PRISM (2025)
Get this album: CD Vinyl Record 24-Bit Download Stream
Still Searching (2024)
Get this album: CD Vinyl Record Tape 24-Bit Download Stream Tracklist 1. Banjo Loop2. Celt Blues3. East and West4. Remembrance5. Running To Keep Up6. Sunrise Credits Written, Arranged & Produced by John Butler Recorded at Crescent Moon Studio, Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S.A Thank you to KT Tunstall and Chris Light for taking me into your home and letting me be the first project recorded at Crescent Moon. I owe you one. To James Raymond for listening to an inordinate amount of guitar takes, all my strange grunting whilst playing percussion and somehow still being able to pull a great sound. Engineered by James Raymond Mixed by James NewhouseMastered by Zino Mikorey Instrument Photography by Duncan WrightJB Photo by Nick McKinlayArt Concept by Kester Sappho AlbumArtwork by Tom WalkerTitles by John Butler Thank You toMaton Guitars, Seymour Duncan Pickups & D’Addario stringsfor all theiryears of support Banjo LoopJB: 5-String Banjos ● National Lap Steel ● Percussion ● Moog ● Vocals Celt BluesJB: 6-String Banjo ● 11-String Guitar ● PercussionJames Raymond: Piano ● Moog East and WestJB: Weissenborn Lap Steel ● Guitar Percussion ● Percussion James Raymond: Additional Programming RemembranceJB: 6-String Banjo ● Percussion Running To Keep UpJB: 6-String Guitars ● Weissenborn Lap Steel ● Moog James Raymond: Clavinet ● Piano James Newhouse: Additional Programming SunriseJB: 6-String Guitar Percussion ● Weissenborn Lap Steel ● Percussion
Running River (2024)
Get this album: CD Vinyl Record 24-Bit Download Stream APRIL 10TH 20024 SEASON ONE: HEALING – RUNNING RIVER There is a fundamental principle in ancient Vedic philosophy that asserts the nature of all manifestation is that it moves between the states of creation, sustenance, and destruction. Things begin, they have a middle, and they end. That’s the universal deal. The idea is not to resist or rush any stage of the cycle, rather stay in the flow of where you are at. John’s journey of creating this new album, Running River was a direct reflection of that principle, and a beautiful reminder of the power of going with the universal flow. After the release of his 7th studio album HOME and the subsequent global touring, tumultuous times lay ahead. Not only had the world gone crazy with Covid 19 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but his own world was turned upside down with the loss of his father, the disbanding of the Trio, the continuation of personal anxiety and weariness from years of being on the road away from family. Within this crazy backdrop, John returned to the studio to generate new restorative music. This recording proved difficult with John fighting to produce and engineer the album himself, diving deeper into a world that was technologically challenging and not proving productive. The harder he tried, the further he pushed, the more lost he became. Somewhere amongst it all he hit a wall and admitted defeat. He didn’t want to listen to any of it anymore. All that exertion, all his futile attempts to think his way into fixing it, amounted to nothing. This album returned to a dormant state. It was not ready to be born. But in that crash, in things falling apart, came true surrender. In Sanskrit, the word swaha means to offer it up to something higher, to the divine. It’s not a renunciation or throwing in the towel. It’s letting it go and offering it up to the light. In the failure, John did just that. The surrender was like a giant exhale, the ultimate offering up. Surrender provided space. In the pause there was deeper listening, instead of trying so hard to say something. For too long he had been too much in his head, and in now, in the exhale, he could let go and just be. In the quiet, he could move from the external to the internal, the gross to the subtle. “Out of the chaos, came the order.” It was this stillness and space that allowed John to get clarity to see his way forward in the recording process. A way to “rebuild” himself for a new era that may lay ahead. The “download” he received in the silence and surrender contained a structure: a form of scaffolding almost: Four Seasons: each season a different album of music. 1. Season One: Ambient, starting simply. Heal first. 2. Season Two: Instrumental, beginning again from where it all started busking on the streets of Fremantle, Western Australia. 3. Season Three: Solo song album. 4. Season Four: Back with a band. And so here we are at the offering of the first Season, Running River. Over the years John had found himself drawn to the soothing sounds of ambient music that brought him back into balance. Using it on the long passages of travel to gigs or backstage to block out the industrial noise of festivals. He found listening to this style of music allowed him a little peace and sonic space to maintain wellness practices such as mediation, yoga, breathing, exercise amongst the backdrop of generators and blasting backstage sounds. As he leaned more deeply into these lulling compositions, a desire emerged that he wanted to create this kind of work so others could benefit in the same way. “It’s the continuation of an agreement I made a long time ago which is: if I’m going to do this thing that seems so self-indulgent, making music and “playing with glitter”, let me be a conduit for the divine. Let me be a vehicle for healing. Let me be a vehicle for change. Let me be a vehicle for something bigger than myself.” He had always loved the meandering, improvised, introductions of Blues, Eastern and Celtic compositions and having incorporated that approach over the years with songs like Ocean, decided to expand on that approach. Fuelled by the need to make an album that could offer greater healing he departed from his characteristic progressive blues roots & rock dynamism and