Hemispheres [40th Anniversary Edition]

by Rush

Overview

While such albums as 1980's Permanent Waves and 1981's Moving Pictures are usually considered Rush's masterpieces (and with good reason), 1978's Hemispheres is easily as deserving and acts as a hinge piece between the early hard rock material and the more progressive later offerings. The album consists of four compositions (half are lengthy). The 18-minute-long "Cygnus X-1, Book II Hemispheres" is arguably the band's finest extended track, and a sequel to "Cygnus X-1" from the previous year's A Farewell to Kings. While the track's labyrinthine storyline isn't as comprehensible as "2112" was, it's much more consistent musically, twisting and turning through five different sections which contrast heavy rock sections against more sedate pieces. Neil Peart had become one of rock's most accomplished lyricists by this point, as evidenced by "The Trees," which deals with racism and inequality in a unique way (set in a forest!). And as always, the trio prove to be experts at their instruments, this time on the complex instrumental "La Villa Strangiato." Geddy Lee's shrieking vocals on the otherwise solid "Circumstances" may border on irritating for some, but Hemispheres remains one of Rush's greatest releases. [As part of the band's 40th Anniversary celebration, Hemispheres was remastered and reissued in various configurations. The Super Deluxe Edition contains two compact discs, an exclusive Blu-ray disc, and three 180-gram vinyl LPs. The set encompasses the 2015 Abbey Road Studios remastered edition of the album and adds previously unreleased and newly restored bonus content consisting of the band's masterful June 1979 Pinkpop Festival performance in the Netherlands. Since the recording engineer failed to capture the first several minutes of "2112" at that gig, a high quality, unreleased performance of the song from the Tucson date of the Hemispheres tour in November 1978 is substituted. The Blu-ray contains the album audio in newly mixed 5.1 surround from original multitracks and there are four bonus videos: three 1978 promo vids, and one of "La Villa Strangiato," from Pinkpop. Also included is a 40-page hardcover book with unreleased photos and new artwork by album designer Hugh Syme; an extensive, 11,000-plus-word essay by Rob Bowman; a replica of Rush's 1979 tour program, The Words & The Pictures; a 24x24-inch poster of the Syme art; a Pinkpop Festival replica ticket, and replica cloth VIP sticky pass. The final bonus is a replica 1978 Hemispheres iron-on patch.] ~ Greg Prato & Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	11/16/2018
Label:	Mercury
UPC:	0602567955740
Rank:	7561

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres: I. Prelude/II. Apollo Bringer of Wisdom/III. Dlonysus Bringer of Love/IV. Armageddon the Battle of Heart and Mind/V. Cygnus Bringer of Balance/VI. The Sphere a Kind of Dream
2. Circumstances
3. The Trees
4. La Villa Strangiato

Disc 2

5. A Passage to Bangkok
6. Xanadu
7. The Trees
8. Cygnus X-1 Book II Hemispheres: The Sphere a Kind of Dream
9. Closer to the Heart
10. La Villa Strangiato
11. In the Mood
12. Drum Solo
13. Something for Nothing
14. 2112: I. Ouverture/II. The Temples of Syrinx/III. Discovery/IV. The Presentation/VI. Soliloquy/VII. Grand Finale

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Rush   Primary Artist
Alex Lifeson   Guitar (12 String Acoustic),Guitar (12 String Electric),Guitar,Bass Pedals,Guitar (Classical),Guitar (Synthesizer)
Neil Peart   Gong,Drums,Cowbell,Crotale,Timpani,Bell Tree,Percussion,Temple Blocks,Orchestra Bells
Geddy Lee   Bass,Vocals,Mini Moog,Bass Pedals,Synthesizer,Oberheim Synthesizer

Technical Credits

Terry Brown   Producer,Mixing,Arranger
Pat Moran   Engineer
Rush   Producer,Arranger,Composer
Ray Staff   Mastering
Neil Peart   Composer,Lyricist,Wind Chimes
Reno Ruocco   Tape Operator
Declan O'Doherty   Engineer
Mike Donegani   Tape Operator
Peter Talbot   Composer
Simon Hilliard   Tape Operator
Bob Ludwig   Remastering
Geddy Lee   Composer
John Brand   Mixing
Brian Lee   Remastering
Alex Lifeson   Composer