View source for Vapor Trails

{{about|the album by Rush||Vapor Trail (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Vapor Trails
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[Rush (band)|Rush]]
| cover      = Rush Vapor Trails.jpg
| border = yes
| alt        =
| released   = {{start date|2002|5|14}}
| recorded   = August–December 2001<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Popoff | first1 = Martin | title = Driven | edition = 1st | publisher = ECW Press | year = 2021 | pages = 213 | isbn = 978-1-77041-537-9}}</ref>
| studio     = Reaction, Toronto<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Atlantic's Rush Blazes A 'Vapor Trail' |last=Titus |first=Christa |date=May 4, 2002 |magazine=Billboard |volume=114 |number=18 |issn=0006-2510 |page=12 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5xAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA12}}</ref>
| genre      =
*[[Hard rock]]<ref name=Ew /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://nudeasthenews.com/sections/reviews/r/story/072102aaa.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020802010600/http://nudeasthenews.com/sections/reviews/r/story/072102aaa.html |title=Rush – Vapor Trails |date=2002 |last=Cohen |first=Jonathan |website=Nude as the News |archive-date=August 2, 2002 |access-date=January 20, 2024}}</ref>
*[[progressive rock]]<ref name=Ew/>
| length     = {{duration|m=67|s=15}}
| label      = [[Anthem Records|Anthem]] 
| producer   =
*Rush
*[[Paul Northfield]]
| prev_title = [[Different Stages (Rush album)|Different Stages]]
| prev_year  = 1998
| next_title = [[The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974–1987]]
| next_year  = 2003
| misc       = {{Singles
 | name        = Vapor Trails
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[One Little Victory]]
 | single1date = March 29, 2002
 | single2     = [[Secret Touch]]
 | single2date = July 10, 2002
}}
}}

'''''Vapor Trails''''' is the seventeenth studio album by Canadian rock band [[Rush (band)|Rush]]. It was released on May 14, 2002,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/all-trails-lead-to-rush-tour-76113/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |title=All 'Trails' Lead To Rush Tour|accessdate=November 5, 2023 |date=April 15, 2002|last=Cohen |first=Jonathan }}</ref> on [[Anthem Records]], and was their first studio release since ''[[Test for Echo]]'' (1996), the longest gap between two Rush albums. After the ''Test For Echo'' tour finished in July 1997, drummer and lyricist [[Neil Peart]] suffered the loss of his daughter and then his wife in separate tragedies. As a result, the group entered an extended hiatus during which it was not certain they would continue. They eventually reunited in January 2001 to rehearse material for a new album, recording for which lasted until December.<ref name="Vapor Trails news archive">Vapor Trails news archive [http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/VTnews.htm Power Windows website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616202159/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/VTnews.htm |date=2008-06-16 }}. Retrieved 16 March 2006.</ref> For the first and only time since ''[[Caress of Steel]]'' (1975), Rush did not use any keyboards or synthesizers in their music; the band incorporated many layers of guitar, bass and drums instead.

''Vapor Trails'' reached No. 3 in Canada and No. 6 in the United States. "[[One Little Victory]]" was released as the album's lead single in March 2002 and went to No. 10 on the ''Billboard'' Mainstream Rock chart in the United States. The next single was "[[Secret Touch]]". The album went gold in Canada in August 2002.<ref name="CRIA">{{cite web |url=http://www.cria.ca/gold/0802_g.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009121726/http://www.cria.ca/gold/0802_g.php | archive-date=2014-10-09 |title=Gold & Platinum Certification |publisher=[[Canadian Recording Industry Association]] |access-date=2009-08-20}}</ref> The Vapor Trails Tour lasted from June through November 2002, which saw the band play to the largest crowds of its career in Brazil. Following the band's dissatisfaction with the album's overall production, two tracks were remixed for the ''[[Retrospective III: 1989–2008]]'' compilation album. The positive feedback from this resulted in the entire ''Vapor Trails'' album being remixed by David Bottrill and released on September 30, 2013, as ''Vapor Trails Remixed'',<ref name="Remix release"/> both as a separate release and as part of ''[[The Studio Albums 1989–2007]]''.<ref name="Remix release">{{cite news |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/rush-remix-their-polarizing-album-vapor-trails-premiere-20130927 |agency=Rolling Stone |title=Rush Remix Their Polarizing Album 'Vapor Trails' – Premiere |date=September 27, 2013 |access-date=October 1, 2013 |archive-date=September 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930084000/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/rush-remix-their-polarizing-album-vapor-trails-premiere-20130927 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Background==
After Rush finished their [[Test for Echo Tour]] in July 1997, the group entered a five-year hiatus following the personal tragedies in drummer [[Neil Peart|Neil Peart's]] life, losing his daughter Selena in August 1997 and wife Jackie in June 1998. Peart took a hiatus and rode around North America on a motorcycle, covering {{convert|88,000|km|mi|abbr=on}}. At some point in his journey, Peart decided to return to the band. In his book ''[[Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road]]'', Peart writes of how he had told his bandmates at Selena's funeral, "consider me retired."<ref name="Peart-GhostRider">Peart, Neil. ''Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road''. Toronto: ECW Press. 2002. {{ISBN|1-55022-546-4}}</ref> However, in October 2000, after a period of recuperation, Lee announced during promotional interviews for his solo album ''[[My Favourite Headache]]'' that Rush were to get together in the following January with the intention to write and rehearse material for a new studio album.<ref name=TOURBOOK>{{cite web|url=https://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/rush/tourbook-vaportrails.php|title=Behind the Fire: The Making of Vapor Trails|first=Neil|last=Peart|date=2002|access-date=6 November 2018|archive-date=6 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106221519/https://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/rush/tourbook-vaportrails.php|url-status=live}}</ref> Lee said that the album was not made for simply new music, but for "the psychological health and welfare of all the people who have gone through a very difficult time."<ref name=JAM2001/>

