This one is bound to stir up some sentiment in the Rush fanbase. Our Chuck’s Fight Club battle for this week on the Loudwire Nights radio show asks you to choose the better 1970s vs. 80s Rush era of music. Were they at their best in the 1970s, or did the 1980s see the band reach their ultimate creative zenith?
Rush first arrived on the scene in 1974 with their self-titled debut. They then followed with 1975’s Fly By Night and Caress of Steel, 1976’s 2112, 1977’s A Farewell to Kings and 1978’s Hemispheres. Iconic tracks such as “Working Man,” “Fly By Night,” “In the Mood,” “Closer to the Heart,” and “Cinderella Man” all emerged during this foundational era.
The 1980s, however, offered a different sonic landscape, giving us the Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, Signals, Grace Under Pressure, Power Windows, Hold Your Fire, and Presto albums. Included in that prolific run are such standouts as “Tom Sawyer,” “Limelight,” “New World Man,” “Time Stand Still,” and “The Spirit of Radio.”
As with all Chuck’s Fight Club battles, Loudwire Nights host Chuck Armstrong will introduce the matchup in the 8PM hour of Monday’s show. Individual arguments will be made for both eras on Tuesday and Wednesday while fans continue to rank each. On Friday, the votes will be tallied and the higher-ranked era will be featured in a Loudwire Nights rock block during the 8PM hour.
