Studio Album · No. 1

3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of... Songwriting Credits by Arrested Development

1992 Chrysalis 15 tracks 56:13

Produced by Speech  ·  Engineered by Alvin Speights, Richard Wells, Tom Held, Matt Still, Howie Weinberg

Chrysalis Hip HopAlternative Hip HopProgressive Rap
Songwriter
73%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 11 of 15 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 11 / 15 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 15 tracks with documented writers, by whether Arrested Development carries a lyricist or composer credit.

73%
11 trackswritten by Arrested Development 4 tracksoutside writers
Arrested Development's roles on this album

Share of the 15 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist73%
Composer73%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

15
Tracks
15
Lyricists
1
Producers
1992
Released
Data Insight

The 1992 release credits the writing to the group rather than to people, so eleven of the 15 tracks are recorded here as all six of them. The four exceptions are sample clearances: Buddy Guy and Junior Wells on one, Sly Stone on "People Everyday", Fela Kuti and Minnie Riperton elsewhere. It is the record that made a Southern hip hop group the first rappers to win Best New Artist.

3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of... came out on Chrysalis in March 1992 and is certified 4x platinum. "Tennessee" and "Mr. Wendal" both reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and the album won two Grammy Awards.

Track Listing & Credits 15 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Man's Final Frontier
SpeechHeadlinerBaba OjeMontsho EsheRasa DonAerle Taree Todd ThomasTimothy BarnwellBaba OjeMontsho EsheRasa DonAerle Taree Speech Speech (Performer)Headliner (Performer)Baba Oje (Performer)Montsho Eshe (Performer)Rasa Don (Performer)Aerle Taree (Performer)
2
Mama's Always on Stage
Buddy GuyJunior Wells Buddy GuyJunior Wells Speech Speech (Performer)Headliner (Performer)Baba Oje (Performer)Montsho Eshe (Performer)Rasa Don (Performer)Aerle Taree (Performer)Sister Paulette (Featured Vocals)
3
People Everyday #8
Sylvester Stewart Sylvester Stewart Speech Speech (Performer)Headliner (Performer)Baba Oje (Performer)Montsho Eshe (Performer)Rasa Don (Performer)Aerle Taree (Performer)Sister Paulette (Featured Vocals)
4
Blues Happy
SpeechHeadlinerBaba OjeMontsho EsheRasa DonAerle Taree Todd ThomasTimothy BarnwellBaba OjeMontsho EsheRasa DonAerle Taree Speech Speech (Performer)Headliner (Performer)Baba Oje (Performer)Montsho Eshe (Performer)Rasa Don (Performer)Aerle Taree (Performer)Brother Larry (Featured Vocals)
5
Mr. Wendal #6
SpeechHeadlinerBaba OjeMontsho EsheRasa DonAerle Taree Todd ThomasTimothy BarnwellBaba OjeMontsho EsheRasa DonAerle Taree Speech Speech (Performer)Headliner (Performer)Baba Oje (Performer)Montsho Eshe (Performer)Rasa Don (Performer)Aerle Taree (Performer)
6
Children Play with Earth
SpeechHeadlinerBaba OjeMontsho EsheRasa DonAerle Taree Todd ThomasTimothy BarnwellBaba OjeMontsho EsheRasa DonAerle Taree Speech Speech (Performer)Headliner (Performer)Baba Oje (Performer)Montsho Eshe (Performer)Rasa Don (Performer)Aerle Taree (Performer)
7
Raining Revolution
SpeechHeadlinerBaba OjeMontsho EsheRasa DonAerle Taree Todd ThomasTimothy BarnwellBaba OjeMontsho EsheRasa DonAerle Taree Speech Speech (Performer)Headliner (Performer)Baba Oje (Performer)Montsho Eshe (Performer)Rasa Don (Performer)Aerle Taree (Performer)
8
Fishin' 4 Religion
SpeechHeadlinerBaba OjeMontsho EsheRasa DonAerle Taree Todd ThomasTimothy BarnwellBaba OjeMontsho EsheRasa DonAerle Taree Speech Speech (Performer)Headliner (Performer)Baba Oje (Performer)Montsho Eshe (Performer)Rasa Don (Performer)Aerle Taree (Performer)Dionne Farris (Featured Vocals)
9
Give a Man a Fish
Minnie RipertonRichard RudolphSpeech Minnie RipertonRichard RudolphTodd Thomas Speech Speech (Performer)Headliner (Performer)Baba Oje (Performer)Montsho Eshe (Performer)Rasa Don (Performer)Aerle Taree (Performer)Dionne Farris (Featured Vocals)
10
U
Bob Dylan Bob Dylan Speech Speech (Performer)Headliner (Performer)Baba Oje (Performer)Montsho Eshe (Performer)Rasa Don (Performer)Aerle Taree (Performer)Larry Jackson (Featured Vocals)Dionne Farris (Featured Vocals)
11
Eve of Reality
SpeechHeadlinerBaba OjeMontsho EsheRasa DonAerle Taree Todd ThomasTimothy BarnwellBaba OjeMontsho EsheRasa DonAerle Taree Speech Speech (Performer)Headliner (Performer)Baba Oje (Performer)Montsho Eshe (Performer)Rasa Don (Performer)Aerle Taree (Performer)
12
Natural
Al McKayMaurice WhitePhilip Bailey Al McKayMaurice WhitePhilip Bailey Speech Speech (Performer)Headliner (Performer)Baba Oje (Performer)Montsho Eshe (Performer)Rasa Don (Performer)Aerle Taree (Performer)
13
Dawn of the Dreads
SpeechHeadlinerBaba OjeMontsho EsheRasa DonAerle Taree Todd ThomasTimothy BarnwellBaba OjeMontsho EsheRasa DonAerle Taree Speech Speech (Performer)Headliner (Performer)Baba Oje (Performer)Montsho Eshe (Performer)Rasa Don (Performer)Aerle Taree (Performer)
14
Tennessee #6
SpeechHeadlinerBaba OjeMontsho EsheRasa DonAerle Taree Todd ThomasTimothy BarnwellBaba OjeMontsho EsheRasa DonAerle Taree Speech Speech (Performer)Headliner (Performer)Baba Oje (Performer)Montsho Eshe (Performer)Rasa Don (Performer)Aerle Taree (Performer)Dionne Farris (Featured Vocals)
15
Washed Away
SpeechHeadlinerBaba OjeMontsho EsheRasa DonAerle Taree Todd ThomasTimothy BarnwellBaba OjeMontsho EsheRasa DonAerle Taree Speech Speech (Performer)Headliner (Performer)Baba Oje (Performer)Montsho Eshe (Performer)Rasa Don (Performer)Aerle Taree (Performer)Terrance Cinque Mason (Featured Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 22 contributors