threw himself into recording an ambient album. The way back into the first season was slow, quiet and spacious. John kept it simple. He gave up trying. He stopped over-thinking and over-complicating and instead sat in the surrender. He went into the studio, open and ready for what came out of silence, and received a three-hour download. Rather than rushing through a three-minute rollercoaster that so many songs can end up being, he stripped the music back, let it come slow and steady. Songs were minimal, and he lingered in them for long periods of time, ten minutes or more. Where there would usually be up to twenty different takes on other albums, here they only recorded one or two. In this subtle realm, it became about the feeling, the music taking the listener to places the mind can’t. “I’m always taken by how music by itself can make you feel and go to places that you can’t get to through intellect. I love when the lyrics of a song pass the baton onto the music to say everything the lyrics couldn’t” John’s hope is that people will connect to the album in the same way it was created. Slow gestation, slow time, slow music, finding the people it needs to find when they are ready. Perhaps it changes their states and provides space for healing in some way. He envisages it will live in places people are seeking calm and peace. The length and tone of the music will be conducive to many areas including: • Meditation • Yoga • Breathing • Sweat ceremony and/or sauna • Plant medicine journeys. Going up, duration or coming back down. • Travel • Massage • Acupuncture • Kinesiology • Osteopathy • Putting kids to bed • Waiting rooms • Hospitals • Movement expression • Rituals of
John Butler (1998)
Get this album: CD Vinyl Record Music Tracklist & Lyrics 1. Valley – 8:342. Inspiration – 5:183. Busted – 7:404. Sista – 3:185. Ocean – 12:286. Colours – 9:057. Crazy – 5:298. Keeper – 5:008. Under an Indian Sky – 7:39 Credits John Butler – vocals, guitarsGavin Shoesmith – bass, vocalsJason McGann – drums, percussion, vocals Additional Info John Butler is the first full length album by the John Butler Trio, released 27 December 1998. It was recorded at Studio Couch, Fremantle and engineered by George Nikoloudis and Shaun O’Callaghan, mixed by Shaun O’Callaghan and George Nikoloudis and mastered by Shaun O’Callaghan and Richard Mahony at Studio Couch and Toad Hall. All music and lyrics were written, arranged and produced by John Butler, except for the words of the chorus in “Colours” which were written by Sly and the Family Stone. With Jason McGann on drums and Gavin Shoesmith on bass, the first version of the group recorded the album in December 1998 which was launched at Mojos Bar in North Fremantle. 1. Valley So have you been to the valley lately?Have you noticed that the shepherd is gone?So walk gently ladyAs you walk alongCos I once fought for his forcesBut that cross bears nothing nowI’ve seen all but your Crusades succeedAnd it’s growing sour Gonna be a long time waitinThings are always looking little better when you’re on the backSide of them And then you know all that you think you might need to knowBut even then, my little wing, you’ll have to growYou’ll have to grow So have you been to your God lately?No Jesus Christ, he ain’t nowhere to be seenHe is not there mateyHe has never been So have you been to your church latelyNo cannot find the key to your homeThere is no support for you now my friendThey got problems of their own 2. Inspiration I’m going way downDown SouthWhere I feel a little better about myselfGonna find some inspiration real soonMother Earth and I’m gonna find a way Cos I’m riding through this valley all the way, yeah, on my ownGonna learn to, say, live by myself, I’m gonna learn to be aloneCos I’ve chained myself to someone’s hip, so long, now, I can’t seeAnd I’ve forgotten who I really was, I forgot about me Gonna find some inspirationGonna take it real slowNo pressure on myselfI’m gonna go with the flowCos it seems like the only person I can’t escape from is meSo I’m gonna open these old eyes, I’m gonna open them up and see Cos I’m riding through this valley all the way, yeah, on my ownGonna learn to, say, live by myself, I’m gonna learn to be aloneCos it seems like the only person I can’t escape from is meSo I’m gonna open these old eyes, I’m gonna open them up and see Hey, I’m commin’ homeHey, I’m commin’ home 3. Busted All, all that I knowIs that I stand here before you as criminalFor what I have done, and for what I still am doingWhat you see is wrongBut I’m just watching the sunset and playing my old songSo why did you even have to come along And all, all that amIs a good man searching for some truthSo why, why mess with meJust cos you say I’m doing something wrong against societyBut I’m just having a smoke and playing guitar, can’t you seeBut I made the mistake and thought I was free Thought I was, thought I was freeThought I was, thought I was freeWell you got your alcohol and your tobacco and you make your money offAnd your sending our kids off to war and your killing all of usBut I can not have a smoke, no, cos your whole world come crumbling downNo I cannot smoke a spliff, no, cos your whole world come crumbling downI don’t think so, I don’t think so All, all that I knowIs that I stand here before you as criminalFor what I have done, and for what I still am doingWhat you see is wrongBut I’m just watching the sunset and playing my old songSo why did you even have to come along Hey man, why won’t you just, won’t you just leave me alone 4. Sista Sista, Sista, why can’t you seeThat I’m a part of youAnd you’re a part of meAnd all I want is to be your friendSo Sista, Sista, won’t you let me in Cos all your life I have seen you growAnd yes you are, you’re a beautiful woman,And all I wanted is the best for youEven though sometimesMe meaning gets confused But all I can do is let you knowThat I’ll be