Fight Songs (Old 97's album)

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."

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, while "Murder ..." was inspired by a cat owned by singer Miller's roommate in Los Angeles.

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

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

• 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

References