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Working Men
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| Working Men | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | November 13, 2009 | |||
| Genre | Progressive rock, hard rock | |||
| Length | 63:58 | |||
| Label | Anthem | |||
| Rush chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [1] |
| Classic Rock | [2] |
| The Digital Fix | (6/10)[3] |
| PopMatters | [4] |
| Record Collector | [5] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [6] |
Working Men is a live compilation album by Canadian progressive rock band Rush. The compilation documents a shortlist of career-spanning material pulled from the band's three tours during the 2000s. It is available in both CD and DVD formats like the previous releases. Both formats were released on November 13, 2009, in Europe and November 17, 2009, in the United States and Canada.
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson & Neil Peart, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Original album | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Limelight" | Snakes & Arrows Live (2008) | 4:51 |
| 2. | "The Spirit of Radio" | R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour (2005) | 5:07 |
| 3. | "2112: Overture/The Temples of Syrinx" | Rush in Rio (2003) | 6:52 |
| 4. | "Freewill" | Snakes & Arrows Live | 5:45 |
| 5. | "Dreamline" | R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour | 5:13 |
| 6. | "Far Cry" | Snakes & Arrows Live | 5:23 |
| 7. | "Subdivisions" | R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour | 5:58 |
| 8. | "One Little Victory" | Previously unreleased (originally recorded from R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour) | 5:26 |
| 9. | "Closer to the Heart" (Lee, Lifeson, Peart, Peter Talbot) | Rush in Rio | 3:22 |
| 10. | "Tom Sawyer" (Lee, Lifeson, Peart, Pye Dubois) | Snakes & Arrows Live | 5:34 |
| 11. | "Working Man" (Lee, Lifeson) | R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour | 5:38 |
| 12. | "YYZ" (Lee, Peart) | Rush in Rio | 4:49 |
| Total length: | 63:58 | ||
Notes
- Track 1, 10 & 12 are originally from Moving Pictures (1981)
- Track 2 & 4 are originally from Permanent Waves (1980)
- Track 3 is originally from 2112 (1976)
- Track 5 is originally from Roll the Bones (1991)
- Track 6 is originally from Snakes & Arrows (2007)
- Track 7 is originally from Signals (1982)
- Track 8 is originally from Vapor Trails (2002)
- Track 9 is originally from A Farewell to Kings (1977)
- Track 11 is originally from Rush (1974)
References
[edit]- ^ Jurek, Thom. "Working Men – Rush". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
- ^ Batcup, Tim (February 2010). "Rush – Working Men". Classic Rock. No. 141. p. 92.
- ^ Burnett, Steven (14 November 2009). "Rush – Working Men". The Digital Fix. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ^ O'Neill, Joshua (25 February 2010). "Rush: Working Men". PopMatters. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ^ Jones, Tim. "Rush – Working Men". Record Collector. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ^ "Rush: Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
 | This 2000s progressive rock album-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
Working Men
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Working Men is a live compilation album by Canadian progressive rock band Rush. The compilation documents a shortlist of career-spanning material pulled from the band's three tours during the 2000s. It was released on November 13, 2009, in Europe and November 17, 2009, in North America by Anthem Records, and is available in both CD and DVD formats.[1]
Background and production
Conception
The conception of Working Men emerged in 2009 as Rush aimed to create a live compilation serving as a career retrospective, capitalizing on their active touring phase in the 2000s. The project was formally announced on September 30, 2009, via a press release from Anthem Entertainment, with the album slated for release on November 17, 2009, in both CD and DVD formats. This timing aligned with the band's desire for a hits-focused live release following their extensive Snakes & Arrows Tour (2007–2008), allowing them to showcase recent performances without committing to additional full-length concert recordings. The primary reason for the compilation was to deliver fans a streamlined overview of Rush's live renditions from the 2000s, drawing from established hits to reflect the band's enduring legacy and artistic vitality across 35 years. Positioned as the group's inaugural "best of" live performance collection and a "greatest live hits" anthology, it emphasized high-energy tracks from tours including R30 (2003–2004), Rush in Rio (2002), and Snakes & Arrows Live (2008), while spanning their broader catalog. Band members Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart played key roles in greenlighting and shaping the project, selecting material that highlighted their evolution and live prowess during a transitional period after the Snakes & Arrows Tour and ahead of future endeavors. This collaborative decision underscored Rush's intent to maintain momentum with accessible, fan-oriented content rooted in their recent touring successes.Sourcing and editing
