The Tragically Hip (EP)

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The Tragically Hip
The Tragically Hip EP.png
EP by
The Tragically Hip
ReleasedDecember 1987
Genre Alternative rock
Length27:08
Label MCA
Producer
The Tragically Hip chronology
The Tragically Hip
(1987)		 Up to Here
(1989)
Singles from The Tragically Hip
  1. "Small Town Bringdown"
    Released: 1987
  2. "Highway Girl"
    Released: 1988
  3. "Last American Exit"
    Released: 1988

The Tragically Hip is the first release from Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip, released in 1987. [1]

Contents

The EP was produced by Ken Greer of Red Rider, [2] and consists of seven songs on cassette and eight songs on CD.

Release

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]

Songs

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.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [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]

Track listing

No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Small Town Bringdown"Gord SinclairSinclair3:05
2."Last American Exit"SinclairSinclair3:50
3."Killing Time" Gord Downie Rob Baker 4:50
4."Evelyn"SinclairSinclair2:25
5."Cemetery Sideroad"DownieSinclair3:15
6."I'm a Werewolf, Baby"Downie
  • Baker
  • Johnny Fay
  • Sinclair
3:20
7."Highway Girl"DownieBaker3:28
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
8."All Canadian Surf Club" (CD only)
  • Sinclair
  • Baker
2:50

Personnel

The Tragically Hip

Technical personnel

References

  1. 1 2 Greg Burliuk, "Local band takes its shot at success, launches record". Kingston Whig-Standard , December 10, 1987.
  2. ↑ Greg Barr, "Tragically Hip; After spending four weeks in a Tennesse studio, the band emerges with an album that sounds like a stage show". Ottawa Citizen , September 29, 1989.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Michael Barclay, The Never-Ending Present: The Story of Gord Downie and the Tragically Hip. ECW Press, 2018. ISBN   9781770414365.
  4. ↑ Michael Groberman, "Success has a price for small-town boys". Vancouver Sun , April 2, 1988.
  5. ↑ Greg Burliuk, "Sex and sociology". Kingston Whig-Standard , January 30, 1988.
  6. ↑ Liam Lacey, "But Kingston is still home to The Tragically Hip: Local heroes expand their horizons". The Globe and Mail , March 1, 1988.
  7. ↑ Greg Burliuk, "Tragically Hip Signs MCA Worldwide Record Deal". Kingston Whig-Standard , December 23, 1988.
  8. 1 2 3 Mike Degagne, "The Tragically Hip". AllMusic .
  9. ↑ Evelyn Erskine, "Two Canadian bands join the pop fray; Strange Advance proves adept at bridging sounds while Tragically hip mixes the tough, poetic". Ottawa Citizen , March 4, 1988.
  10. ↑ Greg Burliuk, "Help from his friends". Kingston Whig-Standard , December 19, 1987.
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