Atlas and the Anchor: REISSUE: Rush – Permanent Waves

Rush, the preeminent prog-rock trio, recently celebrated the 40^th anniversary of their iconic album, Permanent Waves, with a deluxe reissue, out now via Mercury/Anthem/UMe.

Permanent Waves was a bit of a turning point for the Canadian band, as they stepped away from the epic, lengthy suites they were best known for and streamlined their sound with tighter arrangements, shorter song lengths and catchier melodies. Led by the singles - the dynamic reggae-inspired “The Spirit Of Radio” and instant classic, “Freewill”, as well as the propulsive standout, “Natural Selection”; the album showcased another side of the band that would propel them for years to come.

The 40^th Anniversary Deluxe Edition is available now on 3LP or 2CD edition or as a Super Deluxe Edition that includes all of the above and more. In addition to the 2015 remastering of the original album, the deluxe editions are highlighted by twelve previously unreleased live recordings from the Permanent Waves World Tour in 1980. Standouts include, “Jacob’s Ladder” and “By-Tor & The Snow Dog” which features a drum solo from the late Neil Peart, and a full side dedicated to the opus, “Cygnus X-1” and “Cygnus X-1 Book II”. The beautiful package also features an updated design and cover art by Hugh Syme and a 12x12 lyric booklet with tons of unreleased illustrations and photos.

Additionally, the Super Deluxe edition package includes a 20-page 5”x7” notepad as a collectible item, reproduced from a newly discovered piece of Le Studio letterhead. Two tour programs are also included in this package: the official 1980 World Tour program and the very rare, unofficial The Words & Pictures Vol II UK-only tour program. The super deluxe edition box set is rounded out with a 40-page hard cover book with unreleased photos and exclusive liner notes, 3 collectible band member replica backstage laminates, a 24”x36” poster and 3 Neil Peart handwritten lyric sheets.

It’s a testament to Geddy, Alex and Neil that 40 years later, songs like the aptly-titled “The Spirit Of Radio” and “Freewill” from Permanent Waves have been in rotation on rock radio since their release. This box set will help to ensure their “spirit” lives on for another 40 years!

For more info or to order: https://store.udiscovermusic.com/search.html?term=Rush+Permanent+Waves

Check out 3 Songs from the 40^th Anniversary Reissue of Permanent Waves here:

“By-Tor & The Snow Dog: (Live in London, 1980 / Audio):