{{Infobox album | name = Fully Completely | type = studio | artist = The Tragically Hip | cover = Fully Completely.jpg | alt = | released = October 6, 1992 | recorded = August, 1992 | studio = Battery, London | genre = Alternative rock | length = 46:47 | label = MCA | producer = Chris Tsangarides | prev_title = Road Apples | prev_year = 1991 | next_title = Day for Night | next_year = 1994 | misc = {{Singles | name = Fully Completely | type = studio | single1 = Locked in the Trunk of a Car | single1date = October 1992 | single2 = Fifty Mission Cap | single2date = January 1993 | single3 = Courage (for Hugh MacLennan) | single3date = February 1993 | single4 = At the Hundredth Meridian | single4date = April 1993 | single5 = Looking for a Place to Happen | single5date = 1993 | single6 = Fully Completely | single6date = 1993 }} }}
'''''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 (For Hugh MacLennan)", "At the Hundredth Meridian", "Looking for a Place to Happen", and "Fully Completely".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title = Tragically Hip Fully and Completely recharged|url = https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/local-arts/tragically-hip-fully-and-completely-recharged|website = Ottawa Citizen|access-date = 2015-11-16}}</ref>
== Background == The Tragically Hip had released two full-length albums (''Up To Here'' and ''Road Apples'') before ''Fully Completely'', working with producer Don Smith.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title = Man-Sized Inside: A History of the Construction of Masculinity in The Tragically Hip’s album Fully Completely|last = Aikenhead|first = Paul David|publisher = University of Saskatchewan|year = 2010|url=http://ecommons.usask.ca/bitstream/handle/10388/etd-08112010-144224/PaulAikenheadETD.pdf|pages = 34–39}}</ref> While the albums had been successful in Canada, the Tragically Hip had not broken into the American market in a significant way.<ref name=":1" /> Hip guitarist Rob Baker later voiced the opinion that collaborating with the same producer on multiple projects (as the Hip had done with their first two albums) becomes troublesome because "little politics and intrigues enter into things".<ref name=":1" /> In late 1992, producer Chris Tsangarides had just completed production on an album by Concrete Blonde, and was eager to work with the Tragically Hip.<ref name=":1" /> MCA, responsible for the financial success of the album, favoured Tsangarides because of his proven ability to generate an American radio-friendly sound.<ref name=":1" />
During production of the second album, singer Gord Downie had announced that he would no longer sing lyrics written by other members of the band.<ref name=":1" /> ''Fully Completely'' was the first album that would follow that decision by Downie.
== Recording and production == ''Fully Completely'' was recorded under the supervision of producer Chris Tsangarides at Battery Studios in London, England.<ref name=":1" /> In contrast to the band’s first two albums, the production techniques did not try to mimic what the band was performing on stage. Each track was built instrument by instrument over the course of five weeks, with only three days dedicated to vocals.<ref name=":1" /> The band expected recording in London to be a "grand experience," but had a mixed experience upon arriving. Some band members found the nights and weekends outside the studio to be, "dull and isolating".<ref name=":1" /> The art budget for the album was $30,000, and the total budget for the album was an estimated $185,000.<ref name=":0" /> The band has described the making of the album as being "about us wanting to learn".<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title = Tragically Hip’s guitarist: ‘We were all reaching for the same thing’|url = https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/tragically-hips-guitarist-we-were-all-reaching-for-the-same-thing/article22991210/|website = The Globe and Mail|access-date = 2015-11-16}}</ref>
