Exit... Stage Left

Essentially a victory lap to cap off the most successful phase of their career, Rush’s second live album captures performances from the Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures tours. Despite their reputation as a band that impeccably re-created the studio arrangements on stage, the band’s having fun here, throwing in a little more swing during the reggae section of “The Spirit of Radio” or making “YYZ” even more awesome with a Neil Peart drum solo. Only two pre-1977 songs make the cut, neither of which were on All the World’s A Stage, so it’s all fresh material. That, and the quality of the performances (some of which were pieced together from various shows), make this an essential listen. It’s a moving picture of a band at their peak.