Rush Albums Ranked (rated from worst to best)

Rush was a Canadian rock band formed in Toronto in 1968 and primarily composed of Alex Lifeson (guitar), Geddy Lee (bass, vocals) and Neil Peart (drums, percussion, songwriting). They went through a number of lineup changes before becoming a power trio in 1974.

That same year they released their debut album on their own record label. They achieved great commercial success throughout the 1970s and into the 80s and 90s. 

In 1997 they took a break from performing and recording until 2001 when they continued until releasing what was to become their final album in 2012. In 2018 it was announced that they would not continue as a band. Then Neil Peart died on January 7th 2020 from a form of brain cancer.

Thank you, Neil, for making our lives a better place with your music.

Dave Grohl

Best Rush Albums Of All Time

Making these albums ranked lists is a very subjective task. Ask 100 Rush fans and you’d probably get 100 different opinions. However there are a number of Rush albums that are far more popular than others. So most would probably agree on the best and the rest, it’s the middle ground where most differences would lie. 

The band released 20 studio albums and as always we’ll rank them as we see them from the rest to the best.

20. Feedback (2004)

This 8-track album was released on June 29th 2004 and is a covers album. These are the tracks that were influential for the band members during the 1960s. Tracks include; “Crossroads”, “Heart Full Of Souls” and “Summertime Blues”.

In all fairness, this isn’t a bad album, in fact some of these covers sound better than the originals. 

The only reason it’s last in our rankings is because none of the tracks are originals. Not one was written by Rush, apart from that it’s a good album.

19. Test For Echo (1996)

Released on September 10th 1996, this was Rush’s 16th studio album. The title track peaked at number one on the Mainstream rock chart. While the track “Driven” became a live show standard including Geddy Lee’s bass solo.

The track “Half The World” features Alex Lifeson playing a 10-string mandola. He said “Resist” was his favourite track on this album and one of the best the band had ever recorded.

The album was recorded at the Bearsville Studios in Bearsville, New York and Reaction Studios in Toronto.

18. Caress Of Steel (1975)

This was the band’s 3rd studio album which was released on September 24th 1975. 

This was the album that showed their progression from a blues-based band to a more progressive rock style band. On completion, all 3 band members were happy with the result.

It wasn’t received quite so well with critics and fans alike. In retrospect, it’s a great album but a greatly misunderstood album at the time of its release.

The album was recorded during July 1975 at the Toronto Sound Studios in Toronto, Ontario. Side one consists of 4 tracks whilst side 2 is one long track broken up into 6 sections. 

The album peaked at number 60 on the Canadian RPM chart and number 148 on the Billboard 200 chart in the US.

17. Rush (1974)

This was their debut album which was released on March 1st 1974 in Canada on Moon Records. Moon Records was their own record label and then later in the same year it was released internationally by Mercury Records.

The album shows the influence of the bands that Rush were listening to at that time. There are elements of Led Zeppelin, Cream and Yes all evident on this album. 

John Rutsey performed all of the drum parts on this album. But he was unable to tour with the band due to complications with his diabetes and so Neil Peart replaced him on drums.

The album peaked at number 86 on the Canadian RPM chart and number 105 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

16. Presto (1989)

Released on November 21st 1989 this was the band’s 13th studio album. 

It was their first album released internationally by Atlantic Records as they left Mercury Records after the release of their previous album “Hold Your Fire” (1987).

There were 3 singles released from this album which were; “Show Don’t Tell”, “The Pass” and “Superconductor”. “Show Don’t Tell” peaked at number one on the US Album Rock Tracks chart.

The album peaked at number 16 on the Billboard 200 chart and number 27 on the UK album charts.

15. Roll The Bones (1991)

This was Rush’s 14th studio album which was released on September 3rd 1991. The album has a theme running through it of the element of chance on various aspects of life. 

The album was recorded at the Le Studio in Morin-Heights, Quebec, and McClear Place in Toronto, Canada. With the vocals recorded in England.

There were 2 singles released from this album which were “Roll The Bones” and “Ghost Of A Chance”

The album peaked at number 3 on the Billboard 200 chart in the US, number 10 on the UK albums charts and number 11 on the Canadian RPM chart.

