Fly by Night
Encyclopedia
Fly by Night is the second studio album by the Canadian
rock
band Rush
, released in February 1975
.
. In addition to drumming duties, Peart also took on the job of lyricist by default, leading the band to adopt a more literary lyrical style that differed significantly from the debut album. The songs "By-Tor & the Snow Dog" and "Rivendell" are examples of the inclusion of fantasy themes into Rush's music.
"By-Tor & the Snow Dog" was inspired by Rush roadie Howard Ungerleider's story of him staying at Anthem records owner Ray Danniels' house, where Danniels' German Shepherd growled at him, and a tiny dog also owned by Danniels tried to jump on him. Ungerleider told Rush about it and they thought it was hilarious.
"Anthem" features lyrics inspired by the philosophy of Ayn Rand
, whose influence on Peart's writing would reach its apogee on the band's 1976 album 2112
. The autobiographical "Fly by Night" is based on Peart's experience of briefly moving from Canada
to London
as a young musician (before joining Rush). The original hand-penned lyrics for both "Anthem" and "Fly by Night" include different or additional lyrics not sung in the original songs. The original lyrics to "Fly by Night" include a prologue which is not found in the final song.
The song "By-Tor & the Snow Dog" at the end of side one of the original LP has a recording of jingle sounds which continues into the locked groove and thus plays indefinitely on manual record players.
. Rush also recorded parts of their first album at the same studio. However, since the first album sessions the studio had upgraded its equipment from one-inch eight-track to two-inch analog 16-track
master tape recorders, allowing the group to have far more flexibility in overdubbing
and mixing
. Pictures shown on the Fly by Night album artwork indicate that the studio used a 16-track recorder made by Studer
and a Neve mixing console, a combination that was widely considered to be state of the art by audio engineers
. These were the preferred brands by many top studios worldwide up through the mid 1990s when digital recording equipment became the standard. Fly by Night is the band's first album to be produced by Terry Brown
, who had remixed the band's debut album. Brown would maintain this role through 1982's Signals. The high fidelity recording of Fly by Night was very positive in moving the band forward in a direction that peaked the interest of audiophiles who would seek out these type of recordings while also getting familiar with the band's material. Fly by Night set an early standard of excellence in this area not often prioritized by the harder rock bands of the mid 1970's rock era.
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 February 1975
1975 in music
-January–April:*January 2 - New York City U.S. District Court Judge Richard Owen rules that former Beatle John Lennon and his lawyers can have access to Department of Immigration files pertaining to his deportation case....
.
Music and lyrics
This was the first Rush album to feature drummer Neil PeartNeil 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...
. In addition to drumming duties, Peart also took on the job of lyricist by default, leading the band to adopt a more literary lyrical style that differed significantly from the debut album. The songs "By-Tor & the Snow Dog" and "Rivendell" are examples of the inclusion of fantasy themes into Rush's music.
"By-Tor & the Snow Dog" was inspired by Rush roadie Howard Ungerleider's story of him staying at Anthem records owner Ray Danniels' house, where Danniels' German Shepherd growled at him, and a tiny dog also owned by Danniels tried to jump on him. Ungerleider told Rush about it and they thought it was hilarious.
"Anthem" features lyrics inspired by the philosophy of Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand was a Russian-American novelist, philosopher, playwright, and screenwriter. She is known for her two best-selling novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged and for developing a philosophical system she called Objectivism....
, whose influence on Peart's writing would reach its apogee on the band's 1976 album 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...
. The autobiographical "Fly by Night" is based on Peart's experience of briefly moving from 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...
to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
as a young musician (before joining Rush). The original hand-penned lyrics for both "Anthem" and "Fly by Night" include different or additional lyrics not sung in the original songs. The original lyrics to "Fly by Night" include a prologue which is not found in the final song.
The song "By-Tor & the Snow Dog" at the end of side one of the original LP has a recording of jingle sounds which continues into the locked groove and thus plays indefinitely on manual record players.
Production details
Fly by Night was recorded at Toronto Sound Studios in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. Rush also recorded parts of their first album at the same studio. However, since the first album sessions the studio had upgraded its equipment from one-inch eight-track to two-inch analog 16-track
Multitrack recording
Multitrack recording is a method of sound recording that allows for the separate recording of multiple sound sources to create a cohesive whole...
master tape recorders, allowing the group to have far more flexibility in overdubbing
Overdubbing
Overdubbing is a technique used by recording studios to add a supplementary recorded sound to a previously recorded performance....
and mixing
Audio mixing (recorded music)
In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
. Pictures shown on the Fly by Night album artwork indicate that the studio used a 16-track recorder made by Studer
Studer
Studer is a Swiss manufacturer of professional audio equipment, founded in Zurich in 1948 by Willi Studer. It is known primarily for the design and manufacture of analog tape recorders and mixing consoles. Studer also produce other technology solutions, such as telephony management systems and...
and a Neve mixing console, a combination that was widely considered to be state of the art by audio engineers
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
. These were the preferred brands by many top studios worldwide up through the mid 1990s when digital recording equipment became the standard. Fly by Night is the band's first album to be produced by Terry Brown
Terry Brown (record producer)
Terry Brown is a record producer involved in a variety of work, but most noted for his involvement with the Canadian rock band Rush and the British/Canadian band Cutting Crew. Brown is currently working with emerging Ottawa roots-rockers Ken Workman & The Union. He is referred to fondly by the band...
, who had remixed the band's debut album. Brown would maintain this role through 1982's Signals. The high fidelity recording of Fly by Night was very positive in moving the band forward in a direction that peaked the interest of audiophiles who would seek out these type of recordings while also getting familiar with the band's material. Fly by Night set an early standard of excellence in this area not often prioritized by the harder rock bands of the mid 1970's rock era.
Track listing
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...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, classical 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...
– acoustic and electric guitars - 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...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
and percussion
Chart positions
| Country | Chart | Position |
| U.S. | Billboard 200 | 113 |
Sales certifications
| Country | Organization | Sales |
| U.S. | RIAA | Platinum (1,000,000) |
Singles
| Information |
|---|
| "Fly By Night Fly 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... "
|
| "Making Memories"
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... and Terry Brown Terry Brown (record producer) Terry Brown is a record producer involved in a variety of work, but most noted for his involvement with the Canadian rock band Rush and the British/Canadian band Cutting Crew. Brown is currently working with emerging Ottawa roots-rockers Ken Workman & The Union. He is referred to fondly by the band... |
Discography
| Country | Label | Format | Catalog |
| Canada | Mercury | Vinyl | SRM 1-1023 |
| Canada | Anthem | Vinyl | ANR 1-1002 |
| Canada | Capitol | Vinyl | ANR 1-602 |
| Canada | Anthem | CD | ANMD 1076 |
| Canada | Mercury | 8 Track | MC8 1-1023 |
| Canada | Anthem | 8 Track | 8AN 1-1023 |
| Canada | Mercury | Cassette | MC4 1-1023 |
| Canada | Anthem | Cassette | 4AN 1-1002 |
| Canada | Anthem | Cassette | 4AN 1-602 |
| Canada | Anthem | CD | ANC 1-1002 |
| Canada | Anthem | CD | WANK 1002 |
| Canada | Anthem | CD | ANMD 1002 |
| Canada | Anthem | CD | D -108203 |
| U.S. | Mercury | CD | 534624 |
Remaster details
A remaster was issued in 1997.- The tray has a picture of the star with man painting (mirroring the album cover 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 packaging of the remastered CD reinstates the original back cover and inner sleeve (including Neil Peart's handwritten lyrics and credit sheet) absent from the first CD issue.