Yourself or Someone Like You cover art

  Studio Album · No. 1

Yourself or Someone Like You Songwriting Credits by Matchbox Twenty

1996 Atlantic Records 12 tracks 46 min

Produced by Matt Serletic  ·  Engineered by Jeff Tomei, Travis McGehee, Greg Archilla, Stephen Marcussen

Atlantic Records Post-GrungeAlternative RockPop Rock
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 12 of 12 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 12 / 12 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 12 tracks with documented writers, by whether Matchbox Twenty carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
12 trackswritten by Matchbox Twenty 0 tracksoutside writers
Matchbox Twenty's roles on this album

Share of the 12 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

12
Tracks
5
Lyricists
1
Producers
1
No.1 Single
15 million
Worldwide Copies Sold
1996
Released
Data Insight

Rob Thomas wrote or co-wrote nearly all of Matchbox Twenty's debut, with most tracks credited to him solo, establishing him as the band's primary songwriter from the outset. A handful of songs carry co-writes with guitarist Kyle Cook and others, but the songwriting voice across the record is overwhelmingly Thomas. Matt Serletic produced the entire album, and his polished post-grunge arrangements helped push singles like 'Push' and '3AM' to airplay dominance. The combination of Thomas's confessional writing and Serletic's radio-ready production drove the album to diamond-tier US sales.

The debut studio album by Matchbox 20, released on October 1, 1996 through Atlantic Records. Produced by Matt Serletic, it became one of the best-selling debut albums of the 1990s, eventually selling over 12 million copies worldwide. Rob Thomas wrote nearly all material, with Serletic co-writing tracks 4 and 6, and Brian Yale and two additional credited writers on "3AM." The album spent 119 weeks on the Billboard 200 and produced five singles including "Push," "3AM," "Real World," and "Back 2 Good."

Track Listing & Credits 12 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 8 contributors

More from Matchbox Twenty

Frequently Asked Questions Yourself or Someone Like You

Did Rob Thomas write Yourself or Someone Like You?
Rob Thomas wrote or co-wrote nearly every song on Yourself or Someone Like You, with most tracks credited to him as sole writer. He was the band's primary songwriter from the debut onward. A few songs include co-writes with bandmates such as Kyle Cook.
Who produced Matchbox Twenty's debut album?
Matt Serletic produced Yourself or Someone Like You in full. He went on to produce the band's next two albums as well. His post-grunge production style shaped the sound of the early Matchbox Twenty singles.
How many copies did Yourself or Someone Like You sell?
The album sold more than 15 million copies worldwide. In the United States it is certified 12x Platinum by the RIAA, placing it in diamond territory. It remains Matchbox Twenty's best-selling release.
What was the biggest single from Yourself or Someone Like You?
'Push' and '3AM' were the album's signature singles, both dominating US airplay charts. 'Push' reached number 1 on Alternative Airplay, while '3AM' hit number 2 on Mainstream Top 40. Both were airplay-only releases and were not eligible for the Billboard Hot 100 at the time.
Why didn't Push and 3AM chart on the Billboard Hot 100?
In the 1990s the Billboard Hot 100 required a commercial single release, and 'Push' and '3AM' were issued as airplay-only singles. As a result they charted on radio-based charts like Alternative Airplay and Mainstream Top 40 instead. Later singles 'Real World' and 'Back 2 Good' did reach the Hot 100.
What is 3AM by Matchbox Twenty about?
'3AM' was written by Rob Thomas about his mother's battle with cancer during his childhood. The song reached number 2 on Mainstream Top 40 and number 3 on Alternative Airplay. It became one of the band's defining early hits.

Sources