Thank goodness they won! Looking forward to your next Rush reaction. I love how you appreciate all aspects, musicianship, lyrics, story setting, the whole art. Awesome 😁
This is in my humble opinion another masterpiece. But maybe a little glad that it underrated at the time or even not appreciated, or else we might have not gotten 2112 😄 Thanks so much for watching!
Saeed, you hit the nail on the head about this song. It’s a song about the circle of life. It starts at birth (section 1, in the valley) then the rebellious teenage years (section 2, didacts and narpets), followed by by striking out on your own (section 3, no one at the bridge), finding that special woman (woman since all 3 Rush members are guys 😊) (section 4, panacea), then middle age (section 5, Bacchus plateau), then old age and death (section 6, the fountain).
WELCOME TO RUSH ! I WAS 12 IN 1974 when I first heard RUSH, and have never turned back. Neil Peart is one of my inspirations to play drums, and with many drums and cymbals. I love a big kit. Enjoy !!
After discovering Rush in the early 80s, I quickly jumped into their early albums and found how much they included many fantasy themed songs. I was really into Tolkien, Terry Brooks, Stephen R Donaldson, and others so I ate it up. Love this song, one of my favorites. Excellent reaction as usual. Told you it was epic.
I’m glad to see you finally got to this epic masterpiece, Saeed. I also notice that your viewership is climbing. Kudos, my friend. Slowly but surely, folks are recognizing that you are a truly unique and well-versed RU-vidr, and here’s hoping that your subscribers continue to grow. “To days without that chill at morning, long nights, time outta mind”. Peace brother, from North Carolina ✌️
While it wasnt well received back in the day Caress Of Steel in retrospect really is a great album and The Fountain Of Lamneth is my personal favorite of the side long epics, I love Geddy's vocals especially on No One At The Bridge and Panacea. 😊
I CAN HEAR YOU NOW SAEED, JONI MITCHELL, RUSH, WHAT THE HELLLLLL DID I GET MYSELF INTO! 😮😊IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFULLLLL ( NO PUN ) THING MY FRIEND, TIMELESSSS STUFF IN GREAT ROCK MUSIC!💯👍
this is one of my most favorite songs of theirs. Thank you for going over the lyrics the way i have for years. it's always a real journey going over them. ALL of their songs are like this. i think you'll like the song Losing It - there's some serious thought provoking lines in that one. also, Time by Pink Floyd is another that will probably make you cry. if you're up for it lol thanks again
Great analysis on this excellent Rush epic. What great insight you have and you opened my eyes to a deeper meaning to the song. I've always picked up the last half about aging but, never caught the actua "I am born" as literal. Awesome interpretation thank you.
This is in my top 5 or maybe 3 Rush songs. So progressive. So hard. So thoughtful. Loved seeing you hear it for the first time. Brought tears to my eyes a bit
Been here with you since the very first RUSH Reaction and I have to say , I'm a huge fan of your channel!!!!! You are among the rarety of YOU TUBERS who actually READ BOOKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Since my eye's went south I don't read much any more but. i still can live through other voices... You're the only Guy who actually took the time to look deep into the only band that will ever be...Thank you for that... When Neil died it truelly felt like I lost a best friend even though I never met the man...I think you already know why... Anyway If you could react to The Mission I would love to hear your reaction. Thanks again and GOD Bless.
Thanks so much for watching and the kind words. Sorry to hear about your eyesight. Luckily we still have songs like these that tell amazing and epic stories. Also there are amazing audiobooks out there. Some narrators really enhance the experience of consuming a story. Almost like how stories were originally told before most people could read and printing wasnt widespread. Will add The Mission to my list. Thanks again!
Much later on in their career Neil writes, ‘The point of the journey, is not to arrive.’ Great reaction, congrats on 3 years sober….8 years sober here.
