A Farewell to Kings

Musically, "A Farewell To Kings" is the most progressive of all Rush albums. The decision to record it in the UK was taken deliberately to capture the spirit of the British progressive rock groups such as Genesis, Yes and ELP. The use of acoustic instruments is far more pronounced than on previous albums and there is a much greater variation and dynamic range within the songs rather than the inclusion of individual acoustic songs or ballads. There is also the first use of synthesizers, a Mini Moog, in addition to a Moog Taurus bass pedal, and many of the percussive effects were recorded outside of the studio to create a more bucolic atmosphere. Shortly after the album was completed a video was recorded of the band performing the title track from the album along with "Xanadu" and "Closer To The Heart". "Xanadu" features both Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee playing double neck guitars - an image that would become a trademark for years to come.