| "Better Class of Losers" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Randy Travis | ||||
| from the album High Lonesome | ||||
| B-side | "I'm Gonna Have a Little Talk" | |||
| Released | December 9, 1991 | |||
| Recorded | 1991 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 2:41 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. Nashville 19069 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Randy Travis, Alan Jackson | |||
| Producer(s) | Kyle Lehning | |||
| Randy Travis singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Better Class of Losers" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Randy Travis. It was released in December 1991 as the third single from his album High Lonesome. It peaked at number 2 in both the United States and Canada. Travis co-wrote this song with Alan Jackson. Travis' performance earned him the Grammy nomination for Best Male Country Vocal Performance, his fifth nomination in that category.
Content
The song is narrated from the point of view of a husband, who married a woman from "high society." Over the course of their relationship, he has grown to dislike both her friends and the high-class lifestyle she leads, and has announced his intent to associate with people who live a much simpler lifestyle, referring that they "buy their coffee beans already ground" and not "pay their bills on home computers" (which, in 1991, was a rarity).
However, the song is ambiguous as to the meaning of "going back." Though the narration is directed towards the wife, it is unclear whether he intends to seek a divorce, or simply stop attending high society functions with her.
Music video
The music video was directed by Jim Shea, and features Travis walking through various sets that convey the song's description, such as a high-rise penthouse set to a farm style set.
Musicians
As listed in liner notes. [1]
- Eddie Bayers - drums
- Russ Barenberg - acoustic guitar
- Dennis Burnside - piano
- Jerry Douglas - dobro
- Doyle Grisham - steel guitar
- David Hungate - bass guitar
- Mac McAnally - acoustic guitar
- Brent Mason - 6 string bass, electric guitar
- Mark O'Connor - fiddle
- John Wesley Ryles - background vocals
- Randy Travis - lead vocals
- Dennis Wilson - background vocals
- Curtis Young - background vocals
Use in media
This song was performed by Travis in the 2007 movie National Treasure: Book of Secrets, where he guest starred performing for the President of the United States at Mount Vernon.[ citation needed]
It was also performed, in part, by Travis on a 1993 episode (The Mark) of "Matlock". Travis plays character Billy Wheeler, a country singer hired by Matlock (Andy Griffith) to paint his house, and later accused of killing a con artist.
Chart performance
| Chart (1991–1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Country Tracks ( RPM) [2] | 2 |
| US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard) [3] | 2 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1992) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canada Country Tracks ( RPM) [4] | 27 |
| US Country Songs ( Billboard) [5] | 13 |
References
-
^ High Lonesome (CD). Randy Travis. Warner Bros. Records. 1991. 26661.
{{ cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) ( link) - ^ " Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 2064." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. February 29, 1992. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
- ^ "Randy Travis Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1992". RPM. December 19, 1992. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
- ^ "Best of 1992: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1992. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
