Presto (album)

Last updated

Presto
Rush Presto.jpg
Studio album by
Rush
ReleasedNovember 17, 1989 (1989-11-17) [1]
RecordedJune–August 1989
Studio Le Studio, Morin Heights, Quebec
McClear Place, Toronto, Ontario
Genre
Length52:11
Label Anthem
Producer
Rush chronology
A Show of Hands
(1989)		Presto
(1989)		 Chronicles
(1990)
Singles from Presto
  1. "Show Don't Tell"
    Released: 3 November 1989 [1]
  2. "The Pass"
    Released: March 1990

Presto is the thirteenth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush. It was released on November 17, 1989 by Anthem Records [1] and was the band's first album released internationally by Atlantic Records, following the group's departure from Mercury. After the Hold Your Fire (1987) tour ended in 1988, the group members reconvened in December to decide their next step and agreed to take six months off before starting on a new album. Presto marked another change in Rush's sound, with guitar taking a more dominant role in the writing, a reduction in synthesizers and a return towards more guitar-driven arrangements.

Contents

Presto reached No. 7 in Canada and No. 16 in the United States. "Show Don't Tell," "The Pass" and "Superconductor" were released as singles from Presto; the former charted at No. 1 on the U.S. Album Rock Tracks chart. [4] Rush supported the album with the Presto Tour from February to June 1990. Presto reached gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America for selling 500,000 copies. [5] The album was remastered in 2004 and 2013, the latter as part of the 2013 box set The Studio Albums 1989–2007 . In 2015, it was reissued after being remastered by Sean Magee at Abbey Road Studios, following a direct approach by Rush to remaster their entire back catalogue. [6]

Background

In May 1988, Rush wrapped up touring the band's previous album, Hold Your Fire (1987), [7] which was followed by the band's third live release, A Show of Hands , in early 1989. [8] The group then decided not to renew contracts with international distributor Mercury Records; Lifeson said they departed because the relationship had become stale by this point. [8] Peart later wrote that with the band now "free of deadlines and obligations" for the first time in 15 years, they chose to take advantage by taking a six-month break. [9] In December 1988, the group gathered at Peart's house to discuss the next step and agreed to start a new studio album after the break. [9] [10]

Writing

Work on Presto began with Rush renting a studio in the country to write and rehearse new material. They adopted their usual method of Lifeson and Lee working on music while Peart worked alone on lyrics. Peart wrote: "At the end of the day I might wander into the studio, ice cubes clinking, and listen to what they'd been up to, and if I'd been lucky, show them something new." [9] Rush worked at the studio during the week and returned home on weekends. [9]

Presto marks the beginning of Rush's return to a more guitar-driven sound from what's known to many as the band's "synthesizer period" of the previous four releases. When Lifeson and Lee discussed what musical direction to take, they agreed that the core of the band's sound, emotion, and energy had come from the guitar, something that they wanted to return to for Presto. [9] This resulted in a much more satisfying album for Lifeson. [8] Lifeson had felt constricted in his guitar playing since synthesizers began playing a more dominant role in the songwriting and performance on Signals (1982), which had continued through the 1980s. [11] Lee explained that Rush wanted Presto to be "more of a singer's album, and I think you'll notice that the arrangements musically support the vocal. [...] Neil's lyrics to me are a lot more heartfelt. [...] This album was a real reaction against technology in a sense. I was getting sick and tired of working with computers and synthesizers. [...] We made a pact to stay away from strings, pianos, and organs—to stay away from digital technology. In the end, we couldn't resist using them for colour." [12]

In a contrast to previous albums Grace Under Pressure (1984), Power Windows (1985) and Hold Your Fire, the album does not contain an overall running lyrical theme, or what Peart described as "heavy" lyrical messages, instead adopting a more loose approach with each track making its own statement. [10] Peart used the word "response" to describe the lyrical content as a whole. "The idea that you don't go through life just looking at things. It doesn't matter if you've been all around the world - you may have seen it, but if you haven't felt it, you haven't been there." [13] Peart added: "There are many threads and a strong motif of looking at life today and trying to act inside it." [12]

