Rush - A Farewell To Kings (2LP, 45RPM, 1Step, Box Set)
Geddy Lee – vocals, bass guitar, twelve-string guitar, Minimoog, bass pedal synthesizer
Alex Lifeson – six- and twelve-string electric guitar, six- and twelve-string acoustic guitar, classical guitar, bass pedal synthesizer
Neil Peart – drums, orchestra bells, tubular bells, temple blocks, cowbells, wind chimes, bell tree, triangle, vibra-slap
Written by Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Neil Peart (A1 to B1, C2 to D1), Peter Talbot (C1)
2 LPs, box set
Limited to 5,000 numbered copies
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : Black
Speed : 45 RPM
Size : 12''
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : Fidelity Record Pressing
Label : Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab
Original Label : Mercury
Recorded at Rockfield Studios, Rockfield, Monmouthshire, Wales, in June 1977
Engineered by Terry Brown and Pat Moran
Produced by Rush and Terry Brown
Mastered by Krieg Wunderlich at Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, Sebastopol, CA
Photography by Yosh Inouye (cover), Fin Costello (band photograph), Roger Stowell (sleeve photography)
Design by Hugh Syme
Originally released in September 1977
Reissued in 2026
Tracks:
Side A:
- A Farewell to Kings
Side B:
- Xanadu
Side C:
- Closer to the Heart
- Cinderella Man
- Madrigal
Side D:
- Cygnus X-1
Reviews;
“On 1977's A Farewell to Kings it quickly becomes apparent that Rush had improved their songwriting and strengthened their focus and musical approach. Synthesizers also mark their first prominent appearance on a Rush album, a direction the band would continue to pursue on future releases. With the popular hit single "Closer to the Heart," the trio showed that they could compose concise and traditionally structured songs, while the 11-minute "Xanadu" remains an outstanding accomplishment all these years later (superb musicianship merged with vivid lyrics help create one of Rush's best all-time tracks). The album-opening title track begins with a tasty classical guitar/synth passage, before erupting into a powerful rocker. The underrated "Madrigal" proves to be a delicately beautiful composition, while "Cinderella Man" is one of Rush's few songs to include lyrics penned entirely by Geddy Lee. The ten-minute tale of a dangerous black hole, "Cygnus X-1," closes the album on an unpredictable note, slightly comparable to the two extended songs on 1975's Caress of Steel. A Farewell to Kings successfully built on the promise of their breakthrough 2112, and helped broaden Rush's audience on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.” AllMusic Review by Greg Prato
One-Step : Instead of utilizing the industry-standard three-step lacquer process, One-Step uses only one step, bypassing two processes of generational loss. While three-step processing is designed for optimum yield and efficiency, One-Step is created for the ultimate in sound quality. By skipping the additional steps of pulling another positive and an additional negative, as done in the three-step process used in standard pressings, One-Step produces a final LP with the lowest noise floor possible today. The removal of the additional two steps of generational loss in the plating process reveals tremendous amounts of extra musical detail and dynamics, which are otherwise lost due to the standard copying process.
Ratings
AllMusic: 4 / 5 ; Discogs 4.44 / 5