"Better Than" is a song by Australian band John Butler Trio from their fourth studio album, Grand National (2007). Produced by John Butler and Mario Caldato Jr., it was released as the album's third single in Australia in August 2007. The single includes two previously unreleased tracks recorded in the Grand National sessions and a special radio mix version of "Better Than" from Chris Lord-Alge.

"Better Than"
Single by John Butler Trio
from the album Grand National
Released27 August 2007 (2007-08-27)[1]
Length3:31
LabelJarrah
Songwriter(s)John Butler
Producer(s)
John Butler Trio singles chronology
"Good Excuse"
(2007)
"Better Than"
(2007)
"Used to Get High"
(2007)

"Better Than" debuted and peaked at number 16 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart on 3 September 2007. On the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2007, it ranked in at number four.[2] The song was also released in the United States, where it topped the Billboard Triple A chart for seven weeks in mid-2007.

Music video edit

An accompanying music video for "Better Than", which utilizes the "Chris Lord-Alge radio mix" has been released on YouTube on 1 August 2007. In this video, members of the John Butler Trio band perform the song while on animated posters and performing on various spots of the streets with various pedestrians and skateboarders going by. Throughout, two messages (which reiterate the lyrical content in the song itself) are shown in a style of graffiti saying "The best things in life...aren't things!" and "Art changes people... people change the world."[3]

Track listing edit

All tracks are written by John Butler

Australian CD single[4]
No.TitleLength
1."Better Than"3:31
2."Recognise Me"4:02
3."Ain't That Just the Way"5:23
4."Better Than" (Chris Lord-Alge radio mix)3:28

Personnel edit

The John Butler Trio

  • John Butler – vocals, acoustic/amplified 6 string guitar, banjo, harmonica
  • Shannon Birchall – double bass, backing vocals
  • Michael Barker – drums, congas, shaker, tambourine, cow bells, vibraslap, backing vocals

Production credits

  • John Butler – producer
  • Mario Caldato Jr. – production, engineering, mixing
  • Shannon Birchall – co-production
  • Michael Barker – co-production
  • Jarrad Hearman – assistant engineering
  • Bernie Grundman – mastering
  • Tom Walker – artwork

Charts edit

References edit

  1. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 27/08/2007" (PDF). ARIA. 27 August 2007. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 February 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Triple J's Hottest 100". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 January 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
  3. ^ Better Than - Official Video Clip on YouTube (uploaded 1 August 2007)
  4. ^ John Butler Trio (2007). Better Than (Australian CD single liner notes). Jarrah Records. JBT012.
  5. ^ "The John Butler Trio – Better Than". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  6. ^ "The John Butler Trio – Better Than". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Adult Alternative Airplay". Billboard. 14 July 2007. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  8. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2007". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 30 March 2020.