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| cd shows | movies/tv | coming soon
Test For Echo Tour
| Title:
Chronicles, Book II (DVD) Date: 70's/90's Compilation Label: None Source: TV/VHS Quality Rating: B/A+
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Description: Here's a very nice compilation of Rush videos from throughout their career, focusing mostly on the 70's and 90's. This has the best picture and sound for these videos that I have seen to date, particularly "La Villa" from Pinkpop '79, which is absolutely superb in quality. The only drawback - it's not the full version of "La Villa" as it's joined in the middle section. There's also a brief backstage moment with the band as Alex talks about his problematic guitar finger. If you've never seen this footage from PinkPop, this DVD is worth the trade alone as it's the only proshot video from the "Hemispheres" tour available. The menus are nice and obviously done in the same style as the official "Chronicles" release. |
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1. Fly By
Night |
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| Title:
L.A. Forum '96 (DVD) Date: 11/26/96, Los Angeles, CA Label: None Source: Audience Cam Quality Rating: A
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Description: Here's a nice video boot from the Test For Echo tour. The camera catches most of the show from Alex's side and quite often you get nice full shots as well. Taper also does a good job of closing in on solo spots. The sound quality is bright and most everything can be heard just fine. |
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2001 Intro Test for Echo |
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| Title:
It's All About The Music Date: 11/09/96, Boston, MA Label: Digital Reproductions Source: 3 Sources (ALD/DAT/Scan) Quality Rating: A+
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Description: Here's a nice show from the TFE tour which boasts 3 sources. One main source is an audience DAT while the other two comprise of an ALD (assisted listening device) and Scanner. The scanner source starts about halfway through "Big Money" and runs through the end of the first set. The ALD source kicks in with "Freewill" and runs through the end of the show. |
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Thus Spake
Zarathustra (1:34) |
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| Title:
Initial Reflections (DVD) Date: 10/19/96, Albany, NY Label: Digital Reproductions Source: 2 Cam Mix/Audience Quality Rating: A Video Preview, Video Preview 2
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Description: Probably the best video boot to emerge from the TFE tour (opening night, to be exact). It reminds me of "A View From The Palace", probably because of the multiple angles and fine editing. Audio-wise, it's a pretty good audience source and overall, a fine video boot. Highly recommended. |
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2001 Intro Test for Echo |
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| Title:
A Torn Up Photograph Date: 10/20/96, Buffalo, NY Label: AppleJack Studios Source: Video Quality Rating: A-
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Description: This is a pretty nice video boot from the TFE tour. The camera is on Alex's side and able to capture nice closeups of all three bandmembers. The sound is also very good for this one. The set starts off with "The Big Money" because the Intro/Dreamline part had some cuts that took away from the overall quality. However, the good news is that the Intro/Dreamline opener can be found as an Easter Egg on this disc. Not the definitive TFE tour video boot, but worth checking out. |
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(Intro - Thus Spoke Zarathustra)
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| Title:
Great Woods & Summer
Skies Date: 6/23/97, Mansfield, MA Label: Digital Reproductions Source: Soundboard Quality Rating: A+
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Description: Another astounding board has surfaced from the TFE tour and it's definitely one worth checking out. The performance here is highly energized with "Red Barchetta" being a highlight for me on disc one. I believe some of this show was used for the official "Different Stages" live album. If you love Rush live you need to have this one. |
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Disc One: |
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| Title:
Aztec & Maya (2DVD) Date: 11/6/96, Philadelphia, PA Label: Digital Reproductions Source: Audience (1st Gen Mixdown) Quality Rating: A-
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Description: A very nice bootleg video from early in the "Test For Echo" tour. The beginning is a bit shaky camera-wise, but things improve after "Driven". There are two cameras at work here. I'll have a more detailed review once I give it a better look...check back for more on this title! |
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DVD One: Thus Spake Zarathustra
Test for Echo |
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| Title:
YYZed (Video CD) Date: 6/30/97, Toronto, Canada Label: None (Taper) Source: Hi8 Video (Master) Quality Rating: A-
