About Caress of Steel
Although the band initially had high hopes for Caress of Steel, it was considered a disappointment by the record company. The album eventually became known as one of Rush’s most obscure and overlooked recordings. Die hard fans feel the record is underrated.
Caress of Steel featured long pieces broken up into various sections and long solo passages. It is often considered notable for the inclusion of the band’s first two epic pieces, “The Necromancer” and “The Fountain of Lamneth.”
“I Think I’m Going Bald” was written for Kim Mitchell, who at the time was the frontman of the band Max Webster and a close friend of the band. Track three, “Lakeside Park,” was a reference to a park in St. Catharines, Ontario where Neil grew up and worked during the summer as a teenager.
Credits
Produced by
Rush and Terry Brown
Engineered by
Terry Brown
Arrangements
Rush and Terry Brown
Art direction
AGI
Graphics
Photography
Terrence Bert
Gerard Gentil
Barry McVicker
Management
Ray Danniels
Vic Wilson
Executive Production
Moon Records
Liner Notes
Geddy Lee – bass and vocals
Alex Lifeson – 6 and 12 string electric and acoustic guitars, classical guitar, steel guitar
Neil Peart – percussion
Recorded and mixed at Toronto Sound Studios
Toronto, Canada
Roadmaster: Mr. ‘Herns’ Ungerleider
Roadcrew: Ian ‘Rio’ Grandy, Liam ‘L.B.L.B.’ Birt, J.D. ‘Kool Mon’ Johnson
Thanks to us for making it all possible. A special hullo to Ape Friendly, Big Macho, M. Louis, Mr. Eisen, The Texas Heartbreaker, Sal de Bain, the Black Oak, Rick & the Shermans, Wolfman Marcus, Hot Sam, C.B. & J.B., Doc Cooper, The Opner and Sophisto Joe. A personal thank you, Terry, for your intimate courtesy and native grace of favour.
Correspondance: 55 Glencameron Rd., Thornhill, Ont., Canada.
Dedicated to the memory of Mr. Rod Serling
© 1975 Mercury Records
© 1975 Anthem Entertainment
Awards
Billboard Pop Albums
#148Bastille Day
Music: Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson
Lyrics: Neil Peart
There’s no bread let them eat cake
There’s no end to what they’ll take
Flaunt the fruits of noble birth
Wash the salt into the earth
But they’re marching to Bastille Day
La guillotine will claim her bloody prize
Free the dungeons of the innocent
The king will kneel, and let his kingdom rise
Bloodstained velvet, dirty lace
Naked fear on every face
See them bow their heads to die
As we would bow as they rode by
And we’re marching to Bastille Day
La guillotine will claim her bloody prize
Sing, o choirs of cacophony
The king has kneeled, to let his kingdom rise.
Lessons taught, but never learned
All around us anger burns
Guide the future by the past
Long ago the mould was cast
For they marched up to Bastille Day
La guillotine – claimed her bloody prize
Hear the echoes of the centuries
Power isn’t all that money buys