The Better Life

The band was formed in 1996 in Escatawpa, Mississippi as a three-piece composed of Brad Arnold on drums and lead vocals, Matt Roberts on lead guitar and backing vocals, and Todd Harrell on bass guitar. The band's earliest material, the song "Kryptonite", was written by Arnold at the age of 15.{{cite web | url = https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/the_story_behind_kryptonite_by_3_doors_down-69051 | title = The Story Behind 'Kryptonite' By 3 Doors Down | last = | first = | author-link = Maria | publisher = Ultimate Guitar | date = November 13, 2017 | access-date = September 13, 2024}} Arnold was convinced to be the singer after receiving positive feedback from Harrell's girlfriend, and since none of the remaining members had the vocal ability.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke4KoFyPs5o |title=3 Doors Down - "The Better Life" Mini Documentary (Part 1) |date=February 8, 2021|last=3doorsdown |access-date=September 13, 2024 |via=YouTube}}

3 Doors Down's first performance was at a celebratory event for a friend and, according to Arnold on the band's official website in 2000, the four songs the band played included "one by Bush, one by Metallica and a couple of originals".{{cite web |url=http://www.3doorsdown.com/bio.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000815084228/http://www.3doorsdown.com/bio.html |title=3 Doors Down - Meet The Band |archive-date=August 15, 2000 |access-date=September 13, 2024}}

In 1997, 3 Doors Down began recording studio material. Their self-titled demo tape was mixed and mastered by Clyde Holly, and released in Spring of that year. Its recording studio, Holly House Recording, was referred to by Arnold as "a pretty decent little studio", and that it "maybe cost us a couple thousand dollars" for the band to record. The demo's track listing similar to that of a The Better Life, with six of the former's songs being re-recorded for the latter. The demo's final track, "Sarah Yellin' 86", was re-recorded as "Sarah Yellin'" on the band's second album, Away from the Sun. Another demo track, "Man in My Mind", was released as "Something in My Mind" on The Better Life{{'}}s 2023 deluxe edition. Two other tracks on the demo were also re-recorded for the latter year's Away from the Sun: Deluxe Edition.{{cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230811875119/en/3-Doors-Down-Celebrates-20th-Anniversary-of-Away-From-The-Sun-With-a-Deluxe-Digital-Release---Available-Now | title=3 Doors Down Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Away from the Sun with a Deluxe Digital Release - Available Now }}

1,000 copies of the demo CD were initially released and took "two years" to sell, after which 1,000 more copies were produced and sold in "ten days" due to the success of the band's song "Kryptonite" playing on the WCPR-FM radio station, according to Arnold.

In 1998, Chris Henderson joined 3 Doors Down as the rhythm guitarist after leaving the band Burning Bridges.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-vjvIplgrQ |title=3 Doors Down - "The Better Life" Mini Documentary (Part 2) |date=April 2, 2021|last=3doorsdown |access-date=September 13, 2024 |via=YouTube}} When discussing how the band got signed to a record label, Arnold said, "Universal and Atlantic came down and talked to us and we wound up signing with Universal". In 1999, a sampler CD with audio clips of six songs from The Better Life was released by Republic Records to promote the album.{{cite web |title=Snippets From The Better Life |date=1999 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/478099-3-Doors-Down-Snippets-From-The-Better-Life |publisher=Discogs |accessdate=September 13, 2024}}

In June 2021, 3 Doors Down announced a tour to celebrate The Better Life's twentieth anniversary.{{cite web |title=3 DOORS DOWN ANNOUNCE "THE BETTER LIFE 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR" |url=https://www.livenationentertainment.com/2021/06/3-doors-down-announce-the-better-life-20th-anniversary-tour/ |publisher=Live Nation Entertainment |date=June 3, 2021 |accessdate=September 13, 2024}} During the tour, the album was played in its entirety alongside songs from the band's other albums. The tour began in late June and ended in mid-October 2021.

The Better Life was recorded in 1999 at Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee and mixed at The Record Plant in Los Angeles, California. Five songs, "Duck and Run," "Not Enough," "Be Like That," "Better Life," and "So I Need You," were recorded after the band had been picked up by Universal Records. Two months were spent writing material for The Better Life.