The album's title was an idea that Rush had considered using for A Show of Hands, but when Peart started writing a song entitled "Presto", it was then used as the title of the album. [14] [10]

Recording

After several songs had been worked out, the band felt it was the right time to present what they had to a co-producer. However, their initial choice, Peter Collins, who'd worked on Power Windows and Hold Your Fire, reluctantly declined the offer to work on Presto, as he wished to produce other bands. Though Rush felt confident enough to undertake production duties themselves, they still wanted someone they could trust and to provide an objective point of view to their ideas. [9] Among the various candidates was English producer, songwriter, and keyboardist Rupert Hine, whose experience with a variety of artists attracted the group. Peart recalled the time when they presented their ideas to Hine: "We were a little bemused [...] at the end of some of them he actually seemed to be laughing! We looked at each other, eyebrows raised as if to say: 'He thinks our songs are funny?' But evidently it was a laugh of pleasure; he stayed 'til the end". [9] At Hine's suggestion, the group brought in Stephen W. Tayler as the recording and mixing engineer. The sessions with Rush and Hine together were productive; initially, 10 days were assigned for pre-production work with one track for each day, but it was complete after just one-and-a-half days. [8]

Presto was recorded from June to August 1989. [15] As part of their deal with Hine, the band agreed to record parts of the album in London. [14] Presto was finished around four weeks ahead of schedule. [8]

When the album was complete, Rush sought a new record deal and signed to Atlantic Records after executive Doug Morris, who had wanted to sign the group for a number of years, made an attractive offer. [8]

Songs

Side one

"The Pass" concerns a friend of Peart's who joined him on a cycle ride and once discussed juvenile suicide, which inspired the lyrics for the song. [11] Peart named it the song he had worked the hardest on, due to the delicate nature of the subject. [13] The song became a group favorite; Peart cited the track as the reason they would re-record the Presto album, if they could. [16] [ failed verification ]

"Scars" features a complex drum pattern in which both acoustic and electronic drums are utilized. The pattern was derived from a tribal rhythm Peart heard while on a bicycle tour of Africa (later chronicled in his first book, The Masked Rider: Cycling in West Africa ). He went on to incorporate this pattern into his live drum solos. The song also features the use of a sequencer in place of, and often mistaken for, a bass guitar.

The title track was not performed live until 2010 for the Time Machine Tour. Lifeson said the song is about "feeling more active in your heart than in your head, not having the answers to problems." [11]

Side two

"Superconductor" deals with the superficiality of mainstream music. That topic also appears in other songs such as "Grand Designs" from the Power Windows album.

In "Anagram (for Mongo)", every line contains one or more words that are formed by using letters in another word from that same line (e.g. "There is no safe seat at the feast"), and certain lines contain anagrammed words (e.g. "Miracles will have their claimers"). Its title was inspired by the character Mongo from the 1974 film Blazing Saddles . [14] Lifeson spoke about the lyrics: "It doesn't mean anything, it was just a fun thing, but there are some great twists in there." [11]

"Hand Over Fist" was originally an instrumental that Rush had intended to include on Presto, but Peart continued to submit lyrical ideas to Lifeson and Lee; one in particular fit the music well enough and the plan for an instrumental was scrapped. [14] In the album's tour book, Peart used the symbolism that the hand game "rock, paper, scissors" represents, which was made into a nursery rhyme and used as a lyrical chant in "Hand Over Fist." [14]

Artwork and promotion

The album's sleeve was designed by Rush's longtime collaborator Hugh Syme: a black-and-white design depicting a levitating magician's hat on a hill with a rabbit emerging from it. The field in the foreground has many rabbits. [8] Rush had devised its concept and presented it to Syme, who then produced several ideas depicting what they suggested. Lifeson recalled the moment when they saw the design they went with: "We all started laughing hysterically, 'This is great, it's perfect!'" [8]

Rush produced three music videos for Presto: "Show Don't Tell", "The Pass" and "Superconductor". [8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [17]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [18]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [19]