there when ever you callCos I am your familyI am a part of you and you’re a part of me So, Sista, Sista, do you feel aloneCos the family’s apart and brothers all left home,And all you want is someone to talk toBut there’s no-one there I’m here, whenever you need meI’m here, I am your familyI’m here, whenever you are downAll you got to do is look around And there I am, and there I am Know I don’t get to see you much anymoreBut all you got to do is give me a callAnd there I’ll be, yes I’ll be there for youYou’ll have someone to talk toCos I am your familyAnd I’m a part of you, and you’re a part of meThere isn’t a single thing I would not doGive it all away for youFor you 5. Ocean Instrumental 6. Colours Chorus lyrics by ‘Sly & The Family Stone’ from their song “Don’t Call Me Nigger, Whitey“, from the album “Stand!”Originally released 1969. Lyricist: S. Stewart [Chorus lyrics by ‘Sly & The Family Stone’]“Don’t call me ni**er, wh**ey”“Don’t call me wh**ey, ni**er”“Don’t call me ni**er, wh**ey”“Don’t call me wh**ey, ni**er” Why’s all the time in this world, we stumble in the nightWhen all we have to do is get along, we don’t need to fightAnd in this great beauty, beautiful beauty, beautiful world we live uponWell say its far too small, far
Three (2001)
Get this album: CD Vinyl Record Music Three (2001) Vinyl Now available in a standard gatefold & black vinyl from all good record stores and online from JBTs stores. Click Here Three Limited Edition 1 of 1,000 On Aug 4th, 2023 a limited edition vinyl was released to the JBT mailing list and sold out in 24 hours. Read the archived page for info… Tracklist & Lyrics Original Australian CD track listing:1. Betterman – 8:162. Attitude – 6:093. Media – 5:194. Believe – 3:595. Take – 8:016. Life Ain’t What It Seems – 7:047. Money – 11:338. Foundation – 14:47 U.S. released CD track listing featuring 3 tracks from the JBT EP and without ‘Foundation’:1. Betterman – 8:162. Attitude – 6:093. Media – 5:194. Believe – 3:595. Take – 8:016. Life Ain’t What It Seems – 7:047. Money – 11:338. Pickapart – 2:599. Earthbound Child – 3:5010. Don’t Understand – 4:31 Three Vinyl Edition:Side A:Betterman – 8:16 Attitude – 6:09Pickapart – 2:59Earthbound Child – 3:50Side B:Money – 11:33Believe – 3:59Media – 5:19Side C:Life Ain’t What It Seems – 7:04Don’t Understand – 4:31Take – 8:01Side D:Foundation – 14:47 Credits John Butler – vocals, guitarsGavin Shoesmith – double bass; electric bassJason McGann – drums; vocals Paul Boon – didgeridooGeorge Rrurrambu – intro vocals on “Money”Rosie Johnstone, David Broadfoot & Brenda Fost – backing vocals Released: 18 April 2001Recorded: Studio Couch – North FremantleProducer: John Butler Trio & Shaun O’Callaghan Additional Info Three is the second studio album by The John Butler Trio.All the music and lyrics were written and arranged by John Butler. The album was recorded, engineered and mixed by Shaun O’Callaghan at Studio Couch, North Fremantle, Western Australia. It was mastered at Woodstock Studios by Robin Mai, Nicky Bomba and Joe Camilleri. The album was produced by the John Butler Trio and Shaun O’Callaghan. The cover concept was designed by John Butler with Matt and Iowana at Insomnia Design. In April 2001, John Butler Trio released Three and relocated to Melbourne to promote the record on the east coast. The track, “Betterman”, was on high rotation by Triple J. Three peaked at No. 24 on the ARIA Charts. It also remained on the alternative charts for nine months reaching No. 3. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2001 the album won an award for ‘Best Independent Release’.“Betterman” reached No. 5 on the Triple J Hottest 100, 2001. Shoesmith left the trio to form his own band, The Groovesmiths, Butler replaced him with 19-year-old Rory Quirk, who was on their first tour of the United States in 2001. Quirk, in turn, left in 2002 to pursue a career with his band, Quirk. Andrew Fry joined as the next bass player. The success of Three led to its release in the US in 2002 and two tours of the US followed. The band supported the Dave Matthews Band and John Mayer as well as playing at the Bonnaroo Music Festival and the South by Southwest Festival. The band also played at the Splendour in the Grass Festival in Australia. Butler, his manager Phil Stevens and fellow Western Australian folk artists, The Waifs, founded Jarrah Records in July 2002. As a result of intensive touring, the band developed a great live reputation in Australia. The band released Living 2001-2002 in February 2003, a double live album which had a top ten debut in the ARIA album charts and went on to achieve platinum sales. Butler took a brief break after five years of solid work since 1997 for the birth of his daughter Banjo. 1. Betterman Betterman I am since ICome into contact with youAnd you taught so many things about myselfand you know this is truebut now we are apart and its all my faultcos you know I need to be aloneDon’t know myselfso how can I share me with you girl or anyon e Don’t want to be a thorn in your sidegood womanAlways be the oneto make you cryDon’t wanna be that guyGood womancos you deserve everythingand I got nothing so leave meand I’ll go away better off I stayFar from you,because you are beautiful BEAUTIFUL WOMAN Now typical manI am because you thinkI want my cake and eat it tooCos say I can’t be in a relationshipbut I still feel for youCos you are the best womanThis old man has ever metYou taught me about my soulyou shared with me your magic Don’t want to be a thorn in your sidegood womanAlways be the oneto make you cryDon’t wanna be that guyGood womancos you deserve everythingand I got nothing so leave meand I’ll go away better off I stayFar from you,because you are beautiful Betterman I am since ICome into contact with youAnd you taughtso many things about myselfand you know this is truebut now we are apart and its all my faultcos you know I need