The John Butler Trio’s landmark 2001 album Three has been remastered for its 25th anniversary, with three songs from the earlier JBT EP added to the digital edition.
by Paul Cashmere
John Butler Trio’s Three has been reissued digitally for its 25th anniversary, bringing a remastered edition of the 2001 album together with three additional recordings that originally appeared on the Australian JBT EP. Released today, 11 September 2026, through Butler’s Jarrah Records label, the expanded edition adds Pickapart, Earthbound Child and Don’t Understand to an album that marked the band’s transition from an independent Western Australian roots act to a nationally recognised touring artist.
Three was originally released in April 2001 and became the record that established John Butler Trio beyond the Western Australian music scene. It reached No. 24 on the Australian album chart, spent around nine months on the alternative chart and peaked at No. 3 there. The album also earned the group the 2001 ARIA Award for Best Independent Release.
For John Butler, the anniversary has particular significance because Three captured an important stage in his development as both guitarist and producer.
“It’s been 25 years since I released Three!” Butler said. “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.”
Butler also singled out Betterman, the album’s most enduring song, reflecting on its meaning a quarter of a century after its release. “Three changed my life,” he said. “I STILL love playing these songs.”
Betterman placed No. 5 in the triple j Hottest 100 of 2001 and became a defining recording of the period. The album also contained the instrumental Foundation, which runs for almost 15 minutes, alongside Attitude, Money, Media, Believe, Take and Life Aint What It Seems.
The three bonus tracks have a direct connection to the period immediately preceding Three. Pickapart, Earthbound Child and Don’t Understand were recorded for the JBT EP, released in Australia in 2000. Pickapart received high rotation on triple j and helped extend the trio’s audience before Three was released.
The original Three sessions were recorded, engineered and mixed by Shaun O’Callaghan at Studio Couch in North Fremantle. The album was produced by Butler and O’Callaghan, with mastering credited to Robin Mai, Nicky Bomba and Joe Camilleri at Woodstock Studios. Butler also developed the cover concept with Matt and Iowana at Insomnia Design.
The recording featured contributions from Paul Boon on didgeridoo, George Rrurrambu providing introductory vocals on Money, and backing vocals from Rosie Johnstone, David Broadfoot and Brenda Fost. Butler wrote and arranged the music and lyrics across the album, with Earthbound Child co-written by Ozzie Rea.
The success of Three changed the scale of the band’s touring career. John Butler Trio played the Big Day Out in 2001 and 2002, appearing around the release of the album and reaching audiences substantially larger than those of its earlier independent circuit. The album was subsequently issued in the United States, where the group toured with John Mayer and Dave Matthews Band and appeared at festivals including Bonnaroo and South by Southwest.
That international activity helped establish a touring model that became central to the John Butler Trio’s career. The band followed Three with the live album Living 2001-2002 in 2003, which reached the Australian top 10 and achieved platinum status. Sunrise Over Sea followed in 2004, Grand National in 2007 and April Uprising in 2010, with each studio album debuting at No. 1 in Australia and achieving platinum sales.
Jarrah Records, the label Butler co-owns with the Waifs and manager Philip Stevens, became the home for the trio’s subsequent releases. Their final studio album, Home, was released in 2018.
The anniversary edition comes at a point when the John Butler Trio has returned to live performance after the disruption caused by COVID-19. Butler, Jackie Barnes on drums and Ian Peres on bass and keyboards recently performed two surprise shows at BigSound in Brisbane, their first performances as the trio since before the pandemic.
Butler will also continue his solo work, joining Jack Johnson and Ben Harper for Australian performances in November. John Butler Trio is scheduled to perform at the Tamworth Country Music Festival on 14 January 2027 and the Port Fairy Folk Festival in March, with further shows yet to be announced.
Three Tracklisting
Betterman
Attitude
Pickapart
Earthbound Child
Money
Believe
Media
Life Aint What It Seems
Don’t Understand
Take
Foundation
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