Fully Completely

Last updated
Fully Completely
Fully Completely.jpg
Studio album by
The Tragically Hip
ReleasedOctober 6, 1992
Studio Battery, London
Genre Alternative rock
Length46:47
Label MCA
Producer Chris Tsangarides
The Tragically Hip chronology
Road Apples
(1991)		Fully Completely
(1992)		 Day for Night
(1994)
Singles from Fully Completely
  1. "Locked in the Trunk of a Car"
    Released: October 1992
  2. "Fifty Mission Cap"
    Released: January 1993
  3. "Courage (for Hugh MacLennan)"
    Released: February 1993
  4. "At the Hundredth Meridian"
    Released: April 1993
  5. "Looking for a Place to Happen"
    Released: 1993
  6. "Fully Completely"
    Released: 1993
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [1]

Fully Completely is the third studio album by Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip. The album was released in October 1992 and produced by Chris Tsangarides. The album produced six singles: "Locked in the Trunk of a Car", "Fifty Mission Cap", "Courage (For Hugh MacLennan)", "At the Hundredth Meridian", "Looking for a Place to Happen", and "Fully Completely". [2]

Contents

Background

The Tragically Hip had released two full-length albums ( Up To Here and Road Apples ) before Fully Completely, working with producer Don Smith. [3] While the albums had been successful in Canada, the Tragically Hip had not broken into the American market in a significant way. [3] Hip guitarist Rob Baker later voiced the opinion that collaborating with the same producer on multiple projects (as the Hip had done with their first two albums) becomes troublesome because "little politics and intrigues enter into things". [3] In late 1992, Producer Chris Tsangarides had just completed production on an album by Concrete Blonde, and was eager to work with the Tragically Hip. [3] MCA, responsible for the financial success of the album, favored Tsangarides because of his proven ability to generate an American radio-friendly sound. [3] During production of the second album, singer Gordon Downie had announced that he would no longer sing lyrics written by other members of the band. [3] Fully Completely was the first album that would follow that decision by Downie.

Recording and production

Fully Completely was recorded under the supervision of producer Chris Tsangarides at Battery Studios in London, England. [3] In contrast to the band’s first two albums, the production techniques did not try to mimic what the band was performing on stage. Each track was built instrument by instrument over the course of five weeks, with only three days dedicated to vocals. [3] The band expected recording in London to be a "grand experience," but had a mixed experience upon arriving. Some band members found the nights and weekends outside the studio to be, "dull and isolating". [3] The art budget for the album was $30,000, and the total budget for the album was an estimated $185,000. [2] The band has described the making of the album as being "about us wanting to learn". [4]

Album artwork

The cover art for Fully Completely was designed by Dutch artist Lieve Prins. [3] Prins was given the idea of a "bacchanalian sort of scene – lots of decadence, decay and rebirth," by Hip guitarist Rob Baker, and was left to work with the idea. [4] Prins also drew inspiration from I ching symbols and numbers. [4] The final artwork was created using a Canon colour photocopier. [5] The cover consists of 30 segmented photocopied images pasted together. [3] The band was granted licensing privileges to the artwork, but Prins retained the ownership of the actual artwork. [3] In the late 1990s, the Tragically Hip bought the piece from a gallery in Los Angeles. [3] It now hangs prominently in their studio near Kingston, Ontario. [3]

Themes

The lyrics on Fully Completely are heavily centred on Canadian icons and history. Writer Rob Mitchell has described the album as, "a trippy Canadiana dream/nightmare – like The Odessy [sic] directed by Atom Egoyan". [6] The title of the first track on the album, "Courage (for Hugh MacLennan)" makes reference to Canadian author Hugh MacLennan, and was inspired by his novel "The Watch That Ends the Night". [7] The second track, "Looking for a Place to Happen", deals with the subject of European encroachment and the eventual annexation of indigenous lands in North America, making specific reference to explorer Jacques Cartier. [8] The third track, "At the Hundredth Meridian", references the line of longitude that separates much of Western Canada from the Central and Atlantic regions. [8] The ninth track. "Fifty Mission Cap", references the life, career, and death of Toronto Maple Leafs player Bill Barilko, as well as fifty mission caps, which were provided to elite bomber pilots of the allied air forces during World War II. [9]

