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