S
Speech
Writer · Producer · Performer
On this album11 written
TT
Todd Thomas
Writer
On this album11 written
AT
Aerle Taree
Writer · Performer
On this album10 written
BO
Baba Oje
Writer · Performer
On this album10 written
H
Headliner
Writer · Performer
On this album10 written
ME
Montsho Eshe
Writer · Performer
On this album10 written
RD
Rasa Don
Writer · Performer
On this album10 written
TB
Timothy Barnwell
Writer
On this album10 written
AM
Al McKay
Writer
On this album1 written
BD
Bob Dylan
Writer
On this album1 written
BG
Buddy Guy
Writer
On this album1 written
JW
Junior Wells
Writer
On this album1 written

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Frequently Asked Questions 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of...

Who wrote the debut album?
The release credits Arrested Development as a group. That is recorded here as Speech, Headliner, Baba Oje, Montsho Eshe, Rasa Don and Aerle Taree, the six people the same release names as performers.
Who wrote "People Everyday"?
The group, with Sylvester Stewart credited because the track is built on Sly and the Family Stone's "Everyday People". It reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100.
How did it sell?
It is certified 4x platinum by the RIAA. The only worldwide figure on the cited pages carries a citation-needed tag, so no verified sales number exists.
What did it win?
Best New Artist and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the Grammy Awards in 1993, and Band of the Year from Rolling Stone.
Who produced it?
Speech, who also mixed the record.
Which singles charted?
"Tennessee" and "Mr. Wendal" both reached number six and "People Everyday" number eight on the Billboard Hot 100.
How long is the album?
56:13 across 15 tracks.
Data note: The album article lists titles and running times only. The 1992 release credits the writing to Arrested Development as a group rather than to individuals, which is recorded here as the six people the same release names as performers.

Sources

Wikipedia: 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of... Wikipedia: Arrested Development Discogs: Arrested Development - 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of... Cover Art Archive: 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of... by Arrested Development