to be aloneDon’t know myselfso how can I share me with you girlor anyoneCause you are BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL WOMAN…BETTER MAN I AM COS OF YOU… 2. Attitude Hey man why you always give me Attitude?What I, what I ever Done to you?If you got a bone to PickStep outside step Outside talk about it But I talk with words manI don’t talk with my fistsI’m sick of all this aggressionHell you know I’ve had enough of itBut I don’t mean to Offend youSo tell me if I have tell me if I haveDon’t give me attitudeDon’t you give me attitude Hey man why you always laughing at me?What’s so, what’s so funny?Cos take a look in the mirror say now what do you see?You are just, you are just like me And I’m easy goingI listen to what you gotta sayAnd if I was wrong, if I was wrongI’d say sorry.Cause I don’t mean,No I don’t mean to offend youI got my own DemonsDon’t need bad karma too Cos truth is the only waySo express what you’re feelinSay what you’ve gotta sayWithout blaming, without blaming 3. Media What you watch, what you readWhat you perceive is to be truthIt is all so subjectiveSo what you believe is up to you But what are we to believe inBetween the lies and the truth? YouthMedia has vested interestSo what you believe is up to you. But how are we to
Sunrise Over Sea (2004)
Get this album: CD Music Playlist 6 Videos Zebra (Official Music Video) 3:57 Treat Yo Mama (Offical Music Video) 3:56 What you want (live) 6:44 Something’s Gotta Give (Official Music Video) 3:12 Somethings Gotta Give (Studio Session) 9:43 Treat Yo Mama (Live at Wave Aid) 6:40 Tracklist & Lyrics 1. Treat Yo Mama – 4:472. Peaches and Cream – 6:473. Company Sin – 4:394. What You Want – 5:215. Damned To Hell – 1:496. Hello – 4:267. Bound To Ramble – 6:088. Seeing Angels – 6:149. There’ll Come A Time – 3:3610. Zebra – 3:5711. Mist – 2:2512. Oldman – 5:1013. Sometimes – 11:05Later copies included at the end of the CD version:14. Something’s Gotta Give – 10:14 (Includes 7:07 of silence and ambiance) Additional songs featured on the Limited Edition Vinyl:Losing My CoolSomething’s Gotta GiveAcross The UniverseTreat Yo Mama (Country Funk Mix) Credits John Butler – vocals, guitars; banjo (tracks 5, 7, 8), lapsteel (track 1), E-Bow (track 9), string arrangements (track 4)Shannon Birchall – double bass; electric bass (tracks 9, 12), vocals (tracks 7, 13), piano (track 3), strings (track 4), string arrangements (track 4)Nicky Bomba – drums; vocals (tracks 7, 10, 13), tambourine (tracks 4, 6), shakers (tracks 3, 9), djembe (tracks 1, 11), sticks (track 3), tikky tak electric guitar (track 3) Michael Barker – congas (tracks 1, 3, 10), tambourine (tracks 1, 3), marimba (tracks 8, 9), darumbukka (track 1), marching bass drum (track 7), cymbals (track 7), kooky spoon solo (track 10)Danielle Carauna – backing vocals (tracks 1, 2, 4, 13)Michael Carauna – Hammond organ (track 10)Dave Pensabene – backing vocals (track 10)Tim Neil – Hammond organ (track 13) Additional Info Sunrise Over Sea is the third studio album by Australian band, the John Butler Trio. It was released in March 2004. In late 2003, John Butler entered Woodstock Studios in Melbourne owned by Joe Camilleri, the leader of Jo Jo Zep and the Black Sorrows. He had a new band consisting of percussionist Nicky Bomba and upright-bass player Shannon Birchall. After recording the album, Bomba returned to his own reggae band and was replaced by drummer/percussionist Michael Barker. John Butler told the Australian edition of Rolling Stone released in April 2004 that he wanted greater freedom to pursue his vision. Essentially what I learnt out of this process was, more so than ever, I’m the keeper of the music. I have the intuition and the foresight to pick the right players to my music. I’ve learned it’s not always about having the same players for five, six or 10 years, it’s having the right chemistry for these songs at this time. Some of my favourite Jimi Hendrix music is off-the-cuff stuff with Band of Gypsies.John Butler The title Sunrise Over Sea is taken from the lyrics to the second track, Peaches and Cream. The album debuted at number one in the national album charts in 15 March 2004 and achieved gold record status in its first week of release. The Zebra EP was released in December 2003 and made the ARIA singles charts in early 2004. The song was voted No. 7 in the Triple J Hottest 100, 2004 and also was the first John Butler Trio single to gain significant airplay on commercial FM radio across Australia, although it was still quite popular on Triple J. John Butler would win an Australasian Performing Rights Association award for Song of the Year in March 2004. The track also appeared on the popular US Crime drama ‘Numb3rs’ as the opening music (Season 3, Episode 6). In 2005 John Butler and co-founder Danielle Caruana (his wife) inaugurated the JB Seed grant program. “The Seed aims to help Australian artists from any background, creating art and music across any genre, to establish themselves as self-sustained, professional artists.” Caruana also plays independent music, she plays under the name Mama Kin. Following the Boxing Day Tsunami, the John Butler Trio appeared at the Wave Aid fundraising concert in Sydney, to raise funds for aid organisations working in disaster affected areas. The John Butler Trio played at all venues for the Big Day Out music festival, starting in Auckland, New Zealand on 19 January 2007, and finishing in Perth Western Australia on 4 February. All the songs on the album were written, arranged and produced by John Butler, except for “What You Want” where the string section was arranged by Shannon Birchall and John Butler and was scored and conducted by Shannon Birchall. 