Though 1997’s Too Far to Care was actually the third album from Texan band Old 97’s, it was an album of firsts.  The major label debut of Rhett Miller and his musical cohorts, Too Far to Care placed the band at the vanguard of alt-country.  It combined the muscularity of rock and the songcraft of pop with the traditional country sound on which the band had earned an Elektra Records contract, and led to performances in front of Lollapalooza crowds.  In celebration of the album’s 15^th anniversary, Omnivore Recordings will reissue Too Far to Care as a 2-CD deluxe edition, and for the first time on vinyl as a double LP on October 9. (The first 1500 copies of the LPs will be pressed on limited-edition translucent aqua blue vinyl.  Subsequent pressings will be standard black.)

The first disc of the 2-CD edition will feature the original Too Far to Care 13-track album in its entirety, plus a rare promo track and three previously unissued outtakes. The second disc of the deluxe set is a specially-curated collection that could stand on its own.  They Made A Monster: The Too Far to Care Demos features 11 previously unissued demo recordings from the original album sessions.  In keeping with Omnivore’s commitment to both the CD and vinyl formats, They Made A Monster: The Too Far To Care Demos will also be released as a stand-alone LP (with a download card included) and also as a stand-alone digital version at all major digital retailers. (The first 1500 LPs will be pressed on limited-edition translucent yellow vinyl; as usual, subsequent pressings will be black.)

This 15^th anniversary project comes on the heels of the announcement that Old 97’s will launch the Too Far to Care tour in Texas (where else?) on August 23.  The entirety of the original album will be performed during the live performances, plus a second set of additional hits and favorites, and even a solo set from frontman Rhett Miller in support of his solo album The Dreamer.

Hit the jump for more on Old 97’s and Too Far to Care, including the complete track listing!

Too Far to Care is the third studio album from Old 97’s, following indie efforts Hitchhike to Rhome (1994) and Wreck Your Life (1996).  Produced by Wally Gagel, it crystallized the alt-country sound of Rhett Miller (guitar/vocals), Murry Hammond (bass/vocals), Ken Bethea (guitars) and Phillip Peeples (drums/percussion).  Although subsequent albums on Elektra took the band’s pop/rock leanings increasingly further, the prominent country twang hadn’t dissipated on Too Far to Care.  The band took the opportunity to revisit two tracks from those earlier efforts; “Four Leaf Clover” was re-recorded from Hitchhike To Rhome, this time as a duet with Exene Cervenka of the band X. “Big Brown Eyes” also was remade, the original version having appeared on Wreck Your Life.

Upon its June 1997 release, the album attracted enough buzz to propel the band on a career which lasts to the present day.  Six studio albums followed, including The Grand Theatre Volume One (2010) and The Grand Theatre Vol. 2 (2011), both on New West Records.  “Too Far to Care was a magical moment for the 97’s,” says Rhett Miller in Omnivore’s press release. “Starry-eyed and flush with confidence thanks to our brand-new deal with Elektra, we felt no fear, just giddy excitement.  An adventurous producer and a world champion A&R guy shepherded us through the recording process.  And when it was all over, we had captured our little bit of lightning in a bottle.  I love Too Far to Care and can’t wait to play it in its entirety across the USA.”

The remastered and expanded Too Far to Care will be available on October 9 from the fine folks at Omnivore Recordings!  All configurations can be ordered now from the Omnivore shop!  Amazon links will be provided once they are available!

Old 97’s, Too Far to Care / They Made a Monster: The Too Far to Care Demos (Elektra 62050-2, 1997 – reissued Omnivore Recordings, 2012)

CD 1

1. Timebomb
2. Barrier Reef
3. Broadway
4. Salome
5. W. TX Teardrops
6. Melt Show
7. Streets of Where I’m From
8. Big Brown Eyes
9. Just Like California
10. Curtain Calls
11. Niteclub
12. House That Used to Be
13. Four-Leaf Clover
14. Northern Line (bonus track from the Nothing To Attract You promo EP)
15. Beer Cans (bonus track, previously unissued)
16. No Doubt About It (bonus track, previously unissued)
17. Holy Cross (bonus track, previously unissued)

CD 2

1. Broadway
2. Daybed
3. Barrier Reef
4. W. TX Teardrops
5. Niteclub
6. When I Crash
7. You Were Right
8. Sound of Running
9. Everybody But Me
10. Holy Cross
11. The 1

Old 97’s, Too Far to Care (2-LP edition) (Omnivore Recordings, 2012)

Side One

1. Timebomb
2. Barrier Reef
3. Broadway
   Salome
4. W. TX Teardrops

Side Two

1. Melt Show
2. Streets of Where I’m From
3. Big Brown Eyes
4. Just Like California
5. Curtain Calls

Side Three

1. Niteclub
2. House That Used to be
3. Four Leaf Clover

Side Four

1. Northern Line (bonus track from Nothing To Attract You promo EP)
2. Beer Cans (bonus track, previously unissued)
3. No Doubt About It (bonus track, previously unissued)
4. Holy Cross (bonus track, previously unissued)

Old 97’s, They Made A Monster: The Too Far To Care Demos (LP Edition – Omnivore Recordings, 2012)

Side One

1. Broadway
2. Daybed
3. Barrier Reef
4. W. TX Teardrops
5. Niteclub

Side Two

1. When I Crash
2. You Were Right
3. Sound Of Running
4. Everybody But Me
5. Holy Cross
6. The 1