Hemispheres (Rush album)
Encyclopedia
Hemispheres is the sixth studio album
by Canadian
rock
band Rush
, released in 1978. The album was recorded at Rockfield Studios
in Wales
and mixed at Trident Studios in London.
This album continues Rush's use of fantasy
and science fiction
motifs in lyrics written by Neil Peart
. Similar to their 1976 release, 2112
, Hemispheres contains a single, epic song broken into chapters as the first side of the album ("Cygnus X-1, Book II: Hemispheres") while the second half contains two more conventionally-executed tracks ("Circumstances", "The Trees"), then is rounded out by the nine-and-a-half-minute instrumental, "La Villa Strangiato".
The album contains examples of Rush's adherence to progressive rock
standards including the use of epic, multi-movement song structures, complex rhythms and time signature
s, and flexible guitar solos, like those found in "La Villa Strangiato." In the 2010 documentary film Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage
, the band members comment that the stress of recording this album was a major factor in their decision to start moving away from suites and long-form pieces in their songwriting.
Hemispheres was Rush's fourth consecutive Gold album upon release in 1978 and would subsequently go Platinum in the US.
For a short period of time, the album was available in Canada also as a red vinyl LP in a gatefold sleeve with poster (catalogue number SANR-1-1015), and as a limited edition picture disc (catalogue number SRP-1300), both of which have become much sought after collector's items.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
, released in 1978. The album was recorded at Rockfield Studios
Rockfield Studios
Rockfield Studios, near Monmouth in Wales and just outside the village of Rockfield, Monmouthshire are where many of British rock music’s most successful recordings have been made.-History:...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and mixed at Trident Studios in London.
This album continues Rush's use of fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
and science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
motifs in lyrics written by Neil Peart
Neil Peart
Neil Ellwood Peart , OC, is a Canadian musician and author. He is the drummer for the rock band Rush.Peart grew up in Port Dalhousie, Ontario . During adolescence, he floated from regional band to regional band in pursuit of a career as a full-time drummer...
. Similar to their 1976 release, 2112
2112 (album)
2112 is the fourth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released in 1976.The album features an eponymous seven-part suite written by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, with lyrics written by Neil Peart telling a dystopian story set in the year 2112. The album is sometimes described as a concept album...
, Hemispheres contains a single, epic song broken into chapters as the first side of the album ("Cygnus X-1, Book II: Hemispheres") while the second half contains two more conventionally-executed tracks ("Circumstances", "The Trees"), then is rounded out by the nine-and-a-half-minute instrumental, "La Villa Strangiato".
The album contains examples of Rush's adherence to progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
standards including the use of epic, multi-movement song structures, complex rhythms and time signature
Time signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
s, and flexible guitar solos, like those found in "La Villa Strangiato." In the 2010 documentary film Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage
Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage
Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage is a 2010 documentary film directed by Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn. The film offers an in-depth look at the Canadian progressive rock band Rush, chronicling the band's musical evolution from their progressive rock sound of the 1970s to their current heavy rock style...
, the band members comment that the stress of recording this album was a major factor in their decision to start moving away from suites and long-form pieces in their songwriting.
Hemispheres was Rush's fourth consecutive Gold album upon release in 1978 and would subsequently go Platinum in the US.
For a short period of time, the album was available in Canada also as a red vinyl LP in a gatefold sleeve with poster (catalogue number SANR-1-1015), and as a limited edition picture disc (catalogue number SRP-1300), both of which have become much sought after collector's items.
Side one
- "Cygnus X-1 Book II: HemispheresCygnus X-1 seriesThe Cygnus X-1 duology is a duology of songs by Canadian progressive rock band Rush. It consists of "Book I: The Voyage" and "Book II: Hemispheres". Book I is the last song on the A Farewell to Kings album, while Book II is the first song on Hemispheres...
" – 18:08- I: "Prelude" - (0:00/4:29)
- II: "Apollo" Bringer of Wisdom – (4:30/6:59)
- III: "Dionysus" Bringer of Love – (7:00/09:05)
- IV: "Armageddon" The Battle of Heart and Mind – (09:06/11:58)
- V: "Cygnus" Bringer of Balance – (12:00/16:58)
- VI: "The Sphere" A Kind of Dream – (17:02/18:08)
Side two
- "CircumstancesCircumstances (song)"Circumstances" is the second track on progressive rock band Rush's 1978 album Hemispheres. Lyrically, it is an autobiographical account, written by Peart, about the time he spent living in England, and his eventual disillusionment with his then-current occupations.Musically, it's a hard-hitting...
" – 3:42 - "The TreesThe Trees (Rush song)"The Trees" is a song by progressive rock band Rush from their 1978 album Hemispheres. The song is also featured on many of Rush's compilation albums and has been a perennial fan favorite of the band's live shows...
" – 4:46 - "La Villa Strangiato (An Exercise in Self-Indulgence)" – 9:35
- I: "Buenos Nochas, Mein Froinds!" - (0:00)
- II: "To sleep, perchance to dream..." - (0:27)
- III: "Strangiato theme" - (2:00)
- IV: "A Lerxst in Wonderland" - (3:16)
- V: "Monsters!" - (5:49)
- VI: "The Ghost of the Aragon" - (6:10)
- VII: "Danforth and Pape" - (6:45)
- VIII: "The Waltz of the Shreves" - (7:26)
- IX: "Never turn your back on a Monster!" - (7:52)
- X: "Monsters! (Reprise)" - (8:03)
- XI: "Strangiato theme (Reprise)" - (8:17)
- XII: "A Farewell to Things" - (9:20)
Personnel
- Geddy LeeGeddy LeeGary Lee Weinrib, OC, better known as Geddy Lee , is a Canadian musician, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush...
