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Teenage Head’s Tornado EP is getting a re-release

If Canada has an analogue to the Sex Pistols, the Clash, or the Ramones, it’s Teenage Head. While they didn’t sound like either of those bands, the Head’s had a similar impact on Canadian punk and post-punk.

Unfortunately, most the Teenage Head catalogue has been hard to find over the decades, the results of red tape and contractual disputes. There were a couple of reissues in the 90s on the now-defunct OPM label, but it’s been much harder to find this music than it should be.

Happily, this is starting to change.

Tornado, a mini-album/EP (six tracks) released on May 3, 1983, has been resurrected for the digital age. The EP, featuring the original lineup of Gordie Lewis, Frankie Venom, Nick Stipanitz, and Stephen Mahon, has been remixed from the original 24-track masters by Mark Berry, a guy who has worked with everyone from David Bowie to Billy Idol to the Headstones.

The new version–dubbed the “Revved Up Edition”– is a 14 track full split green/yellow vinyl along with a 21 track CD that contains all new 2019 mixes, the original 1983 mixes plus demos and rarities, a Teenage Head Family Tree dating back to 1971, rare photos and flyers, essays from Stephen Mahon and Ralph Alfonso and much more.

Teenage Head – Tornado (Expanded Reissue):

Vinyl Tracklist

Side A:

  1. Don’t Cage Me In (2019 Mix)
  2. (I’m Just) Too True (2019 Mix)
  3. Dangerous Imagination (2019 Mix)
  4. Tornado (2019 Mix)
  5. Blood Boogie (2019 Mix)
  6. Luv For Sale (2019 Mix)
  7. Drive-In (Demo)

Side B:

  1. Don’t Cage Me In (1983 version)
  2. (I’m Just) Too True (1983 version)
  3. Dangerous Imagination (1983 version)
  4. Tornado (Demo)
  5. Blood Boogie (Demo)
  6. Luv For Sale (1983 version)
  7. Send A Letter (Demo)

CD & Digital Album Tracklist

  1. Don’t Cage Me In (2019 Mix)
  2. (I’m Just) Too True (2019 Mix)
  3. Dangerous Imagination (2019 Mix)
  4. Tornado (2019 Mix)
  5. Blood Boogie (2019 Mix)
  6. Luv For Sale (2019 Mix)
  7. Drive-In (Demo)
  8. Don’t Cage Me In (Demo)
  9. (I’m Just) Too True (Demo)
  10. Dangerous Imagination (Demo)
  11. Send A Letter (Demo)
  12. Tornado (Demo)
  13. Blood Boogie (Demo)
  14. Luv For Sale (Demo)
  15. Rock With Rock (Demo)
  16. Don’t Cage Me In (1983 version)
  17. (I’m Just) Too True (1983 version)
  18. Dangerous Imagination (1983 version)
  19. Tornado (1983 version)
  20. Blood Boogie (1983 version)
  21. Luv For Sale (1983 version)

The release is coming August 30 (pre-order the physical product here). The first 100 pre-order copies will be signed by the three surviving members of the band.

Then on September 2, they will perform at the CFL Labour Day Classic half time show in Hamilton.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 37899 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

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