Celebrating twenty years since it's release, Magnolia

Electric Co.'s Hard to Love a Man will be expanded and available

for the first time on vinyl in February 2026. This anniversary

release of the band's first EP includes three additional tracks:

remastered demos of "31 Seasons in the Minor Leagues,"

previously titled as "Tonight I'm So Down," and "Lonesome

Valley," recorded at Echo Park Studios in Indiana during the

Hard to Love a Man sessions, as well as "One Thin Dime,"

recorded during the Black Ram sessions at Sound of Music

Recording Studios in Richmond, Virginia.

"'Working class rock' is a phrase used frequently to

describe The Magnolia Electric Co. Categorically, the band has

secured their place amongst like-minded icons such as Bob

Seger, CCR, Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen, but it's not

merely an aesthetic description. Magnolia backs it up with their

work ethic. Amazingly, The Magnolia Electric Co. Will have been

on the road eight months by the end of 2005. This fact is most

apparent to the band members themselves having been away

from their homes and their loved ones for such extended

periods of time. Hence the significance of the title track. When

Jason Molina assumes the perspective of the one he left behind

on "Hard To Love A Man" and sings: "It was hard to love a man

like you / Goodbye was half the words you knew / While you

were waiting for me not to call / I sent my love," the loneliness

and guilt of separation is painfully obvious. The wounded

feminine voice of Jennie Benford, coupled with Jason Groth's

sweeping guitar and Mike Kapinus' mournful organ dramatically

reiterate this sentiment. Mark Rice and Pete Schreiner deliver

their signature tight and tasteful rhythm and Nicole Evans adds

a new and dynamic voice.

While "Hard To Love A Man" and live set favorite,

"Werewolves Of London" were recorded with Steve Albini at his

Electrical Audio Studios, the rest of the tracks were recorded

during a brief five day visit home in Indiana at Echo Park Studios

with Paul Mahern, whose engineering resume includes The

Blake Babies, Lisa Germano and John Mellencamp. As we watch

Magnolia grow, Jason Molina doesn't have to coach us through

another one, letting the inmates run the asylum. The Magnolia

Electric Co. #cast no doubt by putting their business in the

street."