Roll the Bones
Encyclopedia
Roll the Bones is the fourteenth studio album
by Canadian
rock
band Rush
, released in 1991 (see 1991 in music
). The album was recorded at Le Studio in Morin Heights and at McClear Place in Toronto with Rupert Hine
returning as producer. The album won the 1992 Juno Award
for best album cover design. Roll the Bones became Rush's first US Top 5 album since 1981's Moving Pictures
peaking at #3 on the Billboard 200. The album went Double Platinum according to Atlantic Records although the RIAA has it listed at Platinum. Roll The Bones was remastered and re-released in 2004 as part of the Atlantic Records "Rush Remasters" series, and in 2011, once again remastered (by Kevin Gray) and re-released by Audio Fidelity as a gold CD.
's "Cliffs of Dover"
. Coincidentally, Eric Johnson went on to provide support for the Roll the Bones tour in fall of 1991. The musical style of Roll the Bones paved the way for the "alternative" style of 1993’s Counterparts
.
; all music composed by Alex Lifeson
and Geddy Lee
.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
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 1991 (see 1991 in music
1991 in music
See also:* 1991 in music Record labels established in 1991-Summary:The year 1991 is the year that grunge music made its popular breakthrough. Nirvana's Nevermind, led by the surprise hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit", becomes the most popular U.S. album of the year...
). The album was recorded at Le Studio in Morin Heights and at McClear Place in Toronto with Rupert Hine
Rupert Hine
Rupert Neville Hine is an English musician, songwriter and prolific record producer, having produced albums for artists including Kevin Ayers, Tina Turner, Howard Jones, Saga, The Fixx, Bob Geldof, Thompson Twins, Stevie Nicks, Chris de Burgh, Suzanne Vega, Rush, Underworld, Duncan Sheik, and ...
returning as producer. The album won the 1992 Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
for best album cover design. Roll the Bones became Rush's first US Top 5 album since 1981's Moving Pictures
Moving Pictures (album)
- Personnel :* Geddy Lee - Bass guitar; Minimoog; Oberheim 8-voice synthesizer; OB-X, Moog Taurus bass pedals, vocals* Alex Lifeson - Electric and acoustic guitars, Moog Taurus...
peaking at #3 on the Billboard 200. The album went Double Platinum according to Atlantic Records although the RIAA has it listed at Platinum. Roll The Bones was remastered and re-released in 2004 as part of the Atlantic Records "Rush Remasters" series, and in 2011, once again remastered (by Kevin Gray) and re-released by Audio Fidelity as a gold CD.
Style
Roll the Bones marks further transition from the band's 1980s style to their sound in the 1990s. The roles of the instruments have generally been reversed; guitar is beginning to creep to the front of the song arrangements, while bursts of keyboard and organ are played in the background. "Dreamline" and "Roll the Bones" were popular radio staples of the early 90s, with the former reaching #1 on the Album Rock Tracks chart, while "Where's My Thing?" became the band’s third instrumental and was their second song to be nominated for a Grammy, in 1991, losing to Eric JohnsonEric Johnson
Eric Johnson is an American guitarist. Though he is best known for his success in the instrumental rock format, Johnson regularly incorporates jazz, fusion, gospel and country and western music into his recordings...
's "Cliffs of Dover"
Cliffs of Dover (song)
"Cliffs of Dover" is an instrumental composition by guitarist Eric Johnson which appeared on his 1990 Ah Via Musicom album. The album version of the song is composed in the key of G major, the song was played with a Gibson ES-335 through a B.K. Butler Tube Driver and an Echoplex plugged into a...
. Coincidentally, Eric Johnson went on to provide support for the Roll the Bones tour in fall of 1991. The musical style of Roll the Bones paved the way for the "alternative" style of 1993’s Counterparts
Counterparts (album)
Counterparts is the fifteenth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released in 1993. It became Rush's highest charting album in the US, peaking at #2 on the Billboard 200...
.
Track listing
All lyrics written by Neil PeartNeil 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...
; all music composed by Alex Lifeson
Alex Lifeson
Aleksandar 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...
and Geddy Lee
Geddy Lee
Gary 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...
.
- "DreamlineDreamline"Dreamline" is the first track from Rush's 1991 album Roll the Bones. It was released as a single the same year. The song charted at number one on the U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and is a staple for live performances by Rush, having been performed on every tour since the inaugural Roll the...
