Counterparts (album)
Encyclopedia
Counterparts is the fifteenth studio album
by Canadian
rock
band Rush
, released in 1993. It became Rush's highest charting album in the US, peaking at #2 on the Billboard 200 (only behind Pearl Jam
's Vs.). Atlantic Records
has claimed that the album went Platinum, although the RIAA has it listed as Gold.
The lyrics of Counterparts continue the trends of Roll the Bones
with dark and emotional themes being the primary focus. Some songs are "heavy" sounding tracks like "Animate" and "Stick it Out". The song topped the Mainstream Rock Tracks
for four weeks in late 1993, becoming the band's fifth single to do so. "Leave That Thing Alone" earned a Grammy nomination for "Best Instrumental".
, except "Between Sun & Moon" co-written by Pye Dubois
; all music composed by Alex Lifeson
and Geddy Lee
.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
, released in 1993. It became Rush's highest charting album in the US, peaking at #2 on the Billboard 200 (only behind Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
's Vs.). Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
has claimed that the album went Platinum, although the RIAA has it listed as Gold.
The lyrics of Counterparts continue the trends of Roll the Bones
Roll the Bones
Roll the Bones is the fourteenth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released in 1991 . The album was recorded at Le Studio in Morin Heights and at McClear Place in Toronto with Rupert Hine returning as producer. The album won the 1992 Juno Award for best album cover design...
with dark and emotional themes being the primary focus. Some songs are "heavy" sounding tracks like "Animate" and "Stick it Out". The song topped the Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
for four weeks in late 1993, becoming the band's fifth single to do so. "Leave That Thing Alone" earned a Grammy nomination for "Best Instrumental".
Track listing
All lyrics written by Neil PeartNeil Peart
Neil Ellwood Peart , OC, is a Canadian musician and author. He is the drummer for the rock band Rush.Peart grew up in Port Dalhousie, Ontario . During adolescence, he floated from regional band to regional band in pursuit of a career as a full-time drummer...
, except "Between Sun & Moon" co-written by Pye Dubois
Pye Dubois
Pye Dubois is a Canadian lyricist and poet. He has worked with a number of bands, including Rush and Max Webster, with whom he was considered an unofficial fifth non-performing member. Dubois would accompany the band in the studio and wrote lyrics for each of their albums. Dubois was given lyric...
; all music composed by Alex Lifeson
Alex Lifeson
Aleksandar Živojinović, OC, better known by his stage name Alex Lifeson, is a second generation Serbian-Canadian musician, best known as the guitarist of the Canadian rock band Rush. In the summer of 1968, Lifeson founded the band that would become Rush with friend, drummer John Rutsey...
and Geddy Lee
Geddy Lee
Gary Lee Weinrib, OC, better known as Geddy Lee , is a Canadian musician, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush...
.
- "Animate" – 6:04
- "Stick It OutStick It Out (Rush song)"Stick It Out" is a song and single by the progressive rock band Rush from their 1993 album Counterparts. The song charted at #1 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart....
" – 4:30 - "Cut to the Chase" – 4:47
- "Nobody's HeroNobody's Hero"Nobody's Hero" is a song by Canadian prog-rock band Rush from their album Counterparts. The first stanza deals with the AIDS-related death of a homosexual man named Ellis, a friend of Neil Peart when Peart lived in London. After the chorus, the second stanza speaks of a girl who was murdered in...
" – 4:59 - "Between Sun & Moon" (Lyrics: Peart, Pye DuboisPye DuboisPye Dubois is a Canadian lyricist and poet. He has worked with a number of bands, including Rush and Max Webster, with whom he was considered an unofficial fifth non-performing member. Dubois would accompany the band in the studio and wrote lyrics for each of their albums. Dubois was given lyric...
) – 4:39 - "Alien Shore" – 5:46
- "The Speed of Love" – 5:01
- "Double Agent" – 4:51
- "Leave That Thing Alone" (Instrumental) – 4:06
- "Cold FireCold Fire (song)"Cold Fire" is a single from Canadian prog-rock band Rush's album Counterparts. The song peaked at #2 on the U.S. mainstream rock charts.-Personnel:*Geddy Lee - Synthesizer, Bass, Vocals*Alex Lifeson - Acoustic & electric guitars, Vocals...
" – 4:29 - "Everyday Glory" – 5:11
Personnel
- Geddy LeeGeddy LeeGary Lee Weinrib, OC, better known as Geddy Lee , is a Canadian musician, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones... - Alex LifesonAlex LifesonAleksandar Živojinović, OC, better known by his stage name Alex Lifeson, is a second generation Serbian-Canadian musician, best known as the guitarist of the Canadian rock band Rush. In the summer of 1968, Lifeson founded the band that would become Rush with friend, drummer John Rutsey...
– electricElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
and acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
s - Neil PeartNeil PeartNeil Ellwood Peart , OC, is a Canadian musician and author. He is the drummer for the rock band Rush.Peart grew up in Port Dalhousie, Ontario . During adolescence, he floated from regional band to regional band in pursuit of a career as a full-time drummer...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Michael KamenMichael KamenMichael Arnold Kamen was an American composer , orchestral arranger, orchestral conductor, song writer, and session musician.-Background:...
– string arrangements and conducting on "Nobody's Hero" - John WebsterJohn Webster (musician)John Webster is a musician, engineer and producer who primarily plays keyboards. He was a member of Tom Cochrane's Red Rider from 1984 until they disbanded in 1989...
- additional keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
s
Sales certifications
| Country | Organization | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. | RIAA | Gold (500,000) |
| Canada | RIAA | Platinum (100,000) |
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | The Billboard 200 | 2 |
Singles
| Information |
|---|
| "Stick It Out Stick It Out (Rush song) "Stick It Out" is a song and single by the progressive rock band Rush from their 1993 album Counterparts. The song charted at #1 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.... "
|
| "Nobody's Hero"
Peter Collins (record producer) Peter Collins is a record producer, born January 15, 1951, in London.In 1976 Collins was signed to Magnet Records and formed a group called Madison, along with Ziggy, Peter Spooner and Page 3 girl Cherri Gilham, to perform his pop song "Let It Ring"... and Rush |
| "Double Agent"
Peter Collins (record producer) Peter Collins is a record producer, born January 15, 1951, in London.In 1976 Collins was signed to Magnet Records and formed a group called Madison, along with Ziggy, Peter Spooner and Page 3 girl Cherri Gilham, to perform his pop song "Let It Ring"... and Rush |
| "Cold Fire Cold Fire (song) "Cold Fire" is a single from Canadian prog-rock band Rush's album Counterparts. The song peaked at #2 on the U.S. mainstream rock charts.-Personnel:*Geddy Lee - Synthesizer, Bass, Vocals*Alex Lifeson - Acoustic & electric guitars, Vocals... " Peter Collins (record producer) Peter Collins is a record producer, born January 15, 1951, in London.In 1976 Collins was signed to Magnet Records and formed a group called Madison, along with Ziggy, Peter Spooner and Page 3 girl Cherri Gilham, to perform his pop song "Let It Ring"... and Rush |