THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Created to mark the 30th anniversary of The Tragically Hip’s second studio album — which became their first record to hit No. 1 — the Road Apples 30th Anniversary Deluxe editions were carefully crafted with input from each living member of the band. The outcome is a deep dive behind the scenes of what made this album one of the most beloved in the band’s vast catalogue.
Road Apples was recorded in 1990 in New Orleans at Daniel Langlois’ Kingsway Studio in an old mansion that looms over the French Quarter neighbourhood. Five young men from Kingston, Ontario — singer Gord Downie, guitarists Rob Baker and Paul Langlois, bassist Gord Sinclair and drummer Johnny Fay — were guided by producer Don Smith and engineer Bruce Barris. What resulted was an avalanche of gritty rock ’n’ roll with a relentless quality to it, like a stream of blues that struggles to be contained. Road Apples contains some of their best-known songs including Little Bones, Fiddler’s Green, Long Time Running and Three Pistols. The original album is now approaching double diamond certified status in Canada.
With all tracks completely remastered in 2021 by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in Nashville, for the first time fans will hear music from the band with all the grit, vibrancy and passion of their original recordings. The effect is second only to being in the recording studio with them. The expansive deluxe editions are also jam-packed with rare and more previously unreleased and never heard before pieces of music chronicling The Tragically Hip’s Road Apples era, including:
• Road Apples, the remastered original album.
• Saskadelphia, the six-track EP of previously released songs issued earlier this year.
• Live At The Roxy Los Angeles, May 3rd 1991, originally recorded for a Westwood One radio show, often bootlegged and sought after by fans for many years. It has been re-mastered and expanded and includes the rare Killer Whale Tank version of New Orleans Is Sinking. This legendary show is now a double vinyl album, available exclusively in physical product.
• Hoof-Hearted, an album of previously unreleased demos, outtakes, and alternate versions.
Fans new and old will appreciate the intimate and rare items from the band’s personal collection, as well as fan collections that are part of the physical editions. Included in a 36-page booklet are essays from Bruce Dickinson (who initially signed them to MCA Records in the U.S.), and producer/engineer Mark Vreeken, both of whom played pivotal roles in The Tragically Hip’s career; reproductions of original handwritten lyrics from Gord Downie’s personal notebooks, never-seen photos from Kingsway Studio recording sessions and the Road Apples era, and a touching tribute to late producer Don Smith, along with further commentary from the band.”
