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R40 Live
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| R40 Live | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live album by | ||||
| Released | November 20, 2015 | |||
| Recorded | June 17 and 19, 2015 | |||
| Venue | Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Canada | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 195:57 (CD version) | |||
| Label | Anthem | |||
| Producer | Allan Weinrib | |||
| Rush chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
R40 Live is a live audio album and video release of Canadian rock band Rush, recorded on their high-grossing R40 Live Tour. Both formats were released November 20, 2015. The performances were filmed on June 17 and 19, 2015, at Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Canada.
The audio CD album consists of three discs. Disc 1 contains the entire first set, disc 2 contains the second set, and disc 3 contains the encore and seven bonus tracks.
R40 Live is noted for containing the only live performances of "Losing It", from the band's 1982 album Signals. During set 1 of all disc formats, Benjamin Mink, who had played electric violin on the original studio recording, is featured as a guest performer. The album's common description, written by Philip Wilding, states: "The version [of Losing It] on the Signals album was raised ever higher by Ben Mink’s...wonderfully affecting violin part, the recreation of which had always put the song beyond the band’s live set."[2] Among the bonus tracks on the third disc of the CD release is a second performance of the song featuring violinist Jonathan Dinklage, a member of the string ensemble that had backed Rush during their Clockwork Angels Tour.
Best Buy sold two deluxe edition box sets of R40 Live: CD/DVD and CD/Blu-ray. Both of these included an exclusive and limited-edition Starman projector flashlight, that projected a white Starman logo when the button was held. The metal flashlight is black with a gray label that reads "RUSH R40", and features a keychain on the end. These box sets were the only way to get the concert video and CD soundtrack together in a box set. Best Buy also made a promotional video for these deluxe box sets.
Track listing
[edit]This is the track list for the three audio CDs.
All tracks are written by Neil Peart, Geddy Lee, and Alex Lifeson except where noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The World Is...The World Is... [Intro Video]" | 2:11 |
| 2. | "The Anarchist" | 7:07 |
| 3. | "Headlong Flight/Drumbastica (drum solo)" | 8:45 |
| 4. | "Far Cry" | 5:31 |
| 5. | "The Main Monkey Business" | 6:07 |
| 6. | "How It Is" | 4:45 |
| 7. | "Animate" | 6:15 |
| 8. | "Roll the Bones" | 6:05 |
| 9. | "Between the Wheels" | 5:58 |
| 10. | "Losing It" (with Ben Mink) | 5:55 |
| 11. | "Subdivisions" | 5:48 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Tom Sawyer" (Peart, Lee, Lifeson, Pye Dubois) | 4:59 |
| 2. | "YYZ" (Lee, Peart) | 4:41 |
| 3. | "The Spirit of Radio" | 5:03 |
| 4. | "Natural Science" | 8:31 |
| 5. | "Jacob's Ladder" | 7:34 |
| 6. | "Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres: Prelude" | 4:19 |
| 7. | "Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage: Prologue/The Story So Far (drum solo)/Part III" | 9:21 |
| 8. | "Closer to the Heart" (Peart, Lee, Lifeson, Peter Talbot) | 3:07 |
| 9. | "Xanadu" | 10:39 |
| 10. | "2112: Part I ("Overture")/Part II ("The Temples of Syrinx")/Part IV ("Presentation")/Part VII ("Grand Finale")" | 12:15 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mel's Rock Pile [Intro Video, featuring Eugene Levy]" | 1:35 |
| 2. | "Lakeside Park/Anthem" | 5:29 |
| 3. | "What You're Doing/Working Man" (Lee, Lifeson) | 9:35 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "One Little Victory" | 5:47 |
| 2. | "Distant Early Warning" | 5:24 |
| 3. | "Red Barchetta" | 7:08 |
| 4. | "Clockwork Angels" | 7:46 |
| 5. | "The Wreckers" | 5:39 |
| 6. | "The Camera Eye" | 10:21 |
| 7. | "Losing It" (with Jonathan Dinklage) | 6:13 |
The following info is on the CD bonus performances:
Track 4, “Clockwork Angels”, was recorded in Denver, Colorado on July 11, 2015.
Track 5, "The Wreckers", was recorded in Buffalo, New York on June 10, 2015.
Track 6, "The Camera Eye", was recorded in Kansas City, Missouri on July 9, 2015.
