The Analog Kid: A Recreation Using Software Instruments

The Analog Kid, from the 1982 album Signals, is one of my all-time favorite songs by Rush. Not only is it simply a great song, it also has a lot of good memories attached. It was one of the first Rush songs I learned to play on bass. It was also one of the first songs I learned on synth. And it was one of the first songs I played live in the garage as a teen after acquiring my first set of MIDI floor pedals.

While not one of their most technically difficult songs to play, I feel as though it embodies the unmistakable sound of Rush: Every drum hit carefully thought out, a bass line that accompanies the drums perfectly, a guitar track with the signature sound & phrasing of Alex Lifeson, and a chorus that makes you feel like you grew wings and jumped off the top of a mountain (courtesy of analog synth pads and Taurus pedals). I think Geddy Lee was also coming into his prime as a singer during this time.

I tried my best to produce a note-for-note recreation for this tribute. Through this process, I relearned the song (or at least realized I’ve been playing it wrong for the last 35 years!). All of the music was made using software instruments (VSTs, plugins, samply libraries, etc.) with exception of the vocal track, which of course, is Geddy from the original recording. I also borrowed from the brilliant idea Rush had while playing this live by adding the third chorus.

Recorded, mixed & mastered by Dagtastik at Key Haven Studios with Macs, Reason Studios 11 and lots of VSTs from UVI, Native Instruments, Toontrack, IK Multimedia and more. Original recording by Rush and PolyGram Records, Inc.