Track Listing

1. Bastille Day
2. I Think I'm Going Bald
3. Lakeside Park
4. Necromancer: Into Darkness/Under the Shadow/Return of the Prince
5. Fountain of Lamneth: In the Valley/Didacts and Narpets/No One At

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #25903 in Music
• Released on: 1997-05-06
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered

Album Description
Japanese only paper sleeve SHM pressing. The SHM-CD [Super High Material CD] format features enhanced audio quality through the use of a special polycarbonate plastic. Using a process developed by JVC and Universal Music Japan discovered through the joint companies' research into LCD display manufacturing SHM-CDs feature improved transparency on the data side of the disc allowing for more accurate reading of CD data by the CD player laser head. SHM-CD format CDs are fully compatible with standard CD players. Warner. 2009.

Customer Reviews

UNDER-PRODUCED, UNDERRATED
If you see many people on this site saying that this album is underrated, then shouldn't that be a wake up call?

Caress Of Steel seems raw and under-produced, but I think that's what gives the album it's appeal. It stars of with "Bastille Day", a rocker with imaginative lyrics. "I Think I'm Going Bald", despite it's quirky lyrics, is still a great song. If anything, on this particular track, it's the music that counts, which rocks and is catchy. "Lakeside Park", which is probably my least favorite on here, is still a great mellow tune. "The Necromancer", is the bands first attempt at a 10+ minute epic. Check out the middle section with furious guitar solos. "The Fountain Of Lamneth", Rush' first 20 minute epic, once again, if not for the lyrics, the music more than makes up for it. It goes from hard rock, to soothing clasical guitar to pop/hard rock to all out hard rock again. It's the most progressive on here.

Overall, a great effort from Rush. This is what I call the start of Rush's heavy progressive rock, and it would get more refined as the later releases indicate.

UNDESERVEDLY UNDERATED
This wrongly overlooked album is a treasure trove of early 70's heavy prog rock. The second album with the amazing Neil Peart behind the pen and drum kit, Caress has the raw intensity and sincerity that the band launched their career on. Fast moving tracks like "Bastille Day" and "I Think I'm Goin' Bald" balance the two slower concept pieces, "The Necromancer" (thinly veiled Tolkien, gotta love it!) and "The Fountain of Lamneth." Both of the concept pieces are classic, and preview the band's move into the full-blown, hard rock must-have concept album 2112 (and later, "Hemispheres"). If you're exploring the sonic world of Rush, don't forget Caress of Steel!

Next to "Hemispheres", This is the best Rush album!
I cannot believe people who claim to call themselves "Rush Fans" don't dig this album. This brilliant album is probably the most "Tolkien-ish" or "fantasy-like" out of the whole Rush catalog (along with "Xanadu" from Kings and "By-Tor" and "Rivendell" from Fly By Night). The "Necromancer" is oustanding, classic Rush! I believe "The Fountain of Lamneth" ranks as one of the greats along with "Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres", "2112", "Cygnus X-1", and "Xanadu". Anybody with any open mind and digs prog such as early Crimson, Genesis, Yes, Tull, and Gentle Giant will LOVE this album! For me this album ranks with "Brain Salad Surgery", "Relayer", "Larks' Tongues", "A Passion Play" - on that level!

P.S.- I have not yet heard the newly remastered version, but I'm sure it will not disappoint.