When the power-pop band Plain White T's [ tickets ] released its 2005 indie album "All That We Needed," the Chicago quintet though the acoustic ballad "Hey There Delilah" was a hit. The only problem? The label, Fearless Records, didn't have the resources to push it to radio and MTV.

Hollywood Records had the same hunch when it signed the band and released its major label debut, "Every Second Counts," in 2006. "Hey There Delilah" wasn't on the album, but when record company reps heard the frenzy the song caused in concert, they rethought their strategy and re-released "Every Second Counts" in February 2007 with the ballad as a bonus track. Lead singer Tom Higgenson said, so far, it has outpaced its first single, "Hate (I Really Don't Like You)."

"['Hey There Delilah'] has just always been the biggest song for us with fans and people really connecting to it, and singing along with it at shows," Higgenson said during a recent phone interview.

"We put out this new record and 'Hate' was our first single. It got a lot of radio play. When it was time to do a second single, the label was kind of debating which song it should be. They came out to a show. We played 'Delilah,' and the whole entire crowd was singing along and they were just kind of like, 'This is the song. This is obviously connecting with people.' For never getting on the radio or having any kind of promotion, it became such a big song. Having people know it and know every single word, that kind of said something to them. So they wanted to go with that song and they put it on the record," he added.

"It never had the chance to meet its full potential on our old label," Higgenson said. "We were on an indie label that wasn't able to push anything to radio or anything like that. Why not give the song the chance it deserves?"

Plain White T's--who will tour in the fall with Fall Out Boy [ tickets ] and Gym Class Heroes [ tickets ]--formed in high school when Higgenson penned songs on a four-track recorder at his parents' Villa Park, IL, home. When he felt confident about his songs, he handed them off to Christian Lane, singer of the '90s buzz band Loud Lucy. With Lane's blessing, Higgenson recruited high school friends, including guitarist Dave Tirio, to form Plain White T's. Mike Retondo (bass and vocals), De'Mar Hamilton (drums) and Tim Lopez (guitar, vocals) round out the group.

Plain White T's self-released its 2002 debut "Stop," and then headed to Fearless Records, which reissued the album along with 2005's "All That We Needed." For "Every Second Counts," Plain White T's--who frequently appear on the ABC Family show "Greek"--recruited producer and fellow Chicagoan Johnny K. (Disturbed, Three Doors Down) to turn the knobs.

"[Johnny K.] was a fan of the Plain White T's, Higgenson said. "Basically, the only reason he does all the metal stuff was because he made one record for Disturbed, and because he made that record all the metal bands wanted to work with him. He kind of got trapped in that market because he had success there. He's really good at what he does and he loves the band. We went with him."

Now that "Every Second Counts" will turn a year old in September, Higgenson has started writing new material. It's been difficult, however, because he and his band have been on the road constantly.

"But there are definitely a few songs that I've been writing that are pretty cool," he said. "They're similar, I think. I think all of our songs all sound like the Plain White T's. We could stretch it and push it but in the end it's still going to be Plain White T's songs."