Hemispheres is the sixth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released in October 1978 by Anthem Records. After touring to support their previous studio release, A Farewell to Kings, which saw the group gain popularity in the UK, Rush started work on their next album. As with their previous, Hemispheres was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Walesand Trident Studios in London with their longtime engineer and arranger, Terry Brown. Rush continued their progressive rock sound with the side long "Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres" and the nine-minute instrumental "La Villa Strangiato".
Hemispheres received mixed to positive reviews from music critics. It reached number 14 in Canada and the UK, and number 41 in the US. The album's two shorter tracks, "The Trees" and "Circumstances", were released as singles in 1978 and 1979, respectively. In 1993, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America(RIAA) for selling one million copies. Rush supported Hemispheres with a concert tour from October 1978 to June 1979. The album is set to be re-released in various expanded formats on November 16, 2018 as part of the band's ongoing 40th Anniversary editions, including the previously unreleased live set by the band at the Pinkpop Festival from June 1979.
Contents
- 1Recording
- 2Critical reception
- 3Commercial performance
- 4Reissues
- 5Track listing
- 6Personnel
- 7References
Recording[edit]
The music on Hemispheres was recorded at Rockfield Studios
In May 1978, Rush completed their nine-month tour of the United States, Canada and the UK to support their fifth studio album, A Farewell to Kings (1977). The tour helped the band breakthrough the UK market, following a series of well received shows and "Closer to the Heart", the lead single from A Farewell to Kings, reaching number 36 on the UK Singles Chart.
Following a short break, the band regrouped to start work on their next album. In a departure from their previous album, they entered the songwriting process without any preconceived ideas which proved to be a struggle; Lifeson said "the trouble started from basics". They had enjoyed the experience of recording A Farewell to Kings in Wales at Rockfield Studios, situated on a farm in Rockfield, Monmouthshire, and agreed to record there for Hemispheres. They initially chose the studio as they had recorded four albums in Toronto and wanted a change; Lee said the United States did not appeal to them, and since they were influenced by many English bands, recording in the UK became a "natural" option. Before they entered the studio, the band spent two weeks in intensive rehearsal which sparked worries from the band regarding the direction the album was to take. The conditions of the studio, located on a farm, lacked the standard facilities including a sofa; Lee described it as "really funky". In one incident, a latch that failed to shut the studio doors frustrated Lifeson who, in a fit, took it off, installed a hydraulic door opener, and built a handle on it.
Rush recorded Hemispheres in June and July 1978 at Rockfield Studios with their longtime producer Terry Brown, who is also credited as their co-arranger, and engineer Pat Moran. It marked the longest studio time booked for the band. In comparison, 2112 (1976) was recorded in five weeks and A Farewell to Kings was complete in four. After the music was put down, the group settled in Advision Studios in London to record the vocals. The album was then mixed in August at Trident Studios in London by Brown and assistant John Brand. In the three-month period of putting the album together, Rush took just one day off. Costs of the album were calculated to be around $100,000, making it the band's most expensive album at the time. Peart recalled the band were exhausted by the time of completion and took a six-week vacation to recover., while Lee explained that "(…) we greatly underestimated the level of overachievement that we were shooting for".
Music[edit]
"Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres" occupies side one of the album. An 18-minute track and sequel to "Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage" on A Farewell to Kings, the song is in six distinct parts. Initially Lee had a different idea for the album's centrepiece track, but after some music had been written the group felt it was right to continue the story. Book I concerns the happenings of the Rocinante, a spaceship that enters a black hole in outer space. Peart ended the story without a set conclusion, and only began to write Book II three weeks before the band were set to travel to Rockfield Studios. The process was a stressful one for Peart, which took "hours of tearing my hair out", and was half complete when they arrived. The sequel, like Book I, uses mythology and symbolism and depicts a conflict between the gods Apollo and Dionysus, which is resolved when Cygnus intervenes, claiming a balance of heart and mind are what is needed for humans to live life. Peart introduced the gong and timpani to his percussion set for the first time; he had not thought of adding the instrument on previous Rush albums, but thought "Hemispheres" needed it.
"Circumstances" is the first of two short tracks on Hemispheres. With the band having accustomed its audience to longer, more elaborate formats, this song is qualified by Lee as an experiment, an attempt to break away from the prog formula that would steer the band into new directions in later albums.
