Studio Album · No. 1
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not Songwriting Credits by Arctic Monkeys
Produced by Jim Abbiss, Alan Smyth · Engineered by Ewan Davies
Holds writing credit on 13 of 13 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 13 / 13 documented
Scored across the 13 tracks with documented writers, by whether Arctic Monkeys carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 13 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Awards & Recognition 2
The album shows Arctic Monkeys as Alex Turner's vehicle from the start: he wrote every lyric here, and the only shared authorship is the band's collective music credit and Jamie Cook's co-write on "Still Take You Home." Turner's name sits on all thirteen tracks, a near-total authorship pattern that would define the catalog. The composer column carries the four original members under their legal names, the songwriting unit that recorded the band's first three albums.
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not is the debut studio album by Arctic Monkeys, released in January 2006 on Domino. Built from demos the Sheffield band had spread online for free, it became the fastest-selling debut album in British chart history at the time. Alex Turner wrote nearly all of the lyrics, sketching teenage nights out, taxi ranks, and club bouncers in sharp Yorkshire detail over fast, wiry guitar music the four-piece wrote together. Jim Abbiss produced most of the record, with Alan Smyth handling "Mardy Bum." The album reached number one in the UK and won the 2006 Mercury Prize, and the BPI later certified it eight times platinum.
Track Listing & Credits 13 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The View from the Afternoon
|
Alex Turner | Alexander Turner | Jim Abbiss | Alex Turner (Lead Vocals) |
| 2 |
I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor
#1
|
Arctic Monkeys | Alexander TurnerJamie Robert CookAndy James NicholsonMatthew Helders | Jim Abbiss | Alex Turner (Lead Vocals) |
| 3 |
Fake Tales of San Francisco
|
Alex Turner | Alexander Turner | Jim Abbiss | Alex Turner (Lead Vocals) |
| 4 |
Dancing Shoes
|
Alex Turner | Alexander Turner | Jim Abbiss | Alex Turner (Lead Vocals) |
| 5 |
You Probably Couldn't See for the Lights but You Were Staring Straight at Me
|
Alex Turner | Alexander Turner | Jim Abbiss | Alex Turner (Lead Vocals) |
| 6 |
Still Take You Home
|
Jamie CookAlex Turner | Jamie Robert CookAlexander Turner | Jim Abbiss | Alex Turner (Lead Vocals) |
| 7 |
Riot Van
|
Alex Turner | Alexander Turner | Jim Abbiss | Alex Turner (Lead Vocals)James Ford (Electric Piano, Organ) |
| 8 |
Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured
|
Alex Turner | Alexander Turner | Jim Abbiss | Alex Turner (Lead Vocals) |
| 9 |
Mardy Bum
|
Alex Turner | Alexander Turner | Alan Smyth | Alex Turner (Lead Vocals) |
| 10 |
Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong But...
|
Alex Turner | Alexander Turner | Jim Abbiss | Alex Turner (Lead Vocals) |
| 11 |
When the Sun Goes Down
#1
|
Alex Turner | Alexander Turner | Jim Abbiss | Alex Turner (Lead Vocals) |
| 12 |
From the Ritz to the Rubble
|
Alex Turner | Alexander Turner | Jim Abbiss | Alex Turner (Lead Vocals) |
| 13 |
A Certain Romance
|
Alex Turner | Alexander Turner | Jim Abbiss | Alex Turner (Lead Vocals) |