A Better Man (album)
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| A Better Man | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 4 October 1996 (Ireland) 7 October 1996 (UK) | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | Stephen Lipson | |||
| Brian Kennedy chronology | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
A Better Man is the second studio album by Irish singer Brian Kennedy, released in 1996. It debuted at number one on the Irish Albums Chart.[2]
Three singles taken from the album reached both the Irish Top 20 and the UK Top 40: "A Better Man" (Ireland No. 6;[3] UK No. 28[4]), "Life, Love & Happiness" (Ireland No. 16;[5] UK No. 27[4]) and a cover of a song originally recorded by World Party, "Put the Message in the Box" (Ireland No. 18;[6] UK No. 37[4]).
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "A Better Man" | 4:04 | |
| 2. | "For One Kiss" |
| 4:45 |
| 3. | "Won't You Take Me Home" |
| 4:55 |
| 4. | "No Other Words" |
| 3:51 |
| 5. | "And So I Will Wait for You" |
| 4:10 |
| 6. | "Life, Love & Happiness" |
| 4:29 |
| 7. | "The Oldest Dream in the World" |
| 4:02 |
| 8. | "Put the Message in the Box" | Karl Wallinger | 4:04 |
| 9. | "By the Mountain Road" |
| 3:19 |
| 10. | "Ghost Music" |
| 4:46 |
| 11. | "Wish Me Well" | Paul Buchanan | 4:23 |
Personnel
Adapted from the album's liner notes.[7]
Musicians
- Brian Kennedy – lead vocals (all tracks), harmonies (tracks 2, 4, 6), bouzouki (track 2), guitars (track 7)
- Teddy Borowiecki – accordion (track 9)
- Liam Bradley – drums (track 8), harmonies (track 8)
- Simon Climie – keyboards (track 5)
- Danny Cummings – percussion (track 8)
- James Hallawell – keyboards (track 8), harmonies (track 8)
- Boo Hewerdine – guitar (track 10)
- Andy Hill – keyboards (track 3)
- Luís Jardim – percussion (tracks 2–7, 9–11)
- Stephen Lipson – keyboards (tracks 1, 5, 7), guitars (tracks 1, 4, 5), bass (tracks 1, 2, 7, 8, 10), dulcimer (track 5), percussion (track 10), harmonies (track 7)
- London Community Gospel Choir – choir (track 6)
- Calum MacColl – guitars (tracks 1–3, 5–9, 11), keyboards (track 9), mandolin (track 1), zither (track 2), harmonies (tracks 7–9)
- Eddi Reader – harmonies (track 2)
- Andy Richards – keyboards (tracks 1, 3, 7)
- Kate St John – oboe (tracks 7, 10), cor anglais (tracks 7, 11)
- Peter-John Vettese – keyboards (tracks 1–7, 9–11), melodica (track 4), drums (track 1), harmonies (tracks 2, 4, 6)
- Gavyn Wright – violin (track 1)
Production
- Andy Hill – programming (track 3)
- Luís Jardim – programming (track 5)
- Stephen Lipson – production (all tracks), programming (tracks 1–6, 9–11)
- Calum MacColl – programming (track 9)
- Peter-John Vettese – programming (tracks 2, 4, 6, 10, 11)
- Engineered by Heff Moraes at the Aquarium
- Photography by Norman Watson
- Designed by Bill Smith Studio, London
Charts
| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Ireland Albums (IFPI/IRMA)[2] | 1 |
| Scotland Albums (OCC)[8] | 11 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[9] | 19 |