fun fact. Upon entering the studio Rupert Hine did not believe that was Neil playing all those drum parts live. Rupert was blown away by their ability.
Agree, the writing and arrangement throughout this album is really great, and really helped propel them into the 90s. Instead of staying back in the 80s, they confidently took a step into a new decade and redefined themselves yet again. This ability to adapt to change and not get stuck in a comfort zone is a big reason they lasted 4+ decades.
@@jackpfiester5013 yeah I love this album but I always thought the production on Presto (really, all albums from Power Windows to Roll the Bones suffer from this) lacked punch/depth. Too heavy on the highs/mids and lacking in the low end, I think. Maybe the producers at the time were aiming for a more synthpop/electronica-friendly mix, but that just doesn't work since Rush was always a rock band at heart, even when they were experimenting with different styles. Anything between Hemispheres and Grace Under Pressure, Terry Brown and even Peter Henderson knew how to get the perfect sound for a Rush LP. The only problem with remixing any old Rush album is, who has a good enough ear to be trusted with such an important job?
@@whistlerwind7422 I was surprised by Geddy not playing the bass on this too (I saw it live). I guess between the repetitive nature of the bass line and the gimmick of the mesh screen and light show (which was very cool live), figured: that's enough.
As a long time keyboardist, I love how Geddy sampled his own voice for the callbacks at 3:14. A very good example of a great band. We know the Bass was 4 samples in a sequencer is why he is not playing Bass. Love it!
I miss the days of the large Obreheim setup with the dual stack keyboards. To see him using a setup that looks like one or two casio keyboards like he stopped in Radio Shack and bought right before soundcheck, I guess it's just not as glorious. Although, I do understand that as digital keyboards developed further, this made them much easier to transport. Plus, he could save patches and preprogrammed sequences to a floppy dics, instead of remembering oscillator and filter knob parameters and positions for each song. I don't believe I've seen a setup where he had a mess of patch cables that looked like a plate of spaghetti
This is such a fun and funky song that deserved far better attention than it got. The drums are particularly cool in this. And I really like the lyrics. An interestingly complex way of, essentially, saying: "Sometimes, I get moody."!
Love this song. Love Presto. Doesn't get enough love but it's possibly my 2nd favorite Rush album after Signals. Never tire of listening to those 2 albums.
I've just read this. I thought that I was reading my own post. SIGNALS is my absolute favourite Rush album, with PRESTO second (it just creeps in front of MOVING PICTURES).
As a drummer, I've always been mesmerized by the drum patterns in this song, and how smoothly they were put together. Just now, I realized that half the snare "hits" in this song, are by foot trigger. 😳
I love the studio version, but this version is even better. The song doesn't even have a stereotypical "guitar solo", but Alex's random shredding on top of that bass line (one of my favorite of Ged's riffs) works so well, Lerxst has such a great feel for playing live!
When I first heard this song just after the album was released, I was instantly disappointed by this track because I thought “oh my god, Neil is double tracking the drums…” I almost felt betrayed. Then I later learned all the drums were played live one take. Mind = blown. With a sound like he’s playing 2 kits simultaneously- who does this?! Who even conceives of doing this? And the melody, such a simple groove, made so complex with the subtle changes throughout. Reminiscent of Fear: the weapon, with some “sting” inspired vocals
I can´t understand people who don´t like Rush. Come On!!, with songs like this (& in my memory stand albums as Signals, Hemispheres, Fly By Night, 2112, A Farewell to Kings... just to mention some good LP´s) showing GREAT musicianship. Alex Lifeson, a very underestimated guitar player (never by me), here shows why I love his playing; Geddy Lee & Neil Peart making art with him. Thank you Snowdog, from Presto... this is my favourite track !!!
Alex won tons of "best guitarist" polls back in the day, right at the same time Neil and Geddy were getting massive recognition on their respective instruments. However, especially in his later career he was more of a texture/color player and Rush as a whole never had the rock press on their side so they don't make the usual "best of" lists made by rock journalists, not musicians. Most guitar players may or may not like his style, but they seriously respect his skills.