== Album artwork == The cover art for ''Fully Completely'' was designed by Dutch artist Lieve Prins.<ref name=":1" /> Prins was given the idea of a "bacchanalian sort of scene – lots of decadence, decay and rebirth," by Hip guitarist Rob Baker, and was left to work with the idea.<ref name=":2" /> Prins also drew inspiration from I ching symbols and numbers.<ref name=":2" /> The final artwork was created using a Canon colour photocopier.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Gordon Downie goes Fully Completely Canadian on new Tragically Hip album|url = http://earofnewt.com/2014/04/27/gordon-downie-goes-fully-completely-canadian-on-new-tragically-hip-album/|website = earofnewt.com|access-date = 2015-11-16|first = The|last = Newt}}</ref> The cover consists of 30 segmented photocopied images pasted together.<ref name=":1" /> The band was granted licensing privileges to the artwork, but Prins retained the ownership of the actual artwork.<ref name=":1" /> In the late 1990s, the Tragically Hip bought the piece from a gallery in Los Angeles.<ref name=":1" /> It now hangs prominently in their studio near Kingston, Ontario.<ref name=":1" />
== Themes == The lyrics on ''Fully Completely'' are heavily centred on Canadian icons and history. Writer Rob Mitchell has described the album as, "a trippy Canadiana dream/nightmare – like The Odessy [sic] directed by Atom Egoyan".<ref>{{Cite web|title = The Hip's 'Fully Completely' Connects Me to Canada|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/rob-mitchell/tragenically_b_6002972.html|website = The Huffington Post|access-date = 2015-11-16}}</ref> The title of the first track on the album, "Courage (for Hugh MacLennan)" makes reference to Canadian author Hugh MacLennan, and was inspired by his novel ''The Watch That Ends the Night''.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Courage Exhibit|url = http://www.hipmuseum.com/courage.html|website = www.hipmuseum.com|access-date = 2015-11-16}}</ref> The second track, "Looking for a Place to Happen", deals with the subject of European encroachment and the eventual annexation of indigenous lands in North America, making specific reference to explorer Jacques Cartier.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title = Album Review: A look back at The Tragically Hip’s Fully Completely|url = http://postcity.com/Eat-Shop-Do/Do/March-2015/Album-Review-A-look-back-at-The-Tragically-Hips-Fully-Completely/|website = postcity.com|access-date = 2015-11-16|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180711043119/http://postcity.com/Eat-Shop-Do/Do/March-2015/Album-Review-A-look-back-at-The-Tragically-Hips-Fully-Completely/|archive-date = 2018-07-11|url-status = dead}}</ref> The third track, "At the Hundredth Meridian", references the line of longitude that separates much of Western Canada from the Central and Atlantic regions.<ref name=":3" /> The ninth track. "Fifty Mission Cap", references the life, career, and death of Toronto Maple Leafs player Bill Barilko, as well as fifty mission caps, which were provided to elite bomber pilots of the allied air forces during World War II.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Fifty Mission Cap|url = http://www.hipmuseum.com/fifty.html|website = www.hipmuseum.com|access-date = 2015-11-16}}</ref> The tenth track, "Wheat Kings", is about David Milgaard, a man who was wrongfully convicted, and later exonerated, for the rape and murder of Gail Miller.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/music/read/what-tomorrow-brings-the-incredible-untold-story-of-how-wheat-kings-came-to-be-1.4991648 |title='What tomorrow brings': the incredible untold story of how 'Wheat Kings' came to be |date=2024 |website=CBC Music}}</ref>
== Reception == {{Music ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |last=DeGagne |first=Mike |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/fully-completely-mw0000095239 |title=Fully Completely – The Tragically Hip |website=AllMusic |access-date=August 31, 2025}}</ref> | rev2 = ''Chicago Tribune'' | rev2score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Kening |first=Dan |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/03/25/tragically-hip-fully-completely-mca-starstarstara-shrink/ |title=Tragically Hip: Fully Completely (MCA) |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=March 25, 1993 |access-date=August 31, 2025}}</ref> | rev3 = ''Louder'' | rev3score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/tragically-hip-fully-completely-album-review |title=The Tragically Hip: Fully Completely album review |date=2023 |website=Louder}}</ref> | rev4 = ''Pitchfork'' | rev4score = 9.4/10<ref>{{cite web |last=Ross |first=Alex Robert |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-tragically-hip-fully-completely/ |title=The Tragically Hip: Fully Completely |website=Pitchfork |date=August 31, 2025 |access-date=August 31, 2025}}</ref> | rev5 = ''Q'' | rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kane |first=Peter |title=The Tragically Hip: Fully Completely |magazine=Q |issue=78 |page=92 |date=March 1993}}</ref> }}
''Fully Completely'' was extremely well received in Canada.<ref name=":1" /> It had initial orders of 150,000 copies in Canada,{{sfn|LeBlanc|1992|p=51}} and 200,000 in Canada by the end of three months.<ref name=":1" /> The Tragically Hip and their label, MCA, had high expectations for the U.S. release of ''Fully Completely''.<ref name=":1" /> Gord Sinclair described in an interview that the band, "were still holding out for the equivalent American success".<ref name=":1" /> The success, however, did not happen. MCA stopped American promotion of ''Fully Completely'' after two weeks.<ref name=":1" /> Its success in Canada, however, was unquestionable. It reached {{thinspace|No.|1}} on the ''RPM'' Top 100 albums chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.1891&volume=56&issue=19&issue_dt=November%2007%201992&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=ccntousk30frf6h4jsn237nm12|title=Top Albums/CDs - Volume 56, No. 19, November 07 1992}}</ref> The album is listed at {{thinspace|no.|5}} on The Top 100 Canadian Albums by Bob Mersereau and {{thinspace|No.|9}} on The Top 102 Modern Rock Albums of All Time by 102.1 The Edge. The album was certified Diamond in Canada in January 2007 for sales of 1,000,000 copies.<ref name="MC"/> Despite the Tragically Hip's great domestic success, this was the only album of theirs to be released in Japan. It was released there on April 21, 1993, with the catalogue number of MVCM-360.<ref name="Japan Release">{{Cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Tragically-Hip-Fully-Completely/release/13375848 |title=Discogs - The Tragically Hip – Fully Completely |access-date=2021-05-21 }}</ref>
At the 2017 Polaris Music Prize, the album won the public vote for the Heritage Prize in the 1986-1995 category.<ref name=heritage>[https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2017/10/24/tragically-hip-album-makes-polaris-heritage-prize-list.html "Tragically Hip album makes Polaris Heritage Prize list"]. ''Toronto Star'', October 25, 2017.</ref>
== Tours == Rather than a normal tour, the Tragically Hip followed the release of ''Fully Completely'' with the organization of "Another Roadside Attraction", in 1993.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title = The Tragically Hip|url = http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/the-tragically-hip-emc/|website = The Canadian Encyclopedia|access-date = 2015-11-16}}</ref> Another Roadside Attraction was a travelling music and arts summer festival which promoted little known bands and travelled across Canada.<ref name=":4" /> In 2014 and 2015, the band held a 22nd anniversary tour in which they played the album from beginning to end during each show.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Fully Completely Reissues and North American Tour {{!}} The Tragically Hip|url = http://www.thehip.com/news/fully-completely-reissues-and-north-american-tour/|website = The Tragically Hip|access-date = 2015-11-16}}</ref>