Love this song as well as “The Necromancer” yes you were right. An interesting story about this album. It totally bombed when it was released. The record company told them they needed to write shorter more radio friendly songs. Yet Rush decided they were going to make the music they wanted, record company be damned. They released 2112 next. Which became a huge success despite 2112 taking up the entire side. The record company left them alone and from that album on they wrote the music they wanted without the hindrance of the record label
I've been listening to this album since I was a young kid... Next on the menu really should be their last studio album, and I believe it to be one of their best: Clockwork Angels, another concept album. It's raw and sad!
It IS a great piece of art .So great people don;t get it. I've always said if Caress came after 2112 - Hemispheres it would have been a huge fit. They were criticized so hard for it, they themselves believe it was a mistake. It's genius. They were genius. No one understood. Thank god for 2112
This song is an amazing journey! Geddy and Alex would have been 22 and Neil 23 when they recorded this album. I am going to suggest Dinner with Rush. You will see how goofy and down to earth these guys are the wonderful brotherhood between them. Cheers ❤
I'm glad you pay attention to the lyrics... a lot of reactors don't... BTW... you mentioned sanderson....if you have never read MALAZAN you should check it out.. There is nothing like it, on another level from any other fantasy writing. It's written odd and a lot of people have a hard time with book 1.. it's worth it though... look up some reviews sometime.. don't get spoiled though :)
the guys were all 22 when this was recorded. Thank you again for your reaction to this song and to this band. Maybe you can explain to Paul Stanley the meaning of this song because he didn't get it. QUICK NOTE.....the drum solo was called didacts and narpets which is the acronym for ADDICTS AND PARENTS. thumbs up!!!
SO YEAHHHH SAEED, THIS WAS ALWAYS MY ( RUSH ) ALBUM😊, DIDN'T MAKE IT BIG BIG OR TAKEOFF RIGHT AWAY😮 BUT IT DID IN THE END AND GOT IT'S JUST DUE! AND SO THIS WAS THE ANGRYYYYYY RUSH SAEED STILL TRYING TO GET SIGNED AND OF COURSE THEY WENT ALL OUT WITH THEIR FOLLOWING AND LAST DITCH EFFORT TO MAKE IT THEIR WAY AND THEY DID WITH THE MASTERPIECE ( 2112 )💯 WHAT CAN YOU SAY SAEED, R.I.PERCUSSION PARADISE TO THE GREATEST DRUMMER AND INSANELYYY GREAT LYRICIST, THE MUSICAL GIANT WHICH WAS NEIL ( P / EAR / T ) 👍 SO ANOTHER THING FOR YOU, THEY HAVE AN ILLUSTRATED VERSION OF ( 2112 ) WITH LYRICS AND ALL JUST SO YOU KNOW! ENJOY ENJOY ENJOYYYY!!! 😊
This one definitely resonates on a personal level. A Song one needs to listen to at least once a year. I imagine one gets new perspectives on it as time and life goes on. Thanks for watching!
Definitely.. time and lifes experiences. .in the early 80's in the military far from home, Panacea often helped with the home sickness I experienced. They could get very deep at such a young age. The Cask of 43, that may be also the year his parents met in Europe as teenagers incarcerated by the ss. . sadly how they met but he found her after the war, keeping a promise his Dad made to her that he would find her and marry her. 💜
Clockwork Angels - Neil's take on Voltaire. I must Read and Listen By the way Ambergris is Perfume. I have always referred to it as a Musical representation of a Novella.
It’s not perfume itself. Ambergris is a waxy substance that’s used to stabilize the scent of a perfume in the West. In Eastern cultures, it’s used for medicine and potions and can be used as a spice. It originates in the intestines of the sperm whale. When it is first taken from the sperm whale it has a faecal smell (thus probably why the character is taken aback by it), but as it settles out and the mass dissipates it gradually becomes more smooth and musky in smell. PS: Props to the internet for the information. Lol.