I saw this live in Seattle in 1990. Such a great show. This song was such a powerhouse performance it left the audience in stunned silence for a few seconds before they could think to cheer.
We all stood on our seats for this show april 1990 Nassau Coliseum Long Island NY. This song was a treat. Neils drumming was totally out of control. this live version SMOKES the studio version
I remember seeing them in meadowlands and I looked up all around the arena people were dancing !!! Def one of the strangest Rush shows that night but I love this song
Hey fans of techno claiming it beats humanity and it's talent: take note, no machines but a human beating a machine technical capacity. What an outstanding display of rhythmic symphony. Miss you, Neil.
By this time a lot of people clocked out with Rush. When geddy started playing basslines on the keyboard, a lot of old rush fans were over it. The super hardcore ones stayed, people who would find a way to love a rush country album.
That’s true but the people that stuck with the band outnumbered the ones that didn’t. People always talk about the hardcore fans like they were this little nucleus of people that kept the band afloat all those years. The little group of fans that bought all their albums and went to every show. But I’d say 98% of the people at any given Rush concert were the hardcore fans except for the occasional bored girlfriend that had to be there because she wouldn’t let her boyfriend go by himself. Plus Rush was a band that always seemed to be a step ahead of their fans. And there was always this feeling that you could trust them in some strange way. Like you didn’t understand what they were doing but you knew one day you would. By that I mean, I was 17 when Presto was released. I just couldn’t get into the album at all but I knew I would someday because Rush doesn’t put out crap. So I’m 51 now and I love that album. I love every song. I just wasn’t mature enough at the time to appreciate it. The people that clocked out with Rush in the early 80’s weren’t willing to go on the experimental journey with the band. Rush didn’t stay a 70’s hard rock prog band because that would have stopped their growth and progression as musicians and ended the band. And that’s something a lot of people just don’t understand.
@@johndardi1334 the big thing with rush is they actually were followers of what’s popular at the time. Not necessarily innovators. They were never that innovative, but what they did do is take what was going on around them, put their own spin on it and make it better. Other bands had been doing prog stuff long before them, they started the synth heavy stuff after other groups were already doing it, they went back to heavier grunge stype stuff after nirvana and others came along. So really they were plugged right in to what was going on in popular music, but some fans just werent ready for rush to change with the times. You werent ready for presto because you probably werent listening to much contemporary music which really is what presto is. Its not a hard rock album. Im 46 and i actually did like presto when it came out but that mostly is because i had just started playing bass and that album had a lot of easy songs for my young self to play, so i liked it right away because of that. Really show dont tell is the only one on the tougher side.
@@bozimmerman my point was there are lots of rush fans who are so dedicated to the band that had they done what beyonce just did for example, they would still learn to like that version of rush. The ones who didnt like the changes rush went through were gone by the time signals got here. That was just too much synth, not enough hard rock for them.
I think this was the stop right before they came to Indianapolis where I saw them. 2nd row just in front of Alex. Thanks to my girlfriend at the time who grabbed them right when Ticketmaster opened at the mall where she worked.
Rush songs where Geddy isn't playing the bass are weird. I like Alex soundscaping on the guitar, and Neil playing his electronic kit. Presto was the album where they started to climb out of synth hell.
I still wish I could do that para-diddle thing.... Does anyone know where a video of this same song is at, but just has video of Neil during the song? (been wanting to study it for a long time)
Someone else already mentioned it, but he's got the bass line programmed into one of his synthesizers. One of his many live hacks. It's a shame, the Rickenbacker would have sounded heavenly on this tune.
@@vladimir66cz45 Yes, I can totally hear that. Incidentally, the names Xanadu and Kublai Kahn are stated by both bands as well; Rush in 1977 and Frankie Goes To Hollywood in '84. Thanks for your great observation.