14. Fly By Night (1975)

This was Rush’s 2nd studio album which was released on February 15th 1975. It was their first album with progressive rock tendencies.  It was also the first Rush album to feature Neil Peart on drums.

The album was recorded at the Toronto Sound Studios during a gap in their US and Canadian tour.

The title track, which was released as the only single from the album, is based on Peart’s moving from Canada to London, England before joining Rush.

The album peaked at number 9 on the Canadian RPM chart and number 113 on the Billboard 200 chart in the US.

13. Hold Your Fire (1987)

Released on September 8th 1987, this was Rush’s 12th studio album. It was recorded at The Manor Studio in Oxfordshire, Ridge Farm Studio in Surrey, Air Studios in Montserrat and McClear Place in Toronto.

There were 2 singles released from this album which were; “Prime Mover” and “Time Stand Still (featuring Aimee Mann)”.

This album wasn’t as commercially successful as many of Rush’s 1980s releases, peaking at number 13 on the Billboard 200 chart, number 10 on the UK album charts and number 9 on the Canadian RPM chart.

12. A Farewell to Kings (1977)

This was the band’s 5th studio album which was released in September 1977. This was their follow up to the highly successful “2112” (1976) album. 

The album was recorded at the Rockfield Studios in Monmouthshire, Wales, making this the first Rush album recorded outside of Toronto.

They released 2 singles from this album which were; “Closer to The Heart” and “Cinderella Man”.

The album peaked at number 11 on the Canadian RPM chart, number 22 on the UK album charts and number 33 on the Billboard 200 chart in the US.

11. Hemispheres (1978)

Released on October 29th 1978, “Hemispheres” is the 6th studio album by Rush. Recorded at the same studios as their previous album “A Farewell To Kings”, Rockfield Studios in Monmouthshire, Wales, and Trident Studios in London.

There was only one single released from this album which was; “Circumstances”/”The Trees”. This was also the album that contains the track “La Villa Strangiato”, Rush’s first instrumental track.

It took around 3 months to record this album and costs were estimated at $100,000. Which made it the most expensive Rush album ever up to that point.

The album peaked at number 14 on the Canadian RPM chart, number 14 on the UK album charts and number 47 on the Billboard 200 chart in the US.

10. Signals (1982)

This was the band’s 9th studio album which was released on September 9th 1982.  It was their last album produced by Terry Brown who had worked with the band since 1974.

They released 3 singles from this album which were; “New World Man”, “Subdivisions” and “Countdown”.

The album peaked at number one on the Canadian RPM chart, Number 3 on the UK album charts and number 10 on the Billboard 200 chart in the US.

9. Moving Pictures (1981)

Released on February 12th 1981, this was the band’s 8th studio album. This album was far more radio friendly than some of their earlier material.

As a result, the album peaked at number one on the Canadian RPM chart and number 3 on both the UK and US album charts.

They released 3 singles from this album which were; “Limelight”, “Vital Signs” and “Tom Sawyer”.

“Tom Sawyer” became one of the band’s best known songs and was used as the opening music for the Brazilian dub of the TV show “MacGyver”.

8. Power Windows (1985)

“Power Windows” is the 11th studio album by Rush which was released on October 11th 1985. The album was recorded in Montserrat and England. 

This was their first album with new producer Peter Collins.

There were 2 singles released from this album which were; “The Big Money” and “Mystic Rhythms”. Geddy Lee said that “Mystic Rhythms” was “the most synthetic track on the record” and that every instrument was fed through “a synthesised something”.

The album peaked at number 2 on the Canadian RPM chart, number 9 on the UK album chart and number 10 on the Billboard 200 chart in the US.

7. Vapor Trails (2002)

“Vapor Trails” is the 17th studio album by Canadian rock band Rush. It was released on May 14th 2002 and was their first studio release since “Test For Echo” (1996). Neil Peart suffered the loss of his daughter and then his wife in two separate tragic incidents in July 1997.

This led to the band taking an extended break during which it was not clear if they would ever perform together again. They eventually returned to the studio in January 2001 and by December they had this album ready for release.

This was their first album since “Caress Of Steel” (1975) to not feature any keyboards at all. Which allowed Alex Lifeson to create more complete guitar parts and avoid the use of sound effects making the sound more natural and raw.

There were 2 singles released from this album which were; “One Little Victory” and “Secret Touch”.