==Writing and recording==
The trio gathered at Reaction Studios in Toronto on January 9, 2001, but did not play anything for three weeks. They discussed what they wanted to achieve and how the album should take shape. Lifeson said it was to get "a feel for each other's frame of mind. We needed to see if everybody was really up for it."<ref name=GPLAYER02>{{cite web|url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20020800guitarplayer.htm|title=Back in the Limelight: Alex Lifeson and Rush Reignite After a Five-Year Hiatus|first=Shawn|last=Hammond|date=August 2002|magazine=Guitar Player|access-date=November 7, 2018|archive-date=January 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126231803/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20020800guitarplayer.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Lee and Lifeson said that they chose the studio based on its "artist friendly environment, that was very comfortable and accommodating".<ref name=CM2002/> Among the topics discussed was the album's musical direction which became a source of difficulty as initially, there was little agreement on what it should be. Upon reaching a consensus, Lifeson said the three found common ground "on every aspect of the recording."<ref name=GPLAYER02/>

The band started working, adopting a three-week-on, one-week-off schedule with no one present apart from a technical assistant.<ref name=JAM2001>{{cite web|url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20010112jam.htm|title=Geddy Lee on the Rush Reunion|publisher=Jam! Showbiz|date=12 January 2001|first=Paul|last=Cantin|access-date=6 November 2018|archive-date=6 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106210740/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20010112jam.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=CM2002/> The group was hopeful there was still chemistry amongst them to make an album. They adopted their usual method of writing with Lee and Lifeson working together on musical ideas in the studio control room while Peart worked elsewhere on the lyrics, this time using a pen, paper and a computer. Peart wrote about their attitude towards the sessions: "We laid out no parameters, no goals, no limitations, only that we would take a relaxed, civilized approach."<ref name=TOURBOOK/> Peart looked through his scrapbook of notes and phrases he'd collected and explored ways of connecting them together to form a complete lyrical idea. Lee and Lifeson developed ideas largely through jam sessions typically kicked off by setting a pattern on a drum machine and playing along, recording every session using [[Logic Pro]].<ref name=TOURBOOK/> This was to avoid making a demo tape of a collection of songs and re-record them at a later point. This way, early takes became the basis of the songs which kept the music fresh using as many original takes where possible.<ref name=CM2002/>

After several weeks Peart presented the ideas he'd formed, but Lee and Lifeson had not put down any concrete pieces of music. Peart recalled they were not yet "serious" and still wanted to play and explore ideas as sifting through what they had put to tape was a tedious process and disrupted their creative flow.<ref name=TOURBOOK/> Peart had completed six sets of lyrics at this point but was not getting feedback from his bandmates as he had before, so he paused on lyrics and focused on his book ''[[Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road]]''.<ref name=TOURBOOK/><ref name=MD2002>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20020900moderndrummer.htm|title=Neil Peart: The Fire Returns|first=William F.|last=Miller|magazine=Modern Drummer|date=September 2002|access-date=November 7, 2018|archive-date=November 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108025632/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20020900moderndrummer.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The three became dissatisfied with what they'd come up with and thought it was too forced, which led to their decision to take some weeks off. They did so, and returned feeling refreshed and more focused, and were able to work out complete songs, not just sections.<ref name=GPLAYER02/> The songs that emerged from these early jams were "Peaceable Kingdom," "Ceiling Unlimited" and "Nocturne," all of which still contain some parts put down from the original takes, in their final form.<ref name=GPLAYER02/> According to Lifeson, no tracks were completely re-recorded.<ref name=GPLAYER02/>

