After treating their seminal 2112 to a massive anniversary reissue last year, Rush have announced similar plans for their 1977 follow-up A Farewell to Kings.
Arriving December 1 through UMe, the expanded edition will hit shelves in three different formats. A Super Deluxe edition will include the album's 2015 remaster on CD for the first time, a newly mixed 1978 concert recording at London's Hammersmith Odeon, and four recently captured covers of album tracks by Dream Theater, Big Wreck, the Trews and Alain Johannes.
The original album, live show and covers will also be included on four 180-gram vinyl LPs. The Hammersmith concert recording features over 34 minutes of unreleased performances, including the band tearing through their complete "2112" suite, "Lakeside Park," a drum solo and "Closer to the Heart."
On top of that, the Super Deluxe set includes a Blu-ray Audio disc with the album mixed in 5.1 surround sound by Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson, new artwork created by longtime Rush collaborator Hugh Syme, liner notes from rock historian Rob Bowman, a turntable slipmat, two lithographs, a unique king's ring and neck chain with a custom velvet pouch, and a reproduction of the band's original 1978 tour program.
The reissue will also arrive as a 3-CD deluxe edition and a 4-LP deluxe edition. Pre-orders for all three editions can be found here, along with their massive tracklists.
Bowman's liner notes describe A Farewell to Kings as "the beginning of Chapter Two" for Rush. "No longer was the majority of the record dominated by the sound of a power trio. A more mature Rush now embraced a wider sound palette using synthesizers, Taurus bass pedals, classical guitar, tubular bells, temple blocks and orchestral bells to create greater contrast and color within their compositions. Yet, when desired, Rush continued to deploy the intensity, ferocity and power that they were justifiably known for."
Hear the Hammersmith recording of "Closer to the Heart" below.
Arriving December 1 through UMe, the expanded edition will hit shelves in three different formats. A Super Deluxe edition will include the album's 2015 remaster on CD for the first time, a newly mixed 1978 concert recording at London's Hammersmith Odeon, and four recently captured covers of album tracks by Dream Theater, Big Wreck, the Trews and Alain Johannes.
The original album, live show and covers will also be included on four 180-gram vinyl LPs. The Hammersmith concert recording features over 34 minutes of unreleased performances, including the band tearing through their complete "2112" suite, "Lakeside Park," a drum solo and "Closer to the Heart."
On top of that, the Super Deluxe set includes a Blu-ray Audio disc with the album mixed in 5.1 surround sound by Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson, new artwork created by longtime Rush collaborator Hugh Syme, liner notes from rock historian Rob Bowman, a turntable slipmat, two lithographs, a unique king's ring and neck chain with a custom velvet pouch, and a reproduction of the band's original 1978 tour program.
The reissue will also arrive as a 3-CD deluxe edition and a 4-LP deluxe edition. Pre-orders for all three editions can be found here, along with their massive tracklists.
Bowman's liner notes describe A Farewell to Kings as "the beginning of Chapter Two" for Rush. "No longer was the majority of the record dominated by the sound of a power trio. A more mature Rush now embraced a wider sound palette using synthesizers, Taurus bass pedals, classical guitar, tubular bells, temple blocks and orchestral bells to create greater contrast and color within their compositions. Yet, when desired, Rush continued to deploy the intensity, ferocity and power that they were justifiably known for."
Hear the Hammersmith recording of "Closer to the Heart" below.
