FLY BY NIGHT

In my college years, I owned a black cat. Naturally I named it Snowdog! How's that for a conversation starter? I always knew who was "in the know" musically. Even so, despite my historical bias in favor of Rush, I must remember that this is ProgArchives, not classic rock archives and review it in the context of prog-interest and history.

"Fly by Night" is an album of "firsts" for the band ? and as such will be of very high interest to Rush fans. We get introduced to a new and vital drummer Neil Peart on this album. Not only is he an interesting drummer, he is a lyricist with a flair for the fantastic and slightly philosophic. This is the Rush album in which they unveil their first "multi-part" song "By-Tor and the Snowdog".

Rush fans will relish the opportunity to see the genesis of and to trace each development along the way. We are witnessing the very roots from which Rush's prog greatness would emerge.

General prog fans, however, may be left wondering what all the fuss is about. Looking back, this is a decent hard rock album, one which includes a few flashes of light pointing toward a bright hard rock/prog future for our beloved trio from Canada. As with their debut, the most compelling track (By-tor and the Snowdog) is much more definitive on Rush's live recordings.

As much as I like this album, it is for Rush fans and collectors. 2 very good stars.