"The Trees" tells the story of a forest of oak and maple trees, the latter causing an upheaval because the oak trees grow too large and take all the sunlight. The maple trees form a union in an effort to have the oaks cut down to a smaller size. Lee explains that the fact that the band was recording in the English country side set the overall tone for the song: "you’re watching English television, walking in the English countryside; there are sheep talking to you in the early morning when you’re trying to sleep (…) lyrics came first, and we wanted to construct a dynamic little tale as a soundtrack to those lyrics".
"La Villa Strangiato" is a nine-minute instrumental that has twelve distinct sections and a subtitle of "An Exercise in Self-Indulgence" in the liner notes. According to Lifeson, it is based on the various nightmares he would have, particularly while on tour, which provided the theme to what he described as a "musical recreation" of them. The track was the sole piece that developed from the two-week rehearsal period the group had prior to entering the studio. Rush encountered great difficulty in recording it as they wanted it put down as a single live performance, rather than a more produced and edited piece. Lee said it took them around 40 takes to produce a take they were satisfied with. Peart (and Lee ) said they spent more time recording "La Villa Strangiato" than they did recording the entire Fly by Night(1975) album. He recalled the group spent four days and nights playing it repeatedly, playing while their hands were sore and their minds tired. "We were determined to get the whole thing perfect, but in the end I just couldn't do it, and we ended up putting it together from a few different takes". The segments "Monsters!" and "Monsters! (Reprise)" are adapted from "Powerhouse", a 1937 jazz instrumental by Raymond Scott.
Critical reception[edit]
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |
 
|
| Rolling Stone | (favourable) |
| Sputnikmusic |
|
In a poll held by Rolling Stone titled "Readers' Poll: Your Favorite Prog Rock Albums of All Time," Hemispheres was ranked at #8.
Commercial performance[edit]
Prior to the album's release, Hemispheres aired in its entirety on Night at 11, hosted by Rick Ringer on CHUM-FM in Toronto, on October 5, 1978. It was released on October 28, 1978, and reached number 14 on the Canadian Albums Chart and UK Albums Chart, and number 47 on the US Billboard 200. For a short time, Hemispheres was released in Canada on red vinyl with a gatefold sleeve with a poster (catalogue number SANR-1-1015) and as a limited edition picture disc (SRP-1300). The album was awarded a silver certification in the UK. In the US, Hemispheres proved to be a steady seller in the band's catalogue; it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in December 1993 for selling one million copies, fifteen years after its release.
Reissues[edit]
Track listing[edit]
All lyrics written by Neil Peart; all music composed by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, except "La Villa Strangiato" written by Lee, Lifeson, and Peart. All tracks arranged by Rush and Terry Brown.
| Side one | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres"
|
18:08 4:29 2:30 2:06 2:56 5:01 1:06 |
| Side two | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 2. | "Circumstances" | 3:42 |
| 3. | "The Trees" | 4:46 |
| 4. | "La Villa Strangiato (An Exercise in Self-Indulgence)"
|
9:35 |
Personnel[edit]
Credits are adapted from the album's sleeve notes.
- Alex Lifeson – 6- and 12-string electric and acoustic guitars, classical guitar, Roland guitar synthesizer, Moog Taurus pedals
- Neil Peart – drums, orchestra bells, bell tree, tympani, gong, cowbells, temple blocks, wind chimes, crotales
- Geddy Lee – bass guitar, Minimoog synthesizer, Oberheim polyphonic synthesizer, Moog Taurus pedals, vocals
Production
- Rush – production, arrangement
- Terry Brown – production, arrangement, mixing at Trident Studios
- Pat Moran – engineering at Rockfield Studios
- Declan O'Doherty – engineering at Advision Studios
- John Brand – mixing assistance at Trident Studios
- Ray Staff – mastering
- Simon Hilliard – tape operator at Trident Studios
- Mike Donegani – tape operator at Trident Studios
- Reno Ruocco – tape operator at Trident Studios
- Ray Staff – mastering at Trident Studios
- Hugh Syme – graphics, art direction
- Bob King – art direction
- Yosh Inouye – cover photography
- Fin Costello – inner sleeve and poster photography
- Moon Records – executive production
Hemispheres was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales and mixed at Trident Studios in London in 1978. It was the last of two albums the band recorded in the U.K. before returning to Canada. The record explores the political, social economic, and sci-fi themes prevalent on their early work, continuing the saga of “Cygnus” from A Farewell To Kings.
