A Better Man (album)

A Better Man
Studio album by
Brian Kennedy
Released1996
Label
ProducerStephen Lipson
Brian Kennedy chronology
The Great War of Words
(1990) 		A Better Man
(1996) 		Now That I Know What I Want
(1999)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

A Better Man is the second studio album by Irish singer Brian Kennedy, released in 1996. It includes three singles which reached the UK top 40: "A Better Man" (No. 28),[2] "Life, Love & Happiness" (No. 27)[2] and "Put the Message in the Box" (No. 37),[2] a cover of a single by World Party.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(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"
  • Kennedy
  • Vettese
3:51
5."And So I Will Wait for You"
4:10
6."Life, Love & Happiness"
  • Kennedy
  • Vettese
4:29
7."The Oldest Dream in the World"
  • Kennedy
  • Calum MacColl
4:02
8."Put the Message in the Box"Karl Wallinger4:04
9."By the Mountain Road"
  • Kennedy
  • MacColl
3:19
10."Ghost Music"
4:46
11."Wish Me Well"Paul Buchanan4:23

Personnel

Adapted from the album's liner notes.[3]

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
UK Albums (OCC)[4] 19

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[5] Silver 60,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "Brian Kennedy - A Better Man Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  2. ^ a b c "BRIAN KENNEDY". Official Charts. February 24, 1990.
  3. ^ A Better Man (liner notes). Brian Kennedy. RCA. 1996.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ "name | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  5. ^ "British album certifications – Brian Kennedy – A Better Man". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 22 December 2023.