This song is criminally underrated
The drums were so incredibly interesting and complex that Neil incorporated them into his solo in perpetuity.
God Im so sick of criminally underrated" such an overused term
This song is rated highly by criminals.
coulld we possibly use snother term nesides criminslly underrated?? it is really gettimg old
@@timsears951 start proofreading, then I'll think about it. I didn't know my comment would trigger so many people...
fun fact. Upon entering the studio Rupert Hine did not believe that was Neil playing all those drum parts live. Rupert was blown away by their ability.
Before there were drum machines there was Neil Piert.
Masterful. Shame music isn’t written like this in 2024.
Presto took time to grow on me but there are some great songs on this very underrated album.
Same... the songs also had a LOT more energy live. The album could greatly benefit from a drastic remix.
Agree, the writing and arrangement throughout this album is really great, and really helped propel them into the 90s. Instead of staying back in the 80s, they confidently took a step into a new decade and redefined themselves yet again. This ability to adapt to change and not get stuck in a comfort zone is a big reason they lasted 4+ decades.
@@jackpfiester5013 yeah I love this album but I always thought the production on Presto (really, all albums from Power Windows to Roll the Bones suffer from this) lacked punch/depth. Too heavy on the highs/mids and lacking in the low end, I think. Maybe the producers at the time were aiming for a more synthpop/electronica-friendly mix, but that just doesn't work since Rush was always a rock band at heart, even when they were experimenting with different styles. Anything between Hemispheres and Grace Under Pressure, Terry Brown and even Peter Henderson knew how to get the perfect sound for a Rush LP. The only problem with remixing any old Rush album is, who has a good enough ear to be trusted with such an important job?
Kal Ab this is where I started to detach from Rush. And especially Roll the Bones.
However it does have a gem on it Available Light!
i just love this freaking song.... such a great groove
It’s the percussion that drives the song...
Me 2
@@jbytuna : I would add the bass line to that. Too bad Geddy decided not to play bass on this song, it's too prominent to pull that crap.
@@whistlerwind7422 I was surprised by Geddy not playing the bass on this too (I saw it live). I guess between the repetitive nature of the bass line and the gimmick of the mesh screen and light show (which was very cool live), figured: that's enough.
@@techboysf: Yeah, I saw that tour too.
As a long time keyboardist, I love how Geddy sampled his own voice for the callbacks at 3:14. A very good example of a great band. We know the Bass was 4 samples in a sequencer is why he is not playing Bass. Love it!
I miss the days of the large Obreheim setup with the dual stack keyboards. To see him using a setup that looks like one or two casio keyboards like he stopped in Radio Shack and bought right before soundcheck, I guess it's just not as glorious. Although, I do understand that as digital keyboards developed further, this made them much easier to transport. Plus, he could save patches and preprogrammed sequences to a floppy dics, instead of remembering oscillator and filter knob parameters and positions for each song. I don't believe I've seen a setup where he had a mess of patch cables that looked like a plate of spaghetti
@@jackmomma7481 Holograms for keyboards are next.
I love Alex's guitar work on this song!
That guitar is very versatile, so many different tones! Also the volume swells on the big chords
He's mostly soundscaping.
@@andyharman3022 that piezo clean tone with the shimmering reverb is heavenly.
wish this showed more of Neil kicking everyones ass with this drum pattern.
Yesssss
This drum part shows up in his solos.
The Presto RUSH album is my favorite album of all time. The whole album ROCKS.
This is such a fun and funky song that deserved far better attention than it got. The drums are particularly cool in this. And I really like the lyrics. An interestingly complex way of, essentially, saying: "Sometimes, I get moody."!
Hmm.. maybe, "Sometimes I get moody because the emotional scars from past trauma flair up."
@@bozimmerman not necessarily trauma. Some of them are scars of pleasure.
Love this song. Love Presto. Doesn't get enough love but it's possibly my 2nd favorite Rush album after Signals. Never tire of listening to those 2 albums.
I've just read this.
