| The Tragically Hip | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| EP by | ||||
| Released | December 1987 | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 27:08 | |||
| Label | MCA | |||
| Producer | Ken Greer | |||
| The Tragically Hip chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Tragically Hip | ||||
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The Tragically Hip is the first release from Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip, released in 1987. [1]
The EP was produced by Ken Greer of Red Rider, [2] and consists of seven songs on cassette and eight songs on CD.
The EP was released in the Kingston area in late 1987, [3] and nationally in January 1988. [1]
In early 1988 the Hip went on their first cross-Canada tour lasting five weeks. [4] The label's initial marketing strategy was to ignore major metropolitan markets such as Toronto, instead focusing on breaking the band in secondary markets and on campus radio; [5] however, within weeks the band had made enough of a name for itself that they were playing Toronto venues like the Horseshoe Tavern by March. [6]
In December 1988 they signed a long-term contract with MCA Records. [7]
It was the only album in the band's career on which the band members received separate individual songwriting credits rather than being credited collectively. [3]
The EP was supported by the singles "Small Town Bringdown", "Highway Girl" and "Last American Exit".
A live version of "Highway Girl" was released in 1991 as a B-side to "Twist My Arm", in which Gord Downie tells the story of a suicide pact between a man and his girlfriend. [3] It was a hit on Canadian radio, allowing the song to chart considerably higher than in its original form. The story contains some lines which would later recur as lyrics in the band's 1992 single "Locked in the Trunk of a Car"; [3] it ends with Downie exclaiming "Get Mr. Ry Cooder to deliver my eulogy", which would also recur in "At the Hundredth Meridian". The album version was also the only song from this EP to be included in the Yer Favourites fan-picked compilation of 2005.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [8] |
Mike Degagne of AllMusic wrote that the album "is blanketed with a roadside texture that is interesting because it harnesses their music in its rawest and earliest stages. Gord Downie has not yet mastered his poetic rigidity or his soothsayer approach to obscure experiences and events here, as he does on future albums," but noted that "just because the band hasn't yet mastered their musicianship as a whole, doesn't mean the album is a total washout, either." [8] He singled out "Small Town Bringdown" and "Last American Exit" as strong songs, stating that the latter was good enough that it could have been on Road Apples . [8]
Evelyn Erskine of the Ottawa Citizen wrote that "The Hip's influences range from The Doors to The Pretty Things. If there are any flaws, it is that these influences can at times be too transparent. For example, vocalist Gord Downie has fleeting moments where he sounds more like Jim Morrison than he should. But The Hip mixes the tough and the poetic in a manner that is alluring in its hands. The rough guitars that mingle with graceful melodies provide an enticing contrast." [9]
Greg Burliuk of the band's hometown Kingston Whig-Standard was the most positive overall, writing that "though it contains only seven songs, rush out and grab this Kingston band's recording debut, so that you can say you were among the first to jump on the bandwagon. If the current trend towards rough-edged guitar bands holds, The Hip should find itself streaking towards the top in short order. This mini-album, originally intended simply as a demo, should help that ascent." He predicted, ultimately correctly, that "Downie is a first-rate singer who I think one day will be considered one of Canada's best. So may this band." [10]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Small Town Bringdown" | Gord Sinclair | 3:05 |
| 2. | "Last American Exit" | Sinclair | 3:50 |
| 3. | "Killing Time" | Gord Downie, Rob Baker | 4:50 |
| 4. | "Evelyn" | Sinclair | 2:25 |
| 5. | "Cemetery Sideroad" | Downie, Sinclair | 3:15 |
| 6. | "I'm a Werewolf, Baby" | Downie, Baker | 3:20 |
| 7. | "Highway Girl" | Downie, Baker | 3:28 |
| 8. | "All Canadian Surf Club" (CD only) | Sinclair, Baker | 2:50 |
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.
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.
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.
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 ", "At the Hundredth Meridian", "Looking for a Place to Happen", and "Fully Completely".
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.
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.
Platinum Blonde, known briefly as The Blondes, is a Canadian rock band that formed in Toronto, Ontario in 1979. Vocalist Mark Holmes has been the only consistent member of the band since its inception.
Modern Lullaby is an album by the Canadian band Martha and the Muffins, released in 1992. Although released under the band's original name, only Martha Johnson and Mark Gane remained following the original band's breakup.
Chalk Circle was a Canadian alternative rock band formed in 1982 in Newcastle, Ontario. The band originally consisted of lead singer and guitarist Chris Tait, bassist Brad Hopkins, keyboardist Tad Winklarz and drummer Derrick Murphy.
The Thin Red Line is the debut album by Canadian band Glass Tiger. It was released by Manhattan Records in Canada on February 17, 1986.
Mending Wall is the first album by the Canadian band Chalk Circle, released in 1987 on Duke Street Records. The band supported the album by touring with Crowded House. Mending Wall sold more than 50,000 copies before the end of 1987.
Nice Place to Visit is the second album by the Canadian band Frōzen Ghōst, released in 1988. It had sold more than 50,000 copies before the end of the year.
Shake Your Spirit is the third album by the Canadian band Frōzen Ghōst, released in 1992. It was recorded in early 1991. It was the band's final album.
Don't Just Stand There is the second album by the Canadian band Haywire. It was released 1987 via Attic Records. "Dance Desire", a hit in Canada, was released as a single. The album sold more than 100,000 copies by the end of 1987.
Contact is the third studio album by the Canadian band Platinum Blonde, released in 1987. It sold more than 150,000 copies in its first year of release. The album reached a high of 25 for 3 weeks on the Canadian charts. The first single was the title track; its video was shot at Lamport Stadium. Another music video was filmed for the second track, "Connect Me".
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.
Blind is the fourth album by the English band the Icicle Works, released in 1988. It was the band's final album with their original lineup. The album peaked at No. 40 on the UK Albums Chart. "High Time" peaked at No. 13 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart.
Positive is a studio album by the Jamaican reggae group Black Uhuru, released in 1987. A dub album, Positive Dub, was released the same year. Positive was the final album with vocalist Delroy "Junior" Reid.
Revolutionary Tea Party is an album by the Canadian musician Lillian Allen, released in 1986. It won a Juno Award for Best Reggae/Calypso Recording at the Juno Awards of 1986. The album sold around 5,000 copies in its first year of release. Allen subsequently named her band the Revolutionary Tea Party Band. The album was distributed in the U.S. by Holly Near's Redwood Records.
Slow Dance is an album by the American musician Southside Johnny, released in 1988. It was marketed as a solo endeavor, although a few Asbury Jukes played on the album.
