Editing Hemispheres (Rush album) (section)

==Background and recording==
In May 1978, Rush finished touring ''[[A Farewell to Kings]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rush.com/tour/a-farewell-to-kings/|title=Tour Dates – A Farewell To Kings Tour|publisher=Rush.com|access-date=7 October 2017|archive-date=11 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111180602/https://www.rush.com/tour/a-farewell-to-kings/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rush.com/tour/archives/|title=Tour Dates – Archives (1978)|publisher=Rush.com|access-date=7 October 2017|archive-date=7 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007220957/https://www.rush.com/tour/archives/|url-status=live}}</ref> which contributed to their breakthrough in the UK market, following a series of well-received shows and "[[Closer to the Heart]]", the lead single from the album, reaching No. 36 in the UK. Following a dedicated rest period, the band regrouped to produce a follow-up album and returned to [[Rockfield Studios]] in [[Monmouthshire]], [[Wales]] to record as they had enjoyed making ''A Farewell to Kings'' at the facility. Bassist and vocalist [[Geddy Lee]] said recording in the United States did not appeal to the group, and since they were influenced by many English bands, recording in the UK was an attractive idea.<ref name=RPM1978>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19781209rpm.htm|title=Rush – Into The Global Village|first=J. J.|last=Linden|magazine=RPM Weekly|date=December 9, 1978|access-date=7 October 2017|archive-date=9 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809060841/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19781209rpm.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In a departure from previous albums, the band entered the songwriting process without any preconceived ideas. They rented a farmhouse close to the studio for two weeks of intensive writing and rehearsals, during which the trio had concerns over the direction the new album was to take.<ref name=sounds1978>{{cite web|url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19780930sounds.htm|title=This Man Has Nightmares|first=Geoff|last=Barton|magazine=Sounds|date=30 September 1978|access-date=6 October 2017|archive-date=18 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018125420/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19780930sounds.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Rockfield Studios, Monmouthshire.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Rockfield Studios]]
''Hemispheres'' was recorded in June and July 1978, then the longest amount of time Rush had to record an album–in comparison, 1976's ''[[2112 (album)|2112]]'' was recorded in five weeks and ''A Farewell to Kings'' in four.<ref name=musicexpress1978 /> Rush were joined by long-time co-producer [[Terry Brown (record producer)|Terry Brown]], also credited as co-arranger, and engineer Pat Moran.<ref name=sounds1978 /> The conditions of the studio lacked the standard facilities, including a sofa. Lee described it as "really funky".<ref name=circusdec1978 /> In one incident, a latch that failed to shut the studio doors frustrated Lifeson who, in a fit, took it off, installed a hydraulic door opener and built a handle on it.<ref name=circusdec1978 /> The album was recorded in sections at a time with the three members playing simultaneously.<ref name=torontosun1978/> Rush could only put down the music in their allocated slot at Rockfield due to the time required to arrange the tracks, so they booked [[Advision Studios]] in [[Fitzrovia]], London, to record the vocals. They had enjoyed the experience of mixing ''A Farewell to Kings'' there, and wanted to return as it was where [[Yes (band)|Yes]] had recorded their favourite albums.{{sfn|Popoff|2004|p=70}} Upon entering Advision, however, Lee had only sung the lyrics in basic form as the songs were being written acoustically, and the group carried on thinking he could sing them confidently. "So we never really checked the keys that the songs were written in. And when I went to sing them, they were in such difficult keys for me to sing, that's why I'm singing so high." The process was frustrating for Lee, who had several blowouts during vocal takes and had to go for walks to calm down.{{sfn|Popoff|2004|p=70}}

Once recording was complete, mixing was undertaken by Brown and assistant John Brand at Advision. After around two-and-a-half weeks, the pair had encountered problems and were unable to produce a satisfactory mix, which led to the decision to briefly return to Canada as the band had been away from home for several months.{{sfn|Popoff|2004|p=71}} They returned to London in August, this time to [[Trident Studios]] in [[Soho]], where a mix was finalised.{{sfn|Popoff|2004|p=71}}<ref name=1978LPsleeve /> The album cost an estimated CAN$100,000 to make, the most expensive Rush album at the time. In the three-month period of putting it together, the band had just one day off and took a six-week vacation once complete to recover.<ref name=torontosun1978 /><ref name=musicexpress1978 /> Lee looked back on the album in 2018, and said the band "greatly underestimated the level of overachievement that we were shooting for".<ref name=rs20181022 />