1. Treat Yo Mama Don’t call me hippy cause the way that I look,Cause I got a recipe and you know I can cookAnd I come forth with only good intent,You know I am Heaven bound but I’m surely hell bentOn getting the job done like I know I should,Get the job done like my momma told me to.Only one thing can remember she said,You gotta earn all of your respect. And I don’t care what race or what colour or what creedAll that shit don’t bother me,Only one thing that you should not forget,You gotta treat you mama wit respect And I don’t care what fashion the styling of yo hair,I don’t care about the car or the clothes you do wear.Only one thing that you should not forget,You gotta treat yo mama with respect. I got a couple of friends up in a tree in North-CliffYou know they’re doing their part You know they’re doing their bit.Trying to save our Mother from all this greedYou know they know what she wants,You know they know what she needs.I got a couple of Sista’s in South Australia,Stopping the Uranium from coming up,Oh yeah man you know they know what she need. They’re stopping all of that Government Corporate Greed! 2. Peaches and Cream Well there’s far too many questions to ask,To answer all of them tonight.For I wear, too many masks,To tell if any of them are wrong or right.And confusion casts a shadow upon me,Like a great big cloud in the sky.And now I pray for rainCause it’s been so long since I let myself cry For so long, I’ve sang this sad ole song.And it feels like my time is up.For she came and landed in my armsAnd she
Grand National (2007)
Get this album: CD Music Playlist 6 Videos Funky Tonight (Official Clip) 4:11 Used To Get High For A Living (official Video) 4:03 Better Than (Official Video) 3:34 Good Excuse (official video) 3:26 John Butler Trio & Keith Urban – Funky Tonight Live – Arias 5:50 John Butler – “Losing You” / Sing Sing Sessions – jbtdotcom 3:55 Tracklist & Lyrics 1. Better Than – 3:292. Daniella – 4:173. Funky Tonight – 5:284. Caroline – 3:485. Good Excuse – 3:266. Used To Get High – 4:297. Gov Did Nothin’ – 8:058. Groovin’ Slowly – 4:339. Devil Running – 4:5110. Losing You – 3:4711. Nowhere Man – 3:2212. Fire In The Sky – 5:3613. Gonna Take It – 4:43 Credits John Butler – Vocals, Acoustic/amplified open back banjo, 12-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) Singles 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 20 February 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 was released as a radio promotional fourth single in Australia (November 2007) Additional Info Their fourth studio album, entitled Grand National, was released on 24 March 2007 in Australia and New Zealand, and released on 27 March in the United States and France. The first single off the album, titled “Funky Tonight”, reached a high of No. 15 on the ARIA charts and No. 12 on Triple J Hottest 100 for 2006. A second single, “Better Than,” was also released. In conjunction with the American release, the trio scheduled a small American Tour consisting of only five cities starting in Los Angeles and ending in New York.In April 2007 Grand National was the initial album nominated for a J Award by national youth broadcaster Triple J. “Better Than” which was released as the first overseas single from Grand National, reached No. 1 on the Triple A format charts in United States in June 2007. It also reached the top ten international songs at Japanese Radio and has been a major radio hit in France where the video made MTV’s video of the week.On 7 July 2007 they performed at the Australian leg of Live Earth in Sydney. On 31 July 2007 the John Butler Trio performed their song, “Better Than” on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. On 4 August 2007 they performed at Newport Folk Festival playing a set that included “Used to Get High”, “Better Than”, “Ocean”, “Funky Tonight”, and “Good Excuse”.In 2007, the John Butler Trio won the Australian Independent Record (AIR) Award for Best Performing Independent Album as well as Best Independent Release and Best Blues and Roots Album at the ARIA Awards.On 3 August 2008 they performed at Lollapalooza in Chicago. The John Butler Trio concluded the summer of 2008 touring the U.S. with G. Love and Special Sauce.In July 2009 “Betterman” was voted number 47 by the Australian public in Triple J Hottest 100 of all time. On 26 March 2009 John Butler announced that the current bass and drum musicians of the John Butler Trio, Shannon Birchall and Michael Barker are separating from the band. For purely artistic reasons, John felt it necessary to change the line up in an attempt by John to discover new inspirations with new members. John stated in his announcement: Michael and Shannon have been by far the best line up I have performed with in The John Butler Trio to date. They have been a pleasure to live, love, learn, record and tour with. Their professionalism, musicianship, and commitment have been unwavering and for that and a whole lot more I am truly thankful.John Butler, 2008 Michael Barker went on to form Swamp Thing with guitarist/singer Grant Haua, based in New Zealand. Their first album Balladeer was released in May 2011 1. Better Than All you want isWhat you can’t haveAnd if you just look around manYou see you got magicSo just sit back relaxEnjoy it while you still have itDon’t look back on life man and only see tragic [CHORUS]Because you could be better than thatDon’t let it get the better of youWhat could be better than nowLife’s not about what’s better thanYou can be better than thatDon’t let it get the better of youWhat could be better than nowLife’s not about what’s better All the time while you’re looking awayThere are things you can do manThere’s things you can sayTo the the ones you’re withWith whom you’re spending your todayGet your gaze off tomorrowAnd let come what may [CHORUS] All I know is sometimes things can be hardBut you should know by nowThey come and they goSo why, oh whyDo I look to the other side‘Cos I know the grass is greener butJust as hard to mow Life’s not about what’s better than. 2. Daniella You light me up little girl, like the 4th of JulyI love you more than every single star man in the skyYou are the best damn thing that ever happened to meWant to take you home start
