FAQ: How do I cite a song or album in Chicago Style?

Notes & Bibliography

General Notes Format

2. Name of Group or Performer, "Title of Song," recorded date, track # on Title of Album, Label, year of release, medium.

OR

3. Name of Group or Performer, "Title of Song," track # on Title of Album, Label, year of release, medium.

OR

4. Composer, Title of Album, with Performer/Ensemble, conducted by Conductor, recorded date, Label Label number, year of release, medium.

For Example:

3.  Imagine Dragons, "Thunder," track 9 on Evolve, Interscope Records, 2017, compact disc.

OR

3. Maurice Ravel,  Ravel: Volume Two, with the Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Geoffrey Simon, Cala Records CACD 1005, 1991, compact disc.

Corresponding Bibliography Entry (don't forget to indent the second and subsequent lines):

Imagine Dragons, "Thunder." Recorded September 2016 - May 2017. Track 9 on Evolve. Interscope Records, 2017, compact disc.

Ravel, Maurice. Ravel: Volume Two. The Philharmonia Orchestra. Geoffrey Simon. Cala Records CACD 1005, 1991, compact disc.

See 14.263: Musical recordings This link opens in a new window for more information. 

Author-Date

General Reference Page Entry Format:

Name of Group or Performer. Year of Original Release/Recording. "Title of Song." Track # on Title of Album. Label, Year of Release (if different), medium.

OR

Name of Composer, Conductor, or Performer (depends on who you emphasize in your paper). Year of Original Release/Recording. Title of Album. Name of Composer, Conductor, and/or Performer (if they are not listed at the beginning of the Reference List entry). Label Label number, Year of Release (if different), medium.

For Example:

Imagine Dragons. 2017. "Thunder." Track 9 on Evolve. Interscope Records, compact disc.

OR

Ravel, Maurice. 1991. Ravel: Volume Two. The Philharmonia Orchestra. Geoffrey Simon. Cala Records CACD 1005, compact disc.

Corresponding In-Text Entry:

(Imagine Dragons 2017)

OR

(Imagine Dragons 2017 "Thunder")

(Ravel 1991)

Note: Musical recordings are usually listed in a separate discography and not listed in a bibliography.

Note: “Label number” refers to the catalog number for the recording. This information can be found on the back cover or online at websites like Discogs This link opens in a new window.

See 15.57: Citing recordings and multimedia in author-date format This link opens in a new window for more information.

More Information

• Chicago Manual of Style This link opens in a new window (Chicago Manual of Style)
• Chicago Style Guide (Shapiro Library)

Further Help

This information is intended to be a guideline, not expert advice. Please be sure to speak to your professor about the appropriate way to cite sources in your class assignments and projects.

Campus Students

To access Academic Support, visit your Brightspace course and select “Tutoring and Mentoring” from the Academic Support pulldown menu.

Online Students

To access help with citations and more, visit the Academic Support via modules in Brightspace:

• Academic Support Overview: Getting Help with your Schoolwork This link opens in a new window