Feature Photo: Harmony Gerber / Shutterstock.com
Released on April 12, 1984, Grace Under Pressure became Rush’s tenth studio album. it was the follow-up behind the highly successful 1982 release of Signals. After the progressive rock band from Canada finished their concert tour in 1983, Neil Peart, Geddy Lee, and Alex Lifeson went back to work in the summer. Unlike previous albums, they chose not to work with their longtime producer, Terry Brown. Instead, they worked with Peter Henderson as Rush continued to explore further into the use of synthesizers the band had incorporated as part of its musical style. The eight songs featured on the album followed the same progressive pattern that’s been Rush’s trademark. Each of them had its own meaning as Grace Under Pressure‘s overall storyline unfolded along the way.
Inspirational Headlines
While Neil Peart came up with the lyrics for Grace Under Pressure, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson worked on the musical composition. This time, they did this in a lodge located near Barry, Ontario, Canada. As for the material, Rush found the new stories told in the Toronto-based The Globe and Mail to be a good source. “Between the Wheels” was the first song Peart wrote lyrics for as that was completed the first night they were at the lodge. “Kid Gloves” and “Afterimage” were written a few days later. These, along with “Red Sector A” and “The Body Electric,” were assembled on a demo tape in three weeks’ time before Rush went to New York City to perform five nights at the Radio City Music Hall.
Rush returned to Canada, taking a collection of demos to Le Studio in Morin-Heights, Quebec so they can begin recording the next album. This took place from November 1983 until March 1984. For Rush, this was the longest amount of time they spent recording an album at that time. As for the album’s title, the inspiration came from a quotation from novelist Ernest Hemingway as the band felt “courage is grace under pressure” and made a good analysis of the ambiance felt during the recording sessions.
Graceful Transitions
Not only did the 1980s witness Rush tapping more into the sound of synthesizers as part of their musical style but were also adopting ska and reggae into their songs. This was made evident in Grace Under Pressure. However, this album also increased the role of the guitars since Signals.
The cover of Grace Under Pressure was designed and painted by Hugh Syme. Since 1975, he’s been working with Rush as their artist of choice for each of their albums. The back of the album’s cover featured a portrait of the band, which was taken by Armenian-Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh. He was the man the band employed when they talked about ideas for the album’s sleeve during rehearsals. Lifeson made the suggestion to use a black-and-white photograph and it was met with enthusiasm by his bandmates. It was the first time Rush had anything like this on any of their previous album covers.
Grace Under Pressure was another commercial success for Rush as it became certified platinum with the Recording Industry Association of America, as well as with Music Canada. Also, it was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry. It was also recognized as one of the albums that defined 1984, at least according to Guitar World.
Grace Under Pressure Song Meanings
#1 – Distant Early Warning
“Distant Early Warning” was based on a modern-day world that was constantly under threat by a cluster of superpowers as they continue to toy with mankind like chess pieces. Always at a distance, the reality of a peaceful life we take for granted could easily shift to a living nightmare as if without warning. However, the warning signs are always there. It’s up to each person to open up their eyes and see reality for what it is instead of assuming whatever they’re told is the gospel truth.
It also brought up how it’s so easy for people to get caught up in the human rat race, an unfortunate trend that causes rifts in relationships. Along the way, values change, as do perceptions and how we go about our daily lives. For the most part, all the warning signals of disaster are staring us down right in front of us but we never see it. Among the few who do see before it’s too late, reality hits home how easy it is to distract the human race.
#2 – Afterimage
“Afterimage” was a song that shared the tale of Robbie Whelan. He was an assistant engineer that was employed at Le Studio, the location Rush held their recording sessions while in Morin-Heights, Quebec. On his way to the studio, Whelan was killed in a car accident a year before Grace Under Pressure was released. “Afterimage” paid homage to him and the album was dedicated to his memory. While working on this album, Whelan taught Neil Peart how to ski while they were in the Laurentian Mountains, which is where Morin-Heights is located. Often, the two cross-country skied together to the studio.
