Artist: RUSH
Album: FLY BY NIGHT REMASTERED (CD)

Year: 1975/ 1997
EAN/UPS: 0731453462427
Media type: CD

Fly by Night is the second studio album by the Canadian rock band Rush, released in February 1975. The album was recorded at the Toronto Sound Studios. It marked the debut of Terry Brown as producer (although he had remixed their debut release), a role he would maintain until 1982's Signals.

This was the first Rush album to feature drummer Neil Peart. In addition to drumming duties, Peart also took on the job of lyricist by default, leading the band to adopt a more literary lyrical style that differs significantly from the debut album. The songs "By-Tor & The Snow Dog" and "Rivendell" are examples of the inclusion of fantasy themes into Rush's music. "By-Tor" was inspired by Rush roadie Howard Ungerleider's story of him staying at Anthem records owner Ray Danniels' house, where his two dogs, a German shepherd growled at him, and a tiny dog tried to jump on him. Ungerleider told Rush about it and they thought it was hilarious. "Anthem" features lyrics inspired by the philosophy of Ayn Rand, whose influence on Peart's writing would reach its apogee on the band's 1976 album 2112. The autobiographical "Fly by Night" is based on Peart's experience of moving from Canada to London as a young musician (long before joining Rush), while "Making Memories" appears to be an account of experiences from the band's first tour. The original hand penned lyrics for both songs include different or additional lyrics not sung in the original song. Although the original lyrics for "Anthem" include the line "carry your head", they are sung as "hold your head", as well as other minor changes such as a change from "anthem of the heart and mind" to "anthem of the heart and anthem of the mind". The original lyrics to "Fly By Night" include a prologue which is not found in the final song.

On the original vinyl album, the chimes at the end of "By-Tor" were printed into the fadeout groove of side one, which meant that on older turntables the chimes would play forever until the stylus was physically lifted from the vinyl. On the Archives version, it is 28 seconds longer as additional chimes were included.

TRACKLIST:

01 "Anthem" (Lee/Lifeson/Peart) – 4:10
02 "Best I Can" (Lee) – 3:24
03 "Beneath, Between & Behind" (Lifeson/Peart) – 3:00
04 "By-Tor & The Snow Dog" (Lee/Lifeson/Peart) – 8:57
I. At the Tobes of Hades
II. Across the Styx
III. Of the Battle
Challenge And Defiance
7/4 War Furor
Aftermath
Hymn Of Triumph
IV. Epilogue

05 "Fly by Night" (Lee/Peart) – 3:20
06 "Making Memories" (Lee/Lifeson/Peart) – 2:56
07 "Rivendell" (Lee/Peart) – 5:00
08 "In the End" (Lee/Lifeson) – 6:51

LINE-UP:

Geddy Lee – bass guitar, classical guitar, vocals
Alex Lifeson – six- and 12-string acoustic and electric guitars
Neil Peart – percussion