Permanent Waves, Rushs seventh studio album, was originally released in January 1980, and its forward-thinking music signaled a new direction for the Canadian band as it entered a new decade. The six songs encompassing the album encapsulated the breadth of Rushs formidable progressive chops meshed with its knack for creating radio-friendly arrangements, all elements that were embedded within the grooves of their previous album, 1978s widely acclaimed Hemispheres. Permanent Waves also signified Rushs first of many recording sessions at Le Studio in Morin-Heights, Quebec, which was at one point nicknamed the trios own personal Abbey Road recording studio.