Gregory Heaney of AllMusic described the album as "workmanlike" and removed from the creativity of their earlier works. However, he asserted that the songs weren't terrible, just that something was not quite clicking, perhaps due to the length of time it had been since the band wrote more-traditional, guitar-based songs. [20] However, before Heaney's review was posted, the site had listed a favorable 4.5 star (out of a possible 5) review of the album by Mackenzie Wilson, who described the album as one that "intelligently leads Rush into the '90s without musical bleakness". [17]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Neil Peart; all music is composed by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Show Don't Tell"5:01
2."Chain Lightning"4:33
3."The Pass"4:52
4."War Paint"5:24
5."Scars"4:07
6."Presto"5:45
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Superconductor"4:47
2."Anagram (For Mongo)"4:00
3."Red Tide"4:29
4."Hand Over Fist"4:11
5."Available Light"5:03

Personnel

Credits taken from the album's CD liner notes. [15]

Rush

Additional personnel

Production

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [27] Platinum100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [28] Silver60,000^
United States (RIAA) [29] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rush (band)</span> Canadian rock band

Rush was a Canadian rock band that primarily comprised Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson (guitar) and Neil Peart. The band formed in Toronto in 1968 with Lifeson, drummer John Rutsey, and bass guitarist and vocalist Jeff Jones, whom Lee immediately replaced. After Lee joined, the band went through several line-up changes before arriving at its classic power trio line-up with the addition of Peart in July 1974, who replaced Rutsey four months after the release of their self-titled debut album; this line-up remained intact for the remainder of the band's career.

<i>Signals</i> (Rush album) 1982 studio album by Rush

Signals is the ninth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released on September 9, 1982 by Anthem Records. After the release of their previous album, Moving Pictures, the band started to prepare material for a follow-up during soundchecks on their 1981 concert tour and during the mixing of their subsequent live album Exit...Stage Left. Signals demonstrates the group's continuing use of synthesizers, sequencers, and other electronic instrumentation. It is the last album produced by their longtime associate Terry Brown, who had worked with them since 1974.

<i>Fly by Night</i> (album) 1975 studio album by Rush

Fly by Night is the second studio album by the Canadian rock band Rush, released on February 14, 1975, by Mercury Records. It was the first Rush album to showcase elements of progressive rock for which the band has become known. It was also the first to feature lyricist and drummer Neil Peart, who replaced original drummer John Rutsey the previous summer just prior to the band's first North American tour. Peart took over as Rush's primary lyricist, and the abundance of fantastical and philosophical themes in his compositions contrasted greatly with the simpler hard rock of the band's debut album.

<i>Vapor Trails</i> 2002 studio album by Rush

Vapor Trails is the seventeenth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush. It was released on May 14, 2002, on Anthem Records, and was their first studio release since Test for Echo (1996), the longest gap between two Rush albums. After the Test For Echo tour finished in July 1997, drummer and lyricist Neil Peart suffered the loss of his daughter and then his wife in separate tragedies. As a result, the group entered an extended hiatus during which it was not certain they would continue. They eventually reunited in January 2001 to rehearse material for a new album, recording for which lasted until December. For the first and only time since Caress of Steel (1975), the group did not use any keyboards or synthesizers in their music, incorporating many layers of guitar, bass and drums instead.

<i>Roll the Bones</i> 1991 studio album by Rush

Roll the Bones is the fourteenth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released September 3, 1991, on Anthem Records. The band began working on the album after a brief creative hiatus following the tour promoting their previous release, Presto (1989).

<i>Permanent Waves</i> 1980 studio album by Rush

Permanent Waves is the seventh studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released on January 14, 1980, through Anthem Records. After touring to support their previous album, Hemispheres (1978), the band began working on new material for a follow-up in July 1979. This material showed a shift in the group's sound towards more concise arrangements and radio-friendly songs, though their progressive rock blueprint is still evident on "Jacob's Ladder" and the nine-minute closer "Natural Science." Bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee also employed a more restrained vocal delivery compared to previous albums. Permanent Waves was first of seven studio albums that the band recorded at Le Studio in Morin-Heights, Quebec with production handled by the group and Terry Brown.