#3 – Red Sector A
“Red Sector A” was a song that was delivered from a first-person point of view living in a prison camp. According to lyricist Neil Peart, the inspiration behind this song came from Geddy Lee’s mother as she shared her personal experience as a survivor of the Holocaust and its Nazi-run concentration camps. This was one of those few songs by Rush that had no bass guitar as Lee focused on synthesizers and vocals.
Lee’s mother, Manya (Mary) Rubenstein, was liberated from the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in April 1945 by British and Canadian soldiers. His father, Morris Weinrib, was liberated from the Dachau concentration camp a few weeks later. They served as sources of inspiration for Lee, as well as a bitter reality that freedom is only a breath away from extinction when taken for granted.
Set in a futuristic timeline, “Red Sector A” and Grace Under Pressure delivered a grim reality of what can happen to society at just a moment’s notice. The psychological impact of a world turned upside down once humanity takes a backseat to political power struggles is a profound one. The struggle to keep hope alive becomes very real, which Mary Rubenstein shared with her son. She believed living outside the concentration camp wasn’t possible while she was imprisoned. She was also convinced that society, as a whole, was doomed.
From Neil Peart’s perspective, he read a survivor’s story about the system of trains and work camps. For him, he was inspired by the will of the people who were so badly mistreated. The will to survive as they endured such horror inspired Peart to bring their stories to life as a songwriter.
The title “Red Sector A” came from the NASA launch area located at Kennedy Space Center. On April 12, 1981, Rush was on the base to watch the first launch of Space Shuttle Columbia.
#4 – The Enemy Within (Part I of “Fear”)
“The Enemy Within (Part I of “Fear”)” was the third song installment of a musical trilogy that began with Moving Pictures and continued with Signals. As a trilogy, the musical storylines were presented backward as the first was “Witch Hunt” and the second was “The Weapon.” “The Enemy Within,” brought the whole story behind “Fear” to full circle. As a music video, “The Enemy Within” was the first to be featured on Canada’s MuchMusic channel when it officially launched as a station in August 1984.
This particular song reflected how our own worst fears also become our worst enemies. Furthermore, not only do we harm ourselves when fear rules over us but we also take it out on all the people around us. Those closest to us are impacted the most. When left unchecked, fear causes people to engage in actions that are both destructive and self-destructive. When fear is fueled by rage, it always leads to disaster. As a lyricist, Neil Peart knew this. As composers, both Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson knew this as well.
#5 – The Body Electric
Neil Peart was a big fan of the television series, Twilight Zone. “The Body Electric” was based on the episode, I Sing the Body Electric. The story was about a family who ordered a robot named “Grandmother” to serve as a replacement after their mother died. As a song performed by Rush, it was about the struggle of a robot desiring to break free of the social structure put in place by people who failed to understand it was evolving into more than just a circuit board with moving parts.
#6 – Kid Gloves
“Kid Gloves” was a song that dealt with the reality that sometimes certain tasks have to be done the hard way. It’s really about learning a series of lessons through the eyes of a child who makes a series of mistakes before finally overcoming the obstacles to succeed. This not only applied to school-related lessons but as part of life’s experiences as well.
#7 – Red Lenses
Inspired by Toronto’s newspaper, The Globe and Mail, “Red Lenses” was a song that pointed out how paranoia can distort a person’s judgment. Fear, as always, clouds a person’s ability to make better decisions. Instead of seeing through eyes that are wide open, a fearful person will look through a distorted lens. The distortion causes the person to see whatever their mind conjures up as the imagination runs wild with all sorts of possibilities. Fear is also our own worst enemy. When left unchecked, common sense becomes a thing of the past and is replaced by twisted realities.
#8 – Between the Wheels
“Between the Wheels” was a song about pressure, which was made evident as it returned to the apocalyptic mood that defined Grace Under Pressure as an album. In the lyrics, it laid out the reality we can go from highs to lows at a moment’s notice as we race “Between the Wheels” as if our lives depend on it.
