September 1973 – Canadian band Rush released their first 45 single this month featuring the Buddy Holly cover “Not Fade Away” and “You Can’t Fight It” an original song on the B-side.

The record is available in limited quantities and despite some pleading to band manager Ray Danniels, I was unable to obtain the single release. However, sitting on my desk this morning, a copy of the two songs recorded on cassette tape the newest format of listening to music now rapidly growing in popularity by audiophiles.

Rush, a trio based out of Toronto, consists of singer and bassist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson and drummer John Rutsey. Rush originally formed five years ago by Lifeson and Rutsey with various members joining, then leaving, including Lee who at one point left the band before returning to the fold. Rush seems to have found their groove now with Lee, Lifeson and Rutsey along with a banger of a first single release.

Rush’s version of “Not Fade Away” mostly sticks with the original flavor of the track that first hit airwaves in 1957. Holly’s version rife with that 50s era bop while Rush infuses the tone and hard electric guitar drive of today’s rock music. The song, apparently a fan favorite for the band to play live and a tune Lifeson no doubt has fun performing.

But their original track “You Can’t Fight It” shows some ingenuity for the young rock band. Lee has impressive vocal range, even if a bit raw and needing some containment, but do expect rock fans and critics to compare his falsetto to singer Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin. In fact, you can hear a bit of Led Zeppelin in Rush’s music as the Canadian group has mentioned the English rockers as influences. Though, dare I say, Lifeson already owns his own tone rivaling that of the “Stairway to Heaven” band and a command of the fretboard an old hand likely spent far longer to master. As co-founder, expect Lifeson to continue with Rush wherever the future leads.

Rush plans to release their debut full length album of all original material later this year or early 1974 and if the “Not Fade Away”/“You Can’t Fight It”  single release proves anything, Rush very well could be around for the long haul with a lengthy career ahead. Therefore, if you can get your hands on this vinyl single from Moon Records – the band’s own label after Rush was unable to woo record executives with a demo tape – that is if you can find one, expect this 7-inch record to be a massive collector’s item sometime in the future.

Note: Just a fun way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Rush’s first single release!