The album that started it all. Original drummer John Rutsey recorded all the drum parts himself. The recordings took place under the direction of Dave Stock at Eastern Sound Studios in Toronto and were recorded late at night, as studio rates were the cheapest there (the band financed the production entirely themselves). Unsatisfied with the quality of the first sessions, the band switched to Toronto Sound Studios and produced the next sessions themselves to achieve a better sound. "The first attempt at the album was done in eight hours after one gig. We were recorded after the show and it went really easily. Then in November it was re-recorded in about three days, including mixing. We were lucky that most of the songs were in the can in two or three takes." - Alex Lifeson, 1974 Instead of signing to an existing label, Rush started their own, Moon Records, and pressed a few thousand copies. Cleveland DJ Donna Halper of WMMS was instrumental in turning "Working Man" into a cult hit and helped bring the band to the attention of Mercury Records.