Icon: Rush

Rush | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 31, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Island / Mercury
• ASIN: B003WO4UQG
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #144,224 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Working Man

2. Fly By Night

3. The Necromancer

4. The Twilight Zone

5. Closer To The Heart

6. Circumstances

7. Freewill

8. Limelight

9. The Analog Kid

10. Red Sector A

11. Marathon

12. Force Ten

Editorial Reviews

With their sales statistics placing them third behind The Beatles and The Rolling Stones for the most consecutive gold or platinum studio albums by a rock band, Rush have dominated the rock world with lyrical prowess and musical ingenuity. With twelve Mercury Records studio albums under this trios' belts, this collection by Rush features one song from each of those albums to highlight their amazing career. Featured songs include their debut album's "Working Man," 2112's "The Twilight Zone" and classic rock radio staple "Limelight."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Skip this, February 1, 2011

By 

Johnny Boy "The Record Collector" (Hockessin, DE) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Icon: Rush (Audio CD)

I'll make this review quick. Not much needs to be said.

Well, Rush is a great band. I had the privilege of seeing them last July in Camden, NJ and they were GREAT. Geddy, Alex, and Neil just played their you-know-whats off. They were outstanding, and it ranks as one of the best shows I've ever seen. To capitalize on their "Time Machine Tour" (as it was called), Mercury Records, the band's label from 1974-1987, released 'Icon,' their installment in the new CD series they are releasing. This is apparently replacing '20th Century Masters' for artists affiliated with the Universal Music Group labels.

Well, it's an interesting collection. There is one song per album (not counting the live 'All the World's A Stage,' 'Exit: Stage Left' and 'A Show of Hands') from the Mercury years, which ends after 1987's 'Hold Your Fire' album. And they did a nice job choosing songs.

The problem is not the material. Obviously, this is a budget disc, and thus, lots is missing. 'Distant Early Warning,' 'In the Mood,' 'La Villa Strangiato,' 'Mystic Rhythms' and 'Witch Hunt,' among many others, are missing in action. These songs are essential parts of their Mercury years and yet, nowhere to be found here.

Look, you can't appreciate Rush through compilations. The way to go is buying studio albums. Go for 'Hemispheres,' '2112,' 'Moving Pictures' and perhaps my two favorite albums, 1984's 'Grace Under Pressure' and 1985's 'Power Windows' (yeah yeah yeah, I know, lots of synthesizers, but what does it matter? The writing is superb, and the musicianship is as tight as ever -- not that you would expect anything less than that from Rush).

Overall, pass this. Buy a studio album or any of their live albums. Also, if you find that you like Rush, keep going. Dig deep and get some of their Atlantic albums, like 1989's 'Presto' and 1991's 'Roll the Bones,' both of which rank as some of Rush's most essential albums.

Skip this. It's completely unnecessary.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars 'The Pass" is the best move here, July 8, 2011

By 

Fredorama - See all my reviews

This review is from: Icon: Rush (Audio CD)

So let me preface this review by stating that I am one of the band's longest standing and most avid fans (over 100 shows since 1981, met them, own everything they have ever released, saw them in Brazil, etc.) But I will NOT buy this overt and insulting attempt at a money grab by their new record company, Island, to capitalize on their new-found popularity in the wake of "Beyond the Lighted Stage" and "I Love You Man." Please!! If you are a fan already, you don't need this. And If you are interested in what has made this band the legend they have become, then you CERTAINLY don't want to start here!

As the title of one of their better live CD packages proclaims, this is a band that has gone through many different stages over their nearly 40 year career. They have changed their image, hairstyles, musical styles and live shows many times over that period. If you have been a casual, sideline fan for years, or are newly curious about these guys and why they are still here, selling out 80 shows a year all over the globe, then do yourself a favor; PASS this one up.

Instead, spend a few bucks and buy 2112, Hemishperes, Permanent Waves, and Moving Pictures. These are for sure IMHO, their finest works, stylistically, thematically, and musically. Hemispheres, although incredible musically and thematically, might however, be too much for a new Rush fan to take in. If you like these four records, then go ahead and treat yourself to Fly By Night, A Farewell to Kings and Signals. That will complete your "Classic Rush" collection, and give you an idea of just what all the fuss is about. Sure, you can get Caress of Steel (which they wrote and recorded while they were high as kites), and the first self-titled album with clubber John Rutsey on drums (God rest his soul)... but those two pale in comparison to the other albums in that period.

After Signals, they kind of went crazy trying to find a new sound, experimenting with synths and electronic percussion and poppier songs. I think they left their roots along with what made them great, behind so that they wouldn't become "bored." Whatever. I have heard people say, "Well that's what makes them Rush." Ok. I don't have to love everything they ever put out. Some of it is downright crap (again, just my opinion). To be fair, not every Picasso was a work of art. But Rush, like Picasso, managed to put out enough brilliant mind-blowing art in their day, that it succeeds in passing the truest test of all; the test of time. Jack Black said it best in the film. There has never been a band like them. Nor will there ever be again.

So sit back, read the lyrics, listen to the music. Repeat. Enjoy!!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Some other gems on the early albums, November 20, 2010

By 

Todd McMillen - See all my reviews

This review is from: Icon: Rush (Audio CD)

I'm a huge Rush fan, and sure I love the hits, but on every album, there are a few real gems that don't get played on the radio. This is an example of some of those you might miss if you only have the greatest hits compilations. After all, how many copies of Tom Sawyer do you need?