When talking about songs from the band's demo CD and creating material for The Better Life, Arnold said:

We wanted to use about half the songs off that demo, but we needed to write about half another record.

In March 2021, Arnold said the following about the recording process:

Some songs like Kryptonite, we strived to make it sound very much like the demo version because we got signed on the back of those demoes thanks to our local radio stations in Mississippi from playing those songs so the last thing we want to do is change it.{{cite web |title=3 DOORS DOWN – 'THE BETTER LIFE 20TH ANNIVERSARY' 3LP BOX SET – REVIEW |url=https://allabouttherock.co.uk/3-doors-down-the-better-life-20th-anniversary-3lp-box-set-review/ |publisher=allabouttherock.co.uk |date=19 March 2021 |accessdate=13 September 2024}}

On September 18, 2007, a two-disc reissue of the album, The Better Life: Deluxe Edition, was released and includes audio of a live performance recorded at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in Houston, Texas on September 18, 2003. The live audio on the 2007 Deluxe Edition reissue is from the Away from the Sun - Live from Houston, Texas DVD, which was released on November 8, 2005.{{cite web |title=Away From The Sun - Live From Houston Texas |date=8 November 2005 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/4409973-3-Doors-Down-Away-From-The-Sun-Live-From-Houston-Texas |publisher=Discogs |accessdate=September 26, 2024}} The live audio was also separately released digitally and on streaming services as The Better Life: Rarities Edition in 2010.

On November 4, 2009, 3 Doors Down announced a remastered version of The Better Life on CD and vinyl with new artwork as part of "The Even Better Life Ultimate Fan Pack".{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH_Zfl_Eq58 |title=The Even Better Life Ultimate Fan Pack |date=November 4, 2009|last=3doorsdown |access-date=September 13, 2024 |via=YouTube}} The package also included an exclusive band poster, a 3 Doors Down shirt, a digital download of a remastered version of "Kryptonite", and a "Pit Pass" for early access to general admission concerts.

In 2020, a remaster of the album, The Better Life: 20th Anniversary Edition, was released on vinyl, as well as on CD and digitally in 2021; all three versions include the band's eponymous 1997 demo, with the ten songs being listed as the "Escatawpa Sessions." The CD and digital releases of the 20th Anniversary Edition also include acoustic versions of "Kryptonite" and "Be Like That," along with "The Better Life (XX Mix)" and the studio recording of "Wasted Me", as bonus tracks.

{{Track listing

| all_lyrics = Brad Arnold

| title1 = Kryptonite{{Ref label|hitp|a|a}}{{Ref label|ud|b|b}}{{Ref label|ud|c|c}}{{Ref label|ud|d|d}}

| music1 = {{flatlist|

• Brad Arnold
• Matt Roberts
• Todd Harrell

}}

| length1 = 3:54

| title2 = Loser{{Ref label|ud|c|c}}

| music2 = {{flatlist|

• Arnold
• Roberts
• Harrell

}}

| length2 = 4:25

| title3 = Duck and Run{{Ref label|hitp|a|a}}{{Ref label|ud|b|b}}{{Ref label|ud|c|c}}

| music3 = {{flatlist|

• Arnold
• Roberts
• Harrell
• Chris Henderson

}}

| length3 = 3:51

| title4 = Not Enough

| music4 = {{flatlist|

• Arnold
• Roberts
• Harrell
• Henderson

}}

| length4 = 3:14

| title5 = Be Like That{{Ref label|ud|c|c}}

| music5 = {{flatlist|

• Arnold
• Henderson

}}

| length5 = 4:26

| title6 = Life of My Own¹

| music6 = {{flatlist|

• Arnold
• Harrell

}}

| length6 = 3:58

| title7 = Better Life²

| music7 = {{flatlist|

• Arnold
• Roberts
• Harrell
• Henderson

}}

| length7 = 3:07

| title8 = Down Poison

| music8 = {{flatlist|

• Arnold
• Roberts
• Harrell

}}

| length8 = 4:21

| title9 = By My Side

| music9 = {{flatlist|

• Arnold
• Roberts
• Harrell

}}

| length9 = 3:16

| title10 = Smack

| music10 = {{flatlist|

• Arnold
• Roberts
• Harrell

}}

| length10 = 2:29

| title11 = So I Need You

| music11 = {{flatlist|

• Arnold
• Roberts
• Harrell
• Henderson

}}

| length11 = 3:48

| total_length = 40:55

}}

:{{note label|hp|a|a}} live recording appears on Another 700 Miles EP (2003)

