Hitchhike to Rhome explained

Hitchhike To Rhome
Type:Album
Artist:Old 97's
Cover:Old_97s-Hitchhike_To_Rhome.jpg
Released:1994
Recorded:Crystal Clear Sound in Dallas, TX
Genre:Country rock
Length:59:10
Label:Big Iron
Producer:Alan Wooley
Next Title:Wreck Your Life
Next Year:1996

Hitchhike to Rhome is the first studio album by American country/rock band Old 97's, released in 1994.[1] The title comes from the song "Stoned", and refers to Rhome, Texas.

The lyrics make numerous references to the band's Dallas, Texas, environs. "504" refers to the area code for New Orleans (see area code 504). The Robert mentioned in "Drowning In The Days" (as well as "Big Brown Eyes") is Miller's boyhood friend, Robert Jenkins. "Miss Molly" recalls Miller and Hammond's previous work with bluegrass band, Killbilly, with "Doreen" referring to a memorable fan of that band and referencing New York City for the first of many times.

"4 Leaf Clover" was re-recorded as "Four Leaf Clover" with Exene Cervenka for the band's 1997 album, Too Far To Care. Live favorite, "Wish The Worst", is the only Old 97's song with lead guitar played by someone other than Ken Bethea. "Mama Tried" is a Merle Haggard standard and is a favorite live song for bassist, Hammond. "Tupelo County Jail" is a hidden track, playing after a long pause at the end of the album.

A 20th-anniversary, 2-disc special edition of the album was released on November 17, 2014 by Omnivore Recordings. The special edition contains a separate disc of 12 rare and unreleased tracks.[2]

Track listing

(all songs composed by Rhett Miller except where noted)

  1. "St. Ignatius" - 4:14
  2. "504" - 3:39
  3. "Drowning in the Days" - 4:02 (Miller/Hammond)
  4. "Miss Molly" - 2:18 (Cindy Walker)
  5. "Dancing with Tears" - 2:55 (Joe Burke/Al Dubin)
  6. "4 Leaf Clover" - 3:14
  7. "Wish the Worst" - 4:32
  8. "Old 97's Theme" - 1:42
  9. "Doreen" (bluegrass version)- 3:18 (Miller/Hammond)
  10. "Hands Off" - 4:35
  11. "Mama Tried" - 2:29 (Merle Haggard)
  12. "Stoned" - 3:59
  13. "If My Heart Was a Car" - 3:29
  14. "Desperate Times" - 3:46
  15. "Ken's Polka Thing" - 13:34 (Bonus track "Tupelo County Jail" after a long pause) (Ken Bethea/Webb Pierce)

Personnel

Old 97's:

Additional Musicians

Notes and References

  1. News: Hoekstra . Dave . 2 Bands, a Show, a Train Wreck . Chicago Sun-Times . 7 Dec 1994 . 2.41.
  2. Web site: Hitchhike To Rhome . Omnivore Recordings . en-US . 2017-08-12.