photo #1094299

RUSH released their 4th LP "2112" on March 10, 1976. Due to the relative commercial failure of their previous album, Caress of Steel, Mercury (their record label at the time) pressured the band not to do another album with "concept" songs. Caress of Steel contains two multi-part epics: the twelve-minute "The Necromancer" (side one) and the side-long epic "The Fountain of Lamneth" (side two). By their own recollection, the band ignored this advice and stuck to their principles; the resulting album would become their first major commercial success, and ultimately a signature record. 2112 was released in March 1976 and peaked at #61 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart, becoming their first album to reach the top 100. 2112 would eventually be certified gold on November 16, 1977, along with the band's then current releases A Farewell to Kings and the live All the World's a Stage. 2112 reached platinum status on February 25, 1981.