Reception

Fully Completely was extremely well received in Canada. [3] It had initial orders of 150,000 copies in Canada, [10] and 200,000 in Canada by the end of three months. [3] The Tragically Hip and their label, MCA, had high expectations for the U.S. release of Fully Completely. [3] Gord Sinclair described in an interview that the band, "were still holding out for the equivalent American success". [3] The success, however, did not happen. MCA stopped American promotion of Fully Completely after two weeks. [3] Its success in Canada, however, was unquestionable. It reached No. 1 on the RPM Top 100 albums chart. [11] The album is listed at no. 5 on The Top 100 Canadian Albums by Bob Mersereau and No. 9 on The Top 102 Modern Rock Albums of All Time by 102.1 The Edge. The album was certified Diamond in Canada in January 2007 for sales of 1,000,000 copies. [12] Despite the Tragically Hip's great domestic success, this was the only album of theirs to be released in Japan. It was released there on April 21, 1993, with the catalogue number of MVCM-360. [13]

At the 2017 Polaris Music Prize, the album won the public vote for the Heritage Prize in the 1986-1995 category. [14]

Tours

Rather than a normal tour, the Tragically Hip followed the release of Fully Completely with the organization of "Another Roadside Attraction", in 1993. [15] Another Roadside Attraction was a traveling music and arts summer festival which promoted little known bands and traveled across Canada. [15] In 2014 and 2015, the band held a 22nd anniversary tour in which they played the album from beginning to end during each show. [16]

Reissue

A remastered "deluxe edition" of the album was released in 2014. [17] The reissue included two new tracks from the original recording sessions, as well as a second disc featuring a September 13, 1992, concert performance at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto. [17] One of the new tracks, "Radio Show," was released as a single to promote the reissue and reached #29 on Canada's rock chart. [18]

Track listing

All tracks are written by The Tragically Hip

No.TitleLength
1."Courage (for Hugh MacLennan)"4:27
2."Looking for a Place to Happen"4:18
3."At the Hundredth Meridian"3:20
4."Pigeon Camera"4:34
5."Lionized"3:20
6."Locked in the Trunk of a Car"4:42
7."We'll Go, Too"3:24
8."Fully Completely"3:32
9."Fifty Mission Cap"4:10
10."Wheat Kings"4:19
11."The Wherewithal"2:55
12."Eldorado"3:46
2014 re-issue bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."Radio Show"4:39
14."So Hard Done By"2:57
2014 live disc
No.TitleLength
1."At the Hundredth Meridian"3:53
2."Fifty-Mission Cap"4:10
3."We’ll Go Too"3:56
4."Fully Completely"3:54
5."Pigeon Camera"4:32
6."Twist My Arm"3:51
7."Lionized"3:34
8."Wheat Kings"4:07
9."Eldorado"4:08
10."Looking for a Place to Happen"4:51
11."Courage (For Hugh MacLennan)"4:13
12."Locked in the Trunk of a Car"4:53
13."The Wherewithal"3:34

Personnel

The Tragically Hip

Production

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for Fully Completely
Chart (1992–1993)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [19] 96
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [20] 1
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [21] 72
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) [22] 40

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for Fully Completely
Chart (2002)Position
Canadian Alternative Albums (Nielsen SoundScan) [23] 113

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Tragically Hip</span> Canadian rock band

The Tragically Hip, often referred to simply as the Hip, was a Canadian rock band formed in Kingston, Ontario in 1984, consisting of vocalist Gord Downie, guitarist Paul Langlois, guitarist Rob Baker, bassist Gord Sinclair, and drummer Johnny Fay. They released 13 studio albums, one live album, one EP, and over 50 singles over a 33-year career. Nine of their albums have reached No. 1 on the Canadian charts. They have received numerous Canadian music awards, including 17 Juno Awards. Between 1996 and 2016, the Tragically Hip were the best-selling Canadian band in Canada and the fourth best-selling Canadian artist overall in Canada.

<i>The Tragically Hip</i> (EP) 1987 EP by the Tragically Hip

The Tragically Hip is the first release from Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip. The EP was produced by Ken Greer of Red Rider and consists of 7 songs.

