Yourself or Someone Like You
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Yourself or Someone Like You is the debut album by American rock band Matchbox 20. It was released on October 1, 1996,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> by Lava Records and Atlantic Records. The album has been certified 12× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Composition and release
The album features a sound similar to traditional rock and post-grunge.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album features themes of adolescence, adultery, loneliness, domestic violence, psychological abuse, humiliation, depression, anger, and alcoholism.
According to Rob Thomas, the album's title was originally to be Woodshed Diaries. However, that changed when Thomas and Paul Doucette were at a woman's musical performance at Café Largo when the singer said "this song is for you, or someone like you". They loved the phrase so much that they insisted on changing the album's title, despite the fact that 3,500 copies of the album with the original title had already been made. Their labels agreed; however, the name change resulted in the album's release being delayed.<ref>Template:Cite interview</ref>
The album sold a mere 610 copies in its first week; however, it eventually went on to sell several million copies in the United States. Yourself or Someone Like You became one of the few albums to achieve the prestigious Diamond certification, and it was also certified multi-platinum in Australia, Canada and New Zealand. To date, the album has sold more than 15 million copies worldwide.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Artwork lawsuit
In 2005, almost a decade after the album's release, the band was sued by Frank Torres, the man on the album's cover. Torres claimed the band never asked for his permission to use his image on the sleeve. In the litigation, Torres claimed the photo was taken as he was walking down the street after being asked to pose. He also claimed the photo had caused him emotional distress. Torres justified the delay in suing Matchbox 20 by claiming he had first seen the album photo within two years of the litigation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Torres died in 2016 at age 73.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Track listing
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Personnel
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- Rob Thomas – lead vocals; acoustic guitar on "Hang"
- Kyle Cook – lead guitar, backing vocals, co-lead vocals on "Hang"
- Adam Gaynor – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Brian Yale – bass
- Paul Doucette – drums
Additional musicians
- Matt Serletic – keyboards, percussion
- Elizabeth Burkhardt – bassoon and woodwind leader on "Back 2 Good"
- Amy Porter – flute on "Back 2 Good"
- Yvonne Powers – oboe on "Back 2 Good"
- Ted Gurch – clarinet on "Back 2 Good"
- Douglas Smith – bass clarinet on "Back 2 Good"
Production
- Matt Serletic – producer, mixing engineer
- Jeff Tomei – engineer
- Travis McGehee – engineer/mixing engineer
- John Nielsen – assistant engineer
- Greg Archilla – mixing engineer
- Malcolm Springer – assistant mixing engineer
- Stephen Marcussen – mastering engineer
- Don C. Tyler – digital editing
- Tony Adams – drum tech
- Craig Poole – guitar tech
- Jan Smith – vocal coach
- Valerie Wagner – art direction, graphic design
- Katrin Thomas – photography
- Chris Cuffaro – band photo
Charts
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Weekly charts
| Chart (1996–1998) | Peak position |
|---|
Year-end charts
| Chart (1997) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 40 |
| Canadian Albums (Nielsen Soundscan)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 37 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 42 |
| US Billboard 200<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 22 |
| Chart (1998) | Position |
| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 1 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 17 |
| US Billboard 200<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 6 |
| Chart (1999) | Position |
| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 54 |
| US Billboard 200<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 87 |
| Chart (2002) | Position |
| Canadian Alternative Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 191 |
Decade-end charts
| Chart (1990–1999) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200<ref name="1990sbb">Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 28 |
Certifications
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