I thought that I was reading my own post. SIGNALS is my absolute favourite Rush album, with PRESTO second (it just creeps in front of MOVING PICTURES).
‘Presto’ is criminally underrated. Such a fantastic album. Besides’Grace Under Pressure’, it’s the album I go back to the most.
@@TheABEliaI never get tired of Presto. It's a mainstay.
Presto is probably some of their best songwriting. I just wish it had been mixed with a little more grunt.
As a drummer, I've always been mesmerized by the drum patterns in this song, and how smoothly they were put together. Just now, I realized that half the snare "hits" in this song, are by foot trigger. 😳
90s tours should be finally released on DVD!
Never knew they played this live... Wow
I love the studio version, but this version is even better. The song doesn't even have a stereotypical "guitar solo", but Alex's random shredding on top of that bass line (one of my favorite of Ged's riffs) works so well, Lerxst has such a great feel for playing live!
The mesh screen they dropped 1:30 in made for epic lights live. Doesn't quite show properly here. Song kicks ass live.
Same. I always thought this was a “studio piece”
The second Rush concert I went to was on the Presto Tour. I remember this one very well. Hell of an album for sure.
When I first heard this song just after the album was released, I was instantly disappointed by this track because I thought “oh my god, Neil is double tracking the drums…” I almost felt betrayed. Then I later learned all the drums were played live one take. Mind = blown. With a sound like he’s playing 2 kits simultaneously- who does this?! Who even conceives of doing this?
And the melody, such a simple groove, made so complex with the subtle changes throughout. Reminiscent of Fear: the weapon, with some “sting” inspired vocals
They should've kept this in the set for a few more tours.
My first RUSH concert...saw them 8 times afterwards
Mine too. Greenville, SC.
Love Scars. Scars of pleasure scars of pain, atmosphere changes make them sensitive again. ❤❤❤❤ RIP Niel Peart
Such amazing lyrics and amazing song!
Presto is a GREAT LP!!! First saw them on this tour Portland Oregon 1990!!!!
HOLY SHIT!!!! F'n AWESOME!!!! #RUSH
Yes, their live shows are UNBELIEVABLY polished and "on point".
this song and superconductor are great
*HUGE RUSHfan* and the pass, show don't tell, lighting reaction, war paint and presto
I can´t understand people who don´t like Rush. Come On!!, with songs like this (& in my memory stand albums as Signals, Hemispheres, Fly By Night, 2112, A Farewell to Kings... just to mention some good LP´s) showing GREAT musicianship. Alex Lifeson, a very underestimated guitar player (never by me), here shows why I love his playing; Geddy Lee & Neil Peart making art with him. Thank you Snowdog, from Presto... this is my favourite track !!!
Alex won tons of "best guitarist" polls back in the day, right at the same time Neil and Geddy were getting massive recognition on their respective instruments. However, especially in his later career he was more of a texture/color player and Rush as a whole never had the rock press on their side so they don't make the usual "best of" lists made by rock journalists, not musicians. Most guitar players may or may not like his style, but they seriously respect his skills.
You are Blessed then. People who don't like Rush? They're Dead inside I guess? That, or deaf.
They also don't understand YOU. It's ok. Music is subjective.
I saw this live in Seattle in 1990. Such a great show. This song was such a powerhouse performance it left the audience in stunned silence for a few seconds before they could think to cheer.
i just realized neil used part of this drum pattern in his drum solos
Yeah, he talks about how he used the samples from this song in his drum solo in the "Anatomy of a drum solo" videos he put out
Saw them on mescaline! On this tour...
It was beyond belief. The single most best experience on drugs
Neil used all his drum partens in his drum solos 😂 it him playing drums 😂
One of rush's coolest songs. wow. Love it.
We all stood on our seats for this show april 1990 Nassau Coliseum Long Island NY. This song was a treat. Neils drumming was totally out of control. this live version SMOKES the studio version
Wow I think I was at that show and I remember looking at the upper seats and everyone was dancing all around the arena it was just insane!!
