Grand National (album)

Grand National
Studio album by John Butler Trio
Released 24 March 2007 (2007-03-24)
Recorded 2004 (2004)-2005 (2005)
Genre Roots rock, traditional, jam, indie rock
Length 59:32
Label Jarrah
Atlantic[1]
Producer John Butler and Mario Caldato Jr.
John Butler Trio chronology
Live at St. Gallen
(2005)		 Grand National
(2007)		 April Uprising
(2010)
Singles from Grand Lashnal
  1. "Funky Tonight"
    Released: December 2006
  2. "Good Excuse"
    Released: March 2007
  3. "Better Than"
    Released: 23 August 2007
  4. "Used to Get High"
    Released: November 2007
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]

Grand National is the fourth album by the John Butler Trio. Somewhere between 22 and 25 songs were considered for this album, some created during or before Sunrise Over Sea.

To date, it is the John Butler Trio's most ambitious work, containing many more instruments than previously seen on their albums, including a whole strings and horn section on some songs, with numerous percussion instruments for many more.

Butler, having previously tried to self-produce the album, called upon Mario Caldato Jr. (Beastie Boys, Tone Loc) to assist.

The album reached number one on the ARIA Albums Chart and the Billboard Heatseekers chart in the US, and as of 10 March 2008 it has reached triple Platinum Status (210,000+ copies sold). Grand National was the 7th highest selling album in Australia in 2007, remaining in the ARIA top 20 album charts for over nine months.

The title of the album is derived from the antique dobro resophonic guitar that Butler inherited from his grandfather. In the 1920s the Dobro and National were competitors in the development of resonator or resophonic guitars, in 1934 they merged to form the National-Dobro Corporation, and hence the name of the album.

Track listing

All music and lyrics written and arranged by John Butler.[3]

The following track listing and song times are from the official release:

  1. "Better Than" – 3:29
  2. "Daniella" – 4:16
  3. "Funky Tonight" – 5:27
  4. "Caroline" – 3:48
  5. "Good Excuse" – 3:26
  6. "Used to Get High" – 4:28
  7. "Gov Did Nothin'" – 8:04
  8. "Groovin' Slowly" – 4:32
  9. "Devil Running" – 4:49
  10. "Losing You" – 3:47
  11. "Nowhere Man" – 3:21
  12. "Fire in the Sky" – 5:36
  13. "Gonna Take It" – 4:44

The following tracks were including on the limited-edition vinyl version of the record:

  1. "Good as Gone"
  2. "Recognise Me" (also released as bonus track on iTunes Deluxe Album)
  3. "Ain't That Just the Way"
  4. "Thou Shalt Not Steal" (also released as bonus track on iTunes Deluxe Album, and previously recorded for the Kev Carmody tribute album Cannot Buy My Soul)

The following track listing and song times are from the bonus disc:

  1. "Ain't That Just the Way" – 5:21
  2. "Good as Gone" – 2:30
  3. "Thou Shalt Not Steal" – 4:51
  4. "Funky tonight (live)" – 6:00
  5. "Funky tonight (video)" – 3:40

Personnel

Strings section on "Caroline":

Horns section on "Gov Did Nothin'":

Singles

Other songs recorded during Grand National sessions

Before the official track list was released, these tracks were considered for the album, but were left out of the final cut.

Preceded by
How to Save a Life by The Fray		 Australian ARIA Albums Chart number-one album
2 April 2007 		Succeeded by
Young Modern by Silverchair

References

  1. ↑ "John Butler Trio - Three". Discogs. Retrieved 26 November 2007.
  2. ↑ Allmusic review
  3. ↑ "Australasian Performing Right Association". APRA. Retrieved 26 November 2007.
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