:{{note label|ud|b|b}} appears on A Six Pack of Hits compilation (2008)

:{{note label|ud|c|c}} remixed remaster appears on The Greatest Hits compilation (2012)

:{{note label|ud|d|d}} acoustic recording appears on Back Porch Jam (2019)

{{Track listing

| headline = U.S. Best Buy exclusive edition{{cite web |title=The Better Life |date=8 February 2000 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/3026660-3-Doors-Down-The-Better-Life |publisher=Discogs |accessdate=September 13, 2024}}

| title12 = Loser (live)

| note12 = recorded at Roxy Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia on July 13, 2000, mastered by Tony Gills at The Hit Factory in New York and mixed by Brian Sperber

| length12 = 5:28

| title13 = Life of My Own (live)

| note13 = recorded at Roxy Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia on July 13, 2000, mastered by Tony Gills at The Hit Factory in New York and mixed by Brian Sperber

| length13 = 4:37

| title14 = Kryptonite (live acoustic version)

| note14 = recorded at WMFS-FM in Memphis, Tennessee on February 14, 2000, mastered by Tony Gills at The Hit Factory in New York

| length14 = 3:49

| total_length = 54:49

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Australian/Australasian 2-CD special edition (disc two){{cite web |title=The Better Life 2 Disc |date=8 February 2000 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/5405402-3-Doors-Down-The-Better-Life-2-Disc |publisher=Discogs |accessdate=September 13, 2024}}{{cite web |title=The Better Life |date=8 February 2000 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/13813656-3-Doors-Down-The-Better-Life |publisher=Discogs |accessdate=September 13, 2024}}

| title12 = Loser

| note12 = album version

| length12 = 4:23

| title13 = Kryptonite (live acoustic version)

| note13 = recorded at WMFS-FM in Memphis, Tennessee on February 14, 2000, mastered by Tony Gills at The Hit Factory in New York

| length13 = 3:50

| title14 = Wasted Me

| note14 = produced and mixed by Alex Lifeson at American Sector Studios in New Orleans, Louisiana

| length14 = 3:09

| title15 = By My Side (live)

| note15 = recorded at the Paradiso in Amsterdam on September 18, 2000

| length15 = 3:39

| title16 = So I Need You (live)

| note16 = recorded at the Paradiso in Amsterdam on September 18, 2000

| length16 = 3:53

| title17 = Kryptonite

| note17 = music video

| length17 =

| title18 = Loser

| note18 = music video

| length18 =

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = European 2-CD special edition (disc two){{cite web |title=The Better Life |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/419680-3-Doors-Down-The-Better-Life- |publisher=Discogs |accessdate=September 13, 2024}}

| title12 = Loser (live)

| note12 = recorded at the Paradiso in Amsterdam on September 18, 2000

| length12 = 5:08

| title13 = Duck and Run (live)

| note13 = recorded at the Paradiso in Amsterdam on September 18, 2000

| length13 = 3:54

| title14 = Not Enough (live)

| note14 = recorded at the Paradiso in Amsterdam on September 18, 2000

| length14 = 3:08

| title15 = By My Side (live)

| note15 = recorded at the Paradiso in Amsterdam on September 18, 2000

| length15 = 3:47

| title16 = Be Like That

| note16 = acoustic version

| length16 = 4:26

| title17 = Loser

| note17 = music video

| length17 =

| title18 = Duck and Run

| note18 = music video

| length18 =

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Deluxe Edition bonus disc – U.S. edition (Universal Republic Records – B0008991-02)/digital Rarities Edition

