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Rush are issuing a deluxe album box set for their fifth studio album, 1977's A Farewell To Kings, this winter.
In stores December 1, the 40th anniversary edition of this album--the first of the Canadian prog legends' discography to go gold in the United States--will be paired with a full concert from 1978, remixed from the original multitracks by original album producer Terry Brown and significantly expanded from its original release as part of the live set Different Stages in 1998. Fans can now hear the full suite from 2112 in this set, as well as a version of early radio staple "Closer To The Heart." Additional bonus material includes four covers of Farewell tunes by prog groups like Dream Theater and Big Wreck, plus an outtake of spacey sound effects, the humorously titled "Cygnus X-2 Eh."
All this audio material will be available as a 3CD or 4LP set; for the hardcore Rush fans, a super deluxe box will combine both of those sets and add a Blu-ray disc featuring a high-resolution version of the album in stereo plus a new 5.1 surround remix by acclaimed engineer Steven Wilson, as well as three newly restored music videos. Extras in the box include lithographs and a turntable mat with original artwork by Hugh Syme, a replica of the band's 1978 tour program, and a "unique King's Ring," complete with velvet pouch and neck chain.
A 7" single of "Closer To The Heart" backed with "Madrigal" will be reissued for Record Store Day Black Friday on November 24, featuring new art by Syme as well as a custom record adapter.
Amazon U.S. customers can pre-order each version of this title for release on December 1; we'll update with more links as they're available. In the meantime, the track list can be viewed below!
A Farewell To Kings: 40th Anniversary Edition (Mercury/UMe, 2017)
3CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. (TBD) / Amazon Canada (TBD)
4LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. (TBD) / Amazon Canada (TBD)
3CD/Blu-ray/4LP super deluxe: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. (TBD) / Amazon Canada (TBD)
CD/LP 1: Original remastered album (released as Anthem ANR-1-1010 (Canada)/Mercury SRM-1-1184 (U.S.), 1977)
- A Farewell To Kings
- Xanadu
- Closer To The Heart
- Cinderella Man
- Madrigal
- Cygnus X-1
CD 2/LP 2-3 (Side E/Track 1): Live At Hammersmith Odeon, London - 2/20/1978
All live tracks not marked * previously released on Different Stages (Anthem AND3-1092 (Canada) / Atlantic 83122-2 (U.S.), 1998)
- Bastille Day
- Lakeside Park *
- By-Tor & The Snowdog
- Xanadu
- A Farewell To Kings
- Something For Nothing
- Cygnus X-1
CD 3/LP 3 (Side E/Track 2)-4: Live At Hammersmith Odeon, London - 2/20/1978 (continued) and bonus material
- Anthem
- Closer To The Heart *
- 2112 *
- Working Man
- Fly By Night
- In The Mood
- Drum Solo *
- Cinderella Man
- Xanadu - Dream Theater *
- Closer To The Heart - Big Wreck *
- Cinderella Man - The Trews *
- Madrigal - Alain Johannes *
- Cygnus X-2 Eh (studio outtake) *
Blu-ray
- Original album - 96kHz 24-bit Stereo Analog 2015 Remaster
- Remixed album - 96kHz 24-bit 5.1 Surround Mix by Steven Wilson
- A Farewell To Kings (promo video)
- Xanadu (promo video)
- Closer To The Heart (promo video)
Release Round-Up: Week of April 28
Chemistry: Rush Revisits "Signals" For 40th Anniversary
Release Round-Up: Week of April 15
Release Round-Up: Week of May 29
Favorite band ever. I've seen them 20+ times have every album (more than once). I can't believe they are going to force me to buy vinyl just to get the 5.1 mix of the album. I don't even have a turntable so it will be 100% useless, literally. Very disappointed that they couldn't have a package with everything but the vinyl, but I will still probably get it. I'll have to think about it for a few weeks.
I suspect that you will be able to get the album on blu-ray separately; all previous 5.1 mixes have eventually been released separately in the format.
You'll just have to be patient and wait a bit, is all... 😉
There already is a stand alone blu-ray with a 5.1 mix by Richard Chycki. The new box set has a new 5.1 mix by Steve Wilson. Here's the link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QR7ZLYA/?tag=thesecdis-20
Really? You don't think I already have that? I bought the Sector 2 box just to get the DVD-A when it first came out and then picked up the stand-alone blu-ray when it was released.
I was specifically talking about the SW mix who, as far as I am concerned, is the gold standard for 5.1 mixes. The previous 5.1 mix by Chycki is OK but no discreet enough for my taste.
So cloth ears Wilson is set to destroy another classic album - oh dear . . I thought he found chorus on guitar abhorrent? Kings is chorus central.