As they entered a new decade, the members of Rush decided it was time for a new approach. The Canadian prog rockers found success with epics like the title tracks from 2112 and Hemispheres but wanted to streamline their sound.

“It was time to try something a little different. The idea was to make shorter but still very complex songs,” guitarist Alex Lifeson told Louder .

They showcased the approach with “ The Spirit of Radio ,” the lead single off 1980’s Permanent Waves .

“That was the song that sparked most of that album from that point of view. We were able to throw a lot of different things into that song, in five minutes, and it worked,” said bassist and lead singer Geddy Lee.

Inspired by a slogan of CFNY-FM, a radio station in the band’s native Toronto, “The Spirit of Radio” opens with a dizzying guitar riff based on the movement of radio waves.…