Rush - Fly by Night

1. Anthem
2. Best I Can
3. Beneath, Between, & Behind
4. By-Tor & The Snow Dog
I. At The Tobes Of Hades
II. Across the Styx
III. Of the Battle
IV. Epilogue
5. Fly By Night
6. Making Memories
7. Rivendell
8. In The End

“Fly By Night” marks the platinum-certified beginning of Rush as almost every fan would eventually come to know them: a powerful band comprising Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart. Released in 1975 and recorded just four months after Mercury signed the band’s self-titled debut for international distribution, the album already hints at the emotional contrasts, complexity, and multilayered character that would soon become trademarks of the Canadian trio. Rush once again joined producer Terry Brown at Toronto Sound, the same studio where the group had attempted to rescue its debut album from a host of production flaws. The close connection between Brown and the band is evident in just how cohesive “Fly By Night” sounds and feels.

Working under considerable time pressure, Rush capitalized on the momentum the band had gained after “Working Man” took over the airwaves and Peart joined the lineup only a few weeks before the group returned to touring in August 1974. During the nonstop tour through major and smaller North American cities that continued until the end of November, the musicians developed a chemistry that carried over to “Fly By Night.” In Peart, the band found not only a virtuoso drummer but also a storyteller whose literary abilities fully matched its musical ambitions. The new member contributed to the creation of six of the eight songs on “Fly By Night.”

Based on Ayn Rand’s novel of the same name, “Anthem” brims with assertiveness and self-empowerment. The band performs the very riffs Lee and Lifeson had played with Peart during his original audition. Peart’s desire to examine and master them in exacting detail made Lee and Lifeson realize they had found their man. The group’s newfound complexity did not escape the attention of several executives at Mercury, who expressed concern about the trio’s evolution away from a straightforward hard-rock band. Little did they know what was still to come…

MFSL now presents “Fly By Night” in audiophile reference quality for the first time! Mastered from the original tapes at MoFi’s California studio, the strictly numbered Hybrid SACD delivers the finest sound quality the album has ever received. This collectible reissue features the iconic cover artwork and establishes new standards for spaciousness, transparency, and dynamics. No previous edition offers this degree of warmth, clarity, and impact. Turn the volume all the way up and enjoy this classic rock masterpiece!