''Vapor Trails'' is the first album since ''[[Caress of Steel]]'' (1975) not to feature keyboards. Lifeson had often worried about the presence of keyboards on previous Rush albums, but this time Lee had agreed not to use them. Lifeson therefore spent a greater amount of time devising guitar parts that were "richer on tonality and harmonic quality", adequate for the background tracks.<ref name=CM2002/> He also avoided sound effects on his guitar, to achieve a more raw sound.<ref name=CM2002/> At certain points in recording his drum parts, Peart had been influenced by [[The Who|Who]] drummer [[Keith Moon]] and played in his style of more lyrical drumming, rather than simply keeping the beat.<ref name=MD2002/>

After taking a break in June 2001,<ref name=CM2002/> Rush began to record their new songs in mid-August.<ref name=VP2001>{{cite web|url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20010916vancouverprovince.htm|title=Rush Back in the Studio|first=Sorelle|last=Saldman|work=Vancouver Province|date=September 16, 2001|access-date=November 6, 2018|archive-date=November 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106210741/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20010916vancouverprovince.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Initially they decided to write 13 tracks for the album and pick the best 10 or 11 for the final selection, but when the time arrived they agreed to include all of them.<ref name=KLBJ>{{cite interview|url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20020410klbj.htm|title=KLBJ Interviews Alex Lifeson [Transcript]|first=Peggy|last=Simmons|date=April 10, 2002|work=KLBJ Austin, Texas|access-date=November 6, 2018|archive-date=November 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107010131/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20020410klbj.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> They were joined by English producer [[Paul Northfield]], who had worked on several previous Rush albums and assisted in the arrangement to some tracks when the group felt stuck.<ref name=VP2001/><ref name=KLBJ/> The band are credited as co-producers. In December 2001, the group left the Reaction Studios and started mixing the album at [[Metalworks Studios]] with [[David Leonard (record producer)|David Leonard]].<ref name=CM2002>{{cite web|url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20020500cm.htm|title=Hiatus Evaporates into Vapor Trails|first=Rich|last=Priske|magazine=Canadian Musician|date=May 2002|access-date=6 November 2018|archive-date=6 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106210747/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20020500cm.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20020109billboard.htm|title=Rush Wraps New Album|first=Jonathan|last=Cohen|date=January 9, 2002|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 6, 2018|archive-date=November 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107010111/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20020109billboard.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The mixing was complete in March 2002, after which it was sent to Masterdisk in New York City for mastering by [[Howie Weinberg]]. Rush chose him having liked the sound of the other albums that Weinberg had worked on.<ref name=CM2002 />

