Rush – All The World's A Stage

Live 2-Record Set | Catalog #ANR-2-1005 | Tri-Gatefold Sleeve

One of the most electrifying live documents in rock history, All The World's A Stage captures Rush at the peak of their early power — raw, relentless, and utterly commanding. Recorded over three nights in June 1976 at Massey Hall in Toronto, this 2-record set was the band's first live release and served as both a triumphant statement and a closing chapter on their first era before the landmark A Farewell to Kings would push them into new progressive territory.

About the Artist

Rush — Geddy Lee (bass, vocals, keyboards), Alex Lifeson (guitar), and Neil Peart (drums, percussion) — stand as one of rock's most technically gifted and enduring trios. Formed in Toronto in 1968, the band built a fiercely loyal following through relentless touring and a refusal to compromise their vision. Peart, who joined in 1974, brought a new intellectual depth to the lyrics and an almost superhuman command of the drum kit that would influence generations of musicians. Their ability to blend hard rock power with progressive complexity and philosophical lyricism set them apart from virtually every peer.

About the Album

Released in September 1976 on Mercury Records, All The World's A Stage distills the energy of Rush's early catalog into a single, visceral live experience spread across two records. The set draws heavily from Caress of Steel and 2112, showcasing the band's ability to translate complex studio arrangements into something even more ferocious on stage. The title is drawn from Shakespeare's As You Like It — a fitting nod given the theatrical grandeur Rush brought to every performance. The album reached #40 on the Billboard 200 and went platinum, cementing the band's reputation as a world-class live act.

Highlights

The album opens with a blistering run through Bastille Day and Anthem, establishing the tone immediately — tight, aggressive, and locked in. Fly by Night and In the Mood offer a glimpse of the band's earlier, more straightforward rock sensibility, while the extended suite from 2112 is the centrepiece of the set: a sprawling, cinematic journey that demonstrates just how far Rush had evolved in a short time. Peart's drum solo, The Temples of Syrinx passage, and Lifeson's guitar work throughout are standout moments that remind you why this band was — and remains — in a class of their own.

Matrix / Pressing Details

• Catalog #: ANR-2-1005
• Side A Matrix: ANR-2-1005 B (scribbled out C) 2 B
• Format: 2-Record Set, 33⅓ RPM

Condition

• Records: G+ — Both records carefully cleaned with a Spin-Clean record washer and stored in new inner plastic sleeves. Minor surface scuffs visible under light. Played flawlessly on a quality turntable with no skips; minor pops and crackles noted consistent with grade.
• Jacket: Fair/Good  — Ring wear coming around as shown in photos. Structural integrity intact.

A must for any serious Rush collector or fan of classic Canadian rock. This is the album that proved Rush could own any stage in the world.