I may be mistaken if it was that show or the meadowlands show later on that year
@@juanelorriaga2840 its all good bro. Im sure they were dancin'. These live versions smoke the studio version
Bits and pieces of my mind are all over the room
best post Moving Pictures look for Alex.
Mike Mosher my fav look for Alex was signals. The mod haircut.
@@Cinemagoer_64 That’s where this haircut kind of started.
Liking Geddy's vocal samples on the synth 👍🏼
H-H-HEY!
@Jack & Pops, and that bass line is actually a keyboard that sounds like a bass.
My fav on Presto
Mine also. Cheers from México
one of best song they great
Geddys bass line is mixed in. He's not playing bass. Just keyboards. For real. I saw this show, Alpine valley, Wisconsin. July '89. Kick-Ass
Best drum playing here. Unappreciated!!!!
I had read somewhere that they never played this song live. I'm glad that was incorrect
I remember seeing them in meadowlands and I looked up all around the arena people were dancing !!! Def one of the strangest Rush shows that night but I love this song
Fantastic! Love this song and the video is superb. Thank you!
The Great Neil Peart Paradiddle Opus!
Superb
Hey fans of techno claiming it beats humanity and it's talent: take note, no machines but a human beating a machine technical capacity. What an outstanding display of rhythmic symphony. Miss you, Neil.
Where are all the techno fans you're talking about?? I like techno and I like prog rock, lots of talent to be found in both genres.
Rush is my life
nightclub rush dance track, possibly best rush vid ever so cool
Nonstop everywhere I go.....
RIP
I was skeptical when I saw them on this tour that they could do this live. But it is so much better live, especially just to watch Neil play.
Wow!!! Just fucking WOW!!! Rush is the very definition of a power trio! No shortage of power here!
Wow this is nice & clear...
🎶🎼😎🎼🎶
I went to the presto tour . Only two times i got to see the three
pure genius! amazing tune!
DJ Geddy doing magic)
Love the bounce in this song
AMAZING! Somebody needs to do a disco montage with this song
Omfg pure gold!!!!!!
love it the best
The Professor was amazing!
okay youtube, rush fan of 15 years here, need suggestions for music similar to this song (or album as a whole)
Magical song
❤glorious eternal RUSH
That was live. Never wont blow my mind.
So GOOD that it defies words....
That drumming omg
By this time a lot of people clocked out with Rush. When geddy started playing basslines on the keyboard, a lot of old rush fans were over it. The super hardcore ones stayed, people who would find a way to love a rush country album.
That’s true but the people that stuck with the band outnumbered the ones that didn’t. People always talk about the hardcore fans like they were this little nucleus of people that kept the band afloat all those years. The little group of fans that bought all their albums and went to every show. But I’d say 98% of the people at any given Rush concert were the hardcore fans except for the occasional bored girlfriend that had to be there because she wouldn’t let her boyfriend go by himself. Plus Rush was a band that always seemed to be a step ahead of their fans. And there was always this feeling that you could trust them in some strange way. Like you didn’t understand what they were doing but you knew one day you would. By that I mean, I was 17 when Presto was released. I just couldn’t get into the album at all but I knew I would someday because Rush doesn’t put out crap. So I’m 51 now and I love that album. I love every song. I just wasn’t mature enough at the time to appreciate it. The people that clocked out with Rush in the early 80’s weren’t willing to go on the experimental journey with the band. Rush didn’t stay a 70’s hard rock prog band because that would have stopped their growth and progression as musicians and ended the band. And that’s something a lot of people just don’t understand.
@@johndardi1334 the big thing with rush is they actually were followers of what’s popular at the time. Not necessarily innovators. They were never that innovative, but what they did do is take what was going on around them, put their own spin on it and make it better.
Other bands had been doing prog stuff long before them, they started the synth heavy stuff after other groups were already doing it, they went back to heavier grunge stype stuff after nirvana and others came along. So really they were plugged right in to what was going on in popular music, but some fans just werent ready for rush to change with the times. You werent ready for presto because you probably werent listening to much contemporary music which really is what presto is. Its not a hard rock album.
