Back to the Known

Back to the Known
Back to the Known
EP by Bad Religion
Released	April 12, 1985
Recorded	February 1985
Studio	Pacifica Studios, Los Angeles
Genre	Punk rock; hardcore punk;
Length	10:37
Label	Epitaph
Producer	Brett Gurewitz; Greg Graffin;
Bad Religion chronology

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]

Back to the Known is the second EP released by American punk rock band Bad Religion. The name of the EP is a reference to the band abandoning the progressive rock influences of its previous album, 1983's Into the Unknown, and returning to its punk roots.

The album features the fan favorite "Along The Way", which is a staple of their live shows today. During a live show in the mid 1980s, they played the song twice in a row at a sped-up pace the second time.

History

Frontman Greg Graffin partially brought Bad Religion back together in 1984 and hired two new members, Circle Jerks guitarist Greg Hetson (who would remain with the band until 2013) and bassist Tim Gallegos. Drummer Pete Finestone (who left in 1982) also rejoined during this time. The new line-up recorded a new EP, which had only five songs, and was just over ten minutes long. It was originally released in a 12" format, with only one side of the vinyl containing all five tracks. The A-side contained no music or sound of any kind and was mirror-smooth. It was re-released as part of the 1991 compilation '80-'85, and again remastered for the 2004 reissue, How Could Hell Be Any Worse?.

There has been some confusion over when Back to the Known was released. Due to a typo on a number of internet sources and the back cover of the vinyl, many believe that the EP was released in 1984, but this appears to be false. According to a Bad Religion fan site, the EP was recorded in 1985 with then-former and now-current guitarist Brett Gurewitz producing it.^[2]

No songs from this EP made it on to the band's 1995 compilation album, All Ages.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Yesterday"	Greg Graffin	2:39
2.	"Frogger"	Greg Hetson^{[n 1]}	1:19
3.	"Bad Religion"	Brett Gurewitz	2:10
4.	"Along the Way"	Graffin	1:36
5.	"New Leaf"	Graffin	2:53
Total length:			10:37

Trivia

Track 3, "Bad Religion", is a remake of the song from their 1981 self-titled EP.
In 2009, a fan poll cited "Along the Way" as one of the band's best songs.^[7]

Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes.^[8]

Greg Graffin – vocals, acoustic guitar on "New Leaf", production
Greg Hetson – electric guitar
Tim Gallegos – bass
Pete Finestone – drums
Brett Gurewitz – production, engineering

Notes

^ Credited to Greg Graffin and Wryebo Martin on the original release;^[3] credited to Greg Hetson on the 2004 reissue of How Could Hell Be Any Worse?;^[4] The Bad Religion Page website lists Graffin and Hetson as songwriters,^[5] writing, "Co-written by the two Gregs. Wryebo Martin, a friend of theirs, came up with the title or the chorus or something, but not much according to Hetson."^[6]

References

^ AllMusic review
^ "Back to the Known". The Bad Religion Page. Archived from the original on July 31, 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
^ "Back to the Known liner notes". Discogs. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
^ "How Could Hell Be Any Worse? liner notes". Discogs. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
^ "Back To The Known (1985)". The Bad Religion Page. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
^ "The Answer - Frogger". The Bad Religion Page. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
^ "The Song Tournament 2005-2006". The Bad Religion Page. Retrieved April 19, 2009.
^ Back to the Known (Media notes). Bad Religion. Epitaph. 1985.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[7] Credited to Greg Graffin and Wryebo Martin on the original release;^[3] credited to Greg Hetson on the 2004 reissue of How Could Hell Be Any Worse?;^[4] The Bad Religion Page website lists Graffin and Hetson as songwriters,^[5] writing, "Co-written by the two Gregs. Wryebo Martin, a friend of theirs, came up with the title or the chorus or something, but not much according to Hetson."^[6]

[1] AllMusic review

[2] "Back to the Known". The Bad Religion Page. Archived from the original on July 31, 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2013.

[3] "Back to the Known liner notes". Discogs. Retrieved February 6, 2024.

[4] "How Could Hell Be Any Worse? liner notes". Discogs. Retrieved February 6, 2024.

[5] "Back To The Known (1985)". The Bad Religion Page. Retrieved February 6, 2024.

[6] "The Answer - Frogger". The Bad Religion Page. Retrieved February 6, 2024.

[8] "The Song Tournament 2005-2006". The Bad Religion Page. Retrieved April 19, 2009.

[9] Back to the Known (Media notes). Bad Religion. Epitaph. 1985.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

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v t e Bad Religion
Greg Graffin Brett Gurewitz Jay Bentley Brian Baker Mike Dimkich Jamie Miller Jay Ziskrout Pete Finestone Paul Dedona Davy Goldman Greg Hetson Tim Gallegos John Albert Lucky Lehrer Bobby Schayer Brooks Wackerman
Studio albums	How Could Hell Be Any Worse? Into the Unknown Suffer No Control Against the Grain Generator Recipe for Hate Stranger Than Fiction The Gray Race No Substance The New America The Process of Belief The Empire Strikes First New Maps of Hell The Dissent of Man True North Age of Unreason
EPs	Bad Religion Back to the Known Christmas Songs
Other releases	80–85 All Ages Tested Punk Rock Songs 30 Years Live
Videos and DVDs	Along the Way Live at the Palladium
Singles	"American Jesus" "21st Century (Digital Boy)" "Infected" "Stranger than Fiction" "A Walk" "Punk Rock Song" "Sorrow" "Los Angeles Is Burning" "The Devil in Stitches"
Related articles	Discography Members Epitaph Records Punk rock in California Hardcore punk Warped Tour
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