For those unaware, you are about to start a new musical chapter in your life as Fly by Night Marks the debut of Rush’s legendary lineup and initial foray into Prog-Rock and includes the title track and the massively popular “Anthem.”

New life ahead, indeed. Fly by Night signifies the beginning of Rush as nearly every fan would come to know it: A potent band comprised of Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart. Recorded only four months after Mercury picked up the band’s eponymous debut for international distribution and distinguished by the piercing yellow eyes of the owl on its illustrated cover art, the 1975 album hints at the ambitious pursuits, emotional contrasts, heady complexities, and involved storytelling that soon became trademarks of the Canadian trio.

Sourced from the original analog master tapes, mastered by engineer Krieg Wunderlich, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing, housed in a Stoughton gatefold jacket, and featuring a bonus photo print, Mobile Fidelity’s numbered-edition 180g 45RPM 2LP set presents the group’s platinum-certified sophomore effort in definitive sound and in 45RPM speed for the first time.

Benefitting from superb groove definition, an ultra-low noise floor, and dead-quiet surfaces, this collectible reissue captures the music’s rhythmic acumen, pacing, and architecture with palpable grip and solidity. The wider grooves of the 45RPM pressing also lend to improved tracking and high-frequency preservation.

All the better for an album that Rush found satisfying to make with the same person (Terry Brown) and at the very studio (Toronto Sound) the group turned to rescue its debut from a host of production shortcomings. The kinship between Brown and the band is evident in how coherent everything sounds and feels.

Side One:
1. Anthem
2. Best I Can
3. Beneath, Between, & Behind

Side Two:
1. By-Tor & the Snow Dog
I. At the Tobes of Hades
II. Across the Styx
III. Of the Battle
IV. Epilogue

Side Three:
1. Fly by Night
2. Making Memories

Side Four:
1. Rivendell
2. In the End

Frankly, this album is an absolute classic for Behold! The Professor has arrived! Put the needle down on this bad boy and you’re instantly, and lovingly assaulted by a barrage of drums, bass and guitar badassery that was over the top for its time!

Neil Peart makes his presence known immediately with his explosive drum fills and staggering beats not to mention the more thoughtful lyrical content he provides for such tunes as Anthem and Beneath, Between, Behind. The standout track on this though - in my humble opinion - is easily the nine minute By Tor & the Snow Dog.

The first of many epics to come, By Tor has all the hallmarks of a classic Rush song. Weird lyrics, time signature and killer dynamics. Busy bass and shrieking guitar along with on point vocals and, of course, Neil doing what only Neil could do. His drum fills over that crazy, sporadic, staccato riff before the quiet section are just pure insanity. Tight, heavy and just all round jaw dropping.

Though I like the second half of Fly by Night best, I do honestly say that there are some weak spots in the first half that I have since grown to take on board and accept, so to speak. Especially after the sonic assault that opens the recording. Perhaps one of those tracks would be the highly underrated, and blissfully folky Making Memories.

Still, this is the first album of the lineup of what would become arguably the greatest power trio of all time and for lovers of old school, classic rock with an edge. Thus, everything here is essential listening.

Plus, that cover is just frickin’ gorgeous and highly representative of the band. An intense, focused predator of the great white north, swooping down to grab your ass and take you on a journey like you’ve never been on before. Their debut album is fun, but this is where Rush really became Rush and this is the real starting point to where the great adventure begins. It would just get better and better from here on out, my friends, as we all by now well know.

Mobile Fidelity’s Numbered-Edition 180g 45RPM 2LP set presents the 1975 album in Definitive Sound: Dead-Quiet pressing features extraordinary groove definition and Ultra-Low Noise floor. It also includes a Bonus Photo Print.

1/4” / 15 IPS analog master to DSD 256 to analog console to lathe.

Official Purchase Link

www.rush.com