Studio Album · No. 5

A Boy Named Goo Songwriting Credits by Goo Goo Dolls

1995 Warner Bros. Records / Metal Blade Records 13 tracks 42 min

Produced by Lou Giordano, Rob Cavallo, Goo Goo Dolls  ·  Engineered by Lou Giordano, Jerry Finn

Warner Bros. Records / Metal Blade Records Alternative rockPost-grungePower pop
85%
Authorship
Artist

Holds writing credit on 11 of 13 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 11 / 13 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 13 tracks with documented writers, by whether Goo Goo Dolls carries a lyricist or composer credit.

85%
11 trackswritten by Goo Goo Dolls 2 tracksoutside writers
Goo Goo Dolls's roles on this album

Share of the 13 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist85%
Composer85%
Producer15%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

13
Tracks
9
Lyricists
3
Producers
1995
Released
Data Insight

A Boy Named Goo is the band's commercial breakthrough, driven by John Rzeznik's acoustic-leaning ballad "Name," which he wrote and which reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. By now Rzeznik is the dominant songwriter and frontman, and the album's success reshaped the band around his melodic writing. Lou Giordano produced most of it, with Rob Cavallo handling two tracks.

A Boy Named Goo came out on Warner Bros. and Metal Blade on March 14, 1995 and broke the band, certified double platinum within a year on the strength of 'Name,' which John Rzeznik wrote about the MTV VJ Kennedy. The album peaked at number 27 on the Billboard 200. Lou Giordano produced it with the band at BearTracks in Suffern and Trackmaster in Buffalo. It was the last record with drummer George Tutuska, replaced by Mike Malinin just before release, and Tutuska's song 'Stand Alone' was pulled from the wide release and swapped for two covers.

Track Listing & Credits 13 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Long Way Down
John Rzeznik John Rzeznik Lou Giordano John Rzeznik (Lead Vocals)
2
Burnin' Up
John RzeznikRobby TakacGeorge Tutuska John RzeznikRobert TakacGeorge Tutuska Lou Giordano Robby Takac (Lead Vocals)
3
Naked
John Rzeznik John Rzeznik Lou Giordano John Rzeznik (Lead Vocals)
4
Flat Top
John Rzeznik John Rzeznik Lou Giordano John Rzeznik (Lead Vocals)
5
Impersonality
John RzeznikRobby TakacGeorge Tutuska John RzeznikRobert TakacGeorge Tutuska Lou Giordano Robby Takac (Lead Vocals)
6
Name #5
John Rzeznik John Rzeznik Lou Giordano John Rzeznik (Lead Vocals)
7
Only One
John Rzeznik John Rzeznik Lou Giordano John Rzeznik (Lead Vocals)
8
Somethin' Bad
John RzeznikRobby TakacGeorge Tutuska John RzeznikRobert TakacGeorge Tutuska Lou Giordano Robby Takac (Lead Vocals)
9
Ain't That Unusual
John Rzeznik John Rzeznik Lou Giordano John Rzeznik (Lead Vocals)
10
So Long
John RzeznikRobby TakacGeorge Tutuska John RzeznikRobert TakacGeorge Tutuska Lou Giordano Robby Takac (Lead Vocals)
11
Eyes Wide Open
John RzeznikRobby TakacGeorge Tutuska John RzeznikRobert TakacGeorge Tutuska Lou Giordano John Rzeznik (Lead Vocals)
12
Disconnected
BompczykGuarigliaSecristSuchman BompczykGuarigliaSecristSuchman Rob CavalloGoo Goo Dolls John Rzeznik (Lead Vocals)
13
Slave Girl
BloodJakimyszyn BloodJakimyszyn Rob CavalloGoo Goo Dolls John Rzeznik (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 13 contributors

JR
John Rzeznik
Writer · Vocals
On this album11 written
GT
George Tutuska
Writer
On this album5 written
RT
Robby Takac
Writer · Vocals
On this album5 written
RT
Robert Takac
Writer
On this album5 written
B
Blood
Writer
On this album1 written
B
Bompczyk
Writer
On this album1 written
G
Guariglia
Writer
On this album1 written
J
Jakimyszyn
Writer
On this album1 written
S
Secrist
Writer
On this album1 written
S
Suchman
Writer
On this album1 written
LG
Lou Giordano
Producer
On this album11 produced
GG
Goo Goo Dolls
Producer
On this album2 produced

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Frequently Asked Questions A Boy Named Goo

Who wrote Name by the Goo Goo Dolls?
"Name" was written by John Rzeznik. He has said it came together almost accidentally, and it became the band's breakthrough hit, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Was A Boy Named Goo the Goo Goo Dolls' breakthrough album?
Yes. Powered by "Name," A Boy Named Goo became the band's commercial breakthrough and was certified 2x Platinum in the United States. It moved them from cult punk band to mainstream rock act.
Did John Rzeznik write most of A Boy Named Goo?
Rzeznik was the dominant songwriter by this album, writing its biggest songs including "Name." His melodic, acoustic-leaning writing increasingly defined the band's sound from here on.
Is A Boy Named Goo by the Goo Goo Dolls certified platinum?
Yes. It was certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA in the United States and Platinum in Canada. It was their first major commercial success.
When was A Boy Named Goo by the Goo Goo Dolls released?
A Boy Named Goo was released on March 14, 1995, through Warner Bros. and Metal Blade Records. It was the band's fifth studio album.
What genre is A Boy Named Goo by the Goo Goo Dolls?
A Boy Named Goo is an alternative rock and post-grunge album with power pop melodies. It bridges their punk past and the polished rock of their later hits.

Sources

Wikipedia: A Boy Named Goo Wikipedia: Name (song) MusicBrainz: A Boy Named Goo release group Cover Art Archive: A Boy Named Goo front cover Discogs: Goo Goo Dolls - A Boy Named Goo Cover Art Archive: A Boy Named Goo by Goo Goo Dolls