Fight Songs (Old 97's album) explained

Fight Songs
Type:	Album
Artist:	Old 97's
Cover:	Old_97s-Fight_Songs.jpg
Released:	April 27, 1999
Recorded:	Kingsway in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Genre:	Country rock, alternative country, alternative rock, power pop
Length:	46:45
Label:	Elektra
Producer:	Andrew Williams
Prev Title:	Too Far to Care
Prev Year:	1997
Next Title:	Early Tracks EP
Next Year:	2000

Fight Songs is the fourth studio album by American alternative country band Old 97's, first released on April 27, 1999. It features the song "Murder (Or a Heart Attack)", which was ranked #176 on Blender magazine's list of "500 Greatest Songs From 1980-2005."^[1]

The group's second record on Elektra Records, Fight Songs is more slick and pop-oriented than the group's previous efforts, a trend continued on 2001's Satellite Rides. The song "Crash on the Barrelhead" is rumored to be targeted at alt-country rival, Ryan Adams,^[2] while "Murder ..." was inspired by a cat owned by singer Miller's roommate in Los Angeles.^[3]

Track listing

All songs written by Rhett Miller, Ken Bethea, Murry Hammond and Philip Peeples.

1. "Jagged" – 3:27
2. "Lonely Holiday" – 4:08
3. "Oppenheimer" – 3:28
4. "Indefinitely" – 3:41
5. "What We Talk About" – 4:10
6. "Crash on the Barrelhead" (vocals by Murry Hammond) – 2:39
7. "Murder (Or a Heart Attack)" – 3:41
8. "Alone So Far" – 4:17
9. "Busted Afternoon" – 3:11
10. "19" – 3:41
11. "Let the Idiot Speak" – 3:43
12. "Valentine" (vocals by Murry Hammond) – 3:08

Personnel

Old 97's

• Ken Bethea – guitar
• Murry Hammond – bass, vocals
• Rhett Miller – vocals, guitar
• Philip Peeples – drums, percussion

Additional personnel

• Jon Rauhouse – steel on "Jagged", "Lonely Holiday" and "Alone So Far"
• Jon Brion – Vox organ on "Murder (Or a Heart Attack)"
• Andrew Williams – odds and ends

Notes and References

1. Web site: Blender Magazine.
2. Web site: Dissing Ryan Adams: An Emerging Songwriting Genre. Falatko. Daniel. 29 March 2018. Niche Apparel.
3. Web site: Old 97s Hid A Missing Cat Sage in a Love Song. Browning. Laura. 4 August 2015. AV Club. 18 May 2019.