The Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab is a company based out of California, specializing in high-quality reissues of successful albums from artists such as the progressive rock group, Rush.

Many of Rush’s albums that were made in the US were created from recycled vinyl instead of virgin vinyl, which is vinyl that has never been recycled. Also, their albums were mastered from master tapes which are typically second, third, fourth, or higher generation copies of the master tapes (meaning they were not mastered from the original). Mass production of their albums in the 70’s and 80’s had a drop in quality control and warpage defects were becoming more common.

What Rush’s MFSLs try to do is issue albums in a higher quality that may cost double than the price of a standard album, but would appeal to consumers who were conscious about high sound quality.

Here is a breakdown of all of Rush’s MFSLs below:

The classic composition that put RUSH on the MAP

The classic composition that put RUSH on the MAP

“Moving Pictures” (1992)

The first Rush MFSL album that was released was “Moving Pictures” in 1992. The original album was released on March 12th, 1981 and was the band’s eighth studio album. It’s the highest, most popular-selling album to date at #3 and was certified quadruple-platinum with four million copies having been sold in 1995. “Moving Pictures” was the band’s most radio-friendly format with hits such as “Tom Sawyer” and “Limelight.”

 

 

 

 

 

A timeless Rush Classic on the master MFSL platform

A timeless Rush Classic on the master MFSL platform

“2112” (1993)

The next Rush MFSL album released was an older one entitled “2112,” which originally was released in 1976 and re-released in MFSL in 1993. This was the band’s fourth studio album. It features a eponymous seven-part suite that was written by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson along with lyrics by Neil Peart. The suite is about a dystopian story that was set in the year 2112. “2112” was more of a concept album to most people who listened to it, although it technically isn’t -- the songs on the other side of the record are not related to the suite on the first side.

Poor sales of their previous concept album, “Caress of Steel,” forced the band to make some changes to the format of their music. “2112” was Rush’s first commercial success and made it onto the Billboard Hot 100. In 1977, the album was also the band’s first to be certified Gold and eventually reached Platinum status by 1981.

Rush Signals MFSL“Signals” (1994)

The third Rush MFSL album was their 1982 release, “Signals”, which was re-released in 1994. It is their ninth studio album and the follow-up to their successful “Moving Pictures” album. This album continued to use the new technology of the 1980’s (electronic instrumentation). Other changes made were the average length of the band’s songs and lyrical compression. On the Billboard charts, “Signals” reached #10 and was certified Platinum in November of 1982.