Gourt Home::Gourt :: Signals (album)
Signals is the ninth studio album by the Canadian rock band Rush, released in 1982 (see 1982 in music).
Signals was the follow-up to the successful Moving Pictures. Stylistically, the album was a continuation of Rush's foray into the technology-oriented 1980s. Though there was an increased use of electronic instrumentation (keyboards, sequencers, electric violin), the album still followed the path Rush had laid out as far back as 1977's A Farewell to Kings album. However, in terms of song length and lyrical compression, Signals was the end of Rush's extended instrumentals. The album had eight songs, the longest of which is 6:24. The album reached #10 on the Billboard album charts and went Platinum (1,000,000 copies sold) in the US in 1982.
The album was an early full digital recording.
Song Notes
The opening track from Signals is "Subdivisions". The track would become a staple of the bands concert setlists for many years.
"Digital Man", a slightly reggae-based song, ultimately led to the end of the relationship between long-time producer Terry Brown and the band. Brown was reluctant to leave behind the bands progressive-rock past, while band members, especially Lee, wanted to explore new musical directions.
"The Weapon" (Part II of the 'Fear' trilogy) would be featured in the album's supporting tour and would include a video opening hosted by Count Floyd of SCTV fame.
"New World Man" would become an FM radio hit for the band. The song was written and recorded at the end of the recording sessions with the intention of preserving the continuity of the then-popular cassette tape format. This allowed for two roughly 21-minute sides with as little "dead air" between them as possible.
"Losing It" includes a guest appearance by FM alumnus Ben Mink on electric violin. Neil Peart's lyrics reference, among other things, the latter years of writer Ernest Hemingway: "for you the blind who once could see, the bell tolls for thee..."
The lyrics in the final track, "Countdown", describe the launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1981 which the band were present for. The song features audio clips of some of the radio talk recorded during the maiden flight.
Signals represented the band's last collaboration with producer Terry Brown, who had co-produced every Rush album since 1975's Fly by Night, and had engineered the eponymous first album in 1974.
Track listing
- "Subdivisions" – 5:33
- "The Analog Kid" – 4:46
- "Chemistry" – 4:56
- "Digital Man" – 6:20
- "The Weapon (Part II of Fear)" – 6:22
- "New World Man" – 3:41
- "Losing It" – 4:51
- "Countdown" – 5:49
(The Track Listing is from the CD Release. This album was originally released on LP and cassette.)
Personnel
- Geddy Lee – bass, vocals, Keyboards: Minimoog, Oberheim OB-X and OB-Xa, Roland JP-8, Moog Taurus pedals, Oberheim DSX and Roland TR 808 rhythm machine.
- Alex Lifeson – guitars, Moog Taurus pedals
- Neil Peart – drums, percussion
- Ben Mink – violins
- Hugh Syme – artwork
- Bob Ludwig – Mastering and re-mastering
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Pop Albums | 10 |
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | New World Man | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 1 |
| 1982 | Subdivisions | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 3 |
| 1982 | The Analog Kid | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 19 |
| 1982 | New World Man | Pop Singles | 21 |
Remaster Details
Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs issued a remaster in 1994.
- In "The Weapon," one line of lyrics that appears on all other pressings is missing from the MFSL release (at 3:12). MFSL has stated that this was the case on the master delivered to them by the band.
A remaster was issued in 1997.
- The tray has a picture of three fingerprints, light blue, pink, and lime green (left to right) with THE RUSH REMASTERS printed in all caps just to the left. All remasters from Moving Pictures through to Hold Your Fire are like this. This is just like the cover art of Retrospective II.
- Also includes the infrared pictures of the band that were missing from the original CD issue.
- Also includes the lyrics and credits.
"Signals (album)"