Run Out Groove is going alt-country for its next limited edition, fan-voted vinyl release.

The Old 97’s, formed in Dallas, Texas in 1993, were at the vanguard of the movement that saw the spirit of traditional country merged with an alternative rock sensibility.  The onetime bar band was championed by indie labels Idol and Bloodshot before moving to the majors with 1997’s Too Far to Care on Elektra Records.  ROG is revisiting Old 97’s next and fourth album, 1999’s Fight Songs, in a lavishly expanded 3-LP edition.

Fight Songs was recorded at Kingsway Studios in New Orleans and released by Elektra on April 27, 1999.  Its twelve songs were jointly penned by the band: lead singer-guitarist Rhett Miller, bassist-singer Murry Hammond, guitarist Ken Bethea, and drummer-percussionist Philip Peeples.  Andrew Williams’ production brought the band in more of a radio-friendly, pop-oriented direction than before, resulting in chart placements for “Murder (Or a Heart Attack)” and “Nineteen” on the Billboard Triple A Airplay survey.

Now, over twenty years later, Old 97’s have reimagined Fight Songs with six-time Grammy-winning producer and engineer Vance Powell (Chris Stapleton, Buddy Guy, The Raconteurs).  Powell has completely remixed the original 12-track album from the original analog multi-track tapes to strip away the perceived ’90s production excess.  The original album features on the first LP; the remixed version appears on the second LP.  Finally, a third LP offers previously unreleased 1998 demos of nine songs, most of which made their way to Fight Songs.

It’s all pressed on 180-gram vinyl; the deluxe package also includes new liner notes from Rhett Miller and band archivist Tom DeSavia.  All of those who purchase this limited and numbered edition will receive a digital download of the previously unreleased, Vance Powell-mixed “The Villain,” a B-side not otherwise available in this release.

Pre-orders are open now through March 28 only.  Now is also the time to vote on the next ROG release.  Will it be an expanded edition of Killswitch Engage’s The End of Heartache?  An expanded edition of Jason Falkner’s Presents Author Unknown?  Or David Lee Roth’s Sunrisa Salvaje, the rare Spanish-language version of Eat ‘Em and Smile?  Cast your vote here.

You’ll find the complete track listing and pre-order link for Old 97’s Fight Songs below!

Old 97’s, Fight Songs (Elektra 62373-2, 1999 – reissued Run Out Groove ROGV-120, 2021)

Side A (original 1999 album)

1. Jagged 3:27
2. Lonely Holiday 4:08
3. Oppenheimer 3:27
4. Indefinitely 3:41
5. What We Talk About 4:10
6. Crash On The Barrelhead

Side B (original 1999 album)

1. Murder (Or A Heart Attack) 3:41
2. Alone So Far 4:17
3. Busted Afternoon 3:11
4. Nineteen 3:41
5. Let The Idiot Speak 3:43
6. Valentine 3:08

Side C (2021 Vance Powell remix)

1. Jagged 3:27
2. Lonely Holiday 4:08
3. Oppenheimer 3:27
4. Indefinitely 3:41
5. What We Talk About 4:10
6. Crash On The Barrelhead

Side D (2021 Vance Powell remix)

1. Murder (Or A Heart Attack) 3:41
2. Alone So Far 4:17
3. Busted Afternoon 3:11
4. Nineteen 3:41
5. Let The Idiot Speak 3:43
6. Valentine 3:08

Side E (1998 unreleased demos)

1. Lonely Holiday 4:34
2. Oppenheimer 3:30
3. What We Talk About 4:01
4. Jagged 3:37
5. Weightless 3:59

Side F (1998 unreleased demos)

1. Indefinitely 4:10
2. Singular Girl 4:48
3. Busted Afternoon 3:36
4. Nineteen 3:21