Studio Album · No. 8

Moving Pictures Songwriting Credits by Rush

1981 Anthem 7 tracks 40:03

Produced by Rush, Terry Brown  ·  Engineered by Paul Northfield, Robbie Whelan, Bob Ludwig

Anthem Progressive RockHard Rock
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 7 of 7 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 7 / 7 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 7 tracks with documented writers, by whether Rush carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
7 trackswritten by Rush 0 tracksoutside writers
Rush's roles on this album

Share of the 7 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

7
Tracks
2
Lyricists
2
Producers
5 million
US Copies Sold
1981
Released
Data Insight

Two of the seven tracks break the usual pattern in opposite directions. "Tom Sawyer" adds Pye Dubois to the lyric credit, the first of four songs he would work on with Peart, and "YYZ" gives the music to Lee and Peart rather than Lee and Lifeson.

The 1981 album that made them a mainstream act, with "Tom Sawyer", "Limelight" and "YYZ" on the same side. It has sold five million copies in the US.

Track Listing & Credits 7 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Tom Sawyer #44
Neil PeartPye Dubois Aleksandar ŽivojinovićGary Lee Weinrib RushTerry Brown Rush (Performer)
2
Red Barchetta
Neil Peart Aleksandar ŽivojinovićGary Lee Weinrib RushTerry Brown Rush (Performer)
3
YYZ
Neil Peart Gary Lee WeinribNeil Ellwood Peart RushTerry Brown Rush (Performer)
4
Limelight #55
Neil Peart Aleksandar ŽivojinovićGary Lee Weinrib RushTerry Brown Rush (Performer)
5
The Camera Eye
Neil Peart Aleksandar ŽivojinovićGary Lee Weinrib RushTerry Brown Rush (Performer)
6
Witch Hunt
Neil Peart Aleksandar ŽivojinovićGary Lee Weinrib RushTerry Brown Rush (Performer)
7
Vital Signs
Neil Peart Aleksandar ŽivojinovićGary Lee Weinrib RushTerry Brown Rush (Performer)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 7 contributors

More from Rush

Frequently Asked Questions Moving Pictures

Who wrote the songs on Moving Pictures?
Neil Peart wrote all seven sets of lyrics, sharing "Tom Sawyer" with Pye Dubois. Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson wrote the music, except on "YYZ", which is credited to Lee and Peart.
Who wrote "Tom Sawyer"?
Pye Dubois and Neil Peart wrote the words, Lee and Lifeson the music. Dubois wrote for Max Webster and brought Peart the draft the song grew from.
How high did the singles chart?
"Tom Sawyer" reached number 44 on the Hot 100 and "Limelight" number 55.
How did it sell?
Five million copies in the US. It went platinum for one million just two months after release, in April 1981, and has since been certified five times over.
How high did the album chart?
Number 1 in Canada and number 3 in both the US and the UK.
Who engineered it?
Paul Northfield with Robbie Whelan, and Bob Ludwig mastering.
How long is the album?
40:03 across seven tracks.

Sources