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
Produced by
Nick Raskulinecz and Rush
Recording Engineer
Mixed by
Nick Raskulinecz
String Arranger
Guest Musicians
Jason Sniderman
Piano on "The Garden"
Art direction, design, and illustrations
Band portrait
Mastered by
Brian "Big Bass" Gardner
Bernie Grundman Mastering
Hollywood CA
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 “BU2B” recorded 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
#2Canadian Albums Chart
#1UK Albums Chart
#21Finnish Albums Chart
#4Hungarian Albums Chart
#32Swiss Albums Chart
#21German Albums Chart
#11Swedish Albums Chart
#8Caravan
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