All the World's a Stage (album)
Encyclopedia
All the World's a Stage is a double live album
by Canadian
rock
band Rush
, released in 1976. The album was recorded at Massey Hall
in Toronto on June 11 through 13 during their 2112
tour. Similar to a lyric in the track "Limelight
" from 1981's album Moving Pictures
, the title of this album alludes to William Shakespeare
's play As You Like It
.
According to the liner notes, this live album (Rush's first) marks the end of the "first chapter of Rush," and would mark the start of a trend of releasing a live album after four studio albums. That trend was broken in the 2000s when the band would release a studio album then a live album from the ensuing tour. Songs like "Bastille Day
" and "Anthem" are similar to their studio versions with the addition of Neil Peart's drum solo during "Working Man
".
All the World's a Stage would be Rush's first US Top 40 charting album and would go gold, alongside A Farewell to Kings
and 2112
on November 16, 1977. It was certified platinum in the US 1981 after the release of Moving Pictures. In Canada
, gold certification came on December 1, 1976; platinum on August 1, 1978.
, Geddy Lee
and Neil Peart
, except where noted.
N.B. Although excluded from the liner notes, Part III of "2112" includes the final 0:32 of "Discovery" before "Presentation" begins.
The medley on track 9 is marked as above on the album but runs as follows: "Working Man (first half)/Finding My Way/Working Man (second half)/Drum Solo" before jamming out the end of the medley.
Songs with "/" in the title indicate song medley
s. Following along at the end of the last song the album closes with a bit of post-show chatter among the band members and the sound of a slamming of a door as they leave the venue.
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
by Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
, released in 1976. The album was recorded at Massey Hall
Massey Hall
Massey Hall is a venerable performing arts theatre in the Garden District of downtown Toronto. The theatre originally was designed to seat 3,500 patrons but, after extensive renovations in the 1940s, now seats up to 2,765....
in Toronto on June 11 through 13 during their 2112
2112 (album)
2112 is the fourth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released in 1976.The album features an eponymous seven-part suite written by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, with lyrics written by Neil Peart telling a dystopian story set in the year 2112. The album is sometimes described as a concept album...
tour. Similar to a lyric in the track "Limelight
Limelight (song)
"Limelight" is a song by the Canadian progressive rock band Rush. It first appeared on the 1981 album Moving Pictures. The song's lyrics were written by Neil Peart with music written by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson. "Limelight" expresses Peart's discomfort with Rush's success and being in the limelight...
" from 1981's album Moving Pictures
Moving Pictures (album)
- Personnel :* Geddy Lee - Bass guitar; Minimoog; Oberheim 8-voice synthesizer; OB-X, Moog Taurus bass pedals, vocals* Alex Lifeson - Electric and acoustic guitars, Moog Taurus...
, the title of this album alludes to William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's play As You Like It
As You Like It
As You Like It is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 or early 1600 and first published in the folio of 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wilton House in 1603 has been suggested as a possibility...
.
According to the liner notes, this live album (Rush's first) marks the end of the "first chapter of Rush," and would mark the start of a trend of releasing a live album after four studio albums. That trend was broken in the 2000s when the band would release a studio album then a live album from the ensuing tour. Songs like "Bastille Day
Bastille Day (song)
"Bastille Day" is the first song from Rush's third album Caress of Steel. The music was written by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, and the lyrics were written by Neil Peart...
" and "Anthem" are similar to their studio versions with the addition of Neil Peart's drum solo during "Working Man
Working Man
"Working Man" is a song by rock band Rush from its debut album, Rush. On the live album All the World's a Stage, the song segues directly into "Finding My Way" and one of Neil Peart's drum solos....
".
All the World's a Stage would be Rush's first US Top 40 charting album and would go gold, alongside A Farewell to Kings
A Farewell to Kings
A Farewell to Kings is the fifth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released in 1977. The album was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales, and mixed at Advision Studios in London....
and 2112
2112 (album)
2112 is the fourth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released in 1976.The album features an eponymous seven-part suite written by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, with lyrics written by Neil Peart telling a dystopian story set in the year 2112. The album is sometimes described as a concept album...
on November 16, 1977. It was certified platinum in the US 1981 after the release of Moving Pictures. In Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, gold certification came on December 1, 1976; platinum on August 1, 1978.
Track listing
All songs written by Alex LifesonAlex Lifeson
Aleksandar Živojinović, OC, better known by his stage name Alex Lifeson, is a second generation Serbian-Canadian musician, best known as the guitarist of the Canadian rock band Rush. In the summer of 1968, Lifeson founded the band that would become Rush with friend, drummer John Rutsey...
, Geddy Lee
Geddy Lee
Gary Lee Weinrib, OC, better known as Geddy Lee , is a Canadian musician, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush...
and Neil Peart
Neil Peart
Neil Ellwood Peart , OC, is a Canadian musician and author. He is the drummer for the rock band Rush.Peart grew up in Port Dalhousie, Ontario . During adolescence, he floated from regional band to regional band in pursuit of a career as a full-time drummer...