Jonathan Dinklage played the violin part for track 7, "Losing It", which was recorded in Los Angeles on August 1. He performed with the band during their earlier Clockwork Angels Tour, as part of the Clockwork Angels String Ensemble.
Personnel
[edit]- Geddy Lee – vocals, bass guitar, keyboards, rhythm guitar in "Xanadu"
- Alex Lifeson - guitars, backing vocals
- Neil Peart – drums, percussion
Charts
[edit]- Audio
| Chart (2015) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Albums (Billboard)[3] | 30 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[4] | 54 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[5] | 49 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[6] | 47 |
| US Billboard 200[7] | 24 |
| US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[8] | 1 |
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[9] | 1 |
| US Indie Store Album Sales (Billboard)[10] | 2 |
Certifications
[edit]- DVD
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[11] | Gold | 50,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
[edit]- ^ James Christopher Monger. "R40 Live". AllMusic.
- ^ "R40 Live". Rush.com. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ^ "Rush Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Rush – R40 Live" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Rush – R40 Live" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ^ "Rush | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ^ "Rush Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ^ "Rush Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ^ "Rush Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ^ "Rush Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ^ "American video certifications – Rush – R40 Live". Recording Industry Association of America.
R40 Live
View on GrokipediaBackground
Tour origins
The R40 Live Tour was launched by the Canadian rock band Rush to celebrate the 40th anniversary of drummer Neil Peart joining the group on July 29, 1974, an event that solidified the band's enduring lineup of bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and Peart.[9] This milestone marked a pivotal shift for Rush, transitioning from their early configuration to the creative synergy that defined their progressive rock legacy over the subsequent decades. The tour's conception emphasized reflection on the band's history, with performances designed to span their catalog while honoring Peart's transformative role.[10] Rush officially announced the R40 Live Tour on January 22, 2015, scheduling 35 concerts across North American arenas from May 8 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to August 1 in Los Angeles, California.[11] The itinerary focused exclusively on the continent, delivering high-production shows that drew strong attendance and underscored the band's enduring popularity among fans. The tour ultimately grossed $32.3 million in ticket revenue, positioning it among Rush's most financially successful outings and highlighting the robust demand for their live presentations.[12] In interviews following the tour's completion, band members expressed that the R40 outing represented their farewell to large-scale touring, influenced by personal considerations including Peart's desire for retirement and Lifeson's health challenges with psoriatic arthritis. While the band viewed R40 as their touring farewell at the time, Peart retired in 2016 and died on January 7, 2020; in October 2025, Lee and Lifeson announced the "Fifty Something Tour" for 2026 with a new drummer, marking their return to live performances.[13][14][3] Guitarist Alex Lifeson confirmed this stance in 2015, noting the physical toll of extended tours and the fulfillment derived from ending on a high note with this anniversary celebration.[14] Several performances from the tour were captured for the subsequent live album R40 Live, preserving the event's energy for broader audiences.[8]Setlist and staging
The setlist for the R40 Live tour was structured in reverse chronological order, beginning with tracks from the band's most recent album, Clockwork Angels (2012), such as "The Anarchist" and "Clockwork Angels," and progressing backward through their discography to conclude with early compositions like "What You're Doing" and "Working Man" from their self-titled 1974 debut album.[4][15] This approach created a narrative arc that mirrored the band's 40-year evolution, allowing audiences to experience Rush's musical progression in reverse.[16] A notable inclusion was the rarely performed "Losing It" from Signals (1982), which made its live debut during the tour and required guest musicians, including violinist Ben Mink or Jonathan Dinklage, to replicate the original track's string elements.[17][18] The setlist also incorporated medleys, such as segments blending "Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage" from A Farewell to Kings (1977) into "Xanadu" from Hemispheres (1978), to condense expansive material while maintaining thematic continuity.[15] During rehearsals, the band refined the setlist through iterative adjustments to achieve a balance between fan favorites like "Tom Sawyer," deep cuts such as "The Larger Bowl (A Pantomime)," and these medleys, ensuring the show remained dynamic without exceeding practical time limits.[19] The stage design complemented this chronology with a state-of-the-art setup featuring a rotating and pivoting structure that rolled and dived to evoke different eras, including a specialized drum riser for Neil Peart that descended dramatically during segments like "Tom Sawyer."[4] Large LED video walls—a central 25-foot by 25-foot screen flanked by two 7-foot by 25-foot side panels—displayed era-specific visuals, archival footage of past tours, and thematic animations, such as steampunk machinery for early progressive rock phases.[20]Recording