- bass guitars, vocals, Oberheim polyphonicOberheim polyphonicThe Oberheim polyphonic is an analog music synthesizer that was produced from 1974 to 1979 by Oberheim electronics. Tom Oberheim, the founder, knew that musicians needed a way to play chords on the synthesizers that were becoming popular in all styles of music in the 1970s. Except for huge, custom,...
, MinimoogMinimoogThe Minimoog is a monophonic analog synthesizer, invented by Bill Hemsath and Robert Moog. It was released in 1970 by R.A. Moog Inc. , and production was stopped in 1981. It was re-designed by Robert Moog in 2002 and released as Minimoog Voyager.The Minimoog was designed in response to the use of...
, Moog TaurusMoog TaurusThe Moog Taurus is a foot-operated analog synthesizer designed and manufactured by Moog Music from 1974 or 1975 to 1981. Commonly called the Taurus I, it has a 13-note organ-style pedal board similar to the pedal keyboard of a spinet organ.-History:...
pedals - Alex LifesonAlex LifesonAleksandar Živojinović, OC, better known by his stage name Alex Lifeson, is a second generation Serbian-Canadian musician, best known as the guitarist of the Canadian rock band Rush. In the summer of 1968, Lifeson founded the band that would become Rush with friend, drummer John Rutsey...
- Six and twelve string electric and acoustic guitars, classical guitarClassical guitarThe classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
, Roland Guitar Synthesizers, Moog TaurusMoog TaurusThe Moog Taurus is a foot-operated analog synthesizer designed and manufactured by Moog Music from 1974 or 1975 to 1981. Commonly called the Taurus I, it has a 13-note organ-style pedal board similar to the pedal keyboard of a spinet organ.-History:...
pedals - Neil PeartNeil PeartNeil Ellwood Peart , OC, is a Canadian musician and author. He is the drummer for the rock band Rush.Peart grew up in Port Dalhousie, Ontario . During adolescence, he floated from regional band to regional band in pursuit of a career as a full-time drummer...
- drums, orchestra bells, bell treeBell treeA bell tree is a percussion instrument, consisting of vertically nested inverted metal bowls. The bowls, placed on a vertical rod, are arranged in order of pitch . The number of bowls can vary between approximately 14 and 28...
, tympani, gongGongA gong is an East and South East Asian musical percussion instrument that takes the form of a flat metal disc which is hit with a mallet....
, cowbells, temple blocks, wind chimesWind Chimes"Wind Chimes" is a song composed by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks for the American rock band The Beach Boys. The original version of the song was written and recorded for the aborted 1966 album Smile. The band completely re-recorded the song for inclusion on their next album, Smiley Smile...
, crotalesCrotalesthumb|right|Crotales are often used with other mallet percussionCrotales , sometimes called antique cymbals, are percussion instruments consisting of small, tuned bronze or brass disks. Each is about 4 inches in diameter with a flat top surface and a nipple on the base. They are commonly...
Production
- Arranged & Produced By Terry Brown & Rush
- Music & Overdubs Recorded By Pat Moran; Vocals Recorded By Declan O'Doherty
- MixedAudio mixingAudio mixing may refer to:*Audio mixing *Audio mixing *Live sound mixing...
By Terry Brown - Originally Mastered By Ray Staff; RemasteredRemasteringRemastering may refer to:*Audio mastering*Remaster*Software remastering...
By Bob LudwigBob LudwigBob Ludwig is an American mastering engineer.He is a well known and respected figure within the music industry. His name is credited on the covers of albums released across the world, and he has won numerous awards....
- Hugh SymeHugh SymeHugh Syme is a Canadian Juno Award-winning graphic artist who is best known for his artwork and cover concepts for rock and metal bands. He is also a musician and has appeared in some Rush songs as a keyboard player. Syme is notably responsible for all of Rush's album cover art since 1975's Caress...
- art direction and graphics - Bob King - art direction
- Yosh Inouye - cover photography
- Fin Costello - band and poster photograph
- Hugh Syme
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Billboard's Pop Albums | 47 |
Singles
| Information |
|---|
| "The Trees The Trees (Rush song) "The Trees" is a song by progressive rock band Rush from their 1978 album Hemispheres. The song is also featured on many of Rush's compilation albums and has been a perennial fan favorite of the band's live shows... "
|
| "Circumstances Circumstances (song) "Circumstances" is the second track on progressive rock band Rush's 1978 album Hemispheres. Lyrically, it is an autobiographical account, written by Peart, about the time he spent living in England, and his eventual disillusionment with his then-current occupations.Musically, it's a hard-hitting... " Rush (band) Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart... and Terry Brown Terry Brown (record producer) Terry Brown is a record producer involved in a variety of work, but most noted for his involvement with the Canadian rock band Rush and the British/Canadian band Cutting Crew. Brown is currently working with emerging Ottawa roots-rockers Ken Workman & The Union. He is referred to fondly by the band... |
Remaster details
A remaster was issued in 1997.- The tray has a picture of the star with man painting (mirroring the cover art of Retrospective IRetrospective IRetrospective I: 1974 to 1980 is a compilation album by Canadian rock band Rush, released in 1997 . The album is essentially a collection of their best songs from the first decade of the band...
) with "The Rush Remasters" printed in all capital letters just to the left. All remasters from Rush through Permanent Waves are like this. - The remastered CD has all of the original album cover art, including the back cover and poster of the band which was missing on the original CD issue. When the poster is folded closed, the outside shows "Rush Hemispheres" text printed in red and yellow on a black background. Most copies have this insert placed behind the front cover in the CD case, but apparently some copies have this insert toward the front.