373,958 plays (77,923 listeners)
“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.
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.
Video
Added by lemonheater
playing along with rush the spirit of radio
Share Video
See 11 more
Related Tracks
-
Freewill
Rush -
Limelight
Rush -
Roundabout
Yes -
Aqualung
Jethro Tull -
Long Distance Runaround
Yes -
Peace of Mind
Boston
Albums featuring this track
-
The Spirit Of Radio - Greatest Hits 1974 - 1987
Rush Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
-
Retrospective I: 1974-1980
Rush Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
-
Exit...Stage Left
Rush Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes
- Buy Album
- Amazon $5.58
- eBay Search
Shouts
-
PrakashKrishnan wrote:
Now, THAT's more like it. Made my morning and rest of the day!
-
javier0889 wrote:
Geddy Lee is a monster!
-
Mac_Tonight wrote:
OF SALESMEN!
-
tetrismaster61 wrote:
the best three man group from Canada there will ever be
-
GettingCloudy wrote:
I love this song. After all these years, it still takes you back to places you've never been before...
-
Vldmrhrnndz wrote:
well this guitar riff is pretty cool...
-
orses4corses wrote:
Awesome sound for a 3 piece!
-
Metalhead59 wrote:
Love it......
-
philbeckwith wrote:
A Stonker!
-
RaiderKman wrote:
one likes to believe in the freedom of music... :-D
-
JoeJames3794 wrote:
Neil Peart is the best drummer EVER! LOVE THIS SONG!
-
flashstepandy wrote:
my favourite radio-friendly song i can think of right now :)
-
Shmaughn wrote:
@ Condor: Permanent Waves does not get the credit it deserves. Such a good album, but you know the kids, with their 2112 and their Moving Pictures. No respect!
-
Obscurity wrote:
I can't listen to this song anymore without imagining Nick from Freaks and Geeks on drums.
-
musicgodlything wrote:
Living in the limelight, ... oh, wait.
-
Condor32857 wrote:
One of the best songs from the GREATEST BAND ever! Permanent Waves is absolutely their best effort ever! I Love RUSH!
-
PresumedDeadly wrote:
OF SALESMEN!
-
Alterbass13 wrote:
The bass in this song is absolutly AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!! Rock on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
d-w-s wrote:
The drums, the bass, the guitar, the songwriting, the lyrics... this is the ultimate rock song.
-
elyador wrote:
Classic.
Rush
The Spirit Of Radio
full track
Listeners
-
Klawdstraif
Listening now
-
Chispios911
Top Listener
-
rainicola
Top Listener
-
spiralout_
Top Listener
-
ForcefulXCon
Top Listener
-
posashes
Top Listener
Recent Activity
-
whiskey6, SignGuy, CClutch and 6 other people loved Rush – The Spirit Of Radio. 2 hours ago
-
mortal_legacy added The Spirit Of Radio to mortal_legacy’s library. yesterday evening
-
subrussian, dragem, BertyBert and 2 other people loved Rush – The Spirit Of Radio. yesterday evening
-
coolst00f added The Spirit Of Radio to coolst00f’s library. yesterday afternoon
-
coolst00f added The Spirit Of Radio to the playlist. yesterday afternoon
-
maleblanc, xTRAG1KxH3R0x, aeliasnymph and 8 other people loved Rush – The Spirit Of Radio. yesterday morning
-
CarryOnGremlin added The Spirit Of Radio to CarryOnGremlin’s library. yesterday morning
-
CarryOnGremlin added The Spirit Of Radio to the playlist Good Stuff. yesterday morning
-
Hero4Evz, HogOfRock, R4F43LW3B3R and 4 other people loved Rush – The Spirit Of Radio. Thursday evening
-
Ninja108 added The Spirit Of Radio to Ninja108’s library. Thursday afternoon
Related Journals
-
The Ultimate Gig
by RealAir2112 |
16 Nov 2009 | Add comment
-
Keine schwarzen Wolken am Prog-Himmel...
by biasynthic |
23 Jun 2009 | 1 comment
-
Those stupid lists part II: Rush
by Snowman01 |
7 Nov 2008 | 1 comment