The album peaked at number 3 on the RPM chart in Canada, number 6 on the Billboard 200 chart in the US and number 38 on the UK album charts.

6. Snakes & Arrows (2007)

Released on May 1st 2007, “Snakes & Arrows” is the 18th studio album by Rush. It was released on CD and limited edition double LP (5,000 copies) and Music Video Interactive format (25,000 copies).

There were 3 singles released from this album which were; “Far Cry”, “Spindrift” and “The Larger Bowl”. 

The album peaked at number 3 on the Canadian RPM and US Billboard 200 charts and number 13 on the UK album charts.

5. Grace Under Pressure (1984)

This is Rush’s 10th studio album which was released on April 12th 1984. This was one of their first albums with a more synthesised sound. However the guitar played a more prominent role on this album than on their previous album “Signals” (1982).

There were 4 singles released from this album which were; “Distant Early Warning”, “The Body Electrica”, “Red Sector A” and “Afterimage”.

The album’s title was inspired by Ernest Hemingway, the American novelist. Peart had read Hemingway’s quote “courage is grace under pressure” and he thought it reflected the mood of the recording sessions for the album.

The album peaked at number 4 on the Canadian RPM chart, number 5 on the UK album charts and number 10 on the Billboard 200 chart in the US.

4. Counterparts (1993)

Released on October 19th 1993, “Counterparts” is the band’s 15th studio album. It was recorded at the Chalet Studios in Claremont, Ontario and shows a more guitar orientated stance than on some previous albums.

There were 2 singles released from this album which were; “Stick It Out” and “Nobody’s Hero”.

The album peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart in the US, number 6 on the RPM chart in Canada and number 14 on the UK album charts.

3. Permanent Waves (1980)

This was the band’s 7th studio album which was released on January 18th 1980. This was their most radio friendly album with songs like “The Spirit Of Radio” and “Freewill”.

With that said, their more progressive sound is still evident on tracks like “Jacob’s Ladder” and “Natural Science”.

They released 2 singles from this album which were; “The Spirit Of Radio” and “Entre Nous”.

The album peaked at number 3 on the RPM chart in Canada and the UK album chart, and number 4 on the Billboard 200 chart in the US.

2. 2112 (1976)

Pronounced “twenty-one twelve”, “2112” is the band’s 4th studio album. It was released on April 1st 1976 by Anthem Records. Side one of the album is taken up by the title-track which runs for 20 minutes and there are 5 tracks on side two.

There were 2 singles released from this album which were; “The Twilight Zone” and “The Temples Of Syrinx”.

After the poor sales of their previous album “Caress Of Steel” (1975), the record company gave Rush one last chance to produce a hit record. They were urged to produce a more radio friendly sound but decided to continue down the progressive rock route they’d started on.

This album soon outsold their previous effort and peaked at number 5 on the RPM chart in Canada and number 61 on the Billboard 200 chart in the US.

1. Clockwork Angels (2012)

“Clockwork Angels” is the 19th and final studio album by Rush. It was released on June 12th 2012 on Roadrunner Records and recorded at the Blackbird Studio in Nashville, Tennessee.

They released “Caravan” and “BU2B” to radio stations and made available as digital downloads on June 1st 2010.

They then released “Headlong Flight” on April 19th 2012 as the lead single for the album. There were another 3 singles released from this album which were; “The Wreckers”, “The Anarchist” and “The Garden”.

The album debuted at number one on the RPM chart in Canada, number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart in the US and number 21 on the UK album charts.

This was and is by far the best Rush album ever produced. It’s a shame it took them right to the end of their career as a band to come up with such excellent work.

SEE ALSO: Dave Grohl – Impressive Facts You Didn’t Know

All Rush Albums In Chronological Order

Album	Date
Rush	1974
Fly By Night	1975
Caress Of Steel	1975
2112	1976
A Farewell To Kings	1977
Hemispheres	1978
Permanent Waves	1980
Moving Pictures	1981
Signals	1982
Grace Under Pressure	1984
Power Windows	1985
Hold Your Fire	1987
Presto	1989
Roll The Bones	1991
Counterparts	1993
Test For Echo	1996
Vapor Trails	2002
Feedback	2004
Snakes & Arrows	2007
Clockwork Angels	2012

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