A Show of Hands

January 1989 . 3rd Live Release

Hold Your Fire 1987 Presto 1989

About A Show of Hands

A Show of Hands was released in 1989. The band released a video of the same name, originally released on VHS and laserdisc, the same year. DVD versions were later released in 2006 and 2007. The album was recorded in Birmingham (UK), New Orleans, Phoenix, and San Diego during the 1988 Hold Your Fire tour as well as in the Meadowlands (East Rutherford, NJ) during the 1986 Power Windows tour.

It was during this era that Jim Burgess of Saved By Technology convinced Geddy that the complexities of a Rush studio recording could be recreated live. Offstage, someone set up the samples for the songs, but Geddy would trigger them himself:

“It’s very important for me to do that, and not someone else. It’s a fine line, but I still have to be in the right place at the right time. If I hit a sequencer late, it’s my fault. That way, I’m still in control, and my organization and rhythm have to be impeccable.” – Geddy Lee, 1989

CD technology was also front-of-mind for the band during the time of this release. The double LP fit on a single CD, filling all but 12 seconds of the 74-minute physical restriction.

  • Credits
  • Liner Notes
  • Awards/Chart Positions

Credits

Produced by

Rush

Engineered by

Paul Northfield
Guy Charbonneau

Executive Production

Val Azzoli

Art Direction and Design

Hugh Syme

Photography

Fin Costello
Dimo Safari

Management

Ray Danniels, SRO Management Inc., Toronto

Liner Notes

Geddy Lee – bass guitar, synthesizers, vocals
Alex Lifeson – guitars, synthesizers, backing vocals
Neil Peart – acoustic and electronic percussion


Recorded during the Hold Your Fire tour ’88: Birmingham UK, New Orleans, Phoenix, and San Diego; and the Power Windows tour ’86: Meadowlands, New Jersey.

Live recording by Le Mobile
Assisted by Dave Roberts
and
Advision Mobile
Assisted by Gary Stewart and Peter Craigie
Engineered by Guy Charbonneau

Mixed at McClear Place Studios
Toronto
Assisted by Rick Anderson

The Rockin’ Constructivists created by John Halfpenny

The voice of Aimee Mann appears courtesy of Epic Records


Tour Manager and Lighting Director: Howard Ungerleider
President and Stage Manager: Liam Birt
Production Manager: Nick Kotos
Concert Sound Engineer: Jon Erickson
Stage Left Technician: Skip Gildersleeve
Centre Stage Technician: Larry Allen
Stage Right Technician: Jim Johnson
Synthesizer Care and Feeding: Tony Geranios
Stage Monitor Engineer: Steve Byron
Concert Projectionist: Lee Tenner
Personal Shreve: Kevin Flewitt
Carpenter (and Stage Right Assistant): George Steinert
Concert Sound: Audio Analysts – Michael Caron, Paul Parker, Dan Schriber and Mike Mule
Lighting: See Factor Inc – Frank Sciling, Jack Funk, Conrad Coriz, Roy Niendorf, Ethan Weber, Russell Sladek
Varilites: Matthew Druzbik, Daniel Koniar, Bill Snawder
Rear Screen Projections: Keen Pitures – Norman Stangl
Concert Rigging: Myriad/One – Billy Collins, Don Collins, Tim Wendt, Bill Spoon
Lasers: Laser Media – Craig Spredeman; and Laserlite FX – Stev Magyar
Drivers: Tom Whittaker, Mac MacLear, John Davis, Daniel Harmer, Tom Hartman, Leonard Southwick, Bill Barlow, Rande Wolters, and Russell Fleming
Booking Agencies: International Creative Management, NYC, The Agency Group, London; The Agency, Toronto

For valuable and continuing technical assistance we would like to thank Jim Burgess and Saved By Technology, Wal basses, Signature guitars, Ludwig drums, Avedis Zildjian cymbals, Russ Heinl, and The Percussion Center, Fort Wayne.
And at SRO/Anthem: Wayner, Stu Gaatz, Pegi, Sheila, Kim, Evelyn, Bob, Cindy, Wall-Tor, Linda and Pat.

Dedicated to the memory of Sam Charters (Screvato)


© 1989 Mercury Records
© 1989 Anthem Entertainment

Awards

Certified Gold by RIAA
March 9, 1989
The Billboard 200
21

The Big Money

Music: Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson
Lyrics: Neil Peart

Big money goes around the world
Big money underground
Big money got a mighty voice
Big money make no sound
Big money pull a million strings
Big money hold the prize
Big money weave a mighty web
Big money draw the flies

Sometimes pushing people around
Sometimes pulling out the rug
Sometimes pushing all the buttons
Sometimes pulling out the plug
It’s the power and the glory
It’s a war in paradise
It’s a cinderella story
On a tumble of the dice

Big money goes around the world
Big money take a cruise
Big money leave a mighty wake
Big money leave a bruise
Big money make a million dreams
Big money spin big deals
Big money make a mighty head
Big money spin big wheels

Sometimes building ivory towers
Sometimes knocking castles down
Sometimes building you a stairway —
Lock you underground
It’s that old-time religion
it’s the kingdom they would rule
It’s the fool on television
Getting paid to play the fool

Big money goes around the world
Big money give and take
Big money done a power of good
Big money make mistakes
Big money got a heavy hand
Big money take control
Big money got a mean streak
Big money got no soul…

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