Similar to 2112, Hemispheres features a single, epic song broken into chapters as the first side of the album (“Cygnus X-1, Book II: Hemispheres”). The album also features the instrumental, “La Villa Strangiato.” According to Geddy, the song was based on Alex’s frequent nightmares:
“Alex doesn’t really call them nightmares. They’re just strange dreams. He’s plagued with them and he drives us crazy by calling us up all the time to tell us about them until we just say ‘Stop, you’re giving me a headache.'”
-
CREDITS
-
LINER NOTES
-
AWARDS/CHART POSITIONS
PRODUCED BY
Rush and Terry Brown
ARRANGEMENTS
Rush and Terry Brown
ENGINEER
Pat Moran
ENGINEER (VOCALS)
Declan O'Doherty
ENGINEER (MIXING)
Terry Brown
John Brand
MASTERED BY
Ray Staff at Trident
Later remastered by Bob Ludwig and Brian Lee
Gateway Mastering Studios
Portland Maine
GRAPHICS
ART DIRECTION
Hugh Syme
Bob King
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY
Yosh Inouye
INNER SLEEVE AND POSTER PHOTOGRAPHY
Fin Costello
MANAGEMENT
Ray Danniels
SRO Productions
Toronto
EXECUTIVE PRODUCTION
Moon Records
Music: Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson
Lyrics: Neil Peart
I. PRELUDE
When our weary world was young
The struggle of the ancients first began
The gods of Love and Reason
Sought alone to rule the fate of Man
They battled through the ages
But still neither force would yield
The people were divided,
Every soul a battlefield…
II. APOLLO BRINGER OF WISDOM
‘I bring truth and understanding,
I bring wit and wisdom fair,
Precious gifts beyond compare.
We can build a world of wonder,
I can make you all aware’
‘I will find you food and shelter,
Show you fire to keep you warm
Through the endless winter storm.
You can live in grace and comfort
In the world that you transform’
The people were delighted
Coming forth to claim their prize
They ran to build their cities
And converse among the wise
But one day the streets fell silent
Yet they knew not what was wrong
The urge to build these fine things
Seemed not to be so strong
The wise men were consulted
And the Bridge of Death was crossed
In quest of Dionysus
To find out what they had lost…
III. DIONYSUS BRINGER OF LOVE
‘I bring love to give you solace
In the darkness of the night
In the Heart’s eternal light
You need only trust your feelings
Only Love can steer you right’
‘I bring laughter, I bring Music,
I bring joy and I bring Tears
I will soothe your primal fears
Throw off those chains of Reason
And your prison disappears’
The cities were abandoned
And the forests echoed song
They danced and lived as brothers
They knew Love could not be wrong
Food and wine they had aplenty
And they slept beneath the stars
The people were contented
And the Gods watched from afar
But the winter fell upon them
And it caught them unprepared
Bringing wolves and cold starvation
And the hearts of men despaired…
IV. ARMAGEDDON THE BATTLE OF HEART AND MIND
The Universe divided
As the Heart and Mind collided
With the people left unguided
For so many troubled years
In a cloud of doubts and fears
Their world was torn asunder into hollow hemispheres
Some fought themselves, some fought each other
Most just followed one another
Lost and aimless like their brothers
For their hearts were so unclear
And the truth could not appear
Their spirits were divided into blinded hemispheres
Some who did not fight
Brought tales of old to light
My Rocinante sailed by night
On her final flight
To the heart of Cygnus’ fearsome force
We set our course.
Spiralled through that timeless space
To this immortal place
V. CYGNUS BRINGER OF BALANCE
I have memory and awareness
But I have no shape or form
As a disembodied spirit
I am dead and yet unborn
I have passed into Olympus
As was told in tales of old
To the City of Immortals
Marble white and purest gold
I see the Gods in battle rage on high
Thunderbolts across the sky
I cannot move, I cannot hide
I feel a silent scream begin inside
Then all at once the chaos ceased
A stillness fell, a sudden peace
The Warriors felt my silent cry
And stayed their struggle, mystified
Apollo was astonished
Dionysus thought me mad
But they heard my story further
And they wondered, and were sad
Looking down from Olympus
On a world of doubt and fear
Its surface splintered into
Sorry hemispheres.
They sat a while in silence
Then they turned at last to me
‘We will call you Cygnus
The God of Balance you shall be’
VI. THE SPHERE A KIND OF DREAM
We can walk our road together
If our goals are all the same
We can run alone and free
If we pursue a different aim
Let the truth of Love be lighted
Let the love of truth shine clear
Sensibility
Armed with sense and liberty
With the Heart and Mind united
In a single perfect sphere
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