Saskadelphia is an EP by Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip, released on May 21, 2021.Jane Stevenson, "The Tragically Hip's new album, Saskadelphia, 'feels like it's honouring' Gord Downie". Calgary Herald, May 20, 2021.
The band's first release since the death of lead singer Gord Downie in 2017, the EP consists of six previously unreleased tracks connected to the recording sessions for their 1991 album Road Apples.Gil Kaufman, "The Tragically Hip Dropping Surprise 'Saskadelphia' Album". Billboard, May 20, 2021.
Its first single, "Ouch", reached #3 on the Canadian Rock song chart.
Saskadelphia had been the original working title of Road Apples during the recording sessions, but was rejected by the band's record label. Five of the six songs on the album are the original studio recordings, while one song is included in a later live performance as the original studio version could not be found. All six recordings were among those the band rediscovered only in 2019 after a New York Times Magazine article listed the band as being among those artists whose master tapes had been lost in the 2008 Universal Studios fire, leading to the discovery that their tapes were actually safe as they had been transferred back to Canada many years earlier.Jonathan Dekel, "The inside story of The Tragically Hip’s Saskadelphia, the band’s first new album since the death of Gord Downie". The Globe and Mail, May 20, 2021. The title is a portmanteau of Saskatchewan and Philadelphia.
The lead single "Ouch" was promoted with a music video starring Rick Mercer and Jay Baruchel.Daniel Kreps, "See the Tragically Hip’s ‘Twin Peaks’-Inspired Video for ‘Ouch’". Rolling Stone, June 3, 2021. A subsequent video for "Not Necessary" starred Emily Hampshire.Calum Slingerland, "The Tragically Hip's 'Not Necessary' Video Expands the 'Saskadelphia' Cinematic Universe". Exclaim!, November 4, 2021. An animated video for "Montreal" paid tribute to the victims of the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre, and was released on December 6, 2021 to commemorate the anniversary of the event.Lorraine Carpenter, "WATCH: Tragically Hip honour Polytechnique victims with “Montreal” music video". Cult MTL, December 6, 2021.
The EP was also included as part of the Road Apples 30th anniversary reissue package in October 2021.Tim Peacock, "The Tragically Hip Announce Deluxe 30th Anniversary Edition Of ‘Road Apples’". UDiscoverMusic, September 16, 2021.
Track listing
Personnel Personnel taken from Saskadelphia liner notes.
The Tragically Hip Rob Baker – guitar Gord Downie – vocals Johnny Fay – drums Paul Langlois – guitar, vocals Gord Sinclair – bass, vocals
Additional performers Chris Brown – organ on "Montreal" Kate Fenner – vocals on "Montreal"
Technical personnel The Tragically Hip – production on "Montreal" Bruce Barris – engineering (all except "Montreal") Ted Jensen – mastering Don Smith – production (all except "Montreal") Mark Vreekan – mixing, engineering on "Montreal"
Charts + Chart performance for Saskadelphia Chart (2021) Peakposition US Top Current Albums (Billboard) 66
References