Real Meanings Behind The Songs On Rush’s Grace Under Pressure Album article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2022
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![Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach & UFO: 10 Albums That Changed My Life From humble East Coast origins to grandest stages worldwide, veteran bassist Rob De Luca has seen and done it all. De Luca first hit the local Boston rock and metal scene in the late 80s after meeting guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bonding over Van Halen before forming Bang. Regional success came quickly, but eventually, the members of Bang went their separate ways, with De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo heading to NYC and hooking up with Ray West and, later, DiBartolo to form Spread Eagle. By 1990, Spread Eagle was on the fast track, with a contract through MCA Records and a self-titled debut album poised to crush skulls. But poor timing and MCA's sad indifference left Spead Eagle out in the cold despite being a hard-boiled answer to Guns N' Roses's West Coast sleaze. Spread Eagle's first chapter came to an end in '95. As for Rob De Luca, his nimble fingers and gift for melody and songwriting kept him moving forward. Soon, he found a gig with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and the legendary outfit UFO. And in 2010, after coupling up with Ray West and his cousin Rik De Luca, Spread Eagle retook flight. During a break from Spread Eagle's increasingly busy touring schedule, Rob De Luca dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to run through the ten albums that changed his life. But only after adding, "I made a playlist of these songs, including some I've written or co-written. Do you hear any of these albums' influence on me?" Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LWJuhDrE8JmzhsmTeIDUq 10) Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs (1993) Here's an entry that was so important to me. This may be the darkest break-up album of all time. Greg Dulli has been in many projects, but I feel Gentlemen is his zenith. Somewhat undefinable at times but always profound and honest. Listen to "Gentlemen," "Fountain and Fairfax," and "What Jail Is Like." 9) In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi (1993) By this time, I had been sucked in and spit out by the major-label record industry. Glam came and went; grunge was history, too. I was searching for new sounds. When I heard Fugazi's twin guitar approach, I knew this was what was missing. Fugazi may be considered a less polished sound than the albums above; however, once you "get it," it hits you like a ton of bricks, and there's no going back. From the moment I heard Fugazi, I went to every NYC show after. It's easily some of the best concerts of my life, and possibly my favorite bassist in Joe Lally. And their DIY ethics refused to charge us more than $5 a show! In on the Kill Taker is a powerful album demonstrated in songs such as "Smallpox Champion," "Great Cop," and "Public Witness Program." 8) Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses (1987) I discovered many of these albums (sometimes long) after they were released. However, I was at the right place at the right time for this one. Steve Ostromogilsky had a Berklee College of Music lunch card and used to sneak out sandwiches for me. One day, he invited me to hang out at his place and listen to music. As we got off the train, he put Sony Walkman headphones on my ears and said, "Hey, check out this brand-new group." A song like "It's So Easy" was so different from the popular Sunset Strip sound at that time. Me and about 499 other informed rockers were lucky enough to see them on their first East Coast tour at the sold-out Paradise on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston (the same street Aerosmith started on). I saw Gn'R every tour after until I took a break when Buckethead joined. Gn'R is the band I've been lucky enough to see the most times live, almost 100! Everyone on this album is just stellar. Axl [Rose] had the tones, power, melodic sensibilities, and foresight to do what no other singer did then. Slash's playing was beyond memorable. Duff [McKagan] is one of the most underrated bassists in rock history, and learning his Appetite basslines is a masterclass. Steven [Adler] had the natural swing, and Izzy [Stradlin] was the secret weapon songwriter. Everything that's been heralded about this gem is deserved and true. Check out "It's So Easy," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone.' 7) Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) Another contender for my favorite album and band of all time. Using The Beatles machine (same recording studio, engineer, record label), Pink Floyd made what I feel is their strongest, most cohesive album (my second favorite of theirs would be Animals). This list mainly consists of bands with an instantly recognizable sound. Floyd is certainly no exception to that! This album included a solid handful of undeniable rock radio classics, bookended by two halves of the mind-blowing song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.' That song was written about former band member and founder Syd Barrett. It would be hard to live in a world without this album. Check out "Welcome to The Machine," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9),' or even better yet, listen to the whole thing in one sitting! 