Thunderbirds / 3AM explained

Thunderbirds / 3AM
Cover:	Busted-Thunderbirds--3am-292738.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Busted
Genre:	Pop-punk^[1]
Length:	3:02 ("Thunderbirds") 3:35 ("3AM")
Label:	Universal Island
Producer:	Steve Power ("Thunderbirds") The Matrix ("3AM")
Prev Title:	Air Hostess
Prev Year:	2004
Next Title:	She Wants to Be Me
Next Year:	2004

"Thunderbirds / 3AM" (titled "Thunderbirds Are Go" on some editions of the single and album) is a double A-side single by English pop punk band Busted. It was released on 26 July 2004 as the fourth single from their second studio album, A Present for Everyone (2003). "Thunderbirds" was not originally included on the album, having been written specifically for the 2004 film Thunderbirds, although it later appeared on a re-issue of the album in Europe. "Thunderbirds" was not released on an album in the United Kingdom until the release of the group's live album in 2005.

"Thunderbirds / 3AM" was Busted's last single to enter the UK Singles Chart until the release of "On What You're On" in 2016, reaching number one. It was the 19th best-selling single of 2004 in the UK and also won the title of 2004 Record of the Year, and received an 8/10 rating from Stylus Magazine.^[2] "3AM" was later performed by Matt Willis during his 2007 solo tour, and by James Bourne on his 2012 acoustic solo tour.^[3]

Track listings

UK CD1^[4]

1. "3AM" (live from tour)
2. "Thunderbirds"

UK CD2^[5]

1. "3AM" (radio edit)
2. "Thunderbirds"
3. "Runaway Train" (Soul Asylum cover)
4. "3AM" (acoustic version)
5. "Thunderbirds" (acoustic version)
6. "Busted in Japan" (Part 1)

UK DVD single^[6]

1. "3AM"
2. "Thunderbirds"
3. "Crashed the Wedding" (live audio mix from tour)
4. "Crashed the Wedding" (live footage from tour)
5. "Thunderbirds" (video)
6. "Busted in Japan" (Part 2)

Japanese CD single^[7]

1. "Thunderbirds"
2. "3AM"
3. "Runaway Train" (Soul Asylum cover)
4. "3AM" (acoustic version)
5. "Thunderbirds" (acoustic version)
6. "Thunderbirds" (video)
7. "Crashed the Wedding" (live footage from tour)

Personnel

"Thunderbirds"

Personnel are taken from the album booklet.^[8]

• James Bourne – writing
• Matt Willis – writing
• Charlie Simpson – writing
• Tom Fletcher – writing
• Barry Gray – writing
• Steve Power – production
• Bob Clearmountain – mixing (at Mix This, Pacific Palisades, California)
• Jim Brumby – Pro Tools engineering
• Kevin Harp – assistant engineering

"3AM"

Personnel are taken from the A Present for Everyone album booklet.^[9]

• The Matrix – production, arrangement, recording
  • Lauren Christy – writing
  • Scott Spock – writing
  • Graham Edwards – writing
• Charlie Simpson – writing
• James Bourne – writing
• Andrew Nast – production, arrangement, and recording assistant
• Steve Power – mixing
• Tim Young – mastering

Charts

All entries charted as "Thunderbirds" except where noted.

Year-end charts

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
United Kingdom	26 July 2004	CD		^[12]
Japan	4 August 2004		Universal Music Japan	^[13]

Notes and References

1. Web site: "Gotta Get Thru This": Dom Passantino's Survey of the New Millenium's UK #1 Singles. Stylus Magazine. https://web.archive.org/web/20060624030747/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/weekly_article/gotta-get-thru-this-dom-passantinos-survey-of-the-new-milleniums-uk-1-singles.htm. 24 June 2006. 19 May 2024. ...it sounds like Lit or The Living End or some other Anzac punk-pop 98 vintage....
2. Web site: "Gotta Get Thru This": Dom Passantino's Survey of the New Millenium's UK #1 Singles – Article – Stylus Magazine. stylusmagazine.com.
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4iPgFxABew Full Set - James Bourne Acoustic Tour, Manchester Academy 3 12/3/12
4. Thunderbirds / 3AM. Busted. 2004. UK CD1 liner notes. Universal Music, Island Records. MCSTD40375, 986741-6.
5. Thunderbirds / 3AM. Busted. 2004. UK CD2 liner notes. Universal Music, Island Records. MCSXD40375, 986741-7.
6. 3AM / Thunderbirds. Busted. 2004. UK DVD single liner notes. Universal Music, Island Records. MCSVD 40375, 986 741-8.
7. Thunderbirds / 3AM. Busted. 2004. Japanese CD single liner notes. Universal Music Japan. UICI-5016.
8. A Ticket for Everyone: Busted Live. A Ticket for Everyone: Busted Live. Busted. 2005. UK CD album booklet. Universal Records, Island Records. MCD60096, 986 854-1.
9. A Present for Everyone. A Present for Everyone. Busted. 2003. UK CD album booklet. Universal Records, Island Records. MCD60090, 9865875.
10. Hits of the World: Eurocharts. Billboard. 116. 33. 61. 14 August 2003.
11. Web site: End of Year Charts: 2004. UKChartsPlus. 28 December 2014.
12. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 27. 24 July 2004.
13. Web site: 2004/8月新譜リリース表. August 2004 New Release List. Universal Music Japan. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20041206001638fw_/http://www.universal-music.co.jp/u-pop/mein/release/0408.html. 6 December 2004. 28 August 2023.