Rush definitely helped me, to find intelligent music that was complex enough and interesting in how they were so creative at times (and silly at others but still interesting) I didn't feel so alone in a crazy world. After their major progressive era was past I still liked them and still do now, but those early albums with those imaginative songs were what captured me. I put your accent as NY, NYC, but not Dutch. :)
Saeed, I hardly ever listen to reactors' comments because they strike me as sophmoric and surface level ramblings. However, you bring a depth and a meaningful search for understanding. Thank you.
Add in All the World's a Stage (live) and it's 7. Oh, and Permanent Waves was completely recorded in the 1970's as it's release date was January 14, 1980. Not a bad 6 years for Rush.
I never understood why people didn't like this record. I loved it the first time I heard it! The B side songs are great as well. My favorite on the B side is Lakeside Park. Which RUSH said they didn't like. So when they played it in Tampa,FL, on the R40 tour, I was so happy! I never thought I would hear it live. Genius Record! But then they don't have a bad record, IMO! It just depends on whatever mood I'm in.😊
@SaeedReacts. I really like your reactions. It reminds me of me and my friends from high school. Who I am still friends with to this day. We used to listen and discuss RUSH for hours on end. And back then, there was no internet. But, we got the themes and lyrics because we were nerds who read fantasy, sci-fi, comic books, etc. Have a great day!
@@davidl7605 Thanks! Appreciate that. I had a lot of friends, but none of them were interested in fantasy or scifi or some of the music i liked. Its cool to get to connect with like minded people through this. Like you said it is like hanging out and chatting about it. (At at least thats how i approach reaction)
I think Hemispheres was the first video of yours that came up in my YT feed. I clicked watched and thought oh this guy gets it! Subbed immediately. Sorry it took 3 weeks for me to get to this one it's just that if you release more than 3 videos a day, they won't come up in the notifications! Anyway, I love the reactions and discussions! Have a great rest of your day!
Saeed, being a Rush fan since the 2112 era, I could definitely be wrong on this but it seems that just maybe this is a prelude to the Cygnus trilogy. There is just so much familiarity. I am probably wrong but it's brings something familiar. Thank you for your great reaction.
I was always a big fan of this song and album. No one at the Bridge is one of my favorite Rush songs. Apparently they don’t remember much about the recording of this album due to a certain state they may or may not have been in!
Panacea ( I think ) represents a addiction and cask of 43 is when methadone was created by Germany for their soldiers to take away pain. Just my thoughts. Nice job again!
Hey Saeed love your reactions the most intelligent reactor… you get it. Got a new one for you how about “Countdown” it’s about the 1986 Challenger explosion. Great song
@@eblaz3626 Countdown if from the Signals album, released in 1982. It's about a shuttle launch which they were invited to as VIPs, not the Challenger explosion which was 4 years later. Fun fact - the launch observation area they were at was called "Red Sector A", the name they used for the Holocaust song on their '84 Grace Under Pressure album.
Ah, a reaction to one of my favorite Rush 'musical pieces', a very rare occasion here in YT land. Great reaction, it's very seldom for someone to "get it" on a first hearing so well done. I'm probably the only person in this universe who prefers TFOL to 2112, but I've always been a contrarian so I can live with that🙃
When this album came out listeners got different versions based on what media they bought: vinyl or 8 track tape, which weee the standards at the time. The 8 track tape could not play the album as intended and juxtaposed a couple parts of Fountain into the rest of the album instead. Not a good look.
Off topic, Saeed, but I need to alter slightly my request. Not to drop a spoiler, so I’ll just say that it’s the same song, same concert, but a better video. If you search for you know who and you know which song, choose the video by SarahBeth Boss. Sorry to intrude on Rush, but this was the only way I could get the message to you.
This album… regarded as their worst by so many. But it’s not bad at all really. Executive maybe “ I think I going bald.” Could have picked another song instead like “ I think I have prostate problems” or “ erectile disfunction is a bitch” I’m just saying.