"The Spirit of Radio"
Single by Rush
from the album Permanent Waves
Released	January 1, 1980
Format	vinyl record (7" / 12")
Recorded	1979, Le Studio, Quebec
Genre	Progressive Rock
Length	4:56
Label	Mercury Records
Producer(s)	Rush and Terry Brown
Peak chart positions
#1 (Modern Rock Tracks) #51 (US) #27 (Modern Rock Tracks) (Live)
Rush singles chronology
"Circumstances (1979) "The Spirit of Radio" (1980) "Entre Nous" (1980)
"Resist" (1997)	"The Spirit of Radio" (Live) (1998)	"Secret Touch" (2002)
Permanent Waves track listing
Beginning of Album	"The Spirit of Radio" (Track 1)	"Freewill" (Track 2)

"The Spirit of Radio" is a song first released in 1980 by popular Canadian rock band Rush on their album Permanent Waves. The song's name was inspired byToronto radio station CFNY's catchphrase^{[citation needed]}. 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, "Spirit of Radio" became their breakthrough hit at the time, and soon raced to No.13 in the UK singles chart. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... Rush is a Canadian rock band comprising bassist, keyboardist, and vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart. ... Permanent Waves is the seventh studio album by the Canadian rock band Rush, released January 1, 1980 (see 1980 in music). ... January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... A gramophone record, (also phonograph record - often simply record) is an analog sound recording medium: a flat disc rotating at a constant angular velocity, with inscribed spiral grooves in which a stylus or needle rides. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... Rush at Le Studio (Moving Pictures session photo 1980) Le Studio is a recording studio located just south of the tourist town of Morin Heights, Quebec. ... Motto: Je me souviens (French: I remember) Capital Quebec City Largest city Montreal Official languages French Government - Lieutenant-Governor Lise Thibault - Premier Jean Charest (PLQ) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 75 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area Ranked 2nd - Total 1,542,056 km² - Water... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For the Swedish political music movement, see progg. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Mercury Records was a record label founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1945 by Irving Green, Berle Adams and Arthur Talmadge. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Rush is a Canadian rock band comprising bassist, keyboardist, and vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart. ... A record chart, also known as a music chart, is a method of ranking music according to popularity during a given period of time. ... Modern Rock Tracks is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. ... The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. ... Modern Rock Tracks is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. ... Rush is a Canadian rock band comprising bassist, keyboardist, and vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart. ... Hemispheres track listing Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres (Track 1) Circumstances (Track 2) The Trees (Track 3) Circumstances is the second song off of progressive rock band Rushs 1978 album Hemispheres. ... Permanent Waves is the seventh studio album by the Canadian rock band Rush, released January 1, 1980 (see 1980 in music). ... Rush is a Canadian rock band comprising bassist, keyboardist, and vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart. ... Permanent Waves is the seventh studio album by the Canadian rock band Rush, released January 1, 1980 (see 1980 in music). ... CFNY is a radio station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... Closer to The Heart is a single by Rush, released 1977. ... The UK Singles Chart is currently compiled by The Official UK Charts Company (OCC) on behalf of the British record industry. ...

The final lines of the song (For the words of the profits/Were written on the studio walls.) are an allusion to the famous lines from the Simon and Garfunkel classic "The Sound of Silence": ...the words of the prophets/Are written on the subway walls. Simon and Garfunkel are an American popular music duo comprising Paul Simon and Arthur Art Garfunkel. ... The Sound of Silence is the song that propelled the 1960s folk music duo Simon and Garfunkel to popularity. ...

"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. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fames 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll is based on the permanent exhibit of the same name. ...

The song was subsequently covered by the UK alternative rock band Catherine Wheel, as an exclusive track for station CFNY's second Ongoing History of New Music compilation. Alternative rock (also called alternative music or simply alternative; known primarily in the UK as indie) is a genre of rock music that emerged in the 1980s and became widely popular in the 1990s. ... Catherine Wheel is an alternative rock band from Great Yarmouth, England. ... The Ongoing History of New Music is a Canadian radio program, produced and aired weekly by CFNY in Toronto, Ontario. ...

References in popular culture

In the Aqua Teen Hunger Force episode "Spirit Journey Formation Anniversary", Meatwad sings the ending lyrics of the song ("of salesmen!") as well as the keyboard solo from Tom Sawyer. Aqua Teen Hunger Force (also known as ATHF or simply Aqua Teen) is an American animated television series shown on Cartoon Network as part of its Adult Swim late-night programming block. ... Spirit Journey Formation Anniversary is a parody of the traditional Happy Birthday to You song, performed by Matt Maiellaro (playing Geddy Lee) and Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society. ... Tom Sawyer is a 1981 song by Canadian progressive rock band Rush named for Mark Twains literary character. ...

The opening riffs of "The Spirit Of Radio" were sampled on the track "Conchita Martinez" which featured on St. Etienne's 1993 album So Tough. Saint-Étienne is a commune of France, préfecture (capital) of the Loire département. ... So Tough (1993) is the second studio album by British band Saint Etienne. ...

The opening riff is also found in "Grade 9" by the Canadian band Barenaked Ladies on their Gordon album. Barenaked Ladies (often abbreviated BNL or occasionally BnL) is a Canadian alternative rock band currently composed of Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Steven Page, Ed Robertson, Tyler Stewart, and formerly Andy Creeggan. ... An earlier version of the album cover, used from approximately 1992-1996 Gordon was the debut CD and first major-label album by Barenaked Ladies. ...

The song is sung by a choir of children in White Noise: The Light.

The song was the main influence behind the naming of the popular Long Island based band The Radio Spirit

In the episode "I'm With the Band" of TV series Freaks and Geeks, the opening scene is of Nick Andopolis playing along with "The Spirit Of Radio" on drums in his basement with a drumset comparable to that of Neil Peart. Freaks and Geeks was an American television series, created by Paul Feig and produced by Judd Apatow, that aired on NBC during the 1999–2000 TV season. ...

Video

• The Spirit of Radio (from Grace Under Pressure tour) 1984
• The Spirit of Radio (from A Show of Hands) 1988
• The Spirit of Radio (from Counterparts tour) 1994
• The Spirit of Radio (from Toronto Rocks) 2003
• The Spirit of Radio (from R30) 2004

External links

• dedicated to the old CFNY
• the current CFNY
• the official Rush website