I hear the Close Encounters theme 2 times during the live show included in this release. Anyone else?
I just checked both versions of this and I have no idea. His go to line there was a variation of "I want to see your hands." I guess I've not listened very closely to this part before or mental substituted what he usually says. It could also be some inside joke because they were never above doing something goofy like that. I either totally forgot or just didn't realize that was there, but it's on both versions clear as day.
The video for A Farewell To Kings which I suppose you could argue should also have been included although it's on the R30 and R40 DVDs includes clips of some of that scenery in the vide0 in the beginning and the end.
So should we be expecting a Hemispheres 40th anniversary CD set sometime this year? After the 2112 and Farewell sets, I would think so.... although if they aren't selling as well as hoped you never know. The 2112 set was selling for $5 new on ebay a few months after it was released.
That's probably due to the lack of any new content included with such a set at such a high price. The AFTK anniversary release included way more interesting bonus cuts. I just wish they would stop releasing cover songs on these releases.
It’s actually the cover songs and the atrocious new artwork on these releases that prevent me from buying them.
I think the reason for the cover versions and the subpar-sounding live tracks is that there is a dearth of bonus material for these releases. I remember in college I had a cassette tape that scraped together all known Rush rarities and it was pretty short! Battlescar, Take Off, Not Fade Away, Can’t Fight It, Pieces of Eight, Bad Boy (live), Garden Road (live), Fancy Dancer (live), Vital Signs (live). That was about it. There is a teensy bit more now, but not really that much!
I don't get why they haven't re-released both sides of the debut single yet. Sure, they're both on YouTube, but if you want a physical copy, then you'll have to pay at least $500, if not $1000 for it. I guess the master tapes may be lost, or perhaps the band simply don't like the songs?
In terms of Studio outtakes, supposedly there aren't any that exist (except for the rare 1974 single or Battlescar and whatnot) but we do know there are a lot of live material available. They could easily fill up 2 cd's of live material with Hemispheres.
I'm hoping pretty hard for a Hemispheres 40th release. A SW 5.1 mix would be pretty insane I'd imagine.(If AFTK is any measure) I'd give anything for a complete soundboard show from the Tour of the Hemispheres. My best sounding boot from that tour could definitely be improved. But really, just surprise us!!! Just no covers please.
The original mix sounds great, but I'd love for Wilson to do a stereo remix in addition to 5.1 if a reissue's in the works.
I believe they have the master tape. I think there was an interview years ago with Andrew McNaughton who was their official photographer (who sadly passed away a few years ago) and he was in Rush’s vault and i think he saw the original reel for that first single and Geddy commented on how old the tape was. They could have easily reissued the 45 as a bonus with the vinyl box of the first album. Or make it a nice record store day reissue.
I posted this in the 2112 anniversary thread. I’m really hoping for a Hemispheres Box this year with a Steven Wilson 5.1 included and a full unreleased live show. Maybe even the rumored Passaic NJ Pro shot from that tour. This would make a great box imo
Definitely a stereo mix as well would be great. I always prefer stereo, always. But, that sw aftk mix blew my mind. I've never cared much for classic albums getting the 5.1 treatment, but the sw aftk is the kind of mix that other great classic albums should aspire to sound like, if they're going to get the 5.1 treatment.
In terms of studio outtakes, for a catalog-wide reissue campaign, there are a few bootlegs that reveal the existence of Moving Pictures or Permanent Waves outtakes (forgot which), Counterparts outtakes, and Power Windows outtakes. The only ones I find interesting—and they are very interesting—are the Power Windows outtakes. If the album would have been released with the performances and arrangements revealed in the outtakes, it would have sounded a lot like Grace Under Pressure, in style at least, rather than the sound the released version exhibited (which Hold Your Fire also shares). Also, there are a few single edits which could be included (I am forgetting what they are), three different 2112 edits that were made for various compilations, the remix of Tom Sawyer contained on the Toy Soldiers soundtrack, the “vault” version of Working Man with the alternate guitar solo, the Sectors alternate mixes of songs from Power Windows and Hold Your Fire, the Rush Remasters version of Carve Away the Stone (missing “Sisyphus” lyrics), the Sean Magee version of Limbo (missing the Monster Mash vocals and sound effects), the Retrospective III remixes of One Little Victory and Earthshine, the MFSL version of The Weapon (missing vocals during the bridge), and the single versions of Caravan and BU2B.
I think the AF Counterparts had slightly extended versions of Nobody's Hero (longer fade) and Stick It Out (more lyrics towards the end).
Also, the Sector III mix variations include Mission (additional string parts), Tai Shan (additional wind chimes during intro), and Mystic Rhythms (different synth placement in one section towards end). All of these differences are really, really minor—but really odd, too!
There are European "reissues" that have been pressed by someone if you wanted to go that route (I haven't.) The band almost appear to be embarrassed by it and really don't talk much about it other than it was a step they took to try to further their cause. I doubt the tapes survived, but there's almost no information. I would like to get an original one day for historical purposes but if I'm honest, the music really isn't all that appealing to me. There are a bunch of other items I'd rather have.
That seemed like the obvious choice. Record Store Day release or the bonus for the box. I suppose they could still go the Record Store Day route or just offer it on their website like the Blue 2112.
I'm really hoping for those vault versions to get a CD release. The Tom Sawyer Remixes were on the Sony Label so I doubt they'd have permission to use those. I don't even think the band knows what happened on those Sector mixes as I don't think the band has even publicly acknowledged that they even exist.
