The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974–1987
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 · 1:19:53Tracklist
- 1Working ManGeddy Lee and Alex Lifeson7:11
- 2Fly by NightGeddy Lee and Neil Peart3:23
- 32112: I. Overture / II. The Temples of SyrinxLee, Lifeson, Peart6:45
- 4Closer to the HeartLee, Lifeson, Peart, Talbot2:54
- 5The TreesLee, Lifeson, Peart4:43
- 6The Spirit of RadioLee, Lifeson, Peart4:58
- 7FreewillLee, Lifeson, Peart5:23
- 8LimelightLee, Lifeson, Peart4:20
- 9Tom SawyerLee, Lifeson, Dubois, Peart4:34
- 10Red BarchettaLee, Lifeson, Peart6:10
- 11New World ManLee, Lifeson, Peart3:43
- 12SubdivisionsLee, Lifeson, Peart5:35
- 13Distant Early WarningLee, Lifeson, Peart4:58
- 14The Big MoneyLee, Lifeson, Peart5:35
- 15Force TenLee, Lifeson, Dubois, Peart4:32
- 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
| Chart | Peak |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 · 2003 | 45 |
| Canadian Albums (Billboard) · 2003 | 17 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom · 2022 | Gold |
| United States · 2006 | Gold |
From MusicBrainz and Wikipedia. Only what the sources record is shown.
Released the same week
Also released on 11 February
Every year →More from Rush
Full discography →The best of 2003
All of 2003 →More on Mercury Records
The label →Releases and pressings
How we know the release date wikipedia 2003-02-11 vs 2003-03-10 (musicbrainz)
| Source | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MusicBrainz | 10 March 2003 | ignored lone early release dated 2003-02-11 |
| Wikipedia infobox | 11 February 2003 | |
| Wikidata | 2003 | |
| US release | 2003 | earliest US date |
| UK / Europe release | 10 March 2003 | earliest UK or European date |
8 editions
| Date | Country | Label | Barcode | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | US | Mercury Records | 602517809673 | other |
| 2003 | US | Mercury Records | 044006333526 | other |
| February 2003 | CA | Anthem Records | 066825109724 | other |
| 11 February 2003 | CA | Anthem Records | 066825109823 | original |
| 10 March 2003 | GB | Mercury Records | 044006333526 | other |
| 2013 | — | Mercury Records | 0602537432264 | other |
| 2013 | MX | Mercury Records | 00602537432271 | other |
| — | — | Mercury Records | 00044006333526 | other |
Cover art sources
coverartarchive · upscaled: major: best source 1403x1394, upscaled to 1500 (x1.08)
| Source | Size | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| coverartarchive ✓ | 1403×1394 | upscaled: major: best source 1403x1394, upscaled to 1500 (x1.08) |
| fanarttv | 1000×1000 | upscaled |