A Better Man

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“A Better Man”
Single by Clint Black
from the album Killin' Time
Released February 1989 (U.S.)
Format 7"
Genre Country
Length 3:03
Label RCA 8781
Writer(s) Clint Black and Hayden Nicholas
Producer Mark Wright and James Stroud
Clint Black singles chronology
"A Better Man"
(1989)
"Killin' Time"
(1989)

"A Better Man" is a song made famous by country music neo-traditionalist Clint Black. Originally released in 1989, the song - from Black's debut album, Killin' Time - was his first nationally released single.

When "A Better Man" went to No. 1 on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart on June 10, Black became the first artist since Freddy Fender to ascend to the top of the country chart with his first charted single.[1] In addition, "A Better Man" was the No. 1 song of 1989 on the Hot Country Singles chart.[2]

The song is a reflection on a relationship co-writer Black had recently ended with a girlfriend of seven years. He shared his dying romance story with friend Hayden Nicholas, who - after sharing an idea for the melody - came up with the hook line ("I'm leaving here a better man/For knowing you this way.").[3]

A video was issued for the song, and has aired on The Nashville Network, CMT, and Great American Country.

The success of "A Better Man," along with the follow up "Killin' Time," were instrumental in Black winning the Country Music Association's Horizon Award in 1989.[4]

[edit] Sources

[edit] References

  1. ^ Roland, Tom, "The Billboard Book of Number One Country Hits." (Billboard Books, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York, 1991 (ISBN 0-82-307553-2)), p. 553-554
  2. ^ Billboard magazine Hot Country Songs - 1989
  3. ^ Roland.
  4. ^ Millard, Bob, "Country Music: 70 Years of America's Favorite Music" (HarperCollins, New York, 1993 (ISBN 0-06-273244-7)), p. 161

[edit] See also

  • Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs: 1944-2005," 2006.
Preceded by
"Where Did I Go Wrong"
by Steve Wariner
Billboard Hot Country Singles
number one single by Clint Black

June 10, 1989
Succeeded by
"Love Out Loud"
by Earl Thomas Conley
Preceded by
"I'll Leave This World Loving You"
by Ricky Van Shelton
Billboard Hot Country Singles
number-one single of the year

1989
Succeeded by
"Nobody's Home"
by Clint Black