==Reissue== A remastered "deluxe edition" of the album was released in 2014.<ref name=reissue>[http://exclaim.ca/News/tragically_hip_treat_fully_completely_to_deluxe_reissue_perform_album_in_full_on_north_american_tour "The Tragically Hip Treat 'Fully Completely' to Deluxe Reissue, Perform Album in Full on Tour"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009125009/http://exclaim.ca/News/tragically_hip_treat_fully_completely_to_deluxe_reissue_perform_album_in_full_on_north_american_tour |date=2014-10-09 }}. ''Exclaim!'', October 6, 2014.</ref> The reissue included two new tracks from the original recording sessions, as well as a second disc featuring a September 13, 1992, concert performance at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto.<ref name=reissue /> One of the new tracks, "Radio Show," was released as a single to promote the reissue and reached #29 on Canada's rock chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://charts.bdsradio.com/bdsradiocharts/charts.aspx?formatid=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106011406/http://charts.bdsradio.com/bdsradiocharts/charts.aspx?formatid=37|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 November 2014|title=BDSRadio Charts|date=6 November 2014}}</ref>
==Track listing== {{Track listing |all_writing = The Tragically Hip |title1 = Courage (for Hugh MacLennan) |length1 = 4:27 |title2 = Looking for a Place to Happen |length2 = 4:18 |title3 = At the Hundredth Meridian |length3 = 3:20 |title4 = Pigeon Camera |length4 = 4:34 |title5 = Lionized |length5 = 3:20 |title6 = Locked in the Trunk of a Car |length6 = 4:42 |title7 = We'll Go Too |length7 = 3:24 |title8 = Fully Completely |length8 = 3:32 |title9 = Fifty-Mission Cap |length9 = 4:10 |title10 = Wheat Kings |length10 = 4:19 |title11 = The Wherewithal |length11 = 2:55 |title12 = Eldorado |length12 = 3:46 }} {{Track listing |headline = 2014 re-issue bonus tracks |title13 = Radio Show |length13 = 4:39 |title14 = So Hard Done By |length14 = 2:57 }} {{Track listing |headline = 2014 live disc |title1 = At the Hundredth Meridian |length1 = 3:53 |title2 = Fifty-Mission Cap |length2 = 4:10 |title3 = We’ll Go Too |length3 = 3:56 |title4 = Fully Completely |length4 = 3:54 |title5 = Pigeon Camera |length5 = 4:32 |title6 = Twist My Arm |length6 = 3:51 |title7 = Lionized |length7 = 3:34 |title8 = Wheat Kings |length8 = 4:07 |title9 = Eldorado |length9 = 4:08 |title10 = Looking for a Place to Happen |length10 = 4:51 |title11 = Courage (For Hugh MacLennan) |length11 = 4:13 |title12 = Locked in the Trunk of a Car |length12 = 4:53 |title13 = The Wherewithal |length13 = 3:34 }}
==Personnel== '''The Tragically Hip''' * Gord Downie – vocals * Bobby Baker – guitar * Paul Langlois – guitar, vocals * Johnny Fay – drums * Gord Sinclair – bass, vocals
'''Production''' * Chris Tsangarides – producer, engineering, mixing * Chris 'Wood' Marshall – assistant engineer * Ian Cooper – mastering
==Charts== ===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |+ Weekly chart performance for ''Fully Completely'' ! scope="col"| Chart (1992–1993) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, Victoria, Australia|edition=PDF|page=283}}</ref> | align="center"| 96 |- {{album chart|Canada|1|chartid=1891|rowheader=true|access-date=October 10, 2020}} |- {{album chart|Netherlands|72|artist=The Tragically Hip|album=Fully Completely|rowheader=true|access-date=October 10, 2020}} |- {{album chart|BillboardHeatseekers|40|artist=The Tragically Hip|rowheader=true|access-date=October 10, 2020}} |}
=== Year-end charts === {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+ Year-end chart performance for ''Fully Completely'' !scope="col"|Chart (2002) !scope="col"|Position |- !scope="row"|Canadian Alternative Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040902000408/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_alt2.html|archivedate=September 2, 2004|url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_alt2.html|title=Canada's Top 200 Alternative albums of 2002|website=Jam!|accessdate=March 28, 2022}}</ref> |align=center|113 |}
==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=The Tragically Hip|title=Fully Completely|type=album|award=Diamond|relyear=1992|certyear=2007|access-date=July 24, 2025|refname=MC}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
===Works cited=== * {{cite magazine |last = LeBlanc |first = Larry |title = MCA Nurturing Homegrown Talent Via Distribution Deals |page = 51 |magazine = Billboard |date = 1992-10-24 }}
{{The Tragically Hip}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1992 albums Category:The Tragically Hip albums Category:Albums produced by Chris Tsangarides Category:MCA Records albums Category:Polaris Heritage Prize–winning albums