Im 46 and i actually did like presto when it came out but that mostly is because i had just started playing bass and that album had a lot of easy songs for my young self to play, so i liked it right away because of that. Really show dont tell is the only one on the tougher side.
Speaking of, Cold Fire is another very underrated tune
I'm not sure "country album" means to you what it means to the other English speakers.
@@bozimmerman my point was there are lots of rush fans who are so dedicated to the band that had they done what beyonce just did for example, they would still learn to like that version of rush. The ones who didnt like the changes rush went through were gone by the time signals got here. That was just too much synth, not enough hard rock for them.
My first Rush tour
Great find!!
My favorite Neil song on the electronic drums
Rip Neil. Fuckin love this song ! 2020 fan since age 12 and 33 now woohoo
I saw this tour at the Forum in LA. I remember those stupid screens coming down.
Just like listening to the LP....
The Big rush..!!
It is strange to see a bass-less Geddy!
I think this was the stop right before they came to Indianapolis where I saw them. 2nd row just in front of Alex. Thanks to my girlfriend at the time who grabbed them right when Ticketmaster opened at the mall where she worked.
" Scars of Pleasure , Scars of Pain !!! "
Rush songs where Geddy isn't playing the bass are weird. I like Alex soundscaping on the guitar, and Neil playing his electronic kit.
Presto was the album where they started to climb out of synth hell.
I still wish I could do that para-diddle thing....
Does anyone know where a video of this same song is at, but just has video of Neil during the song? (been wanting to study it for a long time)
I just discovered this video. Love this song beyond measure and would pay a million to have a video of just Neal playing.
You beat me to uploading these. Where's all the non presto stuff though
Pro Tip: If your drummer can drum this, keep 'em! 🍻
Ahhhh that slinky smooth guitar playing from Alex 🤷♂️🤦
Great video and sound quality! Where's the bass though? Didn't see Geddy holding a bass guitar entire song.
Someone else already mentioned it, but he's got the bass line programmed into one of his synthesizers. One of his many live hacks. It's a shame, the Rickenbacker would have sounded heavenly on this tune.
The studio track features a sequencer. No bass guitar
I've always loved this song... But seriously what genre is this even?? Miss you Professor
Kpop maybe?
I'm glad Jesus Christ gave these guys skills I hope they realize that, and believe in Jesus name amen.
Alex "sings" into mics on occasion, but I don't think I've ever heard him actually sing.
good
Scars of pleasure? Lol. Genius. Lol. Go Cubs! Tonight in LA. Whew! Lol. Good luck boys. Amen....
RUSH
Geddy doesn't even have the bass on.... ??
Because the bass sound you hear in this song (both studio and live) it's not a real bass but a sequencer
Alex in his Simon Le Bon phase
Psychedelic Rush.
This song evokes similar emotions in me as Frankie goes to Hollywood - Welcome to the pleasuredome
@@vladimir66cz45 Yes, I can totally hear that. Incidentally, the names Xanadu and Kublai Kahn are stated by both bands as well; Rush in 1977 and Frankie Goes To Hollywood in '84. Thanks for your great observation.
They invented Jazz metal
A bit of King Crimson influence here
Geddy playing synth bass!! Nooooooooooooooooooooo
Cambridge Bass Lessons it feels wrong......yet so right!!!!!
Don't worry, he's not playing, it's all programmed. Doh! Geddy can't play keys THAT well.
In fact, if you listen to the bassline, it never quite repeats. Every run has a slight variation. Just to make it impossible to dance to. :)
Geddy can do whatever he wants.
@@chrispetritsch4959 "I'm Geddy Lee, and I will sing whatever lyrics I want"
🙃
whos on bass?
Sounds like Frankie Goes To Hollywood🤣
Did I just see Taylor swift
She’s cute
I’m done
Not their best or worst. Meh