Customer Reviews

Rush: Grace Under Pressure Tour 1984

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I was in college, this was the first (and favorite) concert video I owned. Years later, I (very stupidly) sold it. Recently, I spend nearly a year waiting for a used VHS copy to become available on [...] for a reasonable price, and finally got it. Then, wouldn't you know it, the concert finally becomes available on DVD individually, without having to buy EXIT...STAGE LEFT and A SHOW OF HANDS with it.

This is my favorite RUSH video concert for several reasons. For one thing, I enjoy concerts that are videotaped rather than filmed. It also captures Rush (in my opinion) at their golden moments in the 1980's, when their two previous albums, Moving Pictures and Signals had put them at the top of their fame. From 1981 through 1986, Rush was known for always opening their shows with "Spirit of Radio" and this one doesn't disappoint. It also includes the "Fear" trilogy of "The Enemy Within", "The Weapon" and "Witchunt" and the popular instrumental, "YYZ".

I deduct one star because it's disappointing that after more than two decades, the DVD show is still only 69 minutes long, without more of the complete show offered to the fans.

What a mess Mercury Records is. This CD should have been released back in 1986 when the VHS of the show was released. It could have been automatic Gold or Platinum for sure at the time and sold on tape and vinyl since compact discs were just starting. This show is perfect from start to finish. You get 3 "Fear" songs an incredible version of The Spirit of Radio with 3 Stooges Intro, Vital Signs, and other great classic Rush tunes with Rush playing at their peak. It would have been ideal if Mercury had added a few songs to this disc like Red Lenses/Drum solo to it so they could have attracted some different people. Also Between The Wheels and Afterimage live would have been sweet as well. All things said, this is worth the 10 bucks to get. The sound alone crushes Rio, R30, and S&A Live.

I don't understand the negative reviews I've seen of this one. The color and picture and sound on my copy were all very good. I could hear the guitars at all times and nothing was drowned out. The equipment they use and the clothes they are wearing are really a time capsule of 1984! Me and my friends really enjoyed this one, viewed for the first time by us in 2008. so, check it out. I own a lot of DVDs and concert DVDs and this is a good one. It comes with a miniature tour book too, and some extra pictures and stuff, If I remember right.

I remember recording this concert on a VHS tape off of MTV back in the mid-80's. I hadn't watched the tape in many years, and when I saw it for sale on DVD, I decided to purchase it. I certainly brings back memories of my college days, when Rush and myself were much younger. For any Rush fan, it is worth having. A great show, and preserves a specific phase of the band's history.

If you were only going to buy 1 or 2 Rush dvds this wouldn't be the one to buy. It's short at 63 min. & the video quality doesn't match up to their later releases(we are going back almost 30 years here!). But if you're a Rush affectionado you're going to like the fear trilogy, the medleys, & just the fact it's an early 1980's snapshot of this great band. Geddy still has his youthful voice(I,for one, have to say I like his more mature voice as well)I just wish it was twice as long(or 3x,4x,etc longer).

Here's the track list:

The Spirit of Radio
The Enemy Within*
The Weapon*
Witch Hunt
New World Man*
Distant Early Warning*
Red Sector "A"*
Closer to the Heart

Medley:
YYZ
The Temples of Syrinx
Tom Sawyer

Vital Signs

Medley:
Finding My Way
In the Mood

The ones I've asterisked are the only tunes I'd want to hear at this stage, and why isn't the "Red Lenses" drum solo on this collection? Yeah, Geddy's Steinberger L sounds probably better than any other bass he's ever played, but why dredge up old songs to play it on? IMO, they should've focused on post-Moving Pictures, even if that was only a dozen or so songs. You're better off watching _A Show of Hands_, but in that video Geddy's playing a Wal bass throughout. Not the same tone. This is only my (rhythm section player's) opinion. Maybe the DVD in question would've been better had they included "Red Lenses" with the drum solo and perhaps cut some of the recycled stuff.

There's more. At this point in their game, Rush was incredibly cocky. Alex is chewing gum, doing break dance antics onstage... it was the whole band, really. They thought they were invincible, immortal. It's better to see them as mature, as in _Rush in Rio_ and from there on. Rush - Rush in Rio By then, they'd suffered some adversities and still just wanted to give a good show - which was what it was about from the beginning.

This DVD is not HD or even close. It looks like the original Video-cassette was digitalized and put on DVD but still you really get the essence of What RUSH was in the 80's. Just an awesome power trio with lots of very cool music. Do not expect HD but go for the intensity in the performance and you'll certainly enjoy this DVD to the max.

If this dvd contained the ENTIRE concert, I would have given it 100 stars. (like my review of the cd) I give it four stars because the set list on this dvd DOESN't look like this:

The Spirit Of Radio
Subdivisions
The Body Electric
The Enemy Within
The Weapon
Witchhunt
New World Man
Between The Wheels
Red Barchetta
Distant Early Warning
Red Sector A
Closer To The Heart
Afterimage (or Kid Gloves, depending on which part of the tour this was)
YYZ
The Temples Of Syrinx
Tom Sawyer
Red Lenses (with drum solo)
Vital Signs
Finding My May
In The Mood

That's what was played and that's what SHOULD be on this dvd! But 6 of these songs, plus the drum solo, are missing and I was hoping when they released this dvd, they would have added these songs.

But enough complaining. Here's why you SHOULD get this dvd. Productionwise, it's their best concert film from the 80's, far superior to Exit Stage Left and A Show Of Hands as far as sound quality and picture quality. On my list of all-time favorite ush dvds, this one is 3rd (Behind R30 and S&A Live). Actually, GUP tour, R30, and S&A Live are the only 3 Rush dvds I would even recommend.
Grace Under Pressure live is worth getting, especially for the price, although there is not a single bonus feature. If you're a Rush fan, chances are you already know everything about this dvd. If you're a new Rush fan, get this first, then get R30 and Snakes & Arrows Live.