Studio Album · No. 1
The Answers Songwriting Credits by Blue October
Produced by Justin Furstenfeld, Brian Baker · Engineered by Brian Baker, Adrian Garcia, Jeff Wells
Holds writing credit on 13 of 13 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 13 / 13 documented
Scored across the 13 tracks with documented writers, by whether Blue October carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 13 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Every song on The Answers was written by Justin Furstenfeld, the pattern that would define Blue October across its entire catalog. The debut is the band at its rawest: cut in Houston in October 1997, self-released on a small label, and built almost entirely around Furstenfeld's writing, voice, and guitar. His brother Jeremy anchors the drums, Ryan Delahoussaye brings the violin and mandolin that became a Blue October trademark, and founding bassist Liz Mulally plays on the only album of her Blue October tenure. The composer credit stays with Furstenfeld throughout, since he is the sole author of the material.
The Answers is the debut studio album by Blue October, released January 3, 1998 on Scoop Records. It was recorded in October 1997 at Sound Arts Studio in Houston, Texas, capturing the young band before any national attention, with frontman Justin Furstenfeld writing all thirteen songs. Furstenfeld handled lead vocals and electric guitar, his brother Jeremy Furstenfeld played drums, Ryan Delahoussaye added the violin and mandolin that became a Blue October signature, and founding bassist Liz Mulally rounded out the early lineup. Brian Baker engineered and co-produced the record with Furstenfeld, and Jeff Wells mastered it. It remains the only Blue October album to feature Mullally, and its raw alternative rock sound set the template Furstenfeld would carry into the band's later major-label work.