New Music
John Butler Trio remaster Three for its 25th anniversary with three bonus tracks
By Markus Hamence
John Butler Trio releases a remastered version of their 1999 album Three today on Jarrah Records, marking 25 years since the original April 2001 debut that established them as one of Australia's premier live acts. The reissue adds three bonus tracks originally from the 2000 JBT EP: Pickapart, Earthbound Child and Don't Understand.
Fresh from two surprise pop-up performances at Big Sound in Brisbane last week comes the announcement that John Butler Trio, one of Australia’s most celebrated independent artists, today digitally release the re-mastered version of their career defining second album “Three” to celebrate its 25th anniversary. “Three” will be released on Butler’s own Jarrah Records label.
This time around, the re-mastered version of “Three” now has three extra songs – ‘Pickapart’, ‘Earthbound Child’ and ‘Don’t Understand’ – that were originally released in Australia on the ‘JBT’ EP (2000), prior to the release of “Three”.
Last week’s live performances were the first time that John Butler Trio (John Butler – vocals/guitar, Jackie Barnes – drums and Ian Peres - bass/keys) have hit the stage since pre-Covid, showing they continue to blend roots, blues, folk and rock into a powerful sound that isn’t confined to any one genre.
Speaking about the album on its 25th anniversary, John Butler said, “It’s been 25 years since I released Three!
This was the first album where I felt my guitar playing started finding its true voice and tone. The closest I had gotten to capturing my band’s sound and started flexing more of my production skills.
Three changed my life.
I STILL love playing these songs.
Betterman feels particularly poignant right now as I learn more about myself and the infinite power of love and relationships.
It’s not lost on me we’re celebrating this song now. Meaning and messages have reoccurring themes patterns and echoes that always unveil new wisdoms and teachings.
Three: it’s a magic number ! Yes, it IS. It’s a MAGIC number!”
Originally released in April 2001, “Three” is the definitive album that transitioned John Butler Trio into commercial success, reaching an audience far beyond that of an independent roots artist and laying the foundations for future mainstream success with their ongoing touring and huge live fanbase.
The album tracks include one of the biggest songs of 2001, the hugely successful ‘Betterman’, that was #5 on triple j’s Hottest 100 of 2001, the much-loved instrumental ‘Foundation’ that clocks in at nearly 15 minutes, and other favourites such as ‘Media’, ‘Money’ and ‘Life Aint What It Seems’.
The platinum selling album was awarded the 2001 ARIA Award for Best Independent Release and was #3 on the alternative charts remaining there for around nine months. John Butler Trio played the Big Day Out in 2001 and 2002, performing on either side of the album’s release to some of their biggest audiences to date.
“Three” was the album that took John Butler Trio to the US with tours supporting John Mayer and Dave Matthews Band, and multiple festival appearances. The album featured the social and political commentary for which John is known and loved, and its release was the moment John Butler Trio graduated from a respected WA roots band into one of Australia’s best live bands.
John Butler continues to also play as a solo artist and will tour Australia with Jack Johnson and Ben Harper in November.
In 2027, John Butler Trio will perform at the Tamworth Country Music Festival on January 14 and the Port Fairy Folk Festival in March, with more shows to be announced!
JOHN BUTLER TRIO
THREE – TRACKLISTING
Betterman (Re-mastered)
Attitude(Re-mastered)
Pickapart (Re-mastered)
Earthbound Child (Re-mastered)
Money (Re-mastered)
Believe (Re-mastered)
Media (Re-mastered)
Life Aint What It Seems (Re-mastered)
Don’t Understand (Re-mastered)
Take (Re-mastered)
Foundation (Re-mastered)
