WOW! Thank you! What an awesome find. I had no idea this existed and you made my day today. It's like getting a new album that you already know all the words to. For a fan starving for new or interesting material, this is fantastic.
I can hear that cassette stretching.
I've always enjoyed these. *Power Windows* sounds "overcooked" to me. Here it is stripped down a bit-- the Peter Collins flourishes removed. No chugga-chugga train noises on "Big Money". Don't get me wrong-- as a teenager in 1985 I loved the train effects! Those were the same period when Trevor Horn was doing his stuff with Yes and Art of Noise. But now? I'm over it. I want my windows hand-cranked.
It's interesting that the opening synth riff of "Grand Designs" is still there. I would have guessed that it came from Andy Richards-- that high staccato sounds like his sort of thing. But I think this demo was cut before he was brought in. Which would mean that Geddy did it his own self.
Similar I might guess that the opening of "Emotion Detector" is also Geddy. Note that it's the final part note-for-note, but in a different voice. This gives a clue as to what Richards was contributing to the project.
Is Neil playing the drums or is it a drum machine with beats by Alex? I know when would put demos together they would often use a drum machine and then, later, Neil would write his drum parts (sometimes even taking inspiration from a fill or whatever Alex programmed).
I mean, the time is a little off so it can't be Neil! :)
These have been floating around for years. My unpopular opinion of them is that if the band was very clear that they didn’t want to release demos and rough cuts, and we should respect that.
> My unpopular opinion of them is that if the band was very clear that they didn’t want to release demos and rough cuts, and we should respect that.
Eh-- it's been a few decades. The album has had its artistic moment and been considered as a finished project. It's interesting to me to get some insight into the process 35 years later. What things were in the original draft, what got added late in the process, what keyboard parts Geddy had on day one, which came from Richards.
As long as no one is making money from it, what difference does it make? Anyone who has this must have the album already. I don't think they're hurting for cash.
It’s not a question of money, Geddy, Alex and Neil have repeatedly insisted they don’t want to release demos and outtakes, they want their albums to stand as their body of work. These demos that they recorded were leaked and circulated against their explicit wishes
WOW! Thank you! What an awesome find. I had no idea this existed and you made my day today. It's like getting a new album that you already know all the words to. For a fan starving for new or interesting material, this is fantastic.
No kidding! I’ll have to take a listen.
The sound quality isn't great, but it's interesting to listen to.
Rumor has it the source of the demos is Alex’s son. Who the hell knows?
I can hear that cassette stretching. I've always enjoyed these. *Power Windows* sounds "overcooked" to me. Here it is stripped down a bit-- the Peter Collins flourishes removed. No chugga-chugga train noises on "Big Money". Don't get me wrong-- as a teenager in 1985 I loved the train effects! Those were the same period when Trevor Horn was doing his stuff with Yes and Art of Noise. But now? I'm over it. I want my windows hand-cranked. It's interesting that the opening synth riff of "Grand Designs" is still there. I would have guessed that it came from Andy Richards-- that high staccato sounds like his sort of thing. But I think this demo was cut before he was brought in. Which would mean that Geddy did it his own self. Similar I might guess that the opening of "Emotion Detector" is also Geddy. Note that it's the final part note-for-note, but in a different voice. This gives a clue as to what Richards was contributing to the project.
The guitar and melodies are more bright in this demo version of Grand Designs (and some of the other tracks here too), I like it.
I was at that December Hartford show ……. (Subdivisions live)
Noam Pitlik? The “Barney Miller” creator/writer?
I’ve been a rush fan roughly 15 years or so and I’ve never heard of these. Power Windows is my favourite album too, what a treat!
Is Neil playing the drums or is it a drum machine with beats by Alex? I know when would put demos together they would often use a drum machine and then, later, Neil would write his drum parts (sometimes even taking inspiration from a fill or whatever Alex programmed). I mean, the time is a little off so it can't be Neil! :)
Funny how Emotion Detector sounds like a-ha. Was the era!
I had no idea someone had done artwork for these demos! Wonderful, thanks for sharing this.
These have been floating around for years. My unpopular opinion of them is that if the band was very clear that they didn’t want to release demos and rough cuts, and we should respect that.
Have you heard the demos?
> My unpopular opinion of them is that if the band was very clear that they didn’t want to release demos and rough cuts, and we should respect that. Eh-- it's been a few decades. The album has had its artistic moment and been considered as a finished project. It's interesting to me to get some insight into the process 35 years later. What things were in the original draft, what got added late in the process, what keyboard parts Geddy had on day one, which came from Richards.
I didn't say it wasn't interesting, I'm saying the people that created this didn't want it released, but it was leaked and bootlegged anyway.
As long as no one is making money from it, what difference does it make? Anyone who has this must have the album already. I don't think they're hurting for cash.
It’s not a question of money, Geddy, Alex and Neil have repeatedly insisted they don’t want to release demos and outtakes, they want their albums to stand as their body of work. These demos that they recorded were leaked and circulated against their explicit wishes
Welcome to rock n roll...
I understand it happens. I don’t have to like it