Better Than Anything

Better Than Anything is an album by vocalist Irene Kral performing with Junior Mance's Trio that was recorded in 1963 and originally released on the Äva label.^[1][2][3]

Better Than Anything
Studio album by Irene Kral with the Junior Mance Trio
Released	1963
Recorded	June 17 & 18, 1963 World Pacific Studios, Los Angeles, CA
Genre	Vocal jazz
Length	29:24
Label	Äva A/AS 33
Producer	Joe Burnett
Irene Kral chronology
SteveIreneo! (1959) Better Than Anything (1963) Wonderful Life (1965)
Junior Mance chronology
Happy Time (1962) Better Than Anything (1963) Get Ready, Set, Jump!!! (1964)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[5]

The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow stated: "Kral is quite recognizable, although not singing with quite the emotional intensity that she would display during her final three albums (which are all classics) ... Kral was already a delightful singer."^[4]

Track listing

1. "Better Than Anything" (David "Buck" Wheat, Bill Loughborough) – 2:21
2. "The Touch of Your Lips" (Ray Noble) – 2:22
3. "The Meaning of the Blues" (Bobby Troup, Leah Worth) – 3:11
4. "Rock Me to Sleep" (Benny Carter, Paul Vandervoort II) – 2:20
5. "No More" (Tutti Camarata, Bob Russell) – 3:10
6. "Passing By" (Laurent Hess, Charles Trenet, Jack Lawrence) – 1:54
7. "It's a Wonderful World" (Jan Savitt, Harold Adamson, Johnny Watson) – 2:34
8. "This Is Always" (Mack Gordon, Harry Warren) – 3:23
9. "Just Friends" (John Klenner, Sam M. Lewis) – 2:40
10. "Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry" (Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn) – 3:35
11. "Nobody Else But Me" (Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II) – 1:54

Personnel

• Irene Kral – vocals
• Junior Mance – piano
• Bob Cranshaw – bass guitar
• Mickey Roker – drums

Cover Versions

• Claire Martin recorded a cover on the album "The Waiting Game" (1992).