CRAFT RECORDINGS & O.A.R. CELEBRATE THE

20^TH ANNIVERSARY OF

STORIES OF A STRANGER

WITH SPECIAL EXPANDED EDITION

 

Available December 5 on vinyl and digital, the 20th Anniversary Edition

highlights a pivotal era in O.A.R.’s career with bonus tracks and rare recordings

 

Listen to “Sometimes (Stories of a Stranger Sessions)”

out today digitally for the first time

Click here to visit the online media kit

Click here to stream “Sometimes (Stories of a Stranger Sessions)”

Click here to stream / pre-order the album

 

Los Angeles, CA (September 24, 2025)—Craft Recordingsand O.A.R. are proud to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Stories of a Stranger, the band’s landmark fifth studio album with a special expanded edition. Available December 5, Stories of a Stranger (20th Anniversary Edition) revisits a pivotal era in the multi-platinum band’s career, pairing the original 2005 album with rare bonus material: a long-out-of-print EP—featuring performances of “Heard the World,” “Lay Down,” and “About Mr. Brown,” plus the studio outtake “Sometimes,” from the original Stories of a Stranger sessions.

The reissue arrives in both 2-LP and digital formats, with the vinyl housed in a deluxe gatefold jacket. Alongside the standard vinyl edition, an exclusive “Cloud Swirl” color pressing will be available via the band’s official store. To coincide with today’s announcement, O.A.R. have shared “Sometimes (Stories of a Stranger Sessions)” as an advance single, offering fans the first glimpse of the expanded material. Stream/download the track and pre-order the full collection now.

With O.A.R.’s 30th anniversary on the horizon, Stories of a Stranger (20th Anniversary Edition) ushers in a new chapter of celebration for the multi-platinum-selling five-piece: Marc Roberge (lead vocals, guitar), Richard On (lead guitar, backing vocals), Chris Culos (drums), Benj Gershman(bass), and Jerry DePizzo (saxophone, guitar, backing vocals). As the band prepares for an action-packed 2026 marking three decades together (more details coming very soon), the band reflects on Stories of a Stranger as a pivotal moment in their journey—a career that has included multiple Platinum and Gold certifications, two sold-out nights at Madison Square Garden, more than a dozen packed shows at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and one of the most passionate fan communities in modern rock.

“Stories of a Stranger marked a new chapter for our band,” says DePizzo. “To revisit it 20 years later, and to share songs like ‘Sometimes’ as part of this expanded edition, feels like opening a time capsule with our fans. This deluxe edition isn’t just about looking back—it’s about celebrating how far we’ve all come together.”

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Formed in 1996, O.A.R. (short for Of A Revolution) got their start in Rockville, Maryland, and built a grassroots fanbase while attending The Ohio State University, thanks in no small part to their exhilarating live show. After making their debut with 1997’s The Wanderer, the band continued to cultivate their colorful and wildly catchy sound—a one-of-a-kind collision of bright and bold guitar work, heart-pounding rhythms, high-energy horns, and sing-along-ready vocals.

Released on October 4, 2005, by Everfine Records and Lava Records, Stories of a Stranger emerged as a monumental triumph for the band, with AllMusic declaring that the album “presents everything that defines O.A.R.” Along with debuting at No.40 on the Billboard 200, the 12-song LP delivered hit singles like “Heard the World,” “Lay Down,” and the Gold-certified “Love and Memories.” Penned with multi-GRAMMY®️-winning songwriter Glen Ballard, the soul-baring “Love and Memories” reached No.98 on the Billboard Pop 100, No.30 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, and No.18 on the Adult Top 40.

Recorded during the Stories of a Stranger sessions, “Sometimes” makes for a glorious addition to the album. With its feel-good message of open-heartedness and hope, the life-affirming anthem provides an instant mood boost by way of its bouncing rhythms, driving guitar riffs, and sublime sax solo. Featured on Side D of Stories of a Stranger (20th Anniversary Edition), “Sometimes” appears alongside O.A.R.’s euphoria-inducing live renditions of “Heard the World,” “Lay Down,” and longtime fan favorite “About Mr. Brown”—all recorded on July 22, 2005, at the PNC Bank Arts Center in New Jersey.

Since the arrival of Stories of a Stranger, O.A.R. have cemented their legacy with an ever-adventurous catalog now comprised of ten studio LPs and six live albums (most recently, 2024’s Live From Boston). Known for their extensive summer touring and extraordinarily close connection with their fans, the band looks toward their 30^thanniversary festivities with equal parts gratitude, awe, and elated anticipation.

“It’s hard to believe we’ve been making music together for three decades,” says DePizzo. “When we first started playing in a basement, none of us could have imagined the journey that would follow. In 2026, we get to celebrate 30 years of O.A.R. the best way we know how—out on the road with a massive summer tour, sharing new music, honoring the songs that brought us here, and capturing it all on film. It’s not just a milestone for the band, it’s a celebration of the community that’s been with us every step of the way.”

Click here to pre-order or stream Stories of a Stranger (20th Anniversary Edition)

Tracklist (Vinyl):

SIDE A

1. Heard The World
2. Love And Memories
3. Wonderful Day
4. The Stranger

SIDE B

1. Lay Down
2. Program Director
3. Nasim Joon
4. Tragedy In Waiting

SIDE C

1. Daylight The Dog
2. One Shot
3. Dakota
4. 52-50

SIDE D

1. Sometimes (Stories of a Stranger Sessions)
2. Heard The World (Live)**
3. Lay Down (Live)**
4. About Mr. Brown (Live)**

** Recorded at PNC Bank Arts Center, 7/22/2005

Tracklist (Digital):

1. Heard The World
2. Love And Memories
3. Wonderful Day
4. The Stranger

1. Lay Down
2. Program Director
3. Nasim Joon
4. Tragedy In Waiting
5. Daylight The Dog
6. One Shot
7. Dakota
8. 52-50
9. Sometimes (Stories of a Stranger Sessions)
10. Heard The World (Live)**
11. Lay Down (Live)**
12. About Mr. Brown (Live)**

** Recorded at PNC Bank Arts Center, 7/22/2005

 

About Craft Recordings

Craft Recordings is home to one of the largest and most essential collections of master recordings and compositions in the world. Its storied repertoire includes landmark releases from icons such as Celia Cruz, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Isaac Hayes, John Coltrane, John Lee Hooker, Joan Baez, Joan Sebastian, Little Richard, Miles Davis, R.E.M., and Traveling Wilburys. Plus, the catalog recordings of celebrated contemporary acts including A Day to Remember, Alison Krauss, Daddy Yankee, Evanescence, Nine Inch Nails, Taking Back Sunday, and Violent Femmes, to name just a few. Renowned imprints with catalogs issued under the Craft banner include Fania, Fantasy, Fearless, HITCO, Musart, Nitro, Panart, Prestige, Riverside, Rounder, Specialty, Stax, Vanguard, Varèse Sarabande, Vee-Jay and Victory, among many others. Craft creates thoughtfully curated packages, with a meticulous devotion to quality and a commitment to preservation— ensuring that these recordings endure for new generations to discover. Craft is also home to the Billie Holiday and Tammy Wynette estates which preserve and protect their respective names, likeness, and music through day-to-day legacy management of these cultural trailblazers.

Craft Recordings is the catalog label team for Concord. For more info, visit CraftRecordings.com and follow on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

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