Can't Mercury leave well enough alone? Every time there's a chance to milk the back catalogue, they do. Now, if these are 3 boxsets of newly remastered albums, then OK. But I doubt it. Still, I am curious what these may be.
They could just be boxes rehashing the previous remasters from the 90's and that's my guess. But maybe, just maybe it's worthwhile seeing as we got the new Moving Pictures 30th ann. earlier this year. But, I doubt it.

I never got those 90s remasters, content with the still decent-sounding original CDs. One of the issues I had with all of Polygram/Universal's 90s remasters (including The Moody Blues) is that they included new liner notes but omitted the lyrics. The Moody's catalog was finally remastered & revamped a few years ago with bonus tracks, liner notes AND lyrics. If these Rush box sets do something similar, I may have to bite. I will definitely monitor these releases.

The Rush remasters sound great from the 90's-Bob Ludwig as usual did a nice, nice job. All original lyrics and photos were included-no new liner notes.

Thanks, IP. I guess I was misinformed about the packaging contents of those 90s remasters. If the original CDs sounded as crappy as those original Moody Blues CDs, I would replace them in a heartbeat, but since they still sound good to me, I'll consider replacing them with the remasters only if I come across them at a great price. Of course, maybe these boxsets will be my opportunity.

From rushisaband.com:

UPDATE - 9/26@1:03PM: Reader Dave C has access to the Universal Music business site and noticed that they have the box sets listed as 5 CD/DVD Combos. I'm not sure if that means 5 CDs plus 1 DVD or 5 of each. Interesting...

According to 3 listings at Amazon.com, Rush will be releasing a set of 3, 5-CD box sets on November 21st named Sector 1, Sector 2 and Sector 3 respectively. All we can tell from the listings at this point is that the format is CD, the label is given as Mercury, and the cost is currently $60.97. Given this information and the tight timeframe for release, it looks like these will not be remastered in any way - especially not 5.1 - and is likely just another attempt by Universal to capitalize on Rush's back catalog.
Indeed, when Rush was with Mercury Records they put out a cycle of 4 studio albums followed by a live album 3 consecutive times - making a total of 15 albums release under their label. So we can probably assume that the 1st box set would contain Rush, Fly by Night, Caress of Steel, 2112 and All the World's a Stage; the 2nd box set would consist of A Farewell to Kings, Hemispheres, Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures and Exit ... Stage Left; and the third box set would have Signals, Grace Under Pressure, Power Windows, Hold Your Fire and A Show of Hands. Again, this is all just speculation based on the information we currently have.
But all signs point to these just being a re-packaging of Rush's Universal back catalog. I'm also guessing that they'll include some fancy packaging and possible some new liner notes to justify the price. More information as we learn it. Many thanks to Richard S for the heads up.

Exactly what I figured-but we can hold out a small sliver of hope it's something better. But it won't be.

The super strange thing for me in reading this is that for some unknown crazy reason I had not one, but two, dreams within the past year that I had a bunch of newly released Rush box sets in my collection, featuring all kinds of unreleased songs & live stuff. I remember waking up in a fog both times not sure where they were/what they were and wondering was that a dream - and if so - why was I dreaming about Rush box sets in the first place.

UPDATE-these boxes are including 3 NEW 5.1 surround mixes (one album in each). This is beyond annoying, and one would hope that these will get a seperate release on their own.
But one would also be able to doubt that happening because of music industry suits and scumbags!
But, for me, they have picked some gems such as my favorite album Signals as well as A Farewell To Kings and Fly By Night.
Now, I have read that a 2112 release is in the mix, so is it possible more of these will come out? Do I actually have to buy all 3 of these boxes (they do sound very nice with regards to the packaging, photos, credits and what sounds like new remastering for all titles in high-res. Will this include the new version of Moving Pictures as well?
Basically, I think I'm going to have to get each box now. Damn. Actually, I know I'm getting these.


From rushisaband.com:

On November 21st, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) celebrates the legacy of Canadian rock trio Rush with the release of three separate six-disc box sets which together spans their entire historic Mercury Records recording career. Each 'Sector' contains five of their 15 Mercury albums in chronological order, all transferred to high resolution 96kHz/24-bit and digitally remastered for optimal quality. In addition, each volume includes an exclusive booklet packed with unpublished photos, original album lyrics and credits, and features one album from each set specially remixed on DVD in high resolution 96kHz/24-bit, 5.1 surround sound and stereo, compatible with both DVD-Audio players and DVD-Video players. Each album is packaged in a replica vinyl mini-jacket of the original album release with all three box sets forming a Rush CD road case.

