Recorded over a two-week period with producer Terry Brown at Toronto Sound Studios, the group's fourth studio effort proved to be a turning point in Rush's career at a time when they needed it the most.

"The record company was concerned," Lifeson tells Rolling Stone about the lack of commercial success following the band's 19784 self-titled debut. "We called the tour for 'Caress Of Steel' the 'Down the Tubes Tour.' We had passes made that had that on it.
"But that experience gave us the courage to stand up to what everybody was demanding of us. I remember clearly saying, 'OK, screw it. We're may go down in flames, but at least we know that we've done it our way.' There's no way we're gonna remake the first record just because that's what the record company wants and they're worried about sales."

Despite record company pressure, Lifeson explains Rush's independence was partially aided by the terms of their contract. "The fortunate thing is our deal at that time was a production deal," he says. "So, really, we had full control over content, including artwork. Once we delivered it to the record company, it was theirs to work with. So we were really lucky.