What a great and overall satisfying purchase the Rush ReDiscovered Vinyl box set is of the iconic band’s first album.

Sure it would be any collector’s dream, and even more so the ultimate Rush fan, if the contents in this limited edition release commemorating the band’s 40^th anniversary album, were authentic from the past. That of course would costs thousands.

But packaged nicely for a mere $35 (Amazon just jacked up their price to $41 – meaning they just added the “free” shipping costs into the price) inside a sturdy cardboard box with the original Rush logo from the first album, is of course a record pressed on 200g audio grade vinyl using the Direct Metal Mastering process, the original Moon Records jacket art, promo photos of Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and John Rutsey, and perhaps the best item of interest is the complete family tree of Rush.

Rush can be traced back to 1965 starting with the band The Guilde which included Rutsey and the tree of Rush moves forward through more bands you’ve never heard of and some only the hard-core Rush fan would know. Rutsey and Lifeson united in 1968 with The Lost Cause, then founded another band before forming Rush with Jeff Jones, who in fact even Wikipedia lists as a member of Rush. The original lineup of Rush fans all know and love formed in 1968, before adding a fourth member in Lindy Young and then well, you’ll have to pick up the box set to learn the rest. Do you know who Gerry Fielding is?

Listening to Rush on the newly minted vinyl and comparing to the regular Mercury Records release in the same format does reveal some audible differences. Primarily, the new record is crisper but don’t expect to hear previously unheard guitar chords, solos or extended playing like the newly remastered Vapor Trails offered.

Rush ReDiscovered is a great way to listen to that first Rush album again for the first time. Sure, it’s totally the 70s with the familiar guitar sound of that decade but it certainly rocks hard enough it’s not your father’s music from the 50s or 60s.

Listen to “Working Man” and it’s obvious why the band found success. The little heard “Here Again” registering in longer than the seven minute epic that is “Working Man” is a well-crafted song that meshes a melodically slow paced rhythm with passionate vocals by Lee and a memorable guitar chord and fantastic solo by Lifeson. “Before and After” brings that heartwarming intro before the band starts rocking and how can “In the Mood” not arouse a smile since it’s really the only song about women the band ever recorded – OK, maybe “Closer to the Heart” deserves some romantic love here but not nearly in the same vein.

The standout on this album is a young Lifeson. Perhaps it’s just hindsight but it’s obvious the man has talent and was going places whether or not Rush succeeded as they did. Lifeson would have been well-known in the world of rock whether as a soloist along the lines of Eric Johnson or Joe Satriani or in another band.

Overall, the Rush ReDiscovered set blows the spine off the $100 Clockwork Angels Limited Edition Package which had a 5000 limited-release pressing and is still available on the Rush Backstage website. The ReDiscovered box set is supposedly limited addition as well but there’s nothing on the box indicating how many or the numbered edition.

Don’t be surprised if the ReDiscovered Box set becomes common with other bands. Certainly Rush could do likewise with every one of their albums and fans no doubt would gobble them up.

Grade: A