Studio Album · No. 8

Ballads of the Broken Songwriting Credits by Jelly Roll

2021 BBR Music Group / Bailee & Buddy Records 10 tracks 31 min

Produced by Andrew Baylis, David Ray Stevens, Ernest K., Eric Flemming, Ilya Toshinskiy  ·  Engineered by Andrew Baylis, Joe Trentacoski, Lowell Reynolds, Jason Mott, Shannon Forrest

BBR Music Group / Bailee & Buddy Records CountryPopHip HopSouthern rock
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 10 of 10 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 10 / 10 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Jelly Roll carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
10 trackswritten by Jelly Roll 0 tracksoutside writers
Jelly Roll's roles on this album

Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

10
Tracks
6
Lyricists
4
Producers
1
No.1 Single
2021
Released
Data Insight

Ballads of the Broken is Jelly Roll's major-label debut and the album that began his pivot from rap toward country and Southern rock. Jelly Roll, whose legal name is Jason DeFord, co-wrote the songs with a Nashville team including Andrew Baylis and David Ray Stevens. The breakout single Son of a Sinner became his first major country hit, topping Country Airplay.

Jelly Roll's eighth studio album and his debut on BBR Music Group, released September 17, 2021. A 10-track country-forward record that served as his mainstream country breakthrough, anchored by the hit single 'Son of a Sinner,' which reached number one on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. Co-produced primarily by Andrew Baylis and David Ray Stevens, the album established the core creative partnership that would carry through his next two records.

Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Dead Man Walking #1
Andrew BaylisJason DeFordDavid Ray StevensMichael Whitworth Andrew BaylisJason DeFordDavid Ray StevensMichael Whitworth Andrew BaylisErnest K.David Ray Stevens Jelly Roll (Lead Vocals, Rap)
2
Backslide
Andrew BaylisJason DeFordDavid Ray StevensMichael Whitworth Andrew BaylisJason DeFordDavid Ray StevensMichael Whitworth Andrew BaylisErnest K.David Ray Stevens Jelly Roll (Lead Vocals, Rap)
3
Son of a Sinner #31
Jason DeFordDavid Ray StevensErnest Keith Smith Jason DeFordDavid Ray StevensErnest Keith Smith Ernest K.Ilya Toshinskiy Jelly Roll (Lead Vocals, Rap)
4
Over You
Andrew BaylisJason DeFordDavid Ray Stevens Andrew BaylisJason DeFordDavid Ray Stevens Andrew BaylisErnest K.David Ray Stevens Jelly Roll (Lead Vocals, Rap)
5
Hollow
Andrew BaylisJason DeFordDavid Ray StevensQuint Collins Andrew BaylisJason DeFordDavid Ray StevensQuint Collins Andrew BaylisErnest K.David Ray Stevens Jelly Roll (Lead Vocals, Rap)
6
Even Angels Cry
Andrew BaylisJason DeFordDavid Ray Stevens Andrew BaylisJason DeFordDavid Ray Stevens Andrew BaylisErnest K.David Ray Stevens Jelly Roll (Lead Vocals, Rap)
7
Sober
Jason DeFordDavid Ray Stevens Jason DeFordDavid Ray Stevens Ernest K.David Ray Stevens Jelly Roll (Lead Vocals, Rap)
8
Empty House
Andrew BaylisJason DeFordDavid Ray Stevens Andrew BaylisJason DeFordDavid Ray Stevens Andrew BaylisErnest K.David Ray Stevens Jelly Roll (Lead Vocals, Rap)
9
Mobile Home (demo)
Jason DeFordDavid Ray Stevens Jason DeFordDavid Ray Stevens David Ray Stevens Jelly Roll (Lead Vocals, Rap)
10
Son of a Sinner (demo)
Jason DeFordDavid Ray StevensErnest Keith Smith Jason DeFordDavid Ray StevensErnest Keith Smith Ernest K.Ilya Toshinskiy Jelly Roll (Lead Vocals, Rap)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 9 contributors

DR
David Ray Stevens
Writer · Producer
On this album10 written
JD
Jason DeFord
Writer
On this album10 written
AB
Andrew Baylis
Writer · Producer
On this album6 written
EK
Ernest Keith Smith
Writer
On this album2 written
MW
Michael Whitworth
Writer
On this album2 written
QC
Quint Collins
Writer
On this album1 written
EK
Ernest K.
Producer
On this album9 produced
IT
Ilya Toshinskiy
Producer
On this album2 produced
JR
Jelly Roll
Vocals
On this albumGuest

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2016 n/a
Sobriety Sucks
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Addiction Kills
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2018 100%
Goodnight Nashville
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2019 n/a
Whiskey Sessions II
Jingle Punks
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2020 100%
A Beautiful Disaster
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2020 100%
Self Medicated
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2023 100%
Whitsitt Chapel
BBR Music Group / Bailee & Buddy Records
13 tracksProd. Zach Crowell
2024 100%
Beautifully Broken
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22 tracksProd. Zach Crowell

Frequently Asked Questions Ballads of the Broken

Who wrote the songs on Jelly Roll's Ballads of the Broken?
Jelly Roll co-wrote the album with a team of Nashville writers. Jelly Roll, whose legal name is Jason DeFord, is credited on the tracks alongside collaborators such as Andrew Baylis and David Ray Stevens.
Who wrote Son of a Sinner by Jelly Roll?
Son of a Sinner was co-written by Jelly Roll (Jason DeFord) with David Ray Stevens and Ernest K. It reached number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Country Airplay chart, becoming his breakthrough hit.
Is Ballads of the Broken Jelly Roll's first album?
It is Jelly Roll's major-label debut, released in 2021, though he had put out many independent albums before it. The record marked his shift toward country and Southern rock.
Did Jelly Roll write Ballads of the Broken himself?
Jelly Roll co-wrote the album rather than writing it alone, sharing credits with Nashville songwriters on every track. He is credited as a writer throughout under his legal name, Jason DeFord.
How well did Jelly Roll's Ballads of the Broken sell?
Ballads of the Broken is certified Gold by the RIAA in the United States. It launched the singles Son of a Sinner and Dead Man Walking, the latter topping the Mainstream Rock chart.

Sources

Wikipedia: Ballads of the Broken Discogs: Ballads of the Broken Wikipedia: Jelly Roll discography MusicBrainz: Ballads of the Broken (release group) Cover Art Archive: Ballads of the Broken Cover Art Archive: Ballads of the Broken by Jelly Roll