SECTOR 1: Rush - All The World's A Stage, and on DVD in 5.1, Fly By Night

SECTOR 2: A Farewell To Kings - Exit Stage Left, and on DVD in 5.1, A Farewell To Kings

SECTOR 3: Signals - A Show Of Hands, and on DVD in 5.1, Signals

So while we won't be getting all 15 albums mixed in 5.1, we will be getting 3 of them! Not to mention the fact that all 15 will be digitally remastered in high resolution 96kHz/24-bit audio. The packaging sounds very cool too. This was much more than I had expected. All 3 box sets are available for pre-order at Amazon for $45.02 (Sector 1, Sector 2, Sector 3).

This is good news but a missed opportunity. Why not go the route of the Genesis box sets, where 4-5 albums were included in each box on CD & 5.1 DVD? This just means that at some point they will release the other albums in surround sound, and instead of having them all on a couple of nice packages, they'll be scattered across numerous ones.

Since I never got the remastered CDs from the mid-90s, and I noticed that several of the original Mercury CDs I have are sorely lacking in packaging, I'll probably get all three of these boxes anyway...but I'll grumble a little.

I know I'll get these!

Rick A.

Since I'm not into 5.1 I can think of no reason for me to get these - or am I missing something? I think the originals, then the remasters, and the MFSLs I have, already sound good enough for me.

I'm with ya as far as 5.1 goes-but if I ever get something to properly support the format, this is Rush and it would be cool. Still, new remastering, packaging, vinyl replica sleeves, etc. might be enough for me to bite. Works out to about $9 per disc which is not so bad.
I think the previous remasters are great (I was just listening to Counterparts today-that of course was from the Atlantic remasters) and am fine with them, but these really do sound nice and like time was spent on them.
We shall see when the reviews come in.

Seems an extremely odd way to release 5.1 discs. Packaged with CDs? That I already own? What?

OK, IF I read this correctly, everything is in 96/24; whether it's stereo or 5.1. "Not to mention the fact that all 15 will be digitally remastered in high resolution 96kHz/24-bit audio.".

If so, this is going to have to be dvd only (NO CD's) (though could be either dvd-a or dvd-v), as cd is stuck at 16/44 & I Believe SACD is fixed at 192.

Still too expensive, but interesting idea.

As far as I know, these are all CDs, not DVDs.

If they turned out to be hi-rez DVDs, I'd be more intrigued.

My point is there is no such thing as a 96/24 cd, it's physically impossible. At one time (5 -10years ago??) the industry was using this misleading terminology, but I'd thought they'd stopped.

OK, here we go from hennemusic.com (looks like 5 CDs and one DVD-Audio in each of the 3 boxes and at $45 each that is a great deal. All albums have been newly remastered and there are the three 5.1 mixes so far exclusive to the box):



In case there are any Rush fans who don't own everything by the band...

On November 21st, Universal Music Canada celebrates the legacy of Rush with the release of three separate six-disc box sets which, together, spans their entire Anthem Records recording career.

Each “Sector” contains five of their 15 Anthem albums in chronological order. In addition, each volume includes an exclusive booklet packed with unpublished photos, original album lyrics and credits, and features one album from each set specially remixed on DVD. Each album is packaged in a replica vinyl mini-jacket of the original album release with all three box sets forming a Rush CD road case.

Sector 1:

Rush (1974) – Their hard-rocking, self-titled 1974 debut hit the Billboard 200 and features classics such as 'Working Man' and 'Finding My Way'.

Fly By Night (1975) – Released in 1975, Fly By Night sees the debut of drummer Neil Peart who would help drive the band towards more complex material. Included are fan favorites such as the title track, 'Anthem', and the eight-minute composition 'By-Tor And The Snow Dog', which shows the band’s musical growth and progression.

Caress Of Steel (1975) – Also released in 1975, Caress Of Steel hit the Top 200 and gives a further glimpse of the band leaning toward prog rock and features Rush classics such as 'Lakeside Park' and 'Bastille Day'.

2112 (1976) - One of Rush’s all-time classics, 2112 was the band’s commercial breakthrough reaching the Top 100 on the album chart and remains one of their most popular albums successfully merging prog rock with their hard rock roots, a first for its time. 2112 features epic tracks such as the 20-minute title track '2112', taking up the entire first side of the original vinyl album.

All The World's A Stage (1976) - Hitting Top 50, this was Rush’s first live album and features classics such as 'Fly By Night/In The Mood' which reached Top 100, '2112', 'Bastille Day' and 'Something For Nothing'.

DVD: Fly By Night – Their classic 1975 sophomore release is now, for the first time, presented in high-resolution 96kHz/24-bit 5.1 surround sound and stereo.