Performance dates
The primary recordings for R40 Live were captured during the band's two sold-out homecoming shows on June 17 and 19, 2015, at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, serving as the finale of their R40 40th Anniversary Tour.[4][21] These performances were selected for their emotional significance, marking a triumphant return to the band's hometown after a 35-date North American trek that drew approximately 440,000 fans overall.[4][22] Each concert attracted 14,182 attendees (sellout capacity), totaling 28,364 across both nights, with the intimate yet grand atmosphere amplifying the celebratory mood.[23][6] The filming utilized a multi-camera setup of 14 high-definition cameras positioned throughout the 20,000-seat venue to capture the dynamic stage production, including sweeping arena shots and detailed close-ups of the musicians and instruments.[5][24] This configuration ensured synchronized audio-visual recording, with all cameras and the mobile recording truck timecoded for precision.[6] While the core album draws from the Toronto dates, select bonus tracks incorporated backup audio from other tour stops to enhance completeness; for instance, "The Wreckers" was recorded at the June 10, 2015, show in Buffalo, New York.[23]Production process
The production of R40 Live involved capturing the band's performances through high-fidelity multi-track audio recording and synchronized video filming, followed by meticulous mixing and editing to preserve the raw energy of the live shows. The audio was recorded using a LiveWire Remote Recorders truck equipped with a 96-input SSL C200 digital console and a Pro Tools HDX system, capturing a 191-track session that included 48 dedicated drum tracks and 14 audience microphones to enhance spatial depth.[6] This setup allowed for detailed isolation of instruments during post-production, with a Tascam X48 serving as a backup recorder to ensure data integrity against potential timecode disruptions.[6] The sessions took place over two nights at Toronto's Air Canada Centre on June 17 and 19, 2015, under the oversight of audio producer David Bottrill, who emphasized maintaining the authentic live sound without extensive alterations.[4][25] Mixing was handled entirely in-the-box by Bottrill at his studio, utilizing Universal Audio Apollo interfaces and an SSL Nucleus controller to balance subgroups on the master bus, incorporating plugins like UAD Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor and Brainworx BX_digital V2 for subtle dynamic control.[6] The process prioritized stereo and 5.1 surround formats, with the low-frequency effects (LFE) channel dedicated primarily to Geddy Lee's bass to reinforce the trio's sonic foundation.[6] Overdubs were kept minimal to retain the performance's immediacy; assistant engineer Mike Monson manually added low-level drum samples (6-8 for kicks and snares, one per tom) at around -20dB solely for enhancement, not replacement.[6] For the track "Losing It," violinist Ben Mink performed live on stage, reprising his original contribution from the 1982 album Signals, with no additional overdubs noted beyond the core recording.[25] Audio mastering was completed by Joao Carvalho, ensuring compatibility across CD and high-resolution formats.[4] On the video side, director Dale Heslip and producer Allan Weinrib coordinated the filming with 13 camera operators, slaving the audio timecode to the camera department via BNC cables and an AC-powered generator to mitigate synchronization issues from a faulty initial cable.[6][25] Lead editors Aaron Dark and Mark Morton assembled the footage into a full concert presentation running approximately 195 minutes, incorporating a pre-show virtual soundcheck provided by front-of-house engineer Brad Madix for precise setup calibration.[6] Inter-set archival clips and bonus performances, such as "The Camera Eye" and "The Wreckers," were integrated from various tour dates, including Kansas City, with director of photography Andre Pienaar ensuring visual consistency under lighting designer Howard Ungerleider's supervision.[25] This technical workflow transformed the raw captures into a cohesive product that highlighted the tour's chronological setlist without compromising the live atmosphere.[4]Release
Formats
R40 Live was released in multiple formats, catering to both audio enthusiasts and fans seeking visual accompaniment. The audio-only edition is a three-CD set with a total runtime of 195:57, featuring the complete concert from the Toronto performances along with three bonus tracks recorded at other shows during the tour.[26] Bundled options include the three-CD set paired with either a DVD or Blu-ray disc, where the video component presents the full concert film in 5.1 surround sound for an immersive home viewing experience.[27] Digital versions became available for download and streaming on platforms such as iTunes and Spotify beginning November 20, 2015, allowing broader accessibility without physical media.[28] The release was distributed by Anthem Records in Canada and by Zoë Records internationally, ensuring wide availability across regions.[21]Promotion and editions