<i>Grace Under Pressure</i> (Rush album) 1984 album by Rush

Grace Under Pressure is the tenth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released April 12, 1984, on Anthem Records. After touring for the band's previous album, Signals (1982), came to an end in mid-1983, Rush started work on a follow-up in August. The band had decided to not work with longtime producer Terry Brown, who had collaborated with Rush since 1974. The new material accentuated the group's change in direction towards a synthesizer-oriented sound like its previous album. After some difficulty finding a suitable producer who could commit, the album was recorded with Peter Henderson.

<i>Power Windows</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Rush

Power Windows is the eleventh studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released on October 11, 1985 in Canada by Anthem Records and on October 21, 1985 in the United States. After touring in support of their previous album, Grace Under Pressure (1984), the band took a break and reconvened in early 1985 to begin work on a follow-up. The material continued to display the band's exploration of synthesizer-oriented music, this time with the addition of sampling, electronic drums, a string section, and choir, with power being a running lyrical theme. Power Windows was recorded in Montserrat and England with Peter Collins as co-producer and Andy Richards on additional keyboards.

<i>Rush in Rio</i> 2003 live album by Rush

Rush in Rio is a three-disc live album by Canadian band Rush, released on October 21, 2003. The album is also available as a two DVD set. With the exception of the last two tracks on the third disc, the album was recorded at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on the final night of the Vapor Trails Tour. The other two tracks were taken from previous shows on the same tour. "Between Sun & Moon" was recorded at the Cricket Wireless Pavilion, Phoenix, Arizona, on September 27, 2002, and "Vital Signs" was recorded at the Colisée Pepsi, Quebec City, Quebec, on October 19, 2002.

<i>Hold Your Fire</i> 1987 studio album by Rush

Hold Your Fire is the twelfth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released on September 8, 1987. It was recorded at The Manor Studio in Oxfordshire, Ridge Farm Studio in Surrey, Air Studios in Montserrat and McClear Place in Toronto. Hold Your Fire was the last Rush studio album released outside Canada by PolyGram/Mercury. 'Til Tuesday bassist and vocalist Aimee Mann contributed vocals to "Time Stand Still" and appeared in the Zbigniew Rybczyński-directed video.

<i>A Show of Hands</i> 1989 live album by Rush

A Show of Hands is a live album by the Canadian rock band Rush, released in 1989. The band released a video of the same name, originally on VHS and LaserDisc, the same year. A DVD version was released as part of a box set in 2006, and as an individual DVD in 2007. In 2015 it was reissued after being remastered by Sean Magee at Abbey Road Studios following a direct approach by Rush to remaster their entire back catalogue.

<i>Counterparts</i> (Rush album) 1993 studio album by Rush

Counterparts is the fifteenth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released October 19, 1993, on Anthem Records. After the band finished touring its previous album Roll the Bones (1991) in mid-1992, the members took a break before starting work on a follow-up.

<i>Test for Echo</i> 1996 studio album by Rush

Test for Echo is the sixteenth studio album by the Canadian rock band Rush, released on 10 September 1996, by Anthem Records. It was the final Rush album to be co-produced by Peter Collins. The band supported the album with a world tour in 1996 and 1997, after which they went on a five-year hiatus following the deaths of drummer Neil Peart's daughter and wife, and would not record again until 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Limelight (Rush song)</span> Rush song

"Limelight" is a song by Canadian progressive rock band Rush. It first appeared on the 1981 album Moving Pictures. The song's lyrics were written by Neil Peart with music written by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson. "Limelight" expresses Peart's discomfort with Rush's success and the resulting attention from the public. The song paraphrases the opening lines of the "All the world's a stage" speech from William Shakespeare's play As You Like It. The band had previously used the phrase for its 1976 live album. The lyrics also refer to "the camera eye", the title of the song that follows on the Moving Pictures album.