Flesh & Blood (2014)
Get this album: CD Vinyl Record Music Playlist 9 Videos Spring To Come (Official Video) 4:19 Livin’ In The City (Official Video) 3:36 Only One (Official Video) 3:58 How You Sleep At Night (Official Video) 4:20 Flesh & Blood: The Songs / Part 1 2:48 Flesh & Blood: The Songs / Part 2 2:06 Flesh & Blood: The Songs / Part 3 3:18 Flesh & Blood: The Songs / Part 4 3:03 Flesh & Blood – The Songs Part 5 3:11 Tracklist & Lyrics 1. Spring to Come – 4:132. Livin in the City – 3:283. Cold Wind – 4:574. Bullet Girl – 5:205. Devil Woman – 3:006. Blame It On Me – 6:087. Only One – 3:398. Young and Wild – 5:369. Wings Are Wide – 5:5110. How You Sleep at Night – 4:1311. You’re Free – 5:33 Credits Recorded The Compound, Fremantle – 2013 John Butler – Vocals, Guitars, Wurlitzer, E-BowBryon Luiters – Bass, Vocals, Moog bass, Synths, Organ, Wurlitzer, Clavinet, Upright Piano, RhodesNicky Bomba – Drums, Percussion, Vocals, Steel PansGrant Gerathy – Drums, Vocals on track 10 Additional Info Recorded at The Compound, Butler’s studio in Fremantle (Australia), FLESH & BLOOD took a mere 20 days to record and though beautifully structured in sonic terms there is a rawness and honesty to the album that reflects the brevity of its laying down. There’s something really exciting about that moment when you’re writing a song and it’s flowing and you stand back and look at it and hear it and feel like it explains things that you’ve been trying to explain all your life, or it expresses something that feels universal. After contributing a large portion of work towards the album, Nicky Bomba eventually left The Compound and the Trio to focus on his own Melbourne Ska Orchestra project and was replaced by Grant Gerathy. Flesh & Blood was produced by Jan Skubiszewski and features a vocal duet with Ainslie Wills. Butler spoke about the song process in an interview during the band’s US tour:But a lot of these songs on this album I kind of magpied. Magpies are this bird in Australia that takes shiny things from anywhere and builds its nest, and so that’s kind of what I do. I’ll take a little of my own experience of having some heavy party time with certain friends, and then I’ll hear some other stories about addicts or other intense relationships. I’ll put them into the mixing pot and make up these characters to explore different possibilities and emotional landscapes.Of the approach, Butler saysWe wanted the grooves to get deeper and thicker and as a songwriter I wanted the songs to be a lot more guttural and fleshier. I wanted to smell it and feel it a bit more. And my voice to be more convincing. JB’s Track by track introduction to the songs on “Flesh & Blood” Blame It On Me started out as Lay It on Me, as in ‘give me your truth’ but I couldn’t get enough traction with that to reveal the bones. So it changed to Blame It On Me and I kinda wrote from this point of view of a deity speaking to humans going, ‘how is it that you believe in me when it’s all working for you but when it’s not, you blame me? When really, you make your own bed and you need to sleep in it’. Bullet Girl is about a couple who are in that stage of their life where everything is hot and heavy. And dramatic. And angsty. When it’s good, it’s good and when it’s bad it’s bad. But at the same time they are catalysts for each other; the chemistry between them is like a hot fire. It burns bright and it’s exciting… but it’s destructive and they look back with some regret. Cold Wind was inspired by a 4WD trip I took from Freo through the guts of the desert to Uluru, where we stayed in an Aboriginal community called Mutitjulu near Ayers Rock. I’d seen footage of a man named Uncle Bob Randall, an indigenous elder who is a great thinker and philosopher who was a member of the stolen generation. We met Bob and his wife Barbara and stayed in a caravan for a couple of nights and listened to his stories, of being taken away from his mother, the hardship and things that he came up against as an individual, of indigenous inequality and injustice. A really cold wind would come across the camp every morning at 8am – really hard and relentless. And he would say, ‘leave! Pack up and get out of my country!’ (laughs). The mixture of those two things made Cold Wind. Devil Woman sprang up from a jam period we had for a month where I didn’t bring any of my songs to the table, we just threw musical ideas into a very open and fresh pot. Nicky came to this one jam with these Ethiopian rhythms and instantly Africa was in the room. It blossomed into this African/R&B/bluegrass thing. Devil Woman? I found another guy in the bed and this woman is killing me. I want her to get away from me before I do something I regret. How You Sleep at Night is probably one of my more exciting songwriting moments. I wrote it and was having one of those, ‘this is one of the best things I’ve done’ moments. I was quite chuffed with myself. Then I had a dream where I’m playing the song to my manager Phil, just on GarageBand, but there’s a full video with it and the production is completely different, there’s the same melody, but different chords. So I’m listening to this song that I was so happy with, that I had written over the previous three months completely flipped and I just wake up and go, ‘wow, that was cool’. So I got up and worked out the chords. So the next day we’re at rehearsal and we were going to do the original version but Grant and Byron were like, ‘no man, let’s do the dream version first’. Four takes later it was done. It came up like the dream and where it didn’t, it was better. It never happens like that; I worked on
Home (2018)