==Reception==
{{Album ratings
| MC = 75/100<ref name="Metacritic">{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/vapor-trails/rush/critic-reviews |title=Critic Reviews for Vapor Trails |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=2012-03-23 |archive-date=2013-01-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126165424/http://www.metacritic.com/music/vapor-trails/rush/critic-reviews |url-status=live }}</ref>
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name=Allmusic>{{cite web |last=Prato |first=Greg |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/vapor-trails-mw0000219352 |title=Vapor Trails – Rush |website=[[AllMusic]] |date=2002-05-14 |access-date=2011-08-13 |archive-date=2013-08-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824094544/http://www.allmusic.com/album/vapor-trails-mw0000219352 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[The Austin Chronicle]]''
| rev2score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Hernandez |first=Raoul |url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2002-08-16/100243/ |title=Rush: Vapor Trails |newspaper=[[The Austin Chronicle]] |date=2002-08-16 |access-date=2011-08-13 |archive-date=2014-02-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203224819/http://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2002-08-16/100243/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]''
| rev3score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="Metacritic" />
| rev4 = [[E!]] Online
| rev4score = B+<ref name="Metacritic" />
| rev5 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev5score = B+<ref name=Ew>{{cite magazine |last=Farber |first=Jim |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,237291,00.html |title=Vapor Trails Review |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=2002-05-17 |access-date=2013-02-23 |archive-date=2014-02-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201221728/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,237291,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
| rev6Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|year=2007|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|edition=4th|isbn=978-0195313734|title-link=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Martin C. Strong|The Essential Rock Discography]]''
| rev7Score = 5/10<ref name="Strong">{{cite book |last1=Strong |first1=Martin Charles  |title=The Essential Rock Discography |edition=8th |year=2006 |publisher=Open City Books |isbn=1-84195-860-3 |pages=938–939 |chapter=Rush }}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[PopMatters]]''
| rev8score = 9/10<ref name="Metacritic" /><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Moffat |first=Kael |url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/rush-vapor/ |title=Rush: Vapor Trails |magazine=[[PopMatters]] |date=2002-08-08 |access-date=2011-08-13 |archive-date=2013-04-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420191423/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/rush-vapor/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev9score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="Metacritic" />
| rev10 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev10score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Richard Abowitz |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/vapor-trails-20020424 |title=Vapor Trails |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=2002-04-24 |access-date=2011-08-13 |archive-date=2013-06-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626232815/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/vapor-trails-20020424 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| rev11 = ''[[Colin Larkin|The Virgin Encyclopedia of 80s Music]]''
| rev11Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{Cite book|author=[[Colin Larkin|Larkin, Colin]]|year=2003|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of 80s Music|isbn=1852279699|publisher=[[Virgin Publishing]]|section=Rush|pages=414–415}}</ref>
| noprose = yes
}}
The production of ''Vapor Trails'' has been criticized by the band themselves, critics and fans alike because of the album's "loud" sound quality. It has overly compressed (clipped) audio levels during [[Audio mastering|mastering]], which generates additional digital distortion during the CD production. The trend, known as the [[loudness war]], was very common on modern CD production at the time.<ref name=npr2009>{{Cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122114058&sc=nl&cc=mn-20100102 |publisher=NPR |title=The Loudness Wars: Why Music Sounds Worse |date=31 December 2009 |access-date=2010-09-02 |archive-date=2010-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612145712/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122114058&sc=nl&cc=mn-20100102 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Anderson">Anderson, Tim (18 January 2007). [https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2007/jan/18/pop.music "How CDs are remastering the art of noise."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041929/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2007/jan/18/pop.music |date=2016-03-04 }} Retrieved on 12 March 2012.</ref> Alex Lifeson stated:

<blockquote>It was a contest, and it was mastered too high, and it crackles, and it spits, and it just crushes everything. All the dynamics get lost, especially anything that had an acoustic guitar in it.<ref name=Rushisaband/></blockquote>

''Past Prime'' described the album as "speaker-rattling loud. It's a sound created on the heels of [[Tool (band)|Tool]] and [[Korn]]. And while 'Vapor Trails' never goes full [[nu metal]], the guitars are occasionally shrill, the bass sometimes sounds like bongwater and the distortion is plainly aggressive."<ref name=pastprime>{{cite web | url=https://www.pastpri.me/home/rush-vapor-trails#:~:text=Speaker%2Drattling%20loud.%20It's%20a%20sound%20created%20on,goes%20full%20Nu%20Metal%2C%20the%20guitars%20are | title=Rush “Vapor Trails” | website=Past Prime}}</ref>

''Billboard'' gave a favorable review.<ref name=BillboardReview>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/billboard/reviews/review_displayprint.jsp?vnu_content_id=1486776 |title=Rush: Vapor Trails |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=May 18, 2002 |access-date=2013-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020608050100/http://www.billboard.com/billboard/reviews/review_displayprint.jsp?vnu_content_id=1486776 |archive-date=2002-06-08 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==''Vapor Trails Remixed''==
''Vapor Trails Remixed'' is a [[Remix album|remixed version]] of ''Vapor Trails'' mixed by David Bottrill. The album was released by [[Atlantic Records]] and [[Rhino Entertainment]] on September 30, 2013, and entered at No.&nbsp;35 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart.<ref name="Remix release"/> The band had been unhappy with the original album's overall sonic production. Influenced by the positive reaction to the remixes of "[[One Little Victory]]" and "Earthshine" featured on [[Retrospective III: 1989–2008|''Retrospective III'']] by Richard Chycki, Rush and Bottrill remixed the entire album. In an interview with Modern Guitars, Lifeson remarked that, since the remixes were so good, there had been talk of doing an entire remix of the album.<ref name=Rushisaband>{{cite web |url=http://www.rushisaband.com/display.php?id=1729 |title=Rush Blog – Rush is a Band Blog: Alex Lifeson Modern Guitars interview now online |publisher=Rushisaband.com |access-date=2010-03-17 |archive-date=2011-07-19 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110719224752/http://www.rushisaband.com/display.php?id=1729 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Vapor Trails Remixed'' peaked in the [[Billboard charts|US Billboard Charts]] at number 35.<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 10, 2013|title=Rush's Vapor Trails Re-Enters the Billboard Charts at #35|url=http://news.cygnus-x1.net/2013/10/rushs-vapor-trails-re-enters-billboard.html|access-date=November 11, 2021|website=Cygnus-X1.Net}}</ref>

