Moving Pictures (album)
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| Moving Pictures | ||
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| LP & CD by Rush | ||
| Released | February 28 1981 | |
| Recorded | Oct.-Nov. 1980 | |
| Genre | Progressive rock | |
| Length | 39 min 14 sec | |
| Label | Mercury Records | |
| Producers | Terry Brown and Rush | |
| Professional reviews | ||
| RollingStone | 3½/5 | link (http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/cd/review.asp?aid=62770) |
| Artistdirect | 4½/5 | link (http://www.artistdirect.com/store/artist/album/0,,157478,00.html) |
| Rush Chronology | ||
| Permanent Waves (1980) | Moving Pictures (1981) | Exit...Stage Left (1981) |
Moving Pictures is the eighth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released in 1981 (see 1981 in music). The album was recorded and mixed at Le Studio, Morin Heights, Quebec.
A classic rock album, Moving Pictures represents Rush's best-selling and thus most popular studio recording to date (certified quadruple-platinum on January 27, 1995).
Following the formula of their previous album, Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures follows a more radio-friendly format and includes the hit single "Tom Sawyer", as well other radio standards such as "Red Barchetta" and "Limelight".
With a title reference to Mark Twain's fictional character, "Tom Sawyer" is an abstract commentary on a free-thinking "modern day warrior". This song opens the album, demonstrating that each member of the band is on top of his game, all seamlessly working together to create a very solid, hard-rocking tune to be numbered among the best the genre has to offer. Likely Rush's best-selling single, lyrics for this track were written in collaboration with Max Webster lyricist Pye Dubois.
Next is another solid rocker, "Red Barchetta". Displaying Neil Peart's literary style of lyric writing, "Red Barchetta" is a futuristic tale of a youth who "borrows" his uncle's disused, classic roadster for a Sunday drive. Lyrics were inspired by the short story "A Nice Morning Drive" by Richard S. Foster (http://www.2112.net/xanadu/articles/a_nice_morning_drive.htm). However, Peart has reported that the car that inspired the song's title is a Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta. Excellent guitar solo courtesy of Alex Lifeson.
Also included on this record is the Grammy-nominated instrumental "YYZ". The song's title is the IATA Airport Code for Toronto Pearson International Airport. It is played repeatedly in Morse Code (-.-- -.-- --..) at the beginning of the song.
"Limelight" is another perennial radio favorite. Lyrics are autobiographical, based on Peart's own dissatisfactions with fame and its intrusions into daily life.
Rounding out the album, "Vital Signs" shows distinct reggae flavor, the experimentation with which was likely inspired by The Police. Reggae influences would later creep into tracks found on the band's next studio release, Signals.
Tracks
- "Tom Sawyer" - 4:33
- "Red Barchetta" - 6:06
- "YYZ" - 4:24
- "Limelight" - 4:19
- "The Camera Eye" - 10:46
- "Witch Hunt (Part III of 'Fear')" - 4:43
- "Vital Signs" - 4:43
Personnel
- Geddy Lee - Bass guitars, Synthesizers, Vocals
- Alex Lifeson - Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Taurus pedals
- Neil Peart - Drums, glockenspiel, wind chimes, cowbells
- Paul Northfield - Sound Engineer
- Hugh Syme - guest appearance playing synthesizers on "Witch Hunt".
Trivia
- At 8:56 into "The Camera Eye", Geddy Lee burps, then says "Oh my god!"
| Rush |
| Geddy Lee | Alex Lifeson | Neil Peart | John Rutsey |
| Original studio albums |
|---|
| Rush | Fly by Night | Caress of Steel | 2112 | A Farewell to Kings | Hemispheres | Permanent Waves | Moving Pictures | Signals | Grace Under Pressure | Power Windows | Hold Your Fire | Presto | Roll the Bones | Counterparts | Test for Echo | Vapor Trails |
| Other studio records |
| Not Fade Away | Feedback |
| Live albums |
| All The World's a Stage | Exit...Stage Left | A Show of Hands | Different Stages | Rush in Rio |
| Compilations |
| Archives | Chronicles | Retrospective I | Retrospective II | The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974-1987 |
| Side projects |
| Burning For Buddy | Burning For Buddy, Vol. 2 | Victor | My Favorite Headache |