<i>Up to Here</i> 1989 album by the Tragically Hip

Up to Here is the debut studio album by Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip, released in September 1989. It is one of the band's most successful albums, achieving Diamond status in Canada for sales of over a million copies, earning the band a Juno Award for Most Promising Artist, and also introduced fan-favourite songs such as "Blow at High Dough", "New Orleans Is Sinking", and "Boots or Hearts". The album reached No. 13 on RPM's Canadian Albums Chart, and both "Blow at High Dough" and "New Orleans is Sinking" reached No. 1 on the RPM Canadian Content singles charts.

<i>Road Apples</i> (album) 1991 studio album by The Tragically Hip

Road Apples is the second studio album by Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip. The album contains the hit singles "Three Pistols", “Little Bones,” and “Twist My Arm." During the Hip's last tour, in 2016, songs from this album were played live on a regular basis, featuring the above-mentioned songs as well as ”Long Time Running”, “Last of the Unplucked Gems”, “The Luxury”, and “Fiddler's Green.” References to many prominent figures were used, including Tom Thomson and Jacques Cousteau, as well as political situations in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The track “Fiddler's Green" was written for Gord Downie's young nephew, who died during the writing of the album. Because of the personal nature of the song, the Hip did not play it live often, but they played it on a regular basis during their final tour.

<i>Day for Night</i> (The Tragically Hip album) 1994 studio album by the Tragically Hip

Day for Night is the fourth studio album by the Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip. It is named for the film of the same name.

<i>Trouble at the Henhouse</i> 1996 studio album by The Tragically Hip

Trouble at the Henhouse is the fifth studio album by Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip, released in 1996. It was the band's first album to be released simultaneously in Canada and the United States.

<i>Live Between Us</i> 1997 live album by The Tragically Hip

Live Between Us is the first full-length live album by Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip.

<i>In Violet Light</i> 2002 studio album by The Tragically Hip

In Violet Light is the eighth full-length album by Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip. The album debuted at #2 on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling almost 33,000 copies in its first week. The album has been certified platinum in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gord Downie</span> Canadian musician and writer (1964–2017)

Gordon Edgar Downie was a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, musician, writer, poet, and activist. He was the singer and lyricist for the Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip, which he fronted from its formation in 1984 until his death in 2017. He is revered by many as an inspiring and influential artist in Canada's music history.

<i>Coke Machine Glow</i> 2001 studio album by Gordon Downie

Coke Machine Glow is the first solo album released by Gord Downie, the singer for The Tragically Hip. It was released in 2001.

<i>Yer Favourites</i> 2005 greatest hits album by the Tragically Hip

Yer Favourites is a two-disc compilation album by the Tragically Hip. The tracks for Yer Favourites were selected by the band's fans on its website and were remastered. The compilation includes a total of seven songs from Fully Completely, six songs from Road Apples, five songs from Phantom Power, four songs from Up to Here, four songs from Day for Night, two songs from Trouble at the Henhouse, two songs from Music @ Work, two songs from In Violet Light, two songs from In Between Evolution and one song from the band's self-titled EP. It also included two new songs, "No Threat" and "The New Maybe". It was released both as a stand-alone two-disc set and as part of the Hipeponymous box set. The compilation debuted at number 8 on the Canadian Albums Chart in 2005. In 2016, the compilation re-entered the Canadian Albums Chart, contemporaneous with the release of Man Machine Poem and the announcement of lead singer Gord Downie's cancer diagnosis.

<i>That Night in Toronto</i> 2005 video by The Tragically Hip

That Night in Toronto is a live concert DVD featuring Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip, filmed and directed by filmmaking brothers Pierre and Francois Lamoureux.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Courage (for Hugh MacLennan)</span> 1993 single by the Tragically Hip

"Courage (for Hugh MacLennan)" is a song by Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip. It was released in February 1993 as the third single from their 1992 album Fully Completely. The song's bracketed title references author Hugh MacLennan, because lines from his 1959 novel The Watch That Ends the Night are paraphrased in the song's final verse.