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Description: This is a direct transfer from the original 8mm video tape so picture quality is excellent (better than a first generation VHS copy). Since it's an amateur video (one camera) it does have it's flaws, such as every now and then you'll see the back of someone's head or nothing at all if the taper needed to hide the camera for security reasons. Another drawback is that because of where the taper was standing, Geddy's keyboard is blocking the view of Neil. Now, you do get shots of Neil on the overhead screen, but most shots are either of Alex or Geddy. Also, since it's not on a tripod the camera can be a bit shaky at times, but it's never so bad that it takes away from the video, in my opinion. Certainly, when you watch a video boot, you have to lower your standards a bit because it's not professionally produced (as are most things we see). There are positives, however...as I mentioned, the picture quality is very clear and overall excellent. The sound, while audience sourced, is actually quite good. It could use some more bottom end, but if you like highs this one has it. Each track is indexed (which is not too common with VCD boots) which allows you to access any track very easily. The only drawback to this is if you're watching the show from beginning to end there is a split second pause between each track. However, this is a small price to pay for being able to easily navigate around this 3VCD set. I noticed there was a crane moving around during the show, supposedly to document it for a future DVD release...however, for right now, YYZed is one of the only video "records" that we have of this tour or time in Rush history. |
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Tracklisting: VCD 1 1. Intro/Dreamline 6:08 2. Limelight 4:13 3. Stick it Out 4:27 4. Driven 5:48 5. Half the World 3:42 6. Red Barchetta 6:41 7. Animate 6:19 8. Limbo 5:40 9. The Trees 5:22 10. Virtuality 5:42 11. Nobody's Hero 5:23 VCD 2 1. Closer to the Heart 5:22 2. 2112 - Overture / Temples of Syrinx 6:44 3. 2112 - Discovery / Presentation 7:58 4. 2112 - Oracle / Soliloquy / Grand Finale 6:15 5. Test for Echo 5:45 6. Freewill 5:31 7. Red Sector A 5:09 8. Roll the Bones 5:54 VCD 3 1. Resist 4:56 2. Leave That Thing Alone / Drum Solo 12:58 3. Natural Science 8:01 4. Force Ten / The Spirit of Radio 9:36 5. Tom Sawyer 6. Goodnight :22 7. YYZ / Cygnus X-1 Teaser 4:56 |
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| Title:
Sending Mixed Signals Date: 6/13/97, Milwaukee, WI Label: Digital Reproductions Source: Audience Quality Rating: A-
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Description: This is a matrix of 3 sources. Specifically, there were two audience sources and a scanner used to assemble this show. Having the scanner source fill the mid-section gives this recording an almost soundboard-like feel in spots. There are some scanner glitches along the way but nothing that detracts from the recording. Geddy's bass is very loud in the mix as you can hear practically ever note he plays, while Alex and Neil tend to be a bit lower in the overall mix. One thing of note here...at the beginning of "Driven", Alex has some massive guitar problems that prompt Geddy and Neil to kill some time. They start playing a country jam that lasts a couple minutes and is pretty interesting because, let's face it, it's not something you get to hear too much. |
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Thus Spake Zarathustra
(1:31) Virtuality (6:09) Roll the Bones (6:21) |
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| Title:
An Absolut Rush Date: 11/07/96, Landover, MD Label: Digital Reproductions Source: Audience Quality Rating: A+
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Description: Of all the TFE audience recordngs out there, this is probably the best. The sound is incredibly full, with little to no crowd noise during the songs. If you want an excellent recording from the first leg of the tour, this is the one for you. |
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Thus Spake Zarathustra
(1:31) Virtuality (6:09) Roll the Bones (6:21) |
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| Title:
Echoes On The Stages Date: 10/18/96, Albany, NY Label: Watchtower Source: Soundboard (Rehearsal) Quality Rating: A+
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Description: This is simply an unbelievable find. When would you ever have expected that one day we would be treated to a bootleg of a Rush tour rehearsal?? By the echoes in the room, which give nice resonance to the instruments (mainly the drums), you can tell there was hardly anyone in attendance. The band is extremely loose, often making mistakes...but hey, that's alright, it's a private show. Quite often, Geddy will simply not sing along! "The Spirit Of Radio" and "Temples Of Syrinx" are mostly instrumental here, with Geddy occasionally throwing out a few lines to keep everyone on course. Every now and then you'll hear some banter between the songs, but rarely does it offer up much of interest. Another good thing about this performance - it features all the songs intended for the tour. "Time And Motion" was dropped not long into the tour, as was "Subdivisions". When you