" – 4:38 - "Bravado" – 4:35
- "Roll the BonesRoll the Bones (song)"Roll the Bones" is the title track from Rush's 1991 album of the same name. It continues Rush's rock style that began with 1989's Presto, which reduced the band's usage of keyboards and returned the emphasis to bass and electric guitar.-Style:...
" – 5:30 - "Face Up" – 3:54
- "Where's My Thing? (Part IV, "Gangster of Boats" Trilogy)" – 3:49
- "The Big Wheel" – 5:13
- "HeresyHeresy (Rush song)"Heresy" is a song written by and performed by Rush and appears on their 1991 album Roll the Bones. The song is about the fall of communism in Eastern Europe and Russia, resultant about-face consumerism and the passing of the Cold War nuclear threat.-Song:...
" – 5:26 - "Ghost of a ChanceGhost Of A Chance (song)"Ghost of a Chance" is a song and single from Rush's album Roll the Bones. Although the single charted #2 on the U.S. Mainstream, a video has never been made for the song...
" – 5:19 - "Neurotica" – 4:40
- "You Bet Your Life" – 5:00
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...
- Synthesizer, BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Vocals - 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...
- Acoustic & electric guitars, Vocals - 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
- Joe Berndt - Digital Effects
- Ben Darlow - Assistant Engineer, Mixing Assistant
- Rupert HineRupert HineRupert Neville Hine is an English musician, songwriter and prolific record producer, having produced albums for artists including Kevin Ayers, Tina Turner, Howard Jones, Saga, The Fixx, Bob Geldof, Thompson Twins, Stevie Nicks, Chris de Burgh, Suzanne Vega, Rush, Underworld, Duncan Sheik, and ...
- ProducerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, KeyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, Vocals - Bob Ludwig - Mastering
- Adam Ayan - Remastering
- Andrew MacNaughtan - PhotographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
- Simon Pressey - Assistant Engineer
- Everett Ravestein - Pre-Production, Pre-Production Assistant
- John Scarpati - PhotographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
- Paul Seeley - Assistant Engineer
- 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, Design - Stephen W. Tayler - Engineer
Sales certifications
| Country | Organization | Sales |
| U.S. | RIAA | Platinum (1,000,000) |
| Canada | RIAA | Platinum (100,000) |
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | The Billboard 200 | 3 |
Singles
| Information |
|---|
| "Dreamline Dreamline "Dreamline" is the first track from Rush's 1991 album Roll the Bones. It was released as a single the same year. The song charted at number one on the U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and is a staple for live performances by Rush, having been performed on every tour since the inaugural Roll the... "
|
| "Roll the Bones Roll the Bones (song) "Roll the Bones" is the title track from Rush's 1991 album of the same name. It continues Rush's rock style that began with 1989's Presto, which reduced the band's usage of keyboards and returned the emphasis to bass and electric guitar.-Style:... " Rupert Hine Rupert Neville Hine is an English musician, songwriter and prolific record producer, having produced albums for artists including Kevin Ayers, Tina Turner, Howard Jones, Saga, The Fixx, Bob Geldof, Thompson Twins, Stevie Nicks, Chris de Burgh, Suzanne Vega, Rush, Underworld, Duncan Sheik, and ... and Rush |
| "Ghost of a Chance Ghost Of A Chance (song) "Ghost of a Chance" is a song and single from Rush's album Roll the Bones. Although the single charted #2 on the U.S. Mainstream, a video has never been made for the song... " Rupert Hine Rupert Neville Hine is an English musician, songwriter and prolific record producer, having produced albums for artists including Kevin Ayers, Tina Turner, Howard Jones, Saga, The Fixx, Bob Geldof, Thompson Twins, Stevie Nicks, Chris de Burgh, Suzanne Vega, Rush, Underworld, Duncan Sheik, and ... and Rush |
| "Bravado"
Rupert Hine Rupert Neville Hine is an English musician, songwriter and prolific record producer, having produced albums for artists including Kevin Ayers, Tina Turner, Howard Jones, Saga, The Fixx, Bob Geldof, Thompson Twins, Stevie Nicks, Chris de Burgh, Suzanne Vega, Rush, Underworld, Duncan Sheik, and ... and Rush |