, except where noted.
- "Bastille DayBastille Day (song)"Bastille Day" is the first song from Rush's third album Caress of Steel. The music was written by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, and the lyrics were written by Neil Peart...
" – 4:57 - "Anthem" – 4:56
- "Fly by NightFly by Night (song)"Fly by Night" is the fifth song from Rush's second album of the same name. The music was written by Geddy Lee and the lyrics were penned by Neil Peart. Peart wrote this song about his first trip away from home. In 1971, at 18 years old, he left behind his small-town Canadian life and flew to England...
/In the MoodIn the Mood (Rush song)"In the Mood" is a song by Canadian rock band Rush from their debut album, Rush. It was at least two years old when recorded for the album. It is three minutes and 34 seconds long and in 4/4 time....
" (Lee, Peart)/(Lee) – 5:03 - "Something for Nothing" (Lee, Peart) – 4:02
- "Lakeside ParkLakeside Park (song)"Lakeside Park" is the third song from Rush's third album Caress of Steel. The music was written by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson and the lyrics were written by Neil Peart. The song details Peart's memories of many summers spent at the park....
" – 5:04 - "21122112 (song)2112 is the sidelong title track of Canadian progressive rock band Rush's album of the same name, released in 1976. The overture and the first section, Temples of Syrinx, were released as a single and are still popular among Rush's setlists today. The "sci-fi" sounds in the beginning of the song...
" – Total Time: 15:45- "I. Overture" – 4:16
- "II. The Temples of Syrinx" – 2:12
- "III. Presentation" (Lifeson, Peart) – 4:27
- "IV. Soliloquy" – 2:22
- "V. Grand Finale" – 2:28
- "By-Tor & the Snow Dog" – 11:57
- I. At the Tobes of Hades
- II. Across the Styx
- III. Of the Battle
- 1. Challenge and Defiance
- 2. 7/4 War Furor
- 3. Aftermath
- 4. Hymn of Triumph
- IV. Epilogue
- "In the End" (Lifeson, Lee) – 7:13
- "Working ManWorking Man"Working Man" is a song by rock band Rush from its debut album, Rush. On the live album All the World's a Stage, the song segues directly into "Finding My Way" and one of Neil Peart's drum solos....
/Finding My WayFinding My WayFinding My Way is the first song on Rush's album Rush. It is five minutes and seven seconds long and in 4/4 time. The song was written by singer/bassist Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson...
" (Lifeson, Lee)/(Lifeson, Lee) – 14:56 - "What You're Doing" (Lifeson, Lee) – 5:39
N.B. Although excluded from the liner notes, Part III of "2112" includes the final 0:32 of "Discovery" before "Presentation" begins.
The medley on track 9 is marked as above on the album but runs as follows: "Working Man (first half)/Finding My Way/Working Man (second half)/Drum Solo" before jamming out the end of the medley.
Songs with "/" in the title indicate song medley
Medley (music)
In music, a medley is a piece composed from parts of existing pieces, usually three, played one after another, sometimes overlapping. They are common in popular music, and most medleys are songs rather than instrumental. A medley which is a remixed series is called a megamix, often done with tracks...
s. Following along at the end of the last song the album closes with a bit of post-show chatter among the band members and the sound of a slamming of a door as they leave the venue.
Personnel
- Geddy LeeGeddy LeeGary Lee Weinrib, OC, better known as Geddy Lee , is a Canadian musician, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush...
- bass guitar, vocals - Alex LifesonAlex LifesonAleksandar Živojinović, OC, better known by his stage name Alex Lifeson, is a second generation Serbian-Canadian musician, best known as the guitarist of the Canadian rock band Rush. In the summer of 1968, Lifeson founded the band that would become Rush with friend, drummer John Rutsey...
- guitar - Neil PeartNeil PeartNeil Ellwood Peart , OC, is a Canadian musician and author. He is the drummer for the rock band Rush.Peart grew up in Port Dalhousie, Ontario . During adolescence, he floated from regional band to regional band in pursuit of a career as a full-time drummer...
- percussion
- Terry Brown — engineer
- Hugh Syme — design
- George Graves — mastering on original album
- Bob Ludwig — remastering
Remaster details
A remaster was issued in 1997.- The tray has a picture of the star with man painting (mirroring the cover art of Retrospective IRetrospective IRetrospective I: 1974 to 1980 is a compilation album by Canadian rock band Rush, released in 1997 . The album is essentially a collection of their best songs from the first decade of the band...
) with "The Rush Remasters" printed in all capital letters just to the left. All remasters from Rush through Permanent Waves are like this. - The original CD left off "What You're Doing". This was due to time constraints (CDs could only hold 75 minutes at the time), but by the time the remasters came out, CDs could hold up to 80 minutes of music. "What You're Doing" was thus re-inserted, along with the post-show chatter and door closing. Before the remastered version was released, the same live version of "What You're Doing" was released on the compilation Chronicles in 1990.
- The album's original triple gatefold with concert pictures was reinstated on the remaster.
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Billboard Pop Albums | 40 |