Sector 2:

A Farewell To Kings (1977) – Their 1977 Top 40 release features their hit 'Closer To The Heart', 'Xanadu' and the title track, 'A Farewell To Kings'.

Hemispheres (1978) – Reaching Top 50 on the album chart, Hemispheres includes the 20-minute opus 'Cygnus X-1Book II – Hemispheres' and the metaphoric social commentary 'The Trees'.

Permanent Waves (1980) – This 1980 release hit #4 on the Billboard 200 and features classics such as 'Freewill' and 'The Spirit Of The Radio'.

Moving Pictures (1981) – Considered one of the greatest hard rock albums of all time, this quadruple platinum- selling masterpiece features rock radio staples 'Tom Sawyer', 'Red Barchetta', 'Vital Signs' and 'Limelight'.

Exit... Stage Left (1981) – Released in 1981, this Top 10 live album features performances of favorites such as 'Tom Sawyer', 'Freewill', 'YYZ' and deeper album tracks such as 'La Villa Strangiato' and 'Broon’s Bane'.

DVD: A Farewell To Kings – The album that set their musical course and signature songwriting style is now presented in high-resolution 96kHz/24-bit 5.1 surround sound and stereo.

Sector 3:

Signals (1982) - The synthesizer-driven Signals reached Top 10 and produced their #1 hit 'New World Man' and the Top 20 hits 'Subdivisions' and 'The Analog Kid'.

Grace Under Pressure (1984) – This 1984 release hit Top 10 on Billboard’s album chart and features classics such as 'Red Sector A' and 'Distant Early Warning'.

Power Windows (1985) – Released in 1985, Power Windows features Top 10 hits 'Marathon' and 'Big Money', plus the Top 50 hits 'Territories' and 'Mystic Rhythms'.

Hold Your Fire (1987) – The Top 20 album includes 'Force Ten' and 'Time Stand Still' with both reaching #3 on the Mainstream Rock chart, plus the Top 50 hits 'Lock And Key' and 'Mission'.

A Show Of Hands (1988) – While 1976’s All The World’s A Stage shows Rush’s hard rock roots and 1982’s Exit... Stage Left showcases their mix of synth and prog rock, the Top 50 double live album A Show Of Hands concentrates on the band’s later synth-driven era with tracks such as 'Subdivisions', 'Force Ten', 'Red Sector A' and 'Marathon'.

DVD: Signals – The 1982 Top 10 album Signals is also featured in high-resolution 96kHz/24-bit 5.1 surround sound and stereo.

Cue the inevitable "but it'll never be as good as the original Canadian pressings" from certain quarters...

Rush producer updates fans
With a lot of momentum on their side and a new deal with Roadrunner Records, Rush aren’t slowing down these days with band projects.

The new Neil Peart instructional DVD, "Taking Center Stage: A Lifetime Of Live Performance,” was released this past week; the set features more than 6 hours of Rush video.

On the horizon, the band’s new, “Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland,” is coming to theaters on October 26 and will be released on November 8.

And, then there’s Universal Music Canada’s announcement about a massive release for November 21: “Sectors,” a set of three, separate, six-disc box sets which, together, spans Rush’s entire Anthem Records recording career.

Beyond all of that, Rush fans know one more piece of the puzzle is in motion: the band has to return to the studio to complete the recording of their album, “Clockwork Angels,” set for release next year.

One of the partners in most of these projects is producer/mixer/engineer Richard Chycki, who updated Rush fans over the weekend on where some things are at, via his blog.


“First, my apologies for not updating the blog much over the past few months but it’s been a very busy year so far.

Earlier this year, I mixed Moving Pictures in 5.1 and I am pleased that it was met with very positive reviews. The recording of the Time Machine tour I did in the spring in Cleveland (best … audience … ever!) is now wrapped up and an edited version of the show has since aired on VH1, with theater, DVD, CD and vinyl releases due any time. Amazing to see the band perform Moving Pictures live in its entirety!

Based on the strong feedback from the Moving Pictures 5.1 remix, Universal Records had asked me to remix Fly By Night, A Farewell To Kings and Signals in surround to be included in their ‘Sector’ series of box set releases currently underway. Like Moving Pictures, all the multitrack masters I worked with were transferred from the original analog tapes at 96 kHz/24 bit resolution and this quality was maintained right down to the finished master. Listeners are in for a revelation of new detail for these releases.

Currently, Rush, producer Nick Raskulinecz and myself are reconvening to complete the recording of Rush’s next studio album, Clockwork Angels. Sorry, no timeline for completion

Let's all Rush In guys...

I'm going to get these when the price is right.....

Moving Pictures in 5.1 is great !