The Old 97's - Satellite Rides (2001)

The Old 97's are an alternative country band from Dallas, Texas. Formed in 1993, they have since released ten studio albums, two full extended plays, shared split duty on another, and have one live album. Their most recent release is Most Messed Up. They are recognized as pioneers of the alt-country movement during the mid to late 1990s along with bands such as Uncle Tupelo, Drive-By Truckers, Whiskeytown, The Jayhawks, and The Bottle Rockets.

Satellite Rides is the fifth studio album by American country/rock band Old 97's, first released in the second quarter of 2001. Though track 9, "Weightless", refers to outer space while the chorus croons "ride on, ride on" to an unspecified audience, the album's title does not appear in the lyrics but was later used for the song "In The Satellite Rides A Star" on the band's follow-up album, 2004's Drag It Up.

Lyrically, the songs have lead singer and songwriter Rhett Miller writing about characters other than himself, albeit personal references remain. "Rollerskate Skinny" is a song about actress Winona Ryder, whom Miller very briefly dated; the title refers to Holden Caulfield's description of his sister in the novel The Catcher in the Rye, while "Buick City Complex" refers to workers affected by General Motors' decision to close its failed mega-factory in Flint, Michigan. Miller wrote the song "Am I Too Late" for his grandmother, Ahnece Pugh. The album features two songs sung by bassist Murry Hammond, "Up The Devil's Pay" and "Can't Get A Line".
"Question" is often performed live with a French verse. Miller re-recorded "Question" and "Singular Girl" with a full band for his 2006 solo album, The Believer.
"Satellite Rides" is also a pseudonym under which the band plays, including a show at the Tractor Tavern in Seattle, Washington on August 31, 2008.

1. "King of All the World" - 2:52
2. "Rollerskate Skinny" - 3:52
3. "Buick City Complex" - 3:39
4. "Bird in a Cage" - 3:48
5. "Up the Devil's Pay" (vocals by Murry Hammond) - 3:49
6. "What I Wouldn't Do" - 3:47
7. "Question" - 2:15
8. "Am I Too Late" - 2:32
9. "Weightless" - 3:45
10. "Can't Get a Line" (vocals by Murry Hammond) - 2:52
11. "Designs on You" - 3:49
12. "Book of Poems" - 3:32
13. "Nervous Guy" - 3:56

Credits

• A&r – Tom DeSavia
• A&r [Assistant] – Brett Kane, Toby Jones 
• Art Direction, Design – Jeri Heiden, John Heiden
• Bass, Backing Vocals – Murry Hammond
• Co-producer – Old 97's
• Drums, Shaker, Maracas, Tambourine – Philip Peeples
• Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Twelve-string Guitar, Slide Guitar, Lap Steel Guitar, Accordion – Ken Bethea
• Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Twelve-string Guitar, Vocals – Rhett Miller
• Engineer – Robert Carranza, Wally Gagel
• Engineer [Assistant] – Steve Chadie
• Lead Vocals – Murry Hammond (tracks: 5, 10)
• Mastered By – Bob Ludwig
• Mixed By – Tchad Blake
• Mixed By [Assistant] – Jacquie Blake
• Photography By – Michael Williams
• Producer – Wally Gagel
• Technician [Drum Maintenance] – Carl Plaster
• Written-By – Old 97's, Simon Ford (tracks: 7) 

Notes

Released: March 20, 2001 

Recorded at: Peternales Studios in Austin, Texas 

Genre: Alternative country 

Length: 44:26 

Label - Elektra Records