Permanent Waves 40th Anniversary

I always loved this album from the beginning in 1980, as it was my first introduction to Rush. So I was a little behind the rest of the worshippers "in the know", but that never stopped me from digging deeper into their prior catalog. How could I have missed all this fantastic music ? "Age" my young understudy, as I was just a few years off...which brings me to the entire point of this review, the fantastic live set of disc #2. I saw Rush on Moving Pictures tour in 1981 and was wowed and I can only imagine where I would have been picking my jaw up from the floor on this 1980 tour. The song selections are superb and many I have never heard played live like Cygnus X. Overall the recordings are quite good considering their age and it makes me very happy to hear and remember just how awesome Geddy sounded vocally back then. The reason to buy this boils down to the live disc and it is worth it. I will say that having a nice fresh copy of Permanent Waves is great ( not sure if this is a remaster as I loved the original recording) since I only have it on LP. More fun stuff to enjoy !

When this album was first released in 1980, I was in junior high and not yet able to afford many LP records. One of the local stations played the album in its entirety upon its release, and I was glued to the radio. Such style, such change from Hemispheres, such technical genius! I will never forget that short time around the radio, hoping to catch as much of it as as I could on a cheap tape recorder. 40 years later, that great music endures in this 40th anniversary re-release of the album. As usual, we are treated to a second disc full of live goodies! One could argue that us die-hard fans have already paid for these songs several times over, but a new release of live goodies from this legendary band just does not happen that often. I couldn't wait to hear the PW tour versions of Cygnus X-1 and Hemispheres. Having knowledge of previous shared recordings (let's call them that), I knew how these songs were going to sound live. Still a treat for fans. It also comes with a booklet featuring more artwork, as with previous anniversary releases. It was a sad time of it to see Neil Peart depart this life, but he leaves behind recordings of drumming skills that are so amazing one could call them "research and development for drums." A truly amazing musician and lyricist, Peart lives on in memories of amazing shows and technically-genius recordings that are Rush. It is indeed a fond farewell to one of the kings. Thank you to Rush for continuing to treat the fans.

I bought this 40th anniversary set for the unreleased live tracks, and though I wish there was a bit more information about the tour itself with this package, you can look up the dates on the Rush website and find that these tracks are from the shows in the UK in June 1980 and then Jacob's Ladder is from St. Louis in February 1980. I have to admit these have been worth the wait for 40 years and have an overall excellent sound quality! The live tracks Spirit of Radio and Natural Science are the highlight of this package in my opinion. These performances are really thrilling to hear with the band at the top of their game. To hear the crowd's reaction to these songs is great too, you can hear the anticipation in the crowd as the Geddy introduces these new tracks and you can hear a high level of British enthusiasm that you might not hear in American crowds at the time. The rest of the songs are great too, and to be expected, there is a nice touch with a wonderful photo of the Professor from the recording sessions and a dedication to him on the back of the booklet. This is a must buy for the serious Rush fan. I can't wait to see what they do for the 40th anniversary for Moving Pictures in 2021. Should be something to look forward to!

Originally released in 1980, as this was the band's seventh record. I remember the day this Rush lp hit the streets - as a month later was my first time of experiencing the power trio play live. The radio stations, music stores and promoters were all over it. Had not sat down and listened to this album in awhile now but I recall the countless times we all heard "The Spirit Of Radio" and "Freewill" (obviously, two of their most beloved tunes). But I thoroughly enjoyed taking in the somewhat stunning "Different Strings" and "Jacob's Ladder" (honestly, it's been too long). Disc two is nice - giving us an essential live collection of songs recorded live during that tour from gigs in Manchester and London, UK and St. Louis, MO. Couldn't get enough of the awesome "By-Tor & The Snow Dog", the twelve-minute epic "Xanadu", the beautifully-played "The Trees", their twenty-four minute masterpiece "Cygnus X-1" alongside "Cygnus X-1 Book Two", their long-running staple "Closer To The Heart" and the previously mentioned "Jacob's Ladder". Housed in a triple fold-out digi-pack. Comes with an irreplaceable twenty-page CD booklet. This 40th anniversary expanded Rush title is an absolute must-own. Highly recommended.

This was the first RUSH album that I ever purchased. I was only 14 at the time and did not know much about progressive Rock at that time. I remember putting it on my turntable and thinking that I found a hidden treasure in the record bin. The debate over this record versus Moving Pictures makes it hard for one to choose. They are both masterpieces and way ahead of their time. The deluxe edition of this is worth it for the remastering alone, but getting the second live disc is something I have waited for, for years. I had found many bootlegs of this era, but never wanted them as I like professional sounding shows that benefit the artist first. This is an album that changed from long song structures to shorter ones that were played on the radio, but this band has never truly sold out to any record company. Rush is timeless and this music will live on when we are all gone. They are in a category all of their own, and they earned it. Thanks for taking me back to a more simpler time and making it stand Still for me.

This 40th Anniversary remaster is a great improvement over the 1997 remaster. They have pulled back the volume levels which means it is a softer recording but not as harsh. Worth it.

It's the best Rush album and great to get the extra live tracks. Been looking forward to them. Shame they faded in and out. Probably a set of tracks considered for Exit Stage Left or an earlier live release. The only other bit I don't like is the way they abbreviated Cygnus and Hemispheres. Just doesn't sound right and they could have done it better. But it is how it was played. Oh well. Otherwise, blinking marvellous! Buy it

Esse álbum é dos meus favoritos do Rush

Dernier album des années 70 pour le groupe qui déja anticipe les années 80. Melange entre format court qui préfigure les temps a venir et les compositions plus longues de l'ère progresive.Pari gagné Rush a toujours eu un temps d'avance pour signer quasi 40 ans de durée d'existence et de qualité jamais démentie.Un des plus beau fleuron musical injustement oublié chez nous, mais nous on préfere ..........d'autres choses que je ne citerais pas ....

Lo splendido cofanetto contiene Permanent Waves e un live nel quale Cygnus X-1 parti 1 e 2 sono eseguite finalmente di seguito, anche se un po' abbreviate. Permanent Waves è un disco godibile di per sé, con vette di inarrivabile intensità come Jacob's Ladder e la splendida ballata, per non parlare della celeberrima The Spirit of the Radio e della suite Natural Science. Il live è una sorta di best of, con tutti i capolavori del periodo, compresi brani del disco in studio. Best of, ma tratto con scrupolo filologico da un unico concerto, del quale resta così la preziosa testimonianza.