10 Greatest Songs Of Rush From The 80s

via YeOldeRock / Youtube

The 80s delivered a fine moment for the Canadian rock band Rush to switch on to different tune and to deliver some of the best songs ever known to man. Still, it was a bit long for them to finally be recognized for their outstanding musicianship, yet these guys never for once backed out on anything. This triumvirate of prog-rock has a reputation for creating innovative concepts, be it the complicated time signatures of drumming, or conceptualized sci-fi nitty-gritty, and it makes them sound like theyโ€™re the coolest trio in the whole genre. Check out their 10 greatest songs from the whooping 80s.

 

โ€œSubdivisionsโ€ โ€“ Signals (1982)

A staple to the bandโ€™s live concerts, โ€œSubdivisionsโ€ merely showcased the bandโ€™s efforts on instruments. It is also played rather continuously on radio stations around the world.

YouTube video

 

โ€œThe Big Moneyโ€ โ€“ Power Windows (1985)

Rolling Stone once babbled about how the Power Windows of Rush had a mix of Sex Pistols and Yes, but that argument is open for debate. What we do know is that the trio held the album in high regard with their single โ€œThe Big Money,โ€ capturing the albumโ€™s leitmotif about authority.

YouTube video

โ€œThe Spirit Of Radioโ€ โ€“ Permanent Waves (1980)

One of Rushโ€™s well-known songs, โ€œThe Spirit of Radioโ€ boasts Lifesonโ€™s rich and pure riffing, with a stint of reggae style. This was said to be inspired by the Toronto-based station, CFNY-FM. It remained to be one of Rushโ€™s greatest songs.

YouTube video

โ€œTime Stand Stillโ€ โ€“ Hold Your Fire (1987)

โ€œTime Stand Stillโ€ became the first song to ever need someone to produce a backing vocal from another singer— Til Tuesdayโ€™s Aimee Mann. While the album was heavily critiqued for its overt use of synthesizers and a pop feel, the song became an exclusion to that, also peaking the US charts on 3rd spot.

YouTube video

โ€œLimelightโ€ โ€“ Moving Pictures (1981)

Neil Peartโ€™s answer to the blinding lights of success and fame was compressed inside โ€œLimelight.โ€ Lifeson also credits this song as his favorite guitar solo and is also deemed as one of the fan favorites.

YouTube video

โ€œThe Body Electricโ€ โ€“ Grace Under Pressure (1984)

While Grace Under Pressure became a nobody album for fans, it did, however, bore an incredibly awesome track worth remembering. โ€œThe Body Electric,โ€ heavily inspired by a Ray Bradbury story, illustrates the attempts of the human race to the barriers created by the robot society. Geeky, but enticing.

YouTube video

โ€œMarathonโ€ โ€“ Power Windows (1985)

Neil Peart had somewhat encapsulated the metaphor of life for this one. While itโ€™s unavoidable to gush over on the lyrics, Geddy Leeโ€™s bass and keyboards here sure take a nice toll on the song.

YouTube video

โ€œRed Barchettaโ€ โ€“ Moving Pictures (1981)

Moving Pictures might have spurred some excellent tracks like โ€œTom Sawyerโ€ and โ€œYZZ,โ€ but โ€œRed Barchettaโ€ became an underrated sonic treat that exhibits Peartโ€™s skills as a magnificent songwriter. It was inspired by Richard Fosterโ€™s short story entitled A Nice Morning Drive.

YouTube video

โ€œThe Analog Kidโ€ โ€“ Signals (1982)

Alex Lifesonโ€™s curvaceous skills on the guitar here are priceless, something that turned out to be underrated due to the bandโ€™s hefty reliance on synthesizers. But the guitar whiz nonetheless proved to everyone why Rush remains superior on any instrument there is for the group.

YouTube video

โ€œJacobโ€™s Ladderโ€ โ€“ Permanent Waves (1980)

The radio-friendly Permanent Waves album from Rush sure did take a large backstep on their progressive hallmark, but that didnโ€™t mean that they couldnโ€™t opt to give the fans a taste of their prog medicine, spewing โ€œJacobโ€™s Ladderโ€ interlacing to the numerous time signatures. Itโ€™s also the song that commemorates the groupโ€™s affection for the English rock group Led Zeppelin.

YouTube video