Rush: The Complete Album-by-Album Guide

FLY BY NIGHT (1975)
Key Tracks: "Anthem," "Fly By Night"
Quick Take: The distance between Rush's debut and Fly By Night is massive thanks to the arrival of Neil Peart, who brought his intricate, muscular drumming style and literary-minded lyrics to the group's three-pronged power attack. The album contains the group's first super-proggy moment in the multi-part narrative "By-Tor & The Snow Dog," and though that's what really turned on the hardcores, the band proves they are actually at their best when ripping through three minute blasts like "Best I Can" and the title track.

Fly By Night (Mercury)