<i>Feedback</i> (EP) 2004 EP by Rush

Feedback is an EP by Canadian rock band Rush, released in 2004. The record features eight covers of songs that were influential for the band members during the 1960s. The outing marked the 30th anniversary of both the release of Rush's debut album, which featured the original lineup of Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and John Rutsey, and of Neil Peart's joining the band in the wake of Rutsey's departure. The tour in support of the Feedback album was called the R30: 30th Anniversary Tour. The record was remastered and reissued in 2013 as a part of the box set The Studio Albums 1989–2007. In 2016 it was reissued after being remastered by Sean Magee at Abbey Road Studios following a direct approach by Rush to remaster their entire back catalogue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roll the Bones (song)</span> 1992 single by Rush

"Roll the Bones" is a song by the Canadian rock band Rush. It was released as the second single from their 1991 album of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stick It Out (Rush song)</span> 1993 single by Rush

"Stick It Out" is a song and single by the band Rush from their 1993 album Counterparts. The song debuted at number one on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, becoming the band's only number one debut of their five chart-toppers. The song also reached number one on the RPM Cancon chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Show Don't Tell</span> 1989 single by Rush

"Show Don't Tell" is the first single on Canadian rock band Rush's 1989 album Presto. The song peaked at number one on the U.S. Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart, the second of five songs by Rush to top the chart.

<i>Clockwork Angels</i> 2012 studio album by Rush

Clockwork Angels is the nineteenth and final studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released on June 8, 2012, on Roadrunner Records. During the band's year-and-a-half break following its Snakes & Arrows Tour, the group decided to write a new studio album. Most of the album was recorded between October and December 2011 at Revolution Recording in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marathon (Rush song)</span> 1985 song by Rush

"Marathon" is the fourth track on Canadian rock band Rush's 1985 album Power Windows.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Lichtman, Irv (November 18, 1989). "Inside Track" (PDF). Billboard . p. 96 – via World Radio History.
  2. ↑ "Presto (1989)". Stereogum. June 9, 2014. Archived from the original on April 2, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Rush: 'Presto' Album Review". Odissey. June 26, 2017. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Rush - Chart History". Billboard . Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Music - What The Hell Happened To... 06.08.09: Rush - Presto". 411mania.com. June 27, 1990. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Abbey Road - Engineers - Sean Magee". Abbey Road Studios . Archived from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Hold Your Fire Tour". Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Wilding, Phil (November 25, 1989). "The Meaning of Lifeson". Kerrang! . No. 266. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Peart, Neil (1990). "Scissors, Paper, Stone by Neil Peart". Anthem Records. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  10. 1 2 3 Sharp, Keith (February 1990). "Something Up Their Sleeves". Music Express . Vol. 14, no. 144. Archived from the original on January 26, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Elliot, Paul (December 9, 1989). "The Magic Circle". Sounds . Archived from the original on January 15, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  12. 1 2 Krewen, Nick (April 1990). "Rush: Presto Change-o". Canadian Musician . Vol. 12, no. 2. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  13. 1 2 "Rush Remains Canada's Top Pop Export". The Canadian Press . January 3, 1990. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 Coburn, Bob (December 4, 1989). "Geddy Lee on Rockline for Presto". Rockline . Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  15. 1 2 Rush (1989). Presto (Media notes). Atlantic Records. 7 82040-2. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  16. ↑ Woods, Jeff (May 30, 2011). "The Time Machine Tour Interview With Neil Peart of RUSH". ExploreMusic . Archived from the original on February 12, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  17. 1 2 Wilson, Mackenzie. "Rush - Presto (Archived Entry from AllMusic.com)". AllMusic . Archived from the original on June 10, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  18. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0195313734.
  19. ↑ Bob Mack (January 25, 1990). "Presto". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
  20. ↑ Heaney, Gregory. "Presto - Rush". AllMusic . Archived from the original on June 10, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  21. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Rush". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 221. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Rush – Presto" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Rush – Presto" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  24. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  25. ↑ "Presto Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  27. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Rush – Presto". Music Canada . Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  28. ↑ "British album certifications – Rush – Presto". British Phonographic Industry.
  29. ↑ "American album certifications – Rush – Presto". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved July 3, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.