This is a band that I need to spend a lot more time with. This music absolutely knocks my socks off. I’ve had a copy of 2112 in the past as well as Moving Pictures. What are my fellow dopers suggestions?
My suggestion will have to be the R30 DVD. Filmed on their thirtieth anniversary tour of Europe, it includes a good sample of all their work. The 8 minute drum solo is the best I’ve ever seen filmed (and I usually hate drum solos). Just seeing Geddy’s stage setup is almost worth the price of admission. 
If you must stick to CD, Fly By Night will always hold a special place in my heart. If you’re trying to save some money, Chronicles is not too bad as “greatest hits” packages go, but doesn’t include the epic “Cygnus X-1”. To get all that you have to get both A Farewell To Kings and Hemispheres (but buying both also gets you “Xanadu” and “La Villa Strangiato”). And then of course you’ll need “Ghost of A Chance” and…
I really like Roll The Bones (1991) and Counterparts (1993). Permanent Waves (1980), though, is the album that got me into Rush in the first place. The song “Freewill” from that album is also the entire reason I became a bass player.
I’m also extremely fond of Hemispheres.
Their 2004 EP of cover songs, Feedback, is a lot of fun, too. For their 30th anniversary, instead of releasing something like a box set of all their previous albums, they spent a couple weeks in the studio recording covers of eight songs that inspired them back when they were 13-14 years old and first learning to play their instruments.
I’m strongly considering buying a CD of their very first album. I know I’ve heard Working Man before. I’ve also added the Rio concert to my Netflix queue
Permanent Waves, most definitely.
Then, get “Exit Stage Left”
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You should also get that one album where Neil Peart temporarily quit the band and was replaced by Meg White from the White Stripes.
I know that Neil Peart wasn’t on the very first album. Did he really leave the band or am I being totally whooshed?
I was just fooling around. I selected Meg White as Peart’s alleged replacement because her exceedingly simple style is about as far as you can get from his style.
Permanent Waves is my favorite.
John Rutsey was the original drummer for the band. However, Rutsey left the band due to ill health and personal and creative differences. Neil Peart auditioned and was hired. Neil officially joined Rush on July 29, 1974, Geddy’s 21st birthday. The line-up was now, and forever, Alex Lifeson on guitar, Geddy Lee on bass and vocals, and Neil Peart on drums. Rutsey was the drummer on their first, self-titled album. The line-up has remained unchanged since.
Rush Albums I recommend:
Spriit of Radio is a good “best of” album to get 16 of the (arguably) best songs from their first 10 years of albums.
Caress of Steel, which contains the very long, story-telling song, “The Fountain of Lamneth”.
Hemispheres, which has another long story song, “Cygnus: Hemispheres”, about the battle between Apollo and Dionesis (sp?) for the control of men’s souls. Also the metaphoric song “The Trees” and the 9 minutes instrumental “La Villa Strangiato”.
Moving Picutres, is often overplayed by classic rock stations since it produced the most recognizable songs that made the Top 40. “YYZ” - an instrumental - and “Limelight” are my personal favorites from MP.
Rush definately changed their general sound in the late 80’s, but bands really need to do that, or it’s just more of the same.
I recently got Test For Echo. It’s very enjoyable, yet different from their earlier work.
I heard Geddy on XM not that long ago in a long interview. He talked about when Neil joined the band. Of course he was picked because of his incredible drumming and they didn’t know how important he would become. Their first hint was when they started playing together Geddy turned to Alex and said, “Man this guy reads a lot.” He soon was writing almost all the lyrics.
I was one of those 80s guys who was very reluctant to follow them in their new direction. Then I went to a show in the *Hold Your Fire * tour. Since then I have appreciated each new album and like everything after Moving Pictures more than that and their early stuff. Much more complex and mature.
“Time Stand Still” holds a special place in my heart for personal reasons.
I would start off with Chronicles, their two CD greatest hits set. It’s pretty much a sampler of all their classics up through Presto.
Roll the Bones was that last CD I listened to from them (although it was actually one of the first I bought ever).
I am a big Rush fan from the 80’s, and I would say my favorite Rush era was the decade between 1975-1985. Before and after just don’t do it for me.
Caress of Steel (1975)
Fly By Night (1975)
2112 (1976)
A Farewell to Kings (1977)
Hemispheres (1978)
Permanent Waves (1980)
Moving Pictures (1981)
Grace Under Pressure (1984)
Everything I love has been mentioned.
Just wanted to say “Welcome to the club”! 
I always recommened Signals. Great album with probably my favorite rush tune, Losing It.
Slee
I go to winamp.com and open the Rush radio channel. 24/7 Rush and only Rush.
It will give you a nice cross-section of their work to enjoy.
Rush in Rio and the R30 DVDs are definitely good samples of stuff throughout their careers. As a bonus, they show what a great live band these guys are. I’ve seen them live eight times and never been disappointed.
I took my parents (in their late seventies at the time) to the R30 concert. We had 13th row floor seats, right in front of Mr. Lifeson. Mom and Dad were the most popular members of the audience! 
Wow, it’s been a long, long time since I listened to any Rush, and they just played “Mission” on that channel, from Hold Your Fire. I had completely forgotten what a nice tune that is. And I only realised half way through that they were playing live.
rush geek here, i have all their albums. resident on my ipod. yes, i can do a day at work with nothing but rush-shuffle.