As part of the ongoing (and never-ending) debate over the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, there has been debate over how succesful some of the artists actually were. I'm talking about the artists that were left out, not those that are in.
Now success certainly shouldn't be the requirement for entry, since a lot of artists blaze brightly, and then fade out quickly. But surely long-term success says something not only about longevity, but influence.
Rush, more than any other band, consistently rises to the top in any Hall of Fame discussion.
So how does Rush hold up? Listed below are the album sales since 1991. Nothing prior to 1991 is included since Soundscan was not active prior to then, and actual totals prior to that date are impossible to acquire. So these totals actually reflect Rush sales after their big airplay days. What you are seeing is primarily catalog sales, long after Rush dominated the airwaves. That in itself makes these numbers impressive.
image from 2112.net
Rush (1974): 197,000
Fly by Night (1975): 219,000
Caress of Steel (1975): 193,000
2112 (1976): 848,000
All the World's a Stage (1976): 246,000
A Farewell to Kings (1977): 258,000
Hemispheres (1978): 269,000
Permanent Waves (1980): 283,000
Moving Pictures (1981): 1.20 million
Exit Stage Left (1981): 542,000
Signals (1982): 305,000
Grace Under Pressure (1984): 201,000
Power Windows (1985): 181,000
Hold Your Fire (1987): 232,000
Show of Hands (1989): 173,000
Presto (1989): 152,000
Chronicles (1990): 825,000
Roll the Bones (1991): 1.15 million
Counterparts (1993): 772,000
Test for Echo (1996): 490,000
Retrospectives I: 1974-1980 (1997): 168,000
Retrospectives II: 1981-87 (1997): 203,000
Different Stages (1998): 277,000
Vapor Trails (2002): 338,000
Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits (2003): 502,000
Rush in Rio (2003): 144,000
Feedback (2004): 160,000
A couple of things stand out. Rush still sells a lot of records and people really like 2112.
Does this kind of info help the case for Alex, Geddy and Neil?
No.
As long as Rolling Stone and Jann Wenner control the hall it's never going to happen.
But we still get a new CD and tour this year, so keep the hall, we'll keep rockin' anyway.
Thanks to Ken Barnes at USAT for pulling these numbers for us.
'til they bring back the giant inflatable rabbits
Keep the Adventure Alive,
@Adventuretom
