Product Description
This year's celebration of Rush continues with the highly anticipated release of a remixed version of the band 2002's album VAPOR TRAILS. In 2009, two tracks from VAPOR TRAILS ("One Little Victory" and "Earthshine") were remixed for the Retrospective III collection, setting fans into a frenzy in anticipation of a possible remixed version of the entire album being released one day. Four years later, that day is finally approaching.

"Vapor Trails was an album made under difficult and emotional circumstances - sort of like Rush learning how to be Rush again - and as a result, mistakes were made that we have longed to correct. David Bottrill's remixes have finally brought some justice and clarity to this deserving body of our work," says Geddy Lee.

"Every song has been given a new life, from the fire of 'One Little Victory,' 'Secret Touch,' and 'Ceiling Unlimited' to the melodic musicality of 'Sweet Miracle' and 'How It Is'… these songs have been redeemed. Thank you David!"

The remixed version of VAPOR TRAILS will also be included in the new 7-disc boxed set THE STUDIO ALBUMS 1989-2007, which features every studio album Rush recorded for Atlantic Records. The collection includes the Gold & Platinum albums Presto (1989), Roll The Bones (1991), Counterparts (1993), and Test For Echo (1996), as well as their covers EP Feedback (2004) and the Billboard Top 5 album Snakes & Arrows (2007). THE STUDIO ALBUMS 1989-2007 features each album presented in a wallet sleeve that faithfully reproduces the original artwork (except for VAPOR TRAILS, which features a reinterpreted version of the original cover) and is available on October 1st from Atlantic/Rhino.

1. One Little Victory
2. Ceiling Unlimited
3. Ghost Rider
4. Peaceable Kingdom
5. The Stars Look Down
6. How It Is
7. Vapor Trail
8. Secret Touch
9. Earthshine
10. Sweet Miracle
11. Nocturne
12. Freeze (Part IV Of "Fear")
13. Out Of The Cradle

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E9P959O/?tag=imwan-20

This needed a "vaults" entry so here it is. We can use the earlier posts too if need be. This is from Richard Chycki's website and from the man himself...


A while back, I re-mixed One Little Victory and Earthshine from Rush’s 2002 release ‘Vapor Trails’ to be included on their 2009 release ‘Retrospective 3′. The re-mixes were very well-received so the band has decided to let me move ahead and re-mix the remainder of the CD.

To put rumors to rest, there was no re-recording or performance correction done on the first two tracks and that will continue for the remainder of the CD. The reason ‘new’ details may seem to have appeared in those songs is due to the fact that I listened to the multitracks and interpreted the mix structure without first analysing the original [deliberately] — so tracks either muted or turned down in the original mixes may shine through differently (the acoustic guitars in Earthshine might be a good example of this). As well, the same technical tweaks will continue for the remaining songs and I still will not have a buss limiter on the mix set to stun.

In any case, both the band and I are really excited to re-visit Vapor Trails and hope you’ll all enjoy the re-mix.

Hmmm … a lot of ‘re-’ going on in this blog posting.

Enjoy your day and be well,

R.

Finally.

Cool. I liked the first few songs on this album.

I will be very happy to give this album a second chance when it's re-released.

A listenable version would be greatly appreciated.

"Good news everyone!"

-Professor Farnsworth-

Still no news on the Vapor Trails remix, but the album has reached its' 10th Anniversary.

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/rushs-va ... -turns-10/

Rush’s ‘Vapor Trails’ Turns 10

by: Matt Wardlaw

5 days ago


Time has been kind to ‘Vapor Trails,’ Rush’s 17th studio album, released 10 years ago on this day in 2002.

But opinions from the always-passionate Rush fanbase about the release vary as evidenced by the response to our list of the Top 10 Rush Albums, which did not feature the album. One commenter responded by including the album at the top of their own personal top 10 list, ahead of classic Rush albums like ‘Moving Pictures,’ ‘2112’ and ‘Signals.’ In harsh contrast, another reader labeled ‘Vapor Trails’ a “diluted version of ‘Test For Echo’ without the main hits.”

‘Vapor Trails’ found the band as always, pushing themselves in new directions creatively. They strove to find different ways to create the sounds that they had in mind. Keyboards, which had perhaps become a familiar crutch on previous albums, were pushed to the side.

As guitarist Alex Lifeson explains, “I thought it would be more interesting if we created the same things that keyboards were doing in the past with Geddy’s voice or a guitar or even bass.”

In the studio, the band struggled at first to find the groove. As Lifeson told Guitar World, “we started jamming, but we didn’t have anything we were crazy about.” Ultimately, the group labeled the initial material that emerged “forced.” Breaking for a couple of weeks, Lifeson says that when they came back together, things began to gel and finally they began to “hear songs, not just parts.”

The fact that ‘Vapor Trails’ exists at all represents a musical triumph for the band personally and a return to action after an unforeseen period of hiatus for the group. Drummer Neil Peart had suffered the tragic loss of both his daughter (in a car accident) and wife (who passed from cancer) in a harrowing 10 month period.

These events understandably set the legendary skinsman on a new path. He took to the roadways of America, undertaking a journey that would help to begin the healing process. Spiritually, it was a very inspirational trek, one that showed up musically on ‘Vapor Trails’ in the form of the song ‘Ghost Rider.’

