The Album That Brought Them To Mainstream
Rush’s eighth studio album that was released on February 12, 1981, under Mercury Records in the United States. Rush’s previous release Permanent Waves and was an indication that they were taking a shift musically to a more mainstream sounding while mixing it with their progressive style.
With Moving Pictures, their approach was a more radio-friendly album but with tracks that still have their progressive roots. Most of the tracks they produced on this album were radio hits, such as the incredible track “The Camera Eye.” Moving Pictures had proven once again that they were one of the best bands of their generation, balancing it out with their roots of progressive rock and radio-friendly rock.
It was their most popular release and managed to reach the No.3 spot on the Billboard 200 chart and the UK albums chart, and instantly a No.1 on the Canadian Albums Chart. The album then became 4x Platinum in the U.S and Canada and managed to achieved a Silver in the U.K – showing how strong the album was.
It was indeed the best work of Rush with their excellent lyrics and themes, great talents, and RUSH.
Best tracks from the album were “Tom Sawyer,” “Red Barchetta,” “YYZ,” “Limelight,” “The Camera Eye,” “Witch Hunt,” and “Vital Signs” — that’s all of them. The album only consists of seven tracks, so meaning, there’s nothing you can thrash out on this album. It’s a must-listen-to those who haven’t heard it yet.
Rush, without a doubt, made a milestone with their most mainstream successful album. It has everything in it, from progressive sound to radio mainstream sound, and probably the album that got them a huge following.
Moving Pictures is sure as hell a definitive Rush album!