Rush: Geddy Lee (vocals, Mini-Moog synthesizer, Oberheim synthesizer, bass); Alex Lifeson (acoustic, electric & 12-string guitars, synthesizer); Neil Peart (glockenspiel, drums, timbales, timpani, triangle, percussion, electronic percussion, gong, cowbell, chimes); John Rutsey (drums).

Additional personnel: Aimee Mann (vocals); Andy Richards (keyboards, programming); Jim Burgess (programming).

Producers: Rush, Terry Brown, Peter Henderson, Peter Collins.

Compilation producer: Mike Ragogna.

Recorded between 1974 & 1987.

Although an actual description does not exist as to what songs can comprise a greatest-hits collection, it is generally assumed that the disc will contain the biggest and best-charting singles that have been issued by an artist. So it may seem odd for Rush to release a greatest-hits collection when the group has had just one Top 40 pop singles' hit in their long career; but if you factor in the amount of rock radio airplay given to these songs, then The Spirit of Radio contains, in essence, the greatest hits of Rush. Spanning their 13-year association with the Mercury label, The Spirit of Radio contains 16 of Rush's best-known songs that have been floating around the rock radio airwaves for years. Arranged chronologically from 1974's Zeppelin-esque "Working Man," to 1987's majestic "Time Stand Still," this concise, single-disc collection represents Rush during their most productive period. Previous attempts by Mercury to summarize Rush's career have resulted in a pair of sprawling double-disc collections (1991's Chronicles, and 1997's two-volume Retrospective) that provided too much material for the casual fan. The Spirit of Radio trims the excess fat and presents a lean set of songs that showcase all the best elements of Rush: guitar-driven rock ("Fly by Night"), arena rock anthems ("The Spirit of Radio"), social commentaries ("The Trees"), epic sci-fi excursions ("2112 Overture/The Temples of Syrinx"), and bold synth experiments ("Subdivisions"). Along with what is arguably their most enduring classic track, "Tom Sawyer," and their biggest pop hit, "New World Man," the songs on this compilation have become radio staples that continue to garner airplay decades after their initial release. In that regard, The Spirit of Radio more than qualifies as a greatest-hits package, and provides an excellent overview of one of rock's most successful and innovative bands. ~ Aaron Latham

Canadian power trio Rush defined a new genre by combining hard rock's relentless drive and screeching vocals with progressive rock's jaw-dropping chops and quasi-mystical/science fiction lyrical sensibility. In the process, the group also spawned two musical revolutionaries in Geddy Lee and Neil Peart, both of whose influence is still felt by anyone who even thinks about playing in a hard rock rhythm section. If that wasn't enough, Rush even managed to successfully change with the times, scoring several gigantic hits in the '80s by folding elements of new wave, reggae, and electronics into an already diverse sound.

THE SPIRIT OF RADIO collects many of the best-known tracks from what most fans would consider the band's classic era. Beginning with the heartland rock of "Working Man" and proceeding through MOVING PICTURES's futuristic "Red Barchetta" and GRACE UNDER PRESSURE's Cold War-inspired "Distant Early Warning," the collection shows the members of Rush constantly seeking out new sounds and ideas, all the while maintaining their unparalleled virtuosity and rock energy. Some may have preferred the inclusion of a track from 1975's CARESS OF STEEL ("Bastille Day" being the obvious choice) instead of the two songs from HOLD YOUR FIRE, but this is otherwise a perfectly chosen group of songs providing a fascinating overview.