Clockwork Angels

June 2012 . 20th Studio Recording

Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland 2011 Clockwork Angels Tour 2013

About Clockwork Angels

Clockwork Angels is Rush’s 20th full-length studio album. It was recorded in April 2010 at Blackbird Studio in Nashville and from October to December 2011 at Revolution Recording in Toronto.

The record was produced with Grammy Award winner Nick Raskulinecz, with whom the guys collaborated on their 2007 studio album, Snakes and Arrows.

Lyrically, Clockwork Angels chronicles a young man’s quest across a lavish and colorful world of steampunk and alchemy as he attempts to follow his dreams. The story features lost cities, pirates, anarchists, exotic carnival, and a rigid Watchmaker who imposes precision on every aspect of daily life.

Science fiction novelist Kevin J. Anderson, a long time friend of Neil, wrote a novelization of Clockwork Angels, which was released in September of 2012.

 

  • Credits
  • Liner Notes
  • Awards/Chart Positions

Credits

Produced by

Nick Raskulinecz and Rush

Recording Engineer

Richard Chycki

Mixed by

Nick Raskulinecz

String Arranger

David Campbell

Guest Musicians

Jason Sniderman
Piano on "The Garden"

Art direction, design, and illustrations

Hugh Syme

Band portrait

Andrew MacNaughtan

Manager

Ray Danniels

Executive Producer

Andy Curran

Associate Producers

Pegi Cecconi
Liam Birt

Equipment Supervision

Lorne "Gump" Wheaton
John "Skully" McIntosh

Liner Notes

Geddy Lee – bass guitar, keyboards, bass pedals, vocals
Alex Lifeson – guitars, keyboards
Neil Peart – drums, cymbals, tambourine


Caravan” and “BU2Brecorded at Blackbird Studios
Nashville TN
April 2010
Assisted by Lowell Reynolds

All other songs recorded at Revolution Recording
Toronto ON
October-December 2011
Assisted by Stephen Koszler and Jason Dufour

Mixed at Henson Studios
Los Angeles CA
January-March 2012
Assisted by Martin Cooke

Strings recorded at Ocean Way Recording
Los Angeles CA
January 18, 2012
Engineered by Paul Fig
Assisted by Rouble Kapoor

“BU2B” new intro recorded on Lerxst Mobile, West Hollywood CA.


Geddy would like to thank the good people of the following companies for their technical contributions and support: Fender Musical Instruments and the Fender Custom Shop, Tech 21, Orange Amplifiers, Moog Synthesizers, Tom Brantley, James Hogg, Rotosound Bass Strings, and Jim Burgess of Saved By Technology. I would also like to thank Nancy, Kyla, Julian, and Lauren, for their constant and complete support, love, and understanding – and it is my pleasure to introduce … The Wassermans ^..^ ^..^

Alex would like to thank: Pat Foley and the crew at Gibson Custom Shop and Gibson Guitars, Hughes & Kettner Amplification, Dean Markley Strings, Paul Reed Smith Guitars, Joel Singer and Audio Technica, Universal Audio, Dave Welderman at the Guitar Center, Hollywood, and especially Adrian, Charlene, Dylan, Justin, and Taylor. Farewell, Barbara and Paul.

Neil would like to thank: Don Lombardi, John Good, Louie Garcia, Garrison, and everybody at Drum Workshop and Drum Channel; Mark Love, Chris Stankee, and everybody at Sabian; Promark drumsticks, Remo drumheads, Darren Schoepp at Roland, Jeffery at KellyShu Industries, Greg Russell at neilpeart.net, Brutus at Bubba’s Bar ‘n’ Grill, Freddie Gruber RIP, Peter Erskine, Lorne “Gump” Wheaton, and on the home front, Keith, Jeanette, Jennifer, Adela, Katie, Winston, and – lastest and mostest – Carrie and Olivia.

Our collective appreciation goes to: John McBride and all at Blackbird; Joe Dunphy, Tanya Coghlan, and Amanda Pearl at Revolution (and Rene Lesko at Kindred Spirits Catering). At Henson, Martin and Faryal; Barry and Clint at B. Zee Brokerage; and – Ω™

Extremely special thanks, as always, to our great support group at SRO/Anthem: Ray Danniels, Pegi Cecconi, Sheila Posner, Meghan Symsyk, Bob Farmer, Andy Curran, Cynthia Barry, Tyler Tasson, Emma Sunstrum, and Randy and Frances Rolfe.

Dedicated to the memory of our dear friend Andrew MacNaughtan, February 25, 1964 – January 25, 2012


© 2012 T.Y.S., Inc. for the World excluding Canada.
© 2012 Anthem Entertainment for Canada.
All Rights Reserved. Printed in the United States.
All songs published by Core Music Publishing (SOCAN) for the world excluding USA; (SESAC) USA.

Awards

Billboard 200
#2
Canadian Albums Chart
#1
UK Albums Chart
#21
Finnish Albums Chart
#4
Hungarian Albums Chart
#32
Swiss Albums Chart
#21
German Albums Chart
#11
Swedish Albums Chart
#8

Caravan

Music: Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson
Lyrics: Neil Peart

IT SEEMS LIKE A LIFETIME AGO – which of course it was, all that and more. For a boy, life on the farm was idyllic, but for the young man I became, that very peace and predictability were stifling, unbearable. I had big dreams, and needed a big place to explore them: the whole wide world.

Near our village of Barrel Arbor, the steamliners touched down and traveled on rails along the Winding Pinion River toward Crown City. Watching them pass in the night, how I prayed to get away . . .

None of it seemed right to me . . .

In a world lit only by fire
Long train of flares under piercing stars
I stand watching the steamliners roll by

The caravan thunders onward
To the distant dream of the city
The caravan carries me onward
On my way at last
On my way at last

I can’t stop thinking big
I can’t stop thinking big

On a road lit only by fire
Going where I want, instead of where I should
I peer out at the passing shadows
Carried through the night into the city
Where a young man has a chance of making good
A chance to break from the past
The caravan thunders onward
Stars winking through the canvas hood
On my way at last

In a world where I feel so small
I can’t stop thinking big