The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974–1987 by Rush, album cover
Album · Compilation

The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974–1987

Popularity37.3
Also cited10 March 2003

The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974–1987 is a compilation from the Canadian band Rush, released in February 2003. It gathers many of their best-loved songs from the years they spent on Mercury Records, running from their 1974 debut up to Hold Your Fire in 1987. Caress of Steel, their third album, is the one record left unrepresented.

It makes a handy way into a catalogue that spans progressive rock, hard rock and plain old rock. A special edition added a DVD of music videos, including "Mystic Rhythms", which isn't on the album itself. The set arrived on vinyl as a double LP in October 2026, its first appearance on the format.

The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974–1987: tracklist, credits and charts

16 tracks · 1:19:53

Tracklist

  1. 1Working ManGeddy Lee and Alex Lifeson7:11
  2. 2Fly by NightGeddy Lee and Neil Peart3:23
  3. 32112: I. Overture / II. The Temples of SyrinxLee, Lifeson, Peart6:45
  4. 4Closer to the HeartLee, Lifeson, Peart, Talbot2:54
  5. 5The TreesLee, Lifeson, Peart4:43
  6. 6The Spirit of RadioLee, Lifeson, Peart4:58
  7. 7FreewillLee, Lifeson, Peart5:23
  8. 8LimelightLee, Lifeson, Peart4:20
  9. 9Tom SawyerLee, Lifeson, Dubois, Peart4:34
  10. 10Red BarchettaLee, Lifeson, Peart6:10
  11. 11New World ManLee, Lifeson, Peart3:43
  12. 12SubdivisionsLee, Lifeson, Peart5:35
  13. 13Distant Early WarningLee, Lifeson, Peart4:58
  14. 14The Big MoneyLee, Lifeson, Peart5:35
  15. 15Force TenLee, Lifeson, Dubois, Peart4:32
  16. 16Time Stand StillLee, Lifeson, Peart5:09
Produced by
Rush, Terry Brown, Peter Henderson, Peter Collins
Recorded at
Eastern Sound, Toronto Sound Studios, Rockfield Studios, Advision Studios, Le Studio, Sarm East Studios
Recorded
1973–1987
Mixed by
Terry Brown
Mixed at
Advision Studios, Trident Studios, Le Studio
Engineered by
Terry Brown, John Woloschuk, Pat Moran, Declan O’Doherty, Paul Northfield, Peter Henderson, James “Jimbo” Barton
Labels
Mercury Records, Anthem
Length
1:19:53

Line-up

  • Geddy Lee · bass guitar, lead vocals, Minimoog, bass pedals, 12 string guitar, vocals, synthesizer, bass, electric bass guitar
  • Alex Lifeson · guitar, vocals, bass pedals, 12 string guitar, acoustic guitar, classical guitar, electric guitar, synthesizer
  • John Rutsey · drums (drum set), vocals · guest
  • Neil Peart · drums (drum set), triangle, cowbell, vibraslap, tubular bells, temple blocks, bell tree, wind chime, timbales, crotales, timpani, percussion
  • Aimee Mann · lead vocals · guest

Peak chart positions

ChartPeak
US Billboard 200 · 200345
Canadian Albums (Billboard) · 200317

Certifications

RegionCertification
United Kingdom · 2022Gold
United States · 2006Gold

From MusicBrainz and Wikipedia. Only what the sources record is shown.

37.3
Popularity (0–100, vs the whole vault)
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Released the same week

Also released on 11 February

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Releases and pressings

How we know the release date wikipedia 2003-02-11 vs 2003-03-10 (musicbrainz)
SourceDateNote
MusicBrainz10 March 2003ignored lone early release dated 2003-02-11
Wikipedia infobox11 February 2003
Wikidata2003
US release2003earliest US date
UK / Europe release10 March 2003earliest UK or European date
8 editions
DateCountryLabelBarcodeKind
—USMercury Records602517809673other
2003USMercury Records044006333526other
February 2003CAAnthem Records066825109724other
11 February 2003CAAnthem Records066825109823original
10 March 2003GBMercury Records044006333526other
2013—Mercury Records0602537432264other
2013MXMercury Records00602537432271other
——Mercury Records00044006333526other
Cover art sources

coverartarchive · upscaled: major: best source 1403x1394, upscaled to 1500 (x1.08)

SourceSizeVerdict
coverartarchive ✓1403×1394upscaled: major: best source 1403x1394, upscaled to 1500 (x1.08)
fanarttv1000×1000upscaled