Hauntingly, ‘Ghost Rider’ details how Peart’s efforts to “pack up all of the phantoms” and “shoulder that invisible load.” The open road gave Peart endless miles to explore both his surroundings and himself: “Keep on riding North and West/ Then circle South and East/ Show me beauty but there is no peace/ For the ghost rider.”

While the latter half of the above lyric might feel bleak, the end of the song carries some hope, with the lyrics “There’s nothing to stop you now/ Nothing can stop you now.” It is Peart’s powerful drumming that provides the first sounds heard on ‘Vapor Trails,’ on the album-opening ‘One Little Victory.’ The Canadian trio sound positively reinvigorated, firing on all cylinders on this highly anticipated return:

“Celebrate the moment/ As it turns into one more/ Another chance at victory/ Another chance to score.”

Energetically driven by surging riffs from guitarist Lifeson that volleyed back and forth across the sonic soundscape, ‘Victory’ made it very clear that Rush were collectively happy to have another chance at victory and to share more music with their devoted fanbase.

Rush fans ate it up, although the rumbling regarding the somewhat questionable production quality of ‘Vapor Trails’ grew louder and louder, until the band themselves acknowledged that perhaps there were a few regrettable chinks in the audio armor of the album. Lifeson eventually commented to Classic Rock that “we were never happy with the production.” Shouldering at least part of the blame, Lifeson admitted, “perhaps we should have taken more time over the record.”

With the tools at hand to revise that part of history, the band later remixed two of the album’s songs — ‘One Little Victory’ and ‘Earthshine’ – for 2009’s ‘Retrospective 3’ compilation release. The members of Rush were pleased with the results, so band engineer Richard Chycki will remix the entirety of ‘Vapor Trails’ in the near future in the hopes of presenting the album as it was originally intended.

Sonic issues aside, ‘Vapor Trails’ holds up well as an album. As we now know, ‘Vapor Trails’ would be the creative spark that would make it possible for Rush to move forward as a group. Their fire remains undiminished and as they prepare to unveil their forthcoming ‘Clockwork Angels’ album 10 years after ‘Vapor Trails,’ they remain vital with no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Wow - I felt kinda old when I heard someone point out that Boston's first album was 36 years old, but the last 10 years have flown by. I would have pegged this album as 5-6 years old at most.

Alan

"In the near future?" The remix was announced over a year ago, and we're still waiting.

Big Al indicated in a recent interview that there is still a desire on the band's part to release a remixed version of this thing, but you have to wonder how much record company interest there is. It's a shame because I think there is some great material (and very moving material) on VT. The title track has really, really grown on me over the years. I always loved One Little Victory, Ghost Rider, How It Is, Earthshine and Secret Touch.

It is a flat sounding thing, I must say. Likely the only way to get new version to market would be if someone licensed the rights to it. Perhaps the band themselves?

Alex discussing Vapor Trails in new Rolling Stone interview.....


Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ ... z1yBV68mkS

More Alex Lifeson, this time from the September issue of Stereophile...

Bump: Tricky Kid brought the release details to the thread, and I've moved his information into the first post.

This is cool news, but as much of a Rush fanatic as I am I only thought Vapor Trails was OK. No guitar solos and some forgettable songs. I'll still get this of course and that's a nice box for anyone not familiar with the Atlantic years. Probably uses the remasters from 2002 or whenever that was.

I see that David Bottrill is doing the remix and not Richard Chycki which is fine because I don't like Chycki's work usually. Not sure what happened there and if the 2 tracks Chycki already remixed will be used.

The cover already looks better!

Looking forward to this. The original mix was horrendous. Still, it's a good disc, imo.

Album is streaming here:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ ... e-20130927

Got this for $4.99 on Discorama.

It sounds soooo much better it's amazing. The guitars are so clear and the bass playing comes out better. It breathes far better than the compressed mess that was in 2002, although it sounds like some different types of compression were used.

However, musically I like the album even less now than before. It's just a wall of noise most of the time and lacks most of the Rush hallmarks. I disliked it in 2002 more for the music than the mix and now that there is a good mix I still think it's far from a good album.

I do like about 5 tunes and the rest I can't enjoy at all.

The melodies are flat to me and the guitar playing is mostly angry strumming and open notes with very little of Alex's traditional sound and soloing.

The last 4 or 5 songs are laborious to get through.

Glad I got it so cheap but my disdain for the album remains and I'm one of the biggest Rush fans around. But I gotta be honest-most of it is not good to me.

I'm awaiting my copy, which I should have at the end of next week. Fortunately, like Pete, I'm getting it cheap: a friend from Warner Music Group got me a copy for something like $3. I have a feeling my reaction will be identical to Pete's. I will go into it with an open mind, of course, and will listen with the knowledge of what the band had gone through in the preceding years. Unlike most Rush albums, this one is supposed to capture the raw emotions that were stirred up by Peart's family tragedies, so the wall of noise is something they were striving for...not the choice of a producer or mastering engineer.

Not the best Rush album. Brought it in 2002, played it once. Sold it a few years back for $3