''Vapor Trails Remixed'' is also included in the box-set of Atlantic Studio Albums called ''[[The Studio Albums 1989–2007]]'', in lieu of the original version.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rush.com/vapor-trails-remixed/ |title=Vapor Trails Remixed |website=Rush.com |date=2013-08-01 |access-date=2015-12-01 |archive-date=2015-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208065118/http://www.rush.com/vapor-trails-remixed/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| all_lyrics = [[Neil Peart]]
| all_music = [[Alex Lifeson]] and [[Geddy Lee]]
| title1 = [[One Little Victory]]
| length1 = 5:08
| title2 = Ceiling Unlimited
| length2 = 5:28
| title3 = Ghost Rider
| length3 = 5:41
| title4 = Peaceable Kingdom
| length4 = 5:23
| title5 = The Stars Look Down
| length5 = 4:28
| title6 = How It Is
| length6 = 4:05
| title7 = Vapor Trail
| length7 = 4:57
| title8 = [[Secret Touch]]
| length8 = 6:34
| title9 = Earthshine
| length9 = 5:38
| title10 = Sweet Miracle
| length10 = 3:40
| title11 = Nocturne
| length11 = 4:49
| title12 = Freeze
| note12 = Part IV of "Fear"
| length12 = 6:21
| title13 = Out of the Cradle
| length13 = 5:03
}}

==Personnel==
Credits taken from the 2002 liner notes.<ref name=CDNOTES>{{cite AV media notes|url=https://www.discogs.com/Rush-Vapor-Trails/release/1808687|title=Vapor Trails|others=Rush|id=6682510962|year=2002|publisher=Anthem Records|access-date=2018-11-07|archive-date=2018-11-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108025707/https://www.discogs.com/Rush-Vapor-Trails/release/1808687|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''Rush'''
*[[Geddy Lee]] – bass guitar, vocals
*[[Alex Lifeson]] – electric and acoustic guitars, [[mandola]]
*[[Neil Peart]] – drums, cymbals

'''Production'''
*Rush – production, recording
*[[Paul Northfield]] – production, recording
*Chris Stringer – recording assistance
*[[David Leonard (record producer)|David Leonard]] – mixing
*David Bottrill – mixing: 2013 version
*Joel Kazmi – mixing assistance
*[[Howie Weinberg]] – mastering
*Roger Lian – additional mastering and sequencing
*Andy VanDette – mastering: 2013 version
*Lorne "Gump" Wheaton – equipment care
*[[Hugh Syme]] – art direction, paintings, and portraits

== Charts ==
=== Weekly charts ===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Weekly chart performance for ''Vapor Trails''
! scope="col"| Chart (2002)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|BillboardCanada|3|artist=Rush|rowheader=true|access-date=July 3, 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Netherlands|47|artist=Rush|album=Vapor Trails|rowheader=true|access-date=July 3, 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Finland|11|artist=Rush|album=Vapor Trails|rowheader=true|access-date=July 3, 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|France|150|artist=Rush|album=Vapor Trails|rowheader=true|access-date=July 3, 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Germany|20|id=17300|artist=Rush|album=Vapor Trails|rowheader=true|access-date=July 3, 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Sweden|18|artist=Rush|album=Vapor Trails|rowheader=true|access-date=July 3, 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|UK2|38|date=20020519|rowheader=true|access-date=July 3, 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|6|artist=Rush|rowheader=true|access-date=July 3, 2020}}
|}
=== Year-end charts ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Year-end chart performance for ''Vapor Trails''
! scope="col"| Chart (2002)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
!scope="row"|Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040906184132/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/200-2_2002.html|archivedate=September 6, 2004|url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/200-2_2002.html|title=Top 200 Albums of 2002 (based on sales)|website=[[Jam!]]|accessdate=March 23, 2022}}</ref>
|172
|-
!scope="row"|Canadian Metal Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040812035533/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_metal.html|archivedate=August 12, 2004|url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_metal.html|title=Top 100 Metal Albums of 2002|website=[[Jam!]]|accessdate=March 23, 2022}}</ref>
| 27
|}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|artist=Rush|title=Vapor Trails |award=Gold|relyear=2002|certyear=2002}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Metacritic album}}
* {{Discogs master|type=album|7783|name=Vapor Trails}}

{{Rush}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rush (band) albums]]
[[Category:2002 albums]]
[[Category:Anthem Records albums]]
[[Category:Atlantic Records albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Paul Northfield]]