| title1 = Duck and Run

| note1 = live

| length1 = 4:42

| title2 = The Road I'm On

| note2 = live

| length2 = 3:48

| title3 = Kryptonite

| note3 = live

| length3 = 4:22

| title4 = Father's Son

| note4 = live

| length4 = 4:32

| title5 = Better Life

| note5 = live

| length5 = 3:23

| title6 = Away from the Sun

| note6 = live

| length6 = 4:15

| title7 = Be Like That

| note7 = live

| length7 = 4:38

| title8 = Runnin' Out of Days

| note8 = live

| length8 = 3:36

| title9 = Sarah Yellin{{'-}}

| note9 = live

| length9 = 3:28

| title10 = It's Not Me

| note10 = live

| length10 = 3:27

| title11 = When I'm Gone

| note11 = live

| length11 = 4:52

| title12 = Here Without You

| note12 = live

| length12 = 5:05

| title13 = Loser

| note13 = live

| length13 = 5:44

| total_length = 55:59

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = 20th Anniversary Edition CD/digital bonus tracks (disc one)

| title12 = Kryptonite

| note12 = acoustic

| length12 = 3:50

| title13 = Be Like That

| note13 = acoustic

| length13 = 4:25

| title14 = The Better Life

| note14 = XX mix

| length14 = 3:05

| title15 = Wasted Me

| note15 = studio version with harp

| length15 = 3:12

| total_length = 55:28

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = 20th Anniversary Edition "Escatawpa Sessions" demos (disc two)

| title1 = Kryptonite

| note1 = Escatawpa Sessions

| length1 = 3:52

| title2 = Loser

| note2 = Escatawpa Sessions

| length2 = 3:32

| title3 = Life on My Own

| note3 = Escatawpa Sessions

| length3 = 4:40

| title4 = Smack

| note4 = Escatawpa Sessions

| length4 = 2:28

| title5 = Down Poison

| note5 = Escatawpa Sessions

| length5 = 6:21

| title6 = Dead Love

| note6 = Escatawpa Sessions

| length6 = 2:41

| title7 = Wasted Me

| note7 = Escatawpa Sessions

| length7 = 2:55

| title8 = Man in My Mind

| note8 = Escatawpa Sessions

| length8 = 3:04

| title9 = By My Side

| note9 = Escatawpa Sessions

| length9 = 3:16

| title10 = Sarah Yellin' 86

| note10 = Escatawpa Sessions

| length10 = 3:29

| total_length = 36:23

}}

Credits adapted from album liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|title= The Better Life |year= 2000 |type= booklet |publisher= Republic, Universal Records}}

{{col-begin}}

3 Doors Down

• Brad Arnold – lead vocals, drums
• Matt Roberts – rhythm and lead guitars
• Chris Henderson – rhythm and lead guitars
• Todd Harrell – bass guitar

Additional musicians

• Kevin Paige – keyboards {{small|(tracks 2, 3, 5)}}

{{col-3}}

Production

• Paul Ebersold – producer, engineer
• Matt Martone – engineer
• Toby Wright – mixing at The Record Plant (Los Angeles, California)
• Mike Butler – mixing assistant
• Stephen Marcussen – mastering at A&M Mastering Studios (Hollywood, California)
• Andrew Garver – digital editing
• Andrew MacNaughtan – photography
• Paul R. Brown – art direction, design at Bau-da Design Lab, Inc.

{{col-3}}

2007 Deluxe Edition{{cite AV media notes|title= The Better Life: Deluxe Edition |year= 2007 |type= booklet |publisher= Republic, Universal Records}}