Get this album: CD Vinyl Record Music Home (2018) 8 Videos The Making of ‘HOME’ 8:56 ‘Tell Me Why’ (Official Music Video) 3:34 ‘Tell Me Why’ (Behind The Song) 1:59 Just Call (Official Music Video) 4:54 ‘Just Call’ (Behind The Song) 2:18 ‘Wade In The Water’ (Official Music Video) 4:01 ‘Wade In The Water’ (Behind The Song) 3:24 Home (Official Music Video) 3:07 Tracklist & Lyrics 1. Tahitian Blue – 4:152. Wade In The Water – 3:593. Just Call – 3:274. Running Away – 5:125. Home – 3:056. Miss Your Love – 3:567. Faith – 6:398. Coffee, Methadone & Cigarettes – 6:169. Tell Me Why – 5:2410. Brown Eyed Girl – 4:3811. You Don’t Have To Be Angry Anymore – 4:5012. We Want More – 4:23 Credits John Butler: Vocals, 11 & 6 String Amplified/Acoustic Guitars, Electric Guitars, 5 & 6 string Banjo, Weissenborn Lap Steel, Synthesisers, Percussion, Programmed Beats, Rhodes Byron Luiters: Electric Bass Guitar, Synthesisers, Piano, Percussion Grant Gerathy: Drums, Percussion and Additional Electric Guitar on Miss Your Love Jan Skubiszewski: Piano, Programmed Beats, Synthesisers. Michael Boase & Barnabas Courtauld: Extra Percussion on Tahitian Blue and Wade in the WaterMama Kin: Additional Vocals on Tahitian Blue, Home, Miss Your Love & We Want MoreJahli Bo Carda and the Caruana Massive: Extra vocals on We Want More. Melvin Duffy: Pedal Steel on Coffee, Methadone & Cigarettes. Additional Info Produced By: John Butler & Jan Skubiszewski Recorded & Engineered by: Jan Skubiszewski at Red Moon Studios, Victoria and at The Compound, Western Australia. Additional Production and Arrangement: Byron Luiters & Grant Gerathy Mixed by: Anthony KilhofferExcept for Lead vocals on Wade in the Water mixed by James ‘Bonzai’ Caruso Mastered by: Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound All songs written by: John Butler except for;Home: John Butler, Katy Steele, Thom Crawford, Martin BrownBrown Eyed Bird: John Butler, Joel Quartermaine and Byron LuitersYou Don’t Have To Be Angry Anymore: John Butler and Byron LuitersWe Want More: John Butler, Kav Temperley & Stephen MowatWade In The Water: Contains elements of “Midnight Rider” (G. Allman/R. Payne), Unichappell Music, Inc. (BMI) and Elijah Blue Music, Inc (BMI). All rights reserved. 1. Tahitian Blue Come sail your ship upon this shoreWith battered mast and broken oarLet me aboard to play my partBy letting me into your heartI’ve got, I’ve got only good to giveI only got one life to liveAnd there ain’t no place that is rather beThan with you on these seven seasYou love me and I Love youDeeper than Tahitian Blue Let my arms be the bayMay my heart anchor you through all those wavesMay my eyes be the lighthouse to your boatMay my love keep you afloatLove keep you floating Legs are shaking on dry landIf you should fall take my handAnd I’ll pick you right back up againTell me now where you been When ruthless storming windsAre blowing youAnd you don’t know which way you’re going Come on come onWe can all get some‘Cause after the cold nightComes the sunWe got the right yeah everyoneTo enjoy this lifeAnd have some funYou got the key to your own cage?You got the key so you must be brave?It’s only your life you can saveYou’re deeper than Tahitian 2. Wade In The Water Wade In The WaterI will wade in the waterAnd I will see my reflectionAnd I will know it’s timeSo I’ll goAnd I hope you will find meFor I need some redemptionI can’t walk alone anymore I’m looking for somethingBut I get in my wayI can’t seem to find it on my ownIt’s on the tip of my tongueIt keeps slipping awayI don’t wanna live here all aloneAnymore I will go to the mountainAnd I will look for my loverAnd I will find my soulNo longer live in the valley on my ownNo longer live in the valley on my ownNo longer live in the valley on my own 3. Just Call Hey there girl won’t you look at meYou’re the prettiest thingThat I ever did seeMaybe one dayWhen I’m luckyYou’ll be my queenAnd you’ll marry me I set sail yeah I left my homeI was quite happy just to be aloneThought that love was just a waste of time‘Till someone there changed my mindAnd I said to her Just call and yeah you know I’ll be thereDon’t know but this could be forever So there I was and there you wereAll black and white but you colourDry season in the town of BroomeI found my staircase to the moon Of all the people I could findI found youOur families crossed the oceansSo we could share this space in timeYou just stole my heartAnd cracked me open Just call and yeah you know I’ll be thereDon’t know but this could be forever 4. Running Away Tonight I feel uncleanLike a broken machineI’m choking up on the fear and the doubtWords can’t conveyWhat I’m trying to sayI’m bottle neckingTrying to get it all outAnd I dig through stones and blood and bonesI dig so deep now I can’t even seeFeel just like an archaeologistTrying to find out what happened to meBut no longer Running and running and running and running awayI’m notRunning and running and running and running awayNo more Somewhere long agoDown a dead end roadSomething pulled the rugFrom under my feetCaught me by surpriseKicked mud in my eyesThat’s when my engine started to seizeAnd I held it downPushed it under groundI said, “I never wanna feel that again”Held them all awaySo I can feel safeAnd I guess that’s how I’ve been dealingBut no longerRunning Away Tell me where the map has goneBecause I, I don’t wanna be aloneAny longerI don’t want to feel this way about you.I just want to help you grow and be strongerBut I don’t want to compromise anymoreAnd you don’t want to live with lies anymore soTell me where the map has goneBecause I, I don’t wanna be aloneAny longer 5. Home When the curtains are drawnEverybody has goneI sit here all aloneAll the bottles are dryComing down from the highAll I want is homeIn the land of palm treesHotel room on my kneesThere’s no warmth here on sunsetThe connection is faintAnd
April Uprising (2010)