6) Decade by Neil Young (1977) About this time, I started playing guitar. As a beginner, it was comfortable jamming to this album because the chord changes were simple—a great "first ten years" retrospective of Neil's stunning, unique songwriting. Neil is a treasure who always writes from the heart and stands up for what's right. Check out "Southern Man," "A Man Needs a Maid," "Down by The River," and "After the Goldrush." 5) Highway to Hell by AC/DC (1979) When I heard this album, I was firmly "me." My life would be 100% focused on hard rock music forever. AC/DC are like air; they're ubiquitous. Everyone knows them and their incredible songs. However, as a young teen in Wilmington, Delaware, I only had WMMR 93.3 FM Philadelphia and a few friends to inform me about the world of Rock outside my bedroom. AC/DC had not gone mainstream, and their albums were available primarily in the USA as imports. To put things more in perspective, I only knew two people in the world who had heard of AC/DC. A friend had an import that we played in Steve Buckley's basement, which sounded ripping. When Highway to Hell was released, WMMR started spinning the title track, and I immediately bought the album, listening to it every single day after school. Then WMMR announced AC/DC was coming to the Spectrum in Philly, supporting Ted Nugent! I liked Ted but loved AC/DC, so my good friend Mick Cummins and I bought tickets, and he drove us up to the Spectrum (where we saw most of our concerts). Bon Scott was in fine form, and the band went over great. Although the crowd knew Ted better, Angus [Young] wouldn't let anyone upstage him. I'll never forget it! Unfortunately, Bon would be gone in 6 months. Check out "Walk All Over You," "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames," and "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." 4) Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith (1975) By the time I heard this, I was now in my teens. I had a childhood friend up the street, Jim Linberg (we're still good buddies). His older sister had a great album collection, including Toys in The Attic. Once I heard that groove, my taste changed. I lost interest in rock music that didn't have some sort of "swing" feel to it. I think Rocks is a slightly better Aerosmith album (and possibly my favorite album of all time), but both are perfect or very close. Check out "Uncle Salty," "Adam's Apple," "No More No More," "Round and Round," and "You See Me Crying." 3) Alive! by Kiss (1975) When I was still a little kid, I asked for Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke album for Christmas. The entire family came over for an enormous feast, and I dropped the needle. When my mother heard the content, she turned off the album and said I had to exchange it. My mom was cool, but I was young and knew much more about life than she suspected. Anyway, the next day, she drove me back to the store. In the music section, promoted on an "endcap" was a Kiss Alive! display. I had never heard of Kiss, but that cover picture told me I had to have it! My first foray into hard rock. Check out “Strutter.” I went through my Kiss phase very quickly, I believe in a matter of months because I discovered the previous entry, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. 2) Honky Chateau by Elton John (1972) When I was a wee lad, my parents bought a used Volkswagen camper van from my uncle Ozzie. My favorite Elton John album is Yellow Brick Road, but Honky Chateau is great and easily one of his best. It sent me down a lifelong rabbit hole of loving everything about the 1970s partnership between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The simple beauty of voice, the master songwriting, the perfect backing band, the clear, unobtrusive recordings, and always Bernie's incredible lyrics. The day this album was released, Elton became an unstoppable force that conquered the music industry. Check out "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man." 1) Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967) Another tape that was included in the VW Camper. The van had a bunch of music tapes, and one was Sgt Pepper. I was too young to understand the sophistication of the music, but that was one of the many skills of The Beatles. They attracted listeners at every level, even little kids. I still feel that immediate connection to Sgt Pepper; now, I hear so much more. It's an album that changed the world and the world of music. Check out "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds," "A Day In The Life," and "Fixing a Hole."](http://www.classicrockhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shutterstock_1815495569-1-300x200.jpg)
Great article on a criminally underrated album. Much thanks for your perspective.