• Kevin Lee, Noel Lee – executive producers (Monster Music)
• Noel Lee, Ryan Williams – mixing
• Malcolm Harper – live audio engineer
• Assen Stoyanov – second engineer
• Phin Daly, Bill Levenson, Tom Mackay – reissue supervisors
• Daniel Adair – drums (live recordings)
• Gerald McCauley – A&R (Monster Music)
• Vartan Kurjian – art direction
• Meire Murkami – design
• Andrew McNaughtan – digipak photography
• Douglas Sanders – live photography
• Ryan Null – photo coordinator
• Ramon Galbert – product manager
• Shannon Steckloff – production manager
• Recorded September 18, 2003 at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (Houston, Texas)
• Mixed at Studio E (Los Angeles) and Westlake Recording (West Hollywood, California)
• Steve Marcussen – mastering at Marcussen Mastering (Hollywood)
• Ryan Miller – re-recording mixer at Pulse Recording (Los Angeles)

{{col-3}}

20th Anniversary Edition{{cite AV media notes|title= The Better Life: 20th Anniversary Edition |year= 2021 |type= booklet |publisher= Republic, Universal Music Group}}

• Clyde Holly – mixing and recording at Holly House Recording (Biloxi, Mississippi) (original "Escatawpa Sessions" demos, uncredited)
• Tony Gills – remastering at The Cutting Room (New York City, New York)
• Evren Göknar – "Escatawpa Sessions" demos remastering at Capitol Mastering (Hollywood, California)
• Joe Spix – repackage design
• Ashley Harris – product manager
• Alex Sale – production manager
• Josh Graham – art design, layout
• Vartan Kurjian – art direction
• Kristin Biskup, Mike Ruthig – A&R

{{col-end}}

• "Kryptonite" – 2000
• Reached No. 3 on the US Hot 100{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/3-doors-down/chart-history/hsi/ |title=3 Doors Down Chart History: Hot 100 |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=July 16, 2020}}
• Reached No. 1 on the US Modern Rock (11 weeks){{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/3-doors-down/chart-history/mrt/ |title=3 Doors Down Chart History: Alternative Airplay |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=July 16, 2020}} and US Mainstream Rock (nine weeks){{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/3-doors-down/chart-history/rtt/ |title=3 Doors Down Chart History: Mainstream Rock |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=July 16, 2020}}
• "Loser" – July 29, 2000
• Reached No. 55 on the US Hot 100
• Reached No. 2 on the US Modern Rock
• Reached No. 1 on the US Mainstream Rock (21 weeks)
• "Duck and Run" – 2000
• Reached No. 11 on the US Modern Rock
• Reached No. 1 on the US Mainstream Rock (three weeks)
• "Be Like That" – May 20, 2001
• Reached No. 24 on the US Hot 100
• Reached No. 22 on the US Modern Rock
• Reached No. 10 on the US Mainstream Rock

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top

|caption=Certifications for The Better Life}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|artist=3 Doors Down|title=The Better Life|relyear=2000|certyear=2002|award=Platinum|access-date=July 21, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|title=The Better Life|artist=3 Doors Down|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2000}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=3 Doors Down|title=The Better Life|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2000|certyear=2023|access-date=March 14, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=album|artist=3 Doors Down|title=The Better Life|relyear=2000|certyear=2024|source=radioscope|access-date=2025-02-23|award=Platinum}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=3 Doors Down|title=The Better Life|award=Silver|type=album|relyear=2000|certyear=2025|id=20809-4873-2|accessdate=February 21, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|title=The Better Life|artist=3 Doors Down|award=Platinum|number=7|relyear=2000|certyear=2020|accessdate=February 28, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true}}

• "Duck and Run" was featured on the soundtrack to the movie The Hole in 2001.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-hole-mw0001454841|title=The Hole Original Soundtrack|publisher=allmusic.com|access-date=November 1, 2024}}
• A recording of "Be Like That" with alternate lyrics was featured on the soundtrack to the film American Pie 2 in 2001.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/american-pie-2-mw0000006699|title=American Pie 2 Original Soundtrack|publisher=allmusic.com|access-date=November 1, 2024}}

^1. Titled "Life on My Own" on the physical 20th Anniversary Edition.

^2. Titled "The Better Life" on the physical 20th Anniversary Edition.

{{Reflist}}

• {{MusicBrainz release group|id=467a5697-30e7-34b8-9813-d07e6af9c653}}

{{3 Doors Down}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Better Life}}

Category:2000 debut albums

Category:3 Doors Down albums