BETTER THAN ANYTHING
(David "Buck" Wheat / William Loughborough)

Irene Kral - 1963
Vikki Carr - 1964
Bob Dorough - 1966
Al Jarreau - 1977
Sheila Jordan - 1977
Lisa Rich - 1985
Julie Kelly - 1985
Tuck & Patti - 1988
Susan Sutton - 1989
Christine Sullivan - 1993
Claire Martin - 1995
Andrea Dupree - 1996
Sheila Jordan - 1997
Karen Shane - 1998
Diane Hubka - 1999
Carla Cook - 2000
Karyn Malone - 2000
Nnenna Freelon - 2000
Annette Sanders & Kevin DiSimone - 2000
Natalie Cole & Diana Krall - 2002
Sinne Eeg - 2007
John Vance - 2007
Debbie Luna - 2007
Dana Marcine - 2007
Marlena Studer - 2007
Craig And Heather - 2007
Hilary Kole - 2008
Kristin Korb - 2009
One Dan Band - 2009

Also recorded by:
Chad Mitchell; Bud & Travis..........and others.

as rec by Vikki Carr w Orch cond by Bob Florence  1964


Better than sailing at midnight,
Better than diving for pearls,
Better than skiing at Aspen,
Better than feeding the squirrels.

Better than finding a horseshoe,
Better than losing your head,
Better than anything thought of,
Better than anything said.

Better than singing right out loud
Or being spotted in a crowd.
Better than anything
Except being in love!

Better than cream cheese on celery,
Better than, mmm, honey on bread,
Better than french-fried potatoes,
Better than, aah, breakfast in bed.

Better than strawberry shortcake,
Better than chocolate eclairs,
Better than hothouse tomatoes,
Better than fresh bartlett pears.

Better than dining a la carte
Or sampling gastronomic art.
Better than anything
Except being in love!

Better than "April In Paris",
Better than "Memphis In June",
Better than "Autumn In New York",
Better than "Old Avalune".

Better than "Drifting And Dreaming",
Better than "Castles In Spain",
Better than "Smoke Rings" or "Stardust",
Better than "September Rain".

Better than "Dancing In The Dark"
Or "Once More James Around The Park".
Better than anything
Except being in love!
Better than anything
Except being in love!
Better than anything
Except being in love!


(Contributed by Peter Akers - December 2010)


**********


As recorded by NATALIE COLE & DIANA KRALL:


NATALIE:
Better than cream cheese and bagels
Better than honey on bread
DIANA:
Better than champagne and pretzels
Better than breakfast in bed
NATALIE
Better than chili rellenos
Better than chocolate eclairs
DIANA:
Better than hothouse tomatoes
Better than fresh Bartlett pears
NATALIE:
Better than dining a la carte
DIANA:
Or simply gastronomic art
NATALIE:
Better than anything except being in love

NATALIE:
Better than making a million
Better than being a queen
DIANA:
Better than oil wells and gold mines
Better than pastures of green
NATALIE:
Better than finding a horseshoe
Better than losing your head
DIANA:
Better than anything ever thought of
Better than anything ever said
NATALIE:
Ah, ha, better than singing right out loud
DIANA:
Or being spotted in a crowd
NATALIE: Better than (DIANA: Better than anything) anything
Except being (DIANA: Except being)
BOTH: In love

(Instrumental Break)

NATALIE:
Better than elephants, elephants are dancing
Better than clowns on parade
DIANA:
Better than peanuts and popcorn
Better than pink lemonade
NATALIE:
Better than rides on the midway
Better than seals blowing horns
DIANA:
Better than men shot through cannons
Better than fresh ears of corn
NATALIE:
Ah, better than balancing on a wire
DIANA:
Or watching tigers jump through fire
BOTH:
Better than anything except being in love

NATALIE:
Better than driving 'round the park
DIANA:
Or watching fireflies after the dark
BOTH:
Better than anything except being in love

NATALIE: Hey, Diana?
DIANA: Yeah?
NATALIE: Are you sure that love is even better than shopping?
DIANA: Well, there's a little sale on late floor up at Barneys, but it's still
better
NATALIE: Oh, come on, come on
What about that thirty percent sale at Jimmy Chu's
And SaK's Fifth Avenue Friends and Family Day? Ha!
DIANA: Still better
NATALIE: Well, maybe close second?
DIANA: Very close second
NATALIE:
Better, more better
Better, better, better


(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - January 2011)