Artist: Rush
Title: “Exit Stage Left”
Label: Universal Music
Release Date: 5/1/2007
Genre: Progressive Rock
Rating: 4/5
When Rush decided to release “Replay x3” they would sate the hungry appetites of fans who had been begging for the classic VHS films from the bands archives to be finally delivered on DVD. Wrapped in a colorful box it featured the videos for “Exit Stage Left”, “Grace Under Pressure” and “A Show Of Hands” – all of which had been out of print for decades. The amazing package included mini programs from each tour that was presented on the film. 2007 would find each of these films being released individually so now the fans that felt the boxed set was not to their liking needed only purchase the film that they hold closest to their hearts. These individual releases also include the same mini program as the boxed set and no other differences exist.
The “Exit…Stage Left” DVD was filmed during the tour that was in support of the bands blockbuster album “Moving Pictures”. Originally released on VHS and Laserdisc in 1981, the concert found Rush issuing a CD that while bearing the same name would have music that was from a different performance on the tour according to Rush historians and research. Given how precise Rush is in concert it is very difficult to tell the difference unless you have the keenest of ears and really try to determine what is happening note for note. As an album, “Moving Pictures” was the one that really took Rush out of the hands of Progressive Hard Rock fans alone and moved them into the larger world of music listeners by exposing both the Metal fans and Classic Rock enthusiasts to their incredible sound. It was during these years that the albums core songs of “Tom Sawyer”, “Red Barchetta” and “YYZ” could be found on mainstream Rock radio stations and were kept in very healthy rotation. Videos of concerts were not yet as common an occurrence as they are today when this was first released so the fact that some document actually exists of this tour is a great thing indeed. “Moving Pictures” was the album that converted me to the Rush cause but I had not been able to see this tour when it actually happened. It was only through this film that I was able to witness one of the most important parts of the bands history. Perhaps we share this as music fans and if so it’s all the more reason for you to snare a copy. Unfortunately this particular DVD runs a little under 60 minutes in length but since the film brings you back to such a great point in Rush’s touring history you can learn to deal with it.
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