description Permanent Waves Overview
Permanent Waves is the seventh studio album by the Canadian rock band Rush, released in January 1980. The album marks a shift in the band's sound, introducing shorter, more structurally concise songs alongside their established progressive rock elements. It features the hit single "The Spirit of Radio" and reached the top five on the Billboard 200 chart. This release signaled a new era of commercial accessibility for the band.
help Permanent Waves FAQ
What song on Permanent Waves features the most radio play?
The Spirit of Radio was the lead single from the 1980 album and became one of Rush's biggest radio hits. The track specifically pays homage to the power and influence of local radio broadcasting.
Are there any long, epic tracks on Permanent Waves like on their previous albums?
While the album is known for introducing shorter, more structurally concise songs, it does include the nearly ten-minute multi-part epic Natural Science. The track closes the album and is divided into three distinct sections.
Did Rush change their sound for Permanent Waves?
Yes, this 1980 release marks a distinct shift from the extended sci-fi epics of the late 1970s toward a more radio-friendly progressive rock style. The album introduces synthesizers more prominently into the band's core sound, setting the stage for their 1981 follow-up, Moving Pictures.
Where was Permanent Waves recorded?
Rush recorded the album in late 1979 at Le Studio in Morin-Heights, Quebec. This facility became the band's preferred recording location for several of their subsequent albums throughout the 1980s.
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