The album Working Men draws its tracks primarily from three live releases captured during Rush's 2000s tours: Snakes & Arrows Live (2008), R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour (2005), and Rush in Rio (2003), along with one previously unreleased performance from the R30 tour.[1] These sources provided the raw material for the compilation, with specific performances selected to highlight the band's evolving stage energy from the Vapor Trails Tour (2002, via Rush in Rio), the 30th Anniversary Tour (2004, via R30), and the Snakes & Arrows Tour (2007, via Snakes & Arrows Live).[2] For instance, the high-energy rendition of "Tom Sawyer" originates from the 2007 Rotterdam shows documented on Snakes & Arrows Live, while "The Spirit of Radio" comes from the 2004 Atlanta concert on R30.[2] No new recordings were produced for the project; all content repurposed pre-existing live audio to assemble a cohesive retrospective without additional studio sessions.[1] The editing process centered on curating 12 tracks to fit a 63:58 runtime, prioritizing fan-favorite hits and balancing representation across the source albums—four from Snakes & Arrows Live, four from R30, three from Rush in Rio, and one previously unreleased from the R30 tour.[1] Mastering engineer Andy VanDette handled the final assemblage at Masterdisk in New York, applying subtle adjustments for sonic consistency, such as volume leveling and EQ tweaks, while the band oversaw track selection to ensure flow and avoid overlap with prior compilations.[2] This technical approach preserved the raw, crowd-infused vitality of the originals, emphasizing unpolished live dynamics over heavy remixing. As a retrospective, the sourcing and editing underscored the high-octane interpretations from these tours, capturing Rush at a peak of technical precision and audience connection.[1]Release
Formats and packaging
Working Men was released in CD and DVD formats, with the CD offering audio-only playback of the live recordings and the DVD providing the same audio tracks paired with synchronized video footage from the band's performances. The CD came in a standard jewel case featuring a clear tray and a two-sided inlay with production credits and source notes from prior live releases such as Rush in Rio, R30, and Snakes & Arrows Live.[2] The DVD, formatted for NTSC playback, utilized a digipak packaging and included a promotional sticker emphasizing select classic tracks like "Tom Sawyer" and "The Spirit of Radio."[3] In Canada, the album was distributed by Anthem Records, while Atlantic Records handled the U.S. release; European markets saw a simultaneous launch on November 13, 2009, followed by North America on November 17, 2009.[4] The artwork, designed by longtime Rush collaborator Hugh Syme, incorporated visual elements from the three source concert films to evoke the band's live legacy.[5] No limited editions or vinyl pressing accompanied the initial 2009 release, though retailer bundles pairing the album with Rush merchandise were available alongside promotional efforts.[6]Promotion
The promotion for Working Men was launched through a press release issued by Anthem Entertainment on September 30, 2009, via the band's official website, Rush.com, announcing the album's release on November 17, 2009. The announcement positioned the compilation as the band's first "best of" live performance collection, curated as a fan-oriented retrospective drawing from footage in Rush in Rio (2003), R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour (2005), and Snakes & Arrows Live (2008), with the addition of one previously unreleased live recording of "One Little Victory" from the 2004 R30 tour.[7] The rollout emphasized the album's role in bridging the band's recent touring history with anticipation for future projects, released during a touring hiatus following the Snakes & Arrows Tour (2007–2008) and ahead of studio work on Clockwork Angels. Media coverage, including reports in outlets like Guitar World, echoed the press release's details to reach rock enthusiasts, highlighting the collection's appeal as an accessible entry point to Rush's live legacy.[8][7] Digital elements of the campaign included online pre-orders through major retailers, with the official website serving as the central resource for artwork, track listings, and purchase links. The promotion also referenced the band's 2008 appearance on The Colbert Report—their first major TV performance and interview in over three decades—as context for their sustained cultural presence.[7]Musical content
Track listing
Working Men is a live compilation album featuring 12 tracks selected from various concerts across Rush's career, all edited for seamless flow. The total runtime is 63:58, and the standard edition contains no bonus tracks.[2][9]| No. | Title | Duration | Writers | Original studio album | Live source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Limelight | 4:52 | Lee, Lifeson, Peart | Moving Pictures (1981) | Snakes & Arrows Live (2008) |
| 2 | The Spirit of Radio | 5:08 | Lee, Lifeson, Peart | Permanent Waves (1980) | R30: 30th Anniversary Tour (2005) |
| 3 | 2112 | 6:53 | Lee, Lifeson, Peart | 2112 (1976) | Rush in Rio (2003) |
| 4 | Freewill | 5:45 | Lee, Lifeson, Peart | Permanent Waves (1980) | Snakes & Arrows Live (2008) |
| 5 | Dreamline | 5:14 | Lee, Lifeson, Peart | Roll the Bones (1991) | R30: 30th Anniversary Tour (2005) |
| 6 | Far Cry | 5:24 | Lee, Lifeson, Peart | Snakes & Arrows (2007) | Snakes & Arrows Live (2008) |
| 7 | Subdivisions | 5:37 | Lee, Lifeson, Peart | Signals (1982) | R30: 30th Anniversary Tour (2005) |
| 8 | One Little Victory | 5:23 | Lee, Lifeson, Peart | Vapor Trails (2002) | Previously unreleased (R30 tour, 2004–2005) |
| 9 | Closer to the Heart | 2:52 | Lee, Lifeson, Peart, Talbot | A Farewell to Kings (1977) | Rush in Rio (2003) |
| 10 | Tom Sawyer | 4:31 | Lee, Lifeson, Peart, Dubois | Moving Pictures (1981) | Snakes & Arrows Live (2008) |
| 11 | Working Man | 7:54 | Lee, Lifeson | Rush (1974) | R30: 30th Anniversary Tour (2005) |
| 12 | YYZ | 4:49 | Lee, Peart | Moving Pictures (1981) | Rush in Rio (2003) |