Get this album: CD Making Of DVD Vinyl Record Music Playlist 7 Videos John Butler Trio – The Making of April Uprising – Short Film 1:41 Revolution (Official Video) 4:19 One Way Road (official clip) 3:05 Close To You (Official Music Video) 3:50 Don’t Wanna See Your Face (Official Video) 2:43 Fool For You (Official Video) 5:20 John Butler – One Way Road – Tutorial – How To Play 9:51 Tracklist & Lyrics 1. Revolution – 5:052. One Way Road – 3:063. C’mon Now – 2:424. I’d Do Anything (Soldier’s Lament) – 3:215. Ragged Mile (Spirit Song) – 3:576. Johnny’s Gone – 4:557. Close To You – 3:458. Don’t Wanna See Your Face – 2:439. Take Me – 5:0110. Fool For You – 5:0711. To Look Like You – 4:1912. Steal It – 3:4313. Mystery Man – 3:5514. Gonna Be A Long Time – 3:4615. A Star Is Born – 4:35 Additional songs featured on the Limited Edition Vinyl:Gone – 4:26Only You – 3:51Satisfy – 2:43 Credits Recorded The Compound, Fremantle – 2009 – 2010 John Butler – vocals, guitarsBryon Luiters – bass, vocalsNicky Bomba – drums, percussion, vocals Singles “One Way Road” – Released: 4 December 2009“Close To You” – Released: 11 March 2010“Revolution”- Released: 2 June 2010“Don’t Wanna See Your Face” Additional Info April Uprising is the fifth studio album by the John Butler Trio. The album was recorded from late 2009-early 2010 in Fremantle, Australia. The album’s name comes from Butler’s appearance on the television documentary series, Who Do You Think You Are, where he journeyed to Bulgaria to find information about his ancestors. The 1876 April Uprising was an important event in Bulgarian history.The first single from the album was “One Way Road”, which was accompanied by a music video, and was released on 4 December 2009. The second single was “Close To You”, also with a video, on 11 March 2010. On 30 June 2009 John Butler announced the new bass and drum musicians of the John Butler Trio to be Byron Luiters as the bassist and Nicky Bomba as the drummer and percussionist. Bomba, Butler’s brother-in-law, has previously been a member of the John Butler Trio.The first single from the album, “One Way Road”, was released on 4 December 2009. Butler described the song as being the combination of pretty much most of my musical influences; dancehall, roots & rock. Some how we found a way to bring all these feels in a way that sounds natural and not too contrived or cerebral. I’m really happy with how we captured the vibe of this song.John Butler The band, according to billboard.com, recorded twenty two songs at Butler’s home based studio in Fremantle, this was eventually cut down to the fifteen that appear on the album. The album was released in Australia, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and The Netherlands on 26 March 2010, in New Zealand and France on 29 March, in the UK on 5 April, and in the USA / Canada on 6 April. April Uprising debuted at No. 1 on the Australian ARIA albums chart on 5 April and whilst the first two singles from the album, “One Way Road” and “Close to You”, charted at No. 15 and No. 36 on the Australian ARIA singles charts they both reached the top five in the Spins radio airplay charts, the former reaching No. 1. On 4 June 2010 John Butler Trio played a show at Red Rocks Amphitheater, which was streamed live to fans around the world at Livestream. In 2010, the John Butler Trio received the award for Most Popular Independent Artist at the Australian Independent Record (AIR) Awards while April Uprising was nominated at the ARIA Awards for ‘Best Blues and Roots Album’ and ‘Best Independent Release’. 1. Revolution So tell me family now what do you think ?Watch it all go down the great big sink.Watch how the scum it rises to the top.Don’t you wonder when it’s all gonna stop?Sometimes I wonder how we do sleep,Serving the dodgy companies we keep.All kicking and scrounging for the very first place –Dictionary definition of a rat race.Pay off those losers we elect to lead,Stealing from the mouths that we’re meant to feed.Enslaving the very clothes upon my back,I feel the sting but I hear no crack, no crack, I’m saying Running through the fire, running through the flame,Running through the hatred, pushing through the blame,Running through the hopelessness and shame,Revolution already underway. Big Heavy Pirates man digging those holes,Messing with something that they can’t control.Trespassing lands where they don’t belong,All I hear is screaming where there once were songs.I got my brothers they are fighting those wars,Fighting over scraps and scraping their souls.Under a blanket of a fire and prideThat can’t keep us warm for the cold inside,Inside, I’m saying Running through the fire, running through the flame,Running through the hatred, pushing through the blame,Running through the hopelessness and shame,Revolution already underway. So tell me when you think we’re gonna rise?Wake from this slumber wipe the tears from our eyes?Yes from this nightmare yes I must now wake,Open my fist my destiny I take !Good people sick and tired of being pushed around,We call them kings but I see no crown.Tell me when you think we’ll just stand up,Say enough is enough is enough, enough I’m saying Running through the fire, running through the flame,Running through the hatred, pushing through the blame,Running through the hopelessness and shame,Revolution already underway. Take back your feet, take back your hands.Take back your words, take back your lands.Take back your heart, take back your pride.Don’t got to run, don’t got to hide.Revolution. 2. One Way Road They come, they takeIt’s never enough because they can’t relateTo the real world,Thinking that the oyster is just for the pearlThey start those warsThey want to own the land sea and all the starsAnd right those wrongsThey change their history with their poison forked tongues All right, whos they?A maybe it’s the government of todayOr B for the big business man who thinks the whole world revolves around himOr C for the corrupt official for A and B he be the man in the middleOr D for discoverer