Editing Signals (Rush album) (section)

== Background and recording ==
In July 1981, Rush ended their tour in support of their previous album ''Moving Pictures''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rush.com/tour/moving-pictures/ |publisher=Rush.com |title=Tour – Moving Pictures Tour |access-date=July 6, 2018 |archive-date=July 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708162639/https://www.rush.com/tour/moving-pictures/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The album became their most commercially successful of their history, granting them their first No. 1 album in Canada and selling over one million copies in the United States at the tour's conclusion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=moving+pictures#search_section |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America |title=Gold & Platinum Search – "Moving Pictures" |access-date=July 6, 2018 |archive-date=April 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210402021218/https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=moving+pictures#search_section |url-status=live }}</ref> Rush then took a three-month break, during which they oversaw the production and mixing of their second live release, ''Exit...Stage Left'', at [[Le Studio]] in [[Morin-Heights]], Quebec. In one of drummer and lyricist [[Neil Peart]]'s diary entries written during this time, he had been cleaning a Hayman drum kit that was housed in the studio and, in September 1981, began working out a song with two members of the band's road crew, the unreleased "Tough Break".<ref name=tourbook>{{cite web |url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/signals.html#tourbook |title=Stories from Signals |first=Neil |last=Peart |date=1982 |publisher=Anthem Records |access-date=July 6, 2018 |archive-date=July 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708135114/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/signals.html#tourbook |url-status=live }}</ref> Peart was also working on lyrics, in particular a set which included "Subdivisions", a track the group would later record for ''Signals''.<ref name=tourbook/>

Having arranged some material for their next studio album, Rush toured North America and Europe from October to December 1981 with a setlist that contained "Subdivisions".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rush.com/tour/exit-stage-left/ |publisher=Rush.com |title=Tour – Exit...Stage Left Tour |access-date=July 8, 2018 |archive-date=July 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708191533/https://www.rush.com/tour/exit-stage-left/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The group had their sound man capture their soundchecks on tape which provided a method of developing new songs, which was particularly the case for "Chemistry".<ref name=tourbook/> The majority of ''Signals'' was written and rehearsed in early 1982.<ref name=tourbook/> [[Geddy Lee]] has said that the group were aware of how easy it would have been to "play it safe" and produce another ''Moving Pictures'', a mindset the band was entirely against.<ref name=scene1982>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19821028scene.htm |title=Rush Takes Off: The Geddy Lee Interview |magazine=Scene |date=October 28, 1982 |first=Raj |last=Bahadur |access-date=July 8, 2018 |archive-date=July 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708162641/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19821028scene.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The album displays the band continuing to incorporate the synthesizer into their songs with less emphasis on guitar-oriented riffs which had been the focus of their sound in the 1970s. Lee considered ''Signals'' as the beginning of a new era for the band.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19830521sounds.htm |magazine=Sounds |title=Private Lives: The Rush Sanctuary Breached |date=May 21, 1983 |first=Geoff |last=Barton |access-date=July 8, 2018 |archive-date=July 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708162355/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19830521sounds.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In hindsight, he said it was considerably difficult to make because it took longer than usual for the band to achieve the right feel for each song.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19830331circus.htm |magazine=Circus |title=Face to Face with Rush's Geddy Lee |date=March 31, 1983 |first=Philip |last=Bashe |access-date=July 8, 2018 |archive-date=July 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708162558/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19830331circus.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Some ideas that [[Alex Lifeson]] and Lee had initially saved for potential solo albums were used on ''Signals''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19830315latimes.htm |newspaper=The Los Angeles Times |title=Drumming a Different Beat |date=March 15, 1983 |first=Dennis |last=Hunt |access-date=July 8, 2018 |archive-date=July 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708162407/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19830315latimes.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Writer and journalist [[Greg Quill]] noticed a "cyclical framework" in ''Signals'', specifically the album opening in suburbia followed by contemplating escape in "The Analog Kid". Then, "universal human imponderables" are explored through humanity, sex, religion, and aging, which ends in an actual escape in "Countdown". Quill spoke to Peart about this theory, to which the drummer replied: "You noticed that. We were hoping no one would. It's so unfashionable these days to construct grand concepts. We're being closed mouthed about it".<ref name=quill>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19820900musicexpress.htm |title=Neil Peart: New World Man |magazine=Music Express |first=Greg |last=Quill |date=September 1982 |access-date=July 8, 2018 |archive-date=July 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708162409/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19820900musicexpress.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Recording began at Le Studio in April 1982, and ended on July 15.<ref name=LPnotes/> It is Rush's last album co-produced by their longtime associate [[Terry Brown (record producer)|Terry Brown]], who had worked with them since 1974. He was joined by engineer Paul Northfield with assistance from Robbie Whelan.<ref name=LPnotes/> Rush intended to finish the album in June, but had to spend additional time in the studio which led to a month's reduction in their planned vacation time.<ref name=getsuccess>{{cite web |url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19850100gettsuccess.htm |title=Success Under Pressure |first=Steve |last=Gett |access-date=July 8, 2018 |archive-date=September 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915145909/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19850100gettsuccess.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Upon completion, the album was mastered by [[Bob Ludwig]] at Masterdisk.<ref name=LPnotes/>