Rush » Tracks » The Spirit Of Radio

Rush – The Spirit Of Radio (4:57)

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About This Track

“The Spirit of Radio” is a song released in 1980 by Canadian rock band Rush from their album Permanent Waves. The song’s name was inspired by Toronto radio station CFNY’s. The song was significant in the growing popularity of the band. The band had grazed the UK Top 40 two years earlier with “Closer to the Heart”, but when issued as a single in March 1980, “The Spirit of Radio” became their breakthrough hit at the time, and soon reached number 13 on the UK singles chart. “The Spirit of Radio” was named one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll, Rush’s only such entry.

UK Band St. Etienne sampled the opening riff on “Conchita Martinez”, a track on their 1993 album, So Tough

The song’s familiar synthesizer hook during the breaks was programmed using the Oberheim OB1 synthesizer. Today, the part is achieved through MIDI pedals.

The final lines of the song (“For the words of the profits were written on the studio wall…/Concert hall/And echoes with the sounds of salesmen”) are an allusion to the famous final lyrics from the Simon and Garfunkel classic “The Sound of Silence”: “…the words of the prophets/Are written on the subway walls/And tenement halls/And whispered in the sounds of silence.”

On performances during the 1981 tour, the line “one likes to believe in the freedom of music” was changed to “one likes to believe in the freedom of baseball” as a commentary on the 1981 Major League Baseball Players Association strike. Geddy Lee still occasionally drops this change into the song when performing live.
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Albums featuring this track

  • Permanent Waves
    Rush Play
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  • The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974-1987
    Rush Play
    Buy
  • Old Skool Of Rock
    Diverse Artister Play
    Buy
  • Old Skool Of Rock
    Multi Interprètes Play
    Buy
See all 95 albums

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  • silvasonicsurfa

    ...one of the few 'rock' tracks I like.......great stuff......

    yesterday afternoon

  • KConn3711

    Rush RULES!!!!

    Saturday evening

  • bkr2110

    Rush's best song.

    13 days ago

  • Goldfoot

    Geddy Lee, of Rush. Of salesman... OF SALESMAN

    13 days ago

  • tangerman

    ac/dc stole this riff! :-)

    15 days ago

  • k168mitchell

    can not live with out RUSH

    21 days ago

  • appidydafoo

    No soliciting brah

    26 days ago

  • EvilMonkeyRec

    Rush - Practice Makes Perfect - 09-08-1979 << Great & rare Rush live !! >> http://theevilmonkeysrecords.blogspot.it/2012/04/rush-practice-makes-perfect-09-08-1979.html

    last month

  • lonelyfurrow

    Never fails to lift my "morning mood". But glittering prizes and endless compromises shatter the illusion of integrity.

    last month

  • MR_DRIFTER

    of salesmen..of salesmen......oooooffffffffff sssaaaallllllesmen

    last month

  • MIKEH3875

    definitely one of their best but what is really unique is the fact that this album by rush was released literally on the very first day of a brand new year and decade on January 1,1980.

    last month

  • nicolasbj

    v metal? is a joke?

    last month

  • ms3mx5

    Best prog. metal band ever. \m/

    March 2012

  • tlukes123

    I was trying to learn the opening lick on the guitar over the weekend, Alex makes it sound so effortless. Classic track!

    March 2012

  • POOlgie

    Awwwwwww yeah!!!

    March 2012

  • thuntmandy

    classic that is all i can say

    March 2012

  • MikesDmusic

    The magic music does make my morning move!

    February 2012

  • scientist4u

    The spirt live on ,on,on,on,on,on,on,on,on,on,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

    January 2012

  • rockandrolljoe

    OHHHHHHHH What a RUSH

    January 2012

  • jonyac

    the first time i saw rush was 1981 ,moving pictures tour i was on three hit"s of orange sun shine and when they played 2112 the waterfall blew my mind greatest show on earth !!!

    January 2012
See all 310 shouts

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