Permanent Waves is the seventh studio album by the Canadian rock band Rush, released January 1, 1980 (see 1980 in music). The album was recorded at Le Studio, Morin Heights, Quebec, and was mixed at Trident Studios in London, England.
Permanent Waves marks a distinct transition into more accessible, radio-friendly numbers and consequently, a significant expansion in the band's record sales with perennial favorites such as "Spirit of Radio" and "Freewill" seeing quite a fair bit of radio airplay.
Other notable tracks on Permanent Waves include "Jacob's Ladder", a song exploring odd time signatures and a dark, ominous feel. The song's lyrics are based on a simple concept; a vision of sunlight breaking through clouds. The title references the biblical ladder to heaven on which Jacob saw angels ascending and descending.
While the band did step back somewhat from the epic song format, "Natural Science" does clock in at over nine minutes and is composed of three distinct movements. The overall lyrical concept involves a look at the natural world over time, specifically the cycle of life. For more information, read about natural science.
Track listing
- "Spirit of Radio" - 4:57
- "Freewill" - 5:23
- "Jacob's Ladder" - 7:28
- "Entre Nous" - 4:37
- "Different Strings" - 3:49
- "Natural Science" - 9:16
- I Tide Pools (0:00)
- II Hyperspace (2:21)
- III Permanent Waves (5:08)
Personnel
- Geddy Lee - Bass guitars, Oberheim polyphonic; OB-1; Minimoog; and Taurus pedal synthesizers, vocals
- Alex Lifeson - Six and twelve string electric and acoustic guitars, Taurus pedals
- Neil Peart - drums, tympani, timbales, orchestra bells,tubular bells, wind chimes, bell tree, triangle crotales
- Erwig Chuapchuaduah - steel drums
- Hugh Syme - piano on "Different Strings"
- Deborah Samuel - photography
- Fin Costello - photography
- Flip Schulke - photography
- Terry Brown - arranger, producer, mixing
- Paul Northfield - engineer
- Robbie Whelan - assistant engineer
- Craig Milliner - mixing assistant
- Adam Moseley - mixing assistant
- Cover girl couturière: Ou la la
Notes
There is also a Rush tribute band called Permanent Waves based in Ottawa, Ontario. [1]
The newspaper that appears on the album cover is the Chicago Daily Tribune edition from 1948 which incorrectly reported the result of the US Presidential Election as 'Dewey Defeats Truman'. The Tribune refused permission to use the edition, hence the blanking of the headline.
Peart, Lee, Lifeson are names on the signs in the distance. Look for houses to the right of the girl.