Studio Album · No. 2
Kerplunk Songwriting Credits by Green Day
Produced by Andy Ernst, Green Day · Engineered by Andy Ernst
Holds writing credit on 12 of 12 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 12 / 12 documented
Scored across the 12 tracks with documented writers, by whether Green Day carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 12 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Kerplunk was Green Day's last record for the independent Lookout! Records before the band signed to Reprise and broke through with Dookie. Billie Joe Armstrong wrote the lyrics across the album and the band composed the music together, opening with "2000 Light Years Away," a song about his future wife Adrienne that he had penned during the long-distance early days of their relationship. The sessions marked the recording debut of drummer Tre Cool, who had replaced John Kiffmeyer, locking in the lineup that would carry the band into the mainstream. Though it had no charting singles, the album sold strongly for an indie release and later went on to move millions of copies once Dookie sent fans back through the catalog.
Green Day's second studio album, released January 17, 1992 on Lookout! Records. Already featuring Tré Cool on drums, Kerplunk refined the band's melodic punk sound and sold over 50,000 copies independently, catching the attention of major labels. 'Dominated Love Slave' is the notable exception to Armstrong's lyrical dominance, it was written by Tré Cool, who also plays guitar on the track.