Description
The Tragically Hip – Saskadelphia – Silver Vinyl Record
Released on May 21, 2021, Saskadelphia is a posthumous EP by The Tragically Hip, featuring six previously unreleased tracks recorded during the sessions for their 1991 album Road Apples. This collection serves as a nostalgic and powerful return to the band’s early raw energy, bringing back the gritty, bluesy rock sound that defined their early years. The EP is especially poignant as it arrives four years after the passing of frontman Gord Downie, offering fans a bittersweet glimpse into the band’s past while celebrating their enduring legacy.
Back in 1990, when The Tragically Hip were recording Road Apples, they had more songs than they could fit on an album. Many tracks were left in the vaults, and the band had originally hoped for a double album. The working title? Saskadelphia—a name that reflected their relentless touring across North America and their love for places like Saskatchewan and Philadelphia. However, the label rejected the title, and many of these songs were forgotten—until now.
In 2020, while searching their archives, the surviving band members rediscovered these recordings, leading to Saskadelphia, a long-lost snapshot of The Hip at their peak.
True to their early ’90s sound, Saskadelphia is packed with guitar-driven rock, poetic storytelling, and Gord Downie’s signature intensity. The songs reflect themes of love, loss, violence, and surreal, dreamlike imagery, hallmarks of Downie’s lyricism. It’s raw, loud, and unfiltered, capturing the spontaneity and electricity of their early recording sessions.
Key Tracks and Highlights
“Ouch” – A hard-hitting, bluesy rocker that kicks off the EP with gritty guitar riffs and Downie’s howling vocals. It’s an urgent, high-energy track that feels like a lost gem from Road Apples.
“Not Necessary” – A groove-heavy mid-tempo song that leans into the band’s storytelling roots, with a rich, hypnotic rhythm.
“Montreal” – Perhaps the most poignant track, this live recording from 2000 tells the heartbreaking story of the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre, showcasing Downie’s gift for painting vivid, emotional narratives.
“Crack My Spine Like a Whip” – A raw and aggressive track, reminiscent of classic Hip songs like “Blow at High Dough”, bringing their bar-band roots to the forefront.
“Just As Well” – A moody, blues-influenced song, featuring melancholic melodies and a slow-burning build-up.
“Reformed Baptist Blues” – Closing the EP on a fast, rollicking note, this song is swaggering, rebellious, and full of energy, a reminder of The Hip’s early, unpolished spirit.
Saskadelphia was met with overwhelming praise from both longtime fans and critics, who saw it as a powerful tribute to The Tragically Hip’s legacy. Many noted that the album feels fresh, despite being recorded three decades ago, proving that The Hip’s music remains timeless. The release was bittersweet, as it marked one of the final chances to hear Gord Downie’s voice on “new” material, bringing both nostalgia and emotion to the experience.
Saskadelphia is more than just a collection of outtakes—it’s a love letter to The Tragically Hip’s past, a reminder of their raw power, and a gift to fans who continue to celebrate their music. It’s a brief but electrifying glimpse into a band at their most unfiltered and hungry, proving that even their “lost” songs can still hit as hard as their greatest hits.
A live recording from The Molson Centre: Montreal, Dec. 7th, 2000.
All other tracks are studio outtakes from Road Apples, recorded at Kingsway Studios, New Orleans, LA. (September 1990).
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic sleeve
Track Listing
Ouch
Not Necessary
Montreal (Live From The Molson Centre: Montreal, Dec. 7th, 2000)
Crack My Spine (Like A Whip)
Just As Well
Reformed Baptist Blues
