Rush-leave That Thing Alone «Top × Handbook»

The track earned a for "Best Instrumental Rock Performance," highlighting its critical success during a period when the band was moving away from the heavy synth-pop of the late 80s. Legacy in Live Performance

: Geddy Lee describes the piece as being built around "rhythm and blues bass-drum interplay". It is often cited as a standout moment for his bass playing, featuring a funky, driving undertone that anchors the more atmospheric elements. Rush-Leave That Thing Alone

: Neil Peart used the song to experiment with diverse patterns, incorporating a "Nigerian beat" influenced by King Sunny Ade in the second verse, and later shifting into a "quasi-jazz pattern". Recording and Production The track earned a for "Best Instrumental Rock

Leave That Thing Alone: The Anatomy of a Modern Rush Instrumental : Neil Peart used the song to experiment

Recorded primarily at in Quebec, the sessions for Counterparts saw the band returning to a more guitar-driven sound, though "Leave That Thing Alone" still features prominent synthesizer work by Geddy Lee and guest keyboardist John Webster .

"Leave That Thing Alone" is the ninth track from 1993 album, Counterparts . As a Grammy-nominated instrumental, it stands as a testament to the band’s technical evolution in the early 90s, blending their progressive rock roots with funk-inspired grooves and world music rhythms. Origins and Composition

: Alex Lifeson contributed a "clean verse thing" he had been developing on tour, along with a solo that originated from an early digital recording on an Alesis ADAT. Lifeson noted the solo has a distinct "Celtic flavor".