Rush ~ Caravan ~ Time Machine - Live in Cleveland [HD 1080p] [CC] 2011
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Published 2021-03-14
"Caravan" is the first single from Rush's 19th studio album, Clockwork Angels. It was released to radio stations and saw digital release on June 1, 2010 (a full two years before the album's proper release), on CD via mail order later that month, and as a 7" vinyl record for Record Store Day 2011, with a limited printing of 3,000 units. The B-side is an additional studio track titled "BU2B", which stands for the lyric "brought up to believe". Both songs were recorded April 13, 2010, at Blackbird Studios in Nashville with producer Nick Raskulinecz with mixing and engineering done by Richard Chycki at the Sound Kitchen in Franklin, Tennessee. The songs were mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in New York City. Live appearances of both songs were first featured on Rush's Time Machine Tour.
After returning from the successful Time Machine tour, the two songs were subtly remixed while work on the rest of the album began in earnest. Drummer Neil Peart, describing these recordings on his website, NeilPeart.net, said, "We had never done anything like that before - write, arrange, record and release just two songs, instead of a whole album - then go out on tour and play them, along with what we thought was an inventive selection of our older songs. But the real-time time machine - life - has brought many changes to what used to be called the 'music business,' and we thought, 'Why not?'"
Peart added that "the two songs we recorded that day in Nashville are detached from the past, rooted in the present, and pointed toward the future. Because they are the first two parts of what we envision as an extended album-length story, they truly are a work in progress, and thus a glimpse of our own future."
The song is the opening track of Clockwork Angels, an album that is built around a narrative of a young man's journey towards his dreams. Bassist-singer Geddy Lee told MusicRadar.com: "'Caravan' starts the story off; it's basically about a young guy who's got big dreams, big desires, and a very romantic vision of what the world's supposed to bring him and he can't wait to go out and see it. So he kinda runs away from home, stows away on the back of an airship. In our world airships are trains that fly! And yeah he sets off to find the world."
"Caravan" sees the album's protagonist looking back on the start of his life. A frustrated young man desperate, like Neil Peart was, to break away from the apparently idyllic life on the farm where he grew up. At last, he starts his journey - an escape from the quiet life into the city. "In a world where I feel so small/I can't stop thinking big".
The song begins with the sound a train signal and rather ominous orchestration, and then bang! - explodes into a tough, feisty rocker driven by an instantly memorable, gritty guitar riff by Alex Lifeson.
At first Geddy Lee hardly sounds like himself. His vocal register is deepening with age - and no, that's not a negative. While he may be backing off from his signature siren-wail, he retains every ounce of force. In fact, at this point in his career, he's becoming a far more captivating and intriguing singer than ever, full of nuance and depth and able to play with phrases in ways that he hasn't in years past.
An unruly guitar solo in the middle section segues from a rousing power chord pattern into blazing trills. Underneath, Lee applies fleet-fingered basslines. But what's this? Suddenly, Lifeson fires off runs that are by turns gnarly and spacey. Meanwhile, Peart lets loose behind his kit. It's like Rush in a Cuisinart - which results in a delicious mix.
Alex Lifeson's guitar solo was described in an interview by the website Musicradar.com as "unruly." The guitarist concurred with the description adding: "I definitely wanted something that was out of control. It's all over the map, kind of frenetic and climbing up and down with what the rest of the track was doing."
* Lifeson used his '59 Les Paul reissue, 355 and '59 reissue Telecaster for this song. For the solo, he used the Les Paul.
* The song reached #19 on the Finnish singles chart and #44 in the band's home country of Canada.
Geddy Lee - Vocals, Bass
Alex Lifeson - Guitar
Neil Peart - Drums, Lyrics
#MysticRhythmsLive
All Comments (21)
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Lyrics [Click on "CC" icon for Closed Captioning] (Lyrics on Screen) In a world lit only by fire A long train of flares Under piercing stars I stand watching the steam-liners roll by The caravan thunders onward To the distant dream of the city The caravan carries me onward On my way at last, on my way at last I can't stop thinking big I can't stop thinking big I can't stop thinking big I can't stop thinking big On a road lit only by fire Going where I want Instead of where I should I peer out at the passing shadows Carried through the night into the city Where a young man has A chance of making good A chance to break from the past The caravan thunders onward Stars winking through the canvas hood The caravan thunders onward On my way at last, on my way at last I can't stop thinking big I can't stop thinking big I can't stop thinking big I can't stop thinking big I can't stop thinking big I can't stop thinking big In a world where I feel so small I can't stop thinking big [3:25 Instrumental] [4:25 Guitar Solo] I can't stop thinking big I can't stop thinking big I can't stop thinking big I can't stop thinking big I can't stop thinking big I can't stop thinking big In a world where I feel so small I can't stop thinking big
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Clockwork Angels is a masterpiece IMO. Its just so complete with no weaknesses on it, just like Moving Pictures and 2112
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This song is out there even for Rush. I love it.
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Loop Machine for I , I live in a loop of profiled people,s and animals 😊
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Intense well done, bass excellent, guitar top notch, drums perfect like the professor on the drum kit. Thanks for posting. I can't stop thinking big,
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Tuve la dicha de ver a esta banda en octubre del 2010 en Santiago de. Chile. Rock progresivo en su máxima expresión
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Have a stick have a stick 😊
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Wow. Transition outta the solo
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This song is so awesome..endless creativity!
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Clockwork Angels is a banger! LOVE the whole album. It is one of my favourites. It is their first full concept album with a steampunk theme. Neil actually cowrote a sci-fi book to go along with the record. I am requesting Caravan from the Time Machine Tour live in Cleveland which is also from this album. Love seeing the joy on your face listening to this song. Cheers
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They were the bomb!
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Al took it too another level there
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My shadow walks my shadow see,s my shadow rises in death no sceen , my shadow of horns my shadow of fangs my shadow shows the truth my shadow knows👹🎸
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Fantastic and Magic!
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Funny how people already knew tze song in the front row even though it wasnt released yet.
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No one: Not a Soul: Neil: Here Gump these things can stand my awesomeness
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Colossal!
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is Rush pinball
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What happened to the sound?
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It is an interesting start - has a Metallica feel to it. Great solos from Alex.
