Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I know what you mean, but within Rush, it would seem that Grace Under Pressure is veiwed as being heavily guitar based (I think Geddy said they might have over-compensated for Signals). GUP was a difficult time for Rush and at the time I thought it showed (I called it 'Rush Under Pressure'). Now, I actually enjoy almost everything on the album. It has the right mood for the subject matter of most of the songs too.

"Signals" is by far my favorite Rush album (and probably my favorite album of any artist) . . . I really don't think there's a weak moment on the album. When I first hear "Grace Under Pressure", I really didn't like it. Seriously, I thought it was junk. I listened to it again maybe a week later, and I was blown away; I was like, "Wow! I didn't realize how awesome this is!" "Between the Wheels" is definitely in my top ten favorite Rush songs of all time . . . so good . . . and so glad they played it on the last tour, with those rotating lights and everything.

It's funny, too, but everyone seems to have seen them during the "Signals" tour. Obviously, I wasn't born then, but, like, my Dad's coworker who managed to get us the tickets for the Atlanta show said his first Rush concert was on the Signals tour . . . he also said that the worst Rush concert he saw was on "Hold Your Fire", and the best Rusch concert he saw was only a couple of years later on the "Presto" tour.

true... i should give it another listen. there are great tunes on it. i loved "signals" and the production... but the production on "GUP", i wasn't happy with. they changed producers after "signals" correct????

Moving Pictures: Terry Brown
Signals: Terry Brown
Grace Under Pressure: Peter Henderson
Power Windows: Peter Collins
Hold Your Fire: Peter Collins
Presto: Rupert Hine

I think they didn't like the production of Grace Under Pressure either, if they only had Peter Henderson produce that one album.

Steve Lillywhite was lined up to produce GUP, then went and did Simple Minds instead (Rush not very impressed!). From the comments they've made, they really valued Peter Henderson as an engineer and thought he was excellent in that role, but they felt they needed a bit of 'producer's guidance' at that stage and PH wasn't capable of providing it.

Peter Collins was far more capable of giving some guidance, but he may have gone a bit beyond where Rush were prepared to go (although I'd love to hear the version of Mission complete with brass band which was apparently recorded).

I love GUP, but that Steinberger is too farty. I prefer the GUP songs with the Wal or the jazz bass. It has more feeling then.

I love the songs on GUP. Kid Gloves is one of those fun to play and sing ones. Ged holds back on the really high notes on that album. I guess he wanted to do more singing and less screetching.

I'm usually into giant Rush talks like this.. I must be lacking.

Nate, you may or may not know--but 'Kid Gloves' is the Jazz Bass....I dig that song too...

No wonder I like that song. It has life to it. Lol.

This was when Geddy took advantage of "popping" right? IE the beginning of The Body Electric. That was the steinberger, right?

I prefer the J to the Steinberger.

He used it back in the day for YYZ, right? Least that's what it looks like they're playing.

My favorites on GUP are DEW, Red Lenses, Between The Wheels and Red Sector A...the other 4 are fluff, IMHO. It's hard for me to say that being a huge fan but, GUP is hit and miss for me. The video's for DEW and The Body Electric bothered me too..haha.

Hahahaha, the videos are pretty cheesy . . . vintage 80s MTV . . . and actually, the Distant Early Warning video is a semi-parody of "Dr. Strangelove", just in case you didn't know . . .

I think "Grace Under Pressure" gets way more **** than it deserves. The only song that I can never really get into is "The Enemy Within", and it's still a great song . . . it just . . . like, it's part of the "Fear" series, right? And the Grace album is VERY dark (as is Power Windows, though that album was a bit more sarcastic), which is one of the reasons I love it. Yet, despite the darkness of the album and the lyrics of the song, it's so jumpy and uncharacteristic . . . I mean, it's still a great song, but that kind of thing would've fit a lot better on "Roll the Bones" or maybe "Presto". It just doesn't seem to fit the rest of the album, despite the lyrics.

But seriously, Rush's albums got really dark and pessimistic from the latter half of "Moving Pictures" on until "Hold Your Fire". That's probably why I love the 80s albums . . . people say that they got all synthy and unfeeling, but really, if anything, they infused EVEN MORE emotion into the music for "Signals" through "Power Windows", and the themes they address are EXACTLY that: that the world has become digital, constructed and cold . . . kind of ironic that the albums that deride such things are ultimately accused of representing them . . .

Oh, and "Red Lenses" is not only a self-deprecating jab at paranoia, but also proof that Geddy CAN groove with the best of them. I'm gonna see if I can't get my little group at college to cover that song.

It took me a very long time to warm up to GUP but once i did, (about a year)it is now one of my favorites.
For me the best song is "Afterimage" even though Geddy doesn't play the bass.

If i had a choice, i would pick the L2 over the Wal. I have never like the flat buzzy sound he got. (not saying the Wal is a bad bass)

Interesting interpretation, Robert. I have to give them credit for taking advantage of the immense technological recording improvements that happened during the period and trying to incorporate all of that into their music. There was a point during the early 80's that they considered adding a 4th person to the band. They were very conscious that they wanted to put out music that they could play live as a 3 piece band. With technology came adding keyboard and extra bass parts by pushing a pedal. Like an effects pedal. Or, storing a section of music on a keyboard with the click of one key. I'm amazed that they have been able to do it for so long...and so good. Too bad Ged can't hit the highs anymore...others would say "thank god"...haha.

Listening and watching R30, the energy and obvious love for playing their music just showed through...I love the beginning medley. They sound awesome.

Yeah, I find it a bit funny that they lowered the key of "2112" so that Geddy can sing it live . . . it sounds so weird being a whole step down . . . like, much more metal-ish . . . though I suppose "2112" was pretty metal at the time.

It's always funny to read peoples' descriptions of Geddy's voice. Strangled weasels and shrieking 6-year-old girls often come up in album reviews . . . I believe someone once wrote, and I quote, "Donald Duck on helium". And then it was funny, because I remember looking through old reviews, and when reading Rolling Stone's entry for "Signals", they criticized Rush for NOT having Geddy's voice be up front and in your face, that it was too murky and subdued . . .

I can't wait for their new album. Apparently they're beginning the recording sessions now.

I love "Afterimage". One of the few songs I can actually play keys on. I love it so much I "learned" it on bass. Just chords and stuff. Great tune.