Rush's Atantic-era greatest hits package Rush: Retrospective 3 officially releases next Tuesday, March 3rd but it looks like some fans have either already received their copy or have been given notice that it has shipped. Reader Marathon Man already received his Deluxe Fan Pack version ordered via Rush.com which includes the lithograph poster, and I've heard from some folks who ordered through the Rush Backstage Club that they've received emails saying their order has shipped. Probably the most anticipated detail regarding the release is the fact that it contains remixed/remastered versions of One Little Victory and Earthshine from the Vapor Trails album. Barnes and Noble has 30-second clips from all the songs up on their website and you can definitely hear a difference in the mix of these two songs. Eric at the Power Windows site got his hands on the full versions of these two songs and shared his thoughts over at the Counterparts board:

My good buddy in biz, who shall remain anonymous, has provided me with the One Little Victory remix from Retrospective 3. I can't share it yet, but here's my initial thoughts.

Its a major change, from the opening drum beats, to Geddy's bass, and the "ahh ahhs". Also, there's some weird shifting in the sound at 1:25, when he begins, "a shot of satisfaction", as if someone made a major adjustment to the overall mix. I'm not an audiophile like some of you, but after two listens I like the mix. ...

... I just received Earthshine.

Maybe its just been so long or I'm listening with ears wide open, but most evident more than anything is the acoustic guitar during the guitar solo. I honestly don't remember hearing that before! Regardless, at around 3:30 I notice more jangly acoustic guitar than I remember before. ...

And for all you audiophiles out there there's this side-by-side comparison that Eric put together using his Sony ACID Music Studio softwarel.

Eric also had this to add about the packaging:

Some info on the Retrospective 3 packaging: the linernotes are a simple trifold sheet of paper, that's it. ...

... For my fellow album art junkies:

"The inside L & R is black – left side has three vertical bars with a red thin line from left bottom to right top (like a cross out) – right side has a 3 with a circle and an arrow pointing to the right (like on the front cover) – font is all the same and about 1 inch in height. Circle around arrow is red thin stroke same as the strike out on the left side. (see? boring)

Sleeve has cover image on front, gallery wall with band info on one and track info on the other. Inside foldout of three pages is the gallery taken from straight on head on eye level ( with six album covers and Feedback on the floor leaning against the wall). Dog is exiting stage right – all you can see is his hind legs and tail." ...

If you've received your copy and have anything to add, please do so in the comments.

Related Posts:
[New Rush: Retrospective 3 press release]
[Rush: Retrospective 3 release date pushed back to March]
[Rush: Retrospective 3 release date pushed back to February]
[Rush: Retrospective 3 deluxe fan pack; release date pushed?]
[Rush: Retrospective 3 album cover]
[Rush: Retrospective 3 release date pushed back to January]
[Rush: Retrospective 3 greatest hits album tracklist revealed]
[Rush: Retrospective 3 greatest hits album due out in December?]
[Rush to end Atlantic relationship with new greatest hits package; in negotiations with Rounder]

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