"Fifty Mission Cap" is a song by Canadian rock group The Tragically Hip. It was released in January 1993 as the second single from the band's third full-length album, Fully Completely. It was first played in front of a live concert audience at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto on December 16, 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahead by a Century</span> 1996 single by the Tragically Hip

"Ahead by a Century" is a song by Canadian rock band the Tragically Hip. It was released as the lead single from the band's fifth studio album, Trouble at the Henhouse. The song reached number one on Canada's singles chart, and is the band's most successful single in their native Canada. It was one of the 10 most-played songs in Canada in 1996. The song was nominated for "Best Single" at the 1997 Juno Awards. The song was certified platinum in Canada in 2016.

<i>The Grand Bounce</i> 2010 studio album by Gord Downie and the Country of Miracles

The Grand Bounce is the third solo album by Gord Downie, the lead singer of The Tragically Hip. It was released on 8 June 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grace, Too</span> 1994 single by The Tragically Hip

"Grace, Too" is a song by Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip. It was released in September 1994 as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Day for Night. The song peaked at number 11 on the RPM Canadian Singles chart.

<i>Man Machine Poem</i> 2016 studio album by the Tragically Hip

Man Machine Poem is the thirteenth and final studio album by Canadian rock band the Tragically Hip, released on June 17, 2016 on Universal Music Canada. It is their last album to be released before the death of lead singer Gord Downie, as well as their last to be composed of new material. Produced by Kevin Drew and Dave Hamelin, the album is named after a track which appeared on the band's previous album Now for Plan A.

<i>Introduce Yerself</i> 2017 studio album by Gord Downie

Introduce Yerself is the sixth solo album by Canadian singer and songwriter Gord Downie, released posthumously on October 27, 2017, ten days after his death. A double album consisting of 23 songs which Downie has described as each being about specific people in his life, it was the last solo album Downie completed, although his brothers Patrick and Mike subsequently confirmed that additional unreleased material would be released in the future; the album Away Is Mine, which comprises the last songs Downie ever recorded and was completed by producer Nyles Spencer following Downie's death, was released in 2020.

<i>Saskadelphia</i> 2021 EP by The Tragically Hip

Saskadelphia is an EP by Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip, released on May 21, 2021.

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic review
  2. 1 2 "Tragically Hip Fully and Completely recharged". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 2015-11-16.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Aikenhead, Paul David (2010). Man-Sized Inside: A History of the Construction of Masculinity in The Tragically Hip’s album Fully Completely (PDF). University of Saskatchewan. pp. 34–39.
  4. 1 2 3 "Tragically Hip's guitarist: 'We were all reaching for the same thing'". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2015-11-16.
  5. ↑ Newt, The. "Gordon Downie goes Fully Completely Canadian on new Tragically Hip album". earofnewt.com. Retrieved 2015-11-16.
  6. ↑ "The Hip's 'Fully Completely' Connects Me to Canada". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2015-11-16.
  7. ↑ "Courage Exhibit". www.hipmuseum.com. Retrieved 2015-11-16.
  8. 1 2 "Album Review: A look back at The Tragically Hip's Fully Completely". postcity.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-11. Retrieved 2015-11-16.
  9. ↑ "Fifty Mission Cap". www.hipmuseum.com. Retrieved 2015-11-16.
  10. ↑ LeBlanc 1992, p. 51.
  11. ↑ "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 56, No. 19, November 07 1992".
  12. ↑ "Canadian Recording Industry Association". 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-05-26. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
  13. ↑ "Discogs - The Tragically Hip – Fully Completely" . Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  14. ↑ "Tragically Hip album makes Polaris Heritage Prize list". Toronto Star , October 25, 2017.
  15. 1 2 "The Tragically Hip". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2015-11-16.
  16. ↑ "Fully Completely Reissues and North American Tour | The Tragically Hip". The Tragically Hip. Retrieved 2015-11-16.
  17. 1 2 "The Tragically Hip Treat 'Fully Completely' to Deluxe Reissue, Perform Album in Full on Tour" Archived 2014-10-09 at the Wayback Machine . Exclaim! , October 6, 2014.
  18. ↑ "BDSRadio Charts". 6 November 2014. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014.
  19. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 283.
  20. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 1891". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Tragically Hip – Fully Completely" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  22. ↑ "The Tragically Hip Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Canada's Top 200 Alternative albums of 2002". Jam! . Archived from the original on September 2, 2004. Retrieved March 28, 2022.

Works cited

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.