Draw the Line cover art

  Studio Album · No. 5

Draw the Line Songwriting Credits by Aerosmith

1977 Columbia Records 9 tracks 35 min

Produced by Jack Douglas, Aerosmith  ·  Engineered by Jay Messina, David Hewitt, Sam Ginsberg, George Marino

Columbia Records Hard RockBlues Rock
89%
Authorship
Artist

Holds writing credit on 8 of 9 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 8 / 9 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 9 tracks with documented writers, by whether Aerosmith carries a lyricist or composer credit.

89%
8 trackswritten by Aerosmith 1 trackoutside writers
Aerosmith's roles on this album

Share of the 9 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist89%
Composer89%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

9
Tracks
8
Lyricists
2
Producers
1977
Released
Data Insight

This is peak classic-era Aerosmith with the original lineup intact and Jack Douglas producing. Steven Tyler and Joe Perry wrote the bulk of the material together, including the title track and 'Get It Up,' while Perry took sole writing credit on 'Bright Light Fright,' which he also sang. Several tracks ('Kings and Queens,' 'The Hand That Feeds') show wider band collaboration, crediting Whitford, Hamilton, Kramer, and Douglas. The album closes with 'Milk Cow Blues,' a cover of the Kokomo Arnold blues standard rather than an original.

Aerosmith's fifth studio album, released November 1, 1977. Recorded during a period of escalating drug use, the album shows early signs of creative strain, producer Jack Douglas receives co-writing credit on five of nine tracks, and David Johansen of the New York Dolls co-writes 'Sight for Sore Eyes.' Joe Perry writes 'Bright Light Fright' alone, one of his earliest solo credits. The sole cover, 'Milk Cow Blues' (Kokomo Arnold), is a blues standard. Despite the turbulent sessions, the album reached number 11 on the Billboard 200.

Track Listing & Credits 9 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Draw the Line #42
Steven TylerJoe Perry Steven TylerJoe Perry Jack DouglasAerosmith Steven TylerJoe PerryBrad WhitfordTom HamiltonJoey Kramer
2
I Wanna Know Why
Steven TylerJoe Perry Steven TylerJoe Perry Jack DouglasAerosmith Steven TylerJoe PerryBrad WhitfordTom HamiltonJoey Kramer
3
Critical Mass
Steven TylerTom HamiltonJack Douglas Steven TylerTom HamiltonJack Douglas Jack DouglasAerosmith Steven TylerJoe PerryBrad WhitfordTom HamiltonJoey Kramer
4
Get It Up
Steven TylerJoe Perry Steven TylerJoe Perry Jack DouglasAerosmith Steven TylerJoe PerryBrad WhitfordTom HamiltonJoey Kramer
5
Bright Light Fright
Joe Perry Joe Perry Jack DouglasAerosmith Steven TylerJoe PerryBrad WhitfordTom HamiltonJoey Kramer
6
Kings and Queens #70
Steven TylerBrad WhitfordTom HamiltonJoey KramerJack Douglas Steven TylerBrad WhitfordTom HamiltonJoey KramerJack Douglas Jack DouglasAerosmith Steven TylerJoe PerryBrad WhitfordTom HamiltonJoey Kramer
7
The Hand That Feeds
Steven TylerBrad WhitfordTom HamiltonJoey KramerJack Douglas Steven TylerBrad WhitfordTom HamiltonJoey KramerJack Douglas Jack DouglasAerosmith Steven TylerJoe PerryBrad WhitfordTom HamiltonJoey Kramer
8
Sight for Sore Eyes
Steven TylerJoe PerryJack DouglasDavid Johansen Steven TylerJoe PerryJack DouglasDavid Johansen Jack DouglasAerosmith Steven TylerJoe PerryBrad WhitfordTom HamiltonJoey Kramer
9
Milk Cow Blues
Kokomo Arnold Kokomo Arnold Jack DouglasAerosmith Steven TylerJoe PerryBrad WhitfordTom HamiltonJoey Kramer

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 9 contributors

More from Aerosmith

Frequently Asked Questions Draw the Line

When was Aerosmith's Draw the Line released?
Draw the Line was released in 1977 on Columbia Records. It was the band's fourth studio album and was produced by Jack Douglas. The original lineup of Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton, and Joey Kramer all played on it.
Who wrote the title track Draw the Line?
'Draw the Line' was written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the band's primary songwriting team. It was released as the album's first single in October 1977 and peaked at number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Is there a cover song on Draw the Line?
Yes. The album closes with 'Milk Cow Blues,' a cover of the blues standard written by Kokomo Arnold. The rest of the album consists of originals written by Aerosmith members, often with producer Jack Douglas sharing credit.
How did the single Kings and Queens chart?
'Kings and Queens' peaked at number 70 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978. Unlike most of the album, it was a group composition credited to Tyler, Whitford, Hamilton, Kramer, and Jack Douglas rather than the Tyler-Perry team.
Is Draw the Line certified by the RIAA?
Yes. Draw the Line was certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA, signifying two million units shipped in the United States. It remains one of Aerosmith's strongest-selling 1970s studio albums.
Who produced Draw the Line?
Jack Douglas produced Draw the Line and also contributed to several songwriting credits on the album. He had previously produced Aerosmith's earlier 1970s records and frequently co-wrote with the band during this era.

Sources