Hold Your Fire

September 1987 . 12th Studio Recording

Power Windows 1985 A Show of Hands 1989

About Hold Your Fire

Hold Your Fire is Rush’s 12th studio album, 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, with sessions spread out over a relatively long period of time. Although Hold Your Fire features nearly as much synth/keyboards as its predecessor, Power Windows, Hold Your Fire’s guitar riffs and solos are considerably more prominent on several songs.

During the writing stages for the album, with nine songs written, producer Peter Collins also suggested the band make a tenth track for the album. The song “Force Ten” was written on the last day of pre-production, December 14, 1986. Another track on the album, “Time Stand Still,” was the first track Neil wrote. Aimee Mann briefly sings in each chorus of the song, marking Rush’s first collaboration with another singer.

 

  • Credits
  • Liner Notes
  • Awards/Chart Positions

Credits

Produced by

Peter Collins and Rush

Engineered by

Jimbo (James) Barton

Arrangements by

Rush and Peter Collins

Synthesizer programming assistance

Andy Richards and Jim Burgess

Additional keyboards

Andy Richards

Additional vocals

Aimee Mann
Courtesy of Epic Records

Strings arranged and conducted by

Steven Margoshes, recorded at McClear Place

Mastered by

Bob Ludwig and Brian Lee
Gateway Mastering Studios
Portland, Maine

Management

Ray Danniels
SRO Management Inc.
Toronto

Executive Production

Moon Records
Val Azzoli and Liam Birt

Art Direction

Hugh Syme

Photography

Glen Wexler

Urban Development

Scott Alexander, Patrick Johnson and Olivia Ramirez

Liner Notes

Geddy Lee – Bass guitar, synthesizers, bass pedals, vocals
Alex Lifeson – Electric and acoustic guitars
Neil Peart – Drums, percussion and electronic percussion


Recorded at The Manor, Oxfordshire
Between January and April 1987
Assisted by Micheal Ade
and
Ridge Farm Studio, Surrey
Assisted by Reynold Swan
and
Air Studios, Montserrat
Assisted by Ken Blair
and
McClear Place, Toronto
Assisted by Martin Lee
and
Lerxst Mobile
Assisted by Lerxst

Mixed at Guillaume Tell Studio, Paris
May 1987
Assisté de Philip Cusset

The William Faerey Engineering Brass Band arranged and conducted by Andrew Jackman, recorded at Mirage Studio, Oldham, England
Preproduction work at Elora Sound, engineered by Jon Erickson


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
Synthesizer Maintenance: Tony Geranios
Stage Right Technician: Jim Johnson
Stage Monitor Engineer: Steve Byron
Concert Projectionist: Lee Tenner
Personal Shreve: Kevin Flewitt
Carpenter (and Stage Right Assistant): George Steinert

Concert Sound by See Factor: Jim Staniforth, Bill Fertig, Tom Varaday, Harry Martinez
Concert Lighting by See Factor: Frank Scilingo, Jack Funk, Scott Maskin, Ethan Weber
Concert Rigging by Southfire Rigging, Billy Collins, Don Collins, C.J. Titterington III
Lasers by Laser Media, Craig Spredeman, Peter Callahan
Drivers: Tom Whittaker, Mac MacLear, Pat Lynes, Red McBrine, Earl Charles, Tom Mullins, John Mullins, Tom Hartman and Russell Fleming


“Nothing can survive in a vacuum”

We would like to thank all those who have enriched our atmospheres:

At the Manor: Bill, Linda, and Joanne at Elora Sound; Lynne, Mike, Michael, Ian, Jenni, Vicki, Julie, Flecky and Fruthy

At Ridge Farm: Frank, Ann, Ren, Fee, Laura, Tracy and Speedy

In Monserrat: Yvonne, Malcolm, Ken, Frank, George, Franklin, Desmond, Lloyd, Leroy, Felena, Shirley and Danny

At McClear Place: Bob, Martin, Tom, Hayward, Wendy and everyone

At Guillaume Tell: Roland, Liouba, Paul, Alain, Cyril and Philip.

Elsewhere we have been aided and/or entertained by: the Steve Morse Band and crew, Jeff “Yankel” Berlin, Bill Churchman, Paul Fejdman, Flembo, Stade Roland Garros, International Herald Tribune, Rock-it Cargo, B. Zee Brokers, Warren Seyffert, Jeff Spinks, Rockin’ F, Pee Wee’s Playhouse, Princess Lynda Barry, The Senator, Macintosh Plus, the Gangster of Boats, the ever popular Scoozball, M. Joe (for continuing inspiration), Those Darn Fish, Patsy Cline, Roy Gevalt, The Big V, Luke Warm and all cowboys everywhere.

And perpetual thanks to our “support crew” at the Anthem Entertainment Group: Ray, Val, Sheila, Pegi, Lesley, Linda, Charlene, Bob and Cindy.

We gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance of Jim Burgess and “Saved By Technology,” Wal Basses, Russ Heinl, Signature Guitars, The Percussion Center of Fort Wayne, Ludwig Drums, Avedis Zildjian Cymbals, Brisbin Brook Beynon Architects, and–The Omega Concern.


©1987 Mercury Records
©1987 Anthem Entertainment

Awards

US Billboard 200
#13
Canadian Albums
#9
Dutch Albums
#40
German Albums
#34
Swedish Albums
#21
Japanese Albums
#67
UK Albums
#10
Certified Gold by RIAA
November 9, 1987

Force Ten

Music: Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson
Lyrics: Neil Peart and Pye Dubois

Tough times demand tough talk
demand tough hearts demand tough songs
demand —

We can rise and fall like empires
Flow in and out like the tide
Be vain and smart, humble and dumb
We can hit and miss like pride

We can circle around like hurricanes
Dance and dream like lovers
Attack the day like birds of prey
Or scavengers under cover

Look in —
To the eye of the storm
Look out —
For the force without form
Look around —
At the sight and the sound
Look in look out look around —

We can move with savage grace
To the rhythms of the night
Cool and remote like dancing girls
In the heat of the beat and the lights

We can wear the rose of romance
An air of joie de vivre
Too-tender hearts upon our sleeves
Or skin as thick as thieves’

rising falling at force ten
we twist the world and ride the wind

Look in —
look the storm in the eye
Look out —
to the sea and the sky
Look around —
at the sight and the sound
Look in look out look around —

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