April 08 #1

Rod from Mt. Brydges asks:

In this month’s edition, I noticed you responded to Paul’s inquiry regarding Rush’s self-titled release on Moon Records. My question is with regards to what may be considered a huge collectible: an unscratched, flawless copy of Electric! by Rush. I purchased this LP from a record shop about 15 years ago. From what I can tell, it is Neil Peart’s introduction into the band, after the departure of John Rutsey. The interesting thing is that the LP is said to be released by “Electricladyland Studios,” and also the band performs a song called “Bad Boy” (Geddy says to the audience it is a cover of a Beatles song???) This is definitely not a recording that was made available commercially, so it is technically a “bootleg”. Just wondering if you have any idea on how many of these LPs were actually produced?

Alan answers:

It’s not just technically a bootleg; it most definitely IS one. And what a score!

First of all, a typical run for a bootleg recording was usually 1,000-2,000 copies. I have a feeling that this might be a recording of a nine-song show that Rush performed at Electric Ladyland Studios in New York on December 5, 1974. It came about four months after Neil’s first show with the band in Pittsburgh (which happened on August 14) and featured future Rush classics like “Finding My Way,” “Fly by Night,” “Anthem” and “Working Man.” “Bad Boy,” the second-last song of the night, is apparently a forgotten Rush original (despite what goofy Geddy says.

Back then, it was common for bands to record what were known as “radio shows”—private performances in front of live audiences that were recorded for syndication on rock stations across the country. These shows—which were never intended for commercial release or sale—were distributed on reel-to-reel tape or cheaply-produced vinyl that was actually designed to wear out after just a few plays. Obviously, many copies of these recordings went AWOL and ended up being, er, repurposed as bootlegs. This particular recording is also known as By-Tor ’74 in one of its CD incarnations and was issued on labels with names like “Elements of Crime.”