Grand National (album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Grand National
Type = Album
Artist = The John Butler Trio


Released = March 24, 2007 (AUS)
March 27, 2007 (Worldwide)
Recorded = 2005-2006
Genre = Roots
Length = 59:32
Label = Jarrah
Atlantic Recordscite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/release/1135140 |title=John Butler Trio - Three|publisher=Discogs|accessdate=2007-11-26 ]
Producer = John Butler & Mario Caldato Jr.
Reviews =
Last album = "Live at St. Gallen"
(2005)
This album = 'Grand National'
(2007)
Next album =

"Grand National" is the fourth album by The John Butler Trio. Somewhere between 22 to 25 songs were considered for this album, some created during or before Sunrise Over Sea. The album was leaked onto the internet on February 7 2007, which included an unfinshed mix of "Fire in the Sky".It also had a different recording of "Funky Tonight" than released as a single. In an e-mail sent out on February 21, the band confirmed the official tracklisting.

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.

The album reached number one on the ARIA Albums Chart and the Billboard Heatseekers chart in the US, and as of March 10, 2008 it has reached triple Platinum Status (210,000+ copies sold).

Track listing

All music and lyrics written and arranged by John Butler. [cite web |url=http://www.apra.com.au/cms/worksearch/worksearch.srvlt?action=workSearch |publisher=APRA |title=Australasian Performing Right Association |accessdate=2007-11-26 ] "The following tracklisting and song times are from the official release:"

# "Better Than" - 3:29
# "Daniella" - 4:16
# "Funky Tonight" - 5:27
# "Caroline" - 3:48
# "Good Excuse" - 3:26
# "Used To Get High" - 4:28
# "Gov Did Nothin'" - 8:04
# "Groovin' Slowly" - 4:32
# "Devil Running" - 4:49
# "Losing You" - 3:47
# "Nowhere Man" - 3:21
# "Fire In The Sky" - 5:46
# "Gonna Take It" - 4:44

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

# "Good As Gone"
# "Recognise Me"
# "Ain't That Just The Way"
# "Thou Shalt Not Steal"

Personnel

*John Butler - Vocals, Acoustic/amplified open back banjo, 11-string, 6-string, resonator lapsteel, and Weissonborn lapsteel guitars, Baritone tricone resonator guitar, Nylon string acoustic guitar, Banjo, Mouth harp, Harmonica, Ukelele ("track 8"), Yidaki (Didgeridoo) & Electric guitar ("track 9")
*Shannon Birchall - Backing vocals, Double bass, Electric bass guitar, Violin and string section composition and arrangement ("track 4")
*Michael Barker - Backing vocals, Drums, Shakers, Tambourine, Glockenspiel, Marimba, Congas, Timbale, Cow Bell, Timpani, Vibraphone, Tubular Bell, Crotale, Vibraslap, Kalimba, Tongue drum, Clave, Cabassa, Bongos, Triangle, Beat Box ("track 2")

*Danielle Caruana - Backing vocals ("tracks 2, 7, 11")
*Meng Jones - Beat Box ("2")
*Chad Hedley - Turntables ("2")
*Money Mark - Clavinet ("2")
*Bobby Singh - Tabla ("2, 9, 12")
*Michael Caruana - Piano and B3 Hammond ("5"), Wurlitzer ("7, 8")
*Ray Pereira - Talking drum ("7")
*Jex Saarelaht - Piano ("7"), Hammond organ ("9")
*Vika Bull - Backing vocals ("7, 8")
*Linda Bull - Backing vocals ("7, 8")
*Stacia Goninon - Backing vocals, chants & claps ("7")
*Jesse Goninon - Backing vocals, chants & claps ("7")
*Nicky Bomba - Backing vocals, chants & claps ("7"), Police skank ("8")

Strings section on "Caroline":
*Charlotte Armstrong - Violin
*Aaron Barndon - Violin
*Andrea Keeble - Violin
*Jane Mason - Violin
*Sue Simpson - Violin
*Stephanie Thom - Violin
*Michelle John - Cello
*Helen Mountford - Cello
*Caerwen Martin - Cello
*Jason Bunn - Viola
*Erkki Veltheim - Viola
*Sharni Williams - Viola

Horns section on "Gov Did Nothin'":
*Eugene Ball - Trumpet
*Mark Elton - Tuba
*Ben Gillespie - Trombone
*Cam Robbins - Clarinet

ingles

*"Funky Tonight" was released as the first Australian single (December 2006)
*"Good Excuse" was released as the second Australian single (March 2007)
*"Better Than" was released on February 20, 2007 as an online single in the United States, available via iTunes and later in Australia as a CD single in August 2007 and it served as the third single in Australia.
*"Used To Get High" is the fourth single in Australia.

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.
*"Good As Gone" (released on the Funky Tonight single)
*"Recognize Me" (released as bonus with iTunes pre-order)
*"Waited For You"
*"Feel Forever"
*"The Frame"
*"Happy Home"
*"On This Sad Day"
*"Start Again"
*"These Chords"
*"Tomorrow"
*"All Night Long"

Trivia

*Many small images can be seen on the cover art, hidden among the mock Rorschach inkblot test with John's face including guns, bombs and people hugging bombs, explosions, military aircraft, pumpjacks, dove, butterflys, fetus, Om, brain and heart.
*When pre-ordered in Australia, fans were given a free brown cap with the Jarrah logo and 'Grand National' embroidered on it.
*"Losing You" is recorded solo by John Butler.

succession box
before = "How to Save a Life" by The Fray
title = Australian ARIA Albums Chart number-one album
years = April 2 2007
after = "Young Modern" by Silverchair

References