The promotion for R40 Live kicked off with the release of an official trailer on October 8, 2015, uploaded to YouTube by the band's label, Anthem Records. The two-minute video highlighted electrifying live performances from the R40 tour, such as pyrotechnics during "Tom Sawyer" and the band's synchronized stage movements, while underscoring the 40th anniversary celebration of Rush's career.[29][30] Pre-order campaigns were initiated through the official Rush.com store and retailers like Amazon starting in early October 2015, encouraging fans to secure copies ahead of the November 20 release. Incentives included bundling purchases with exclusive merchandise, such as a special R40 All Over t-shirt for orders placed directly via the band's website.[5] Special editions enhanced the appeal for collectors, with Best Buy offering an exclusive deluxe box set in both CD/DVD and CD/Blu-ray configurations. This limited-edition package included the core audio-visual content plus unique memorabilia, notably a Starman projector flashlight capable of displaying the iconic logo, along with a glossy poster, a 40-page booklet featuring tour photos, and a replica laminate.[31][32] To build anticipation, the band participated in media appearances around the release, including radio interviews on stations like Toronto's Q107, where Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson discussed the tour's elaborate staging and emotional weight. Print coverage in outlets such as Rolling Stone, which had featured the band on its cover earlier that year during the tour, emphasized the R40 outing as a retrospective milestone signaling the end of their large-scale touring era. The November timing aligned with the holiday shopping period, positioning the set as an ideal gift for progressive rock enthusiasts.[33][34]Musical content
Track listing
R40 Live is a triple-disc live album that captures the band's performance during their 40th anniversary tour, structured to reflect the chronological progression of their career from recent material to early classics. The sequencing mirrors the live show order, beginning with songs from the 2012 album Clockwork Angels and progressing backward through their discography. All compositions are credited to Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart unless otherwise specified, with instrumental tracks like "YYZ" attributed to Lee and Peart. The total runtime of the album is approximately 3 hours and 16 minutes.[35][36]Disc 1 (Set 1)
This disc features 11 tracks primarily from the band's later-period albums, emphasizing progressive rock elements with extended arrangements.| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The World Is... The World Is... | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 2:11 |
| 2 | The Anarchist | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 7:07 |
| 3 | Headlong Flight | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 8:46 |
| 4 | Far Cry | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 5:31 |
| 5 | The Main Monkey Business | Lee/Lifeson | 6:08 |
| 6 | How It Is | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 4:45 |
| 7 | Animate | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 6:15 |
| 8 | Roll the Bones | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 6:05 |
| 9 | Between the Wheels | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 5:58 |
| 10 | Losing It | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 5:55 |
| 11 | Subdivisions | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 5:49 |
Disc 2 (Set 2)
Comprising 10 tracks from the band's mid-career era, this disc includes the full suite from 2112 and highlights intricate instrumental sections.| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Sawyer | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 5:00 |
| 2 | YYZ | Lee/Peart | 4:32 |
| 3 | The Spirit of Radio | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 5:03 |
| 4 | Natural Science | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 8:32 |
| 5 | Jacob's Ladder | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 7:34 |
| 6 | Hemispheres: Prelude | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 4:19 |
| 7 | Cygnus X-1 / The Story So Far (Drum Solo) | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 9:21 |
| 8 | Closer to the Heart | Lee/Lifeson/Peart/Talbin | 3:08 |
| 9 | Xanadu | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 10:40 |
| 10 | 2112 | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 12:15 |
Disc 3 (Encore and Bonus Tracks)
The third disc opens with three encore tracks forming a medley of early material, followed by seven bonus performances recorded at various tour dates, including a second rendition of "Losing It" from the Buffalo show featuring violinist Jonathan Dinklage.| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mel's Rockpile (Narrator: Eugene Levy) | Traditional (arr. Lee/Lifeson/Peart) | 1:36 |
| 2 | Lakeside Park / Anthem | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 5:29 |
| 3 | What You're Doing / Working Man | Lee/Lifeson | 9:35 |
| 4 | One Little Victory (Bonus) | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 5:47 |
| 5 | Distant Early Warning (Bonus) | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 5:24 |
| 6 | Red Barchetta (Bonus) | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 7:09 |
| 7 | Clockwork Angels (Bonus) | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 7:46 |
| 8 | The Wreckers (Bonus) | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 5:39 |
| 9 | The Camera Eye (Bonus) | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 10:22 |
| 10 | Losing It (Bonus; Electric Violin: Jonathan Dinklage) | Lee/Lifeson/Peart | 6:13 |
