Studio Album · No. 1
Blue Lines Songwriting Credits by Massive Attack
Produced by Massive Attack, Jonny Dollar
Wild Bunch / Virgin
Trip HopDowntempo
89%
Authorship
Holds writing credit on 8 of 9 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 8 / 9 documented
Who wrote the songs?
Scored across the 9 tracks with documented writers, by whether Massive Attack carries a lyricist or composer credit.
8 trackswritten by Massive Attack
1 trackoutside writers
Massive Attack's roles on this album
Share of the 9 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
Lyricist89%
Composer89%
Producer100%
Performer100%
By the Numbers
9
Tracks
16
Lyricists
2
Producers
1991
Released
Data Insight
Eight of the nine tracks carry members and Tricky is on three of them, his first credits anywhere. Only one track is written entirely inside the group. Shara Nelson sings four and is credited on them, which is how this band has worked ever since.
Blue Lines came out on Wild Bunch and Virgin in April 1991 and is certified 3x platinum by the BPI. It is widely treated as the record that started trip hop.
Track Listing & Credits 9 tracks
Written by the artist
Written by outside writers
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Safe from Harm
|
Daddy GMushroom3DShara NelsonBilly Cobham | Grant MarshallAndrew VowlesRobert Del NajaShara NelsonWilliam Cobham | Massive AttackJonny Dollar | Massive Attack (Performer) |
| 2 |
One Love
|
Daddy GMushroom3DClaude WilliamsHorace Andy | Grant MarshallAndrew VowlesRobert Del NajaClaude WilliamsHorace Andy | Massive AttackJonny Dollar | Massive Attack (Performer) |
| 3 |
Blue Lines
|
Daddy GMushroom3DTricky | Grant MarshallAndrew VowlesRobert Del NajaAdrian Thaws | Massive AttackJonny Dollar | Massive Attack (Performer) |
| 4 |
Be Thankful for What You've Got
|
William DeVaughn | William DeVaughn | Massive AttackJonny Dollar | Massive Attack (Performer) |
| 5 |
Five Man Army
|
Daddy GMushroom3DTrickyClaude Williams | Grant MarshallAndrew VowlesRobert Del NajaAdrian ThawsClaude Williams | Massive AttackJonny Dollar | Massive Attack (Performer) |
| 6 |
Unfinished Sympathy
|
Daddy GMushroom3DJonny DollarShara Nelson | Grant MarshallAndrew VowlesRobert Del NajaJonathan SharpShara Nelson | Massive AttackJonny Dollar | Massive Attack (Performer) |
| 7 |
Daydreaming
|
Daddy GMushroom3DWally BadarouTricky | Grant MarshallAndrew VowlesRobert Del NajaWally BadarouAdrian Thaws | Massive AttackJonny Dollar | Massive Attack (Performer) |
| 8 |
Lately
|
Daddy GMushroom3DShara NelsonGus RedmondLarry BrownleeJeffrey SimonFred E. Simon | Grant MarshallAndrew VowlesRobert Del NajaShara NelsonGus RedmondLarry BrownleeJeffrey SimonFred E. Simon | Massive AttackJonny Dollar | Massive Attack (Performer) |
| 9 |
Hymn of the Big Wheel
|
Daddy GMushroom3DNeneh CherryHorace Andy | Grant MarshallAndrew VowlesRobert Del NajaNeneh CherryHorace Andy | Massive AttackJonny Dollar | Massive Attack (Performer) |
Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 23 contributors
More from Massive Attack
Frequently Asked Questions Blue Lines
Who wrote Blue Lines?
Robert Del Naja, Grant Marshall and Andrew Vowles are credited on eight of the nine tracks, with Tricky on three and the guest singers on most.
How did it sell?
It is certified 3x platinum by the BPI. No sales figure is published on the cited pages.
Did any single chart?
No single from the album entered the Billboard Hot 100. "Unfinished Sympathy" reached the UK top twenty.
Who sings on it?
Shara Nelson, Horace Andy and Tricky, alongside the group.
Are engineering credits published?
The album article lists the studios it was recorded in rather than named engineers.
Why does it matter?
It is the record most often named as the start of trip hop, and the group has rejected the label ever since.
How long is the album?
45:00 across nine tracks.