hear how Geddy struggles a bit through "Time And Motion" you can see why it was soon dropped. Many of the vocals in that song are layered, which proved difficult for Geddy to get in sync. "Closer To The Heart" is completely re-done with Geddy purposely singing out of tune, or not at all. Geddy tells "everyone" to Macarena and sings the reprise with a Lou Reed-style vocal. During "Roll The Bones" Alex yells out "Thank you, George!", then later starts singing (rambling) really loudly while Geddy is singing. "YYZ" contains a nasty "ten car pileup" brought on by Alex playing ahead of himself. Instances like this make it a one-of-a-kind recording, and special in a way we've never heard before. The sound quality is astonishing and probably very close to the source, if not a clone of the master. No complaints here. This is pure goodness. |
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Dreamline 4:04 Nobody's Hero 5:44 Resist 4:44 |
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| Title:
Bigger & Better In Texas Date: 12/5/96, Houston, TX Label: Digital Reproductions Source: Soundboard Quality Rating: A+
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Description: This would have to be the definitive TFE tour boot in terms of sound quality. This sounds like an official live release, it's that good. What a treat this one is....it's the exact same show as "The Summit Board" (see below), except this is right off the soundboard with full, dynamic sound. The band turns in a really energized version of "Natural Science", much better than the one found on Different Stages, their latest official live album. If you have "The Summit Board" you'll definitely need an upgrade to this. This is a must-have for any Rush fan. |
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2001 Intro (1:10) |
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| Title:
Driven To The Edge - P.E. Date: 6/22/97, Camden, NJ Label: Digital Reproductions Source: Audience Quality Rating: A+
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Description: This has been long considered the best sounding audience boot of the tour...and it definitely does hold it's own against the soundboards. I'd rank it up there along with "Absolut Rush" (see above). If you're looking for an awesome audience source from the TFE tour, please be sure to check this one out because you won't be disappointed. |
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2001 Intro (1:10) |
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| Title:
The Summit Board Date: 12/5/96, Houston, TX Label: Digital Reproductions Source: Soundboard Quality Rating: A-
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Description: Well, it's been a long time coming. For the past 4-5 years we've been waiting for a soundboard sourced boot from Rush's last tour. Finally it has arrived. While it's definitely not among their best soundboards, it is among the best boots from this tour. The audience boot "O'Chicago" may still hold the title as the best boot from this tour because it has such a full, clean sound. This recording is excellent, but sounds more compressed into the mid-range, as if recorded from FM or better yet, as if it were the audio track for a video feed. The performance is great and Geddy is in more of a playful mood with the audience. The definitive version of this show is "Bigger And Better In Texas" (see above). |
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Tracklisting: 2001 Intro (1:10) Nobody's Hero (5:40) Resist (4:55) |
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| Title:
O'Chicago Date: 6/14/97, Chicago IL Label: Digital Reproductions Source: Audience Quality Rating: A
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Description: When it comes to audience boots, this is about as good as it gets. You always hope for full dynamics, clarity and a complete show helps too...especially when the show was 3 hours long. This boot has all of that. I'd rank this up there with "Driven To The Edge", so this is highly recommended! |
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Tracklisting: Thus Spake
Zarathustra (1:40) Nobody's Hero
(5:28) Resist (4:52) |
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| Title:
To Hear Amazing Things Date: 5/11/97, Mountain View, CA Label: Scarred Records Source: Audience Quality Rating: A-
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Description: This was probably among the first (if not the first) boot to emerge from the TFE tour. It was considered for a long time to be the best boot of the tour until such excellent shows like "O'Chicago", "Summit Board" and "Bigger And Better In Texas" came along. However, this still remains a very nice audience boot. The bonus tracks here are probably most interesting. You'll find audience sourced copies of tunes the band dropped early in the tour (and not from this show) including "Time And Motion" and "Subdivisions". Also included are some vintage performances from 1978. The quality of the bonus tracks is not nearly as good as the Mountain View show, but still worth a listen. The change in colors below denotes a change in source. |
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Tracklisting:
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