Return of Saturn cover art

  Studio Album · No. 4

Return of Saturn Songwriting Credits by No Doubt

2000 Interscope Records 14 tracks 61 min

Produced by Glen Ballard, Don Gilmore, No Doubt  ·  Engineered by Alain Johannes, Karl Derfler, Jack Joseph Puig, Bob Ludwig

Interscope Records Alternative RockNew WavePop Rock
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 14 of 14 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 14 / 14 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 14 tracks with documented writers, by whether No Doubt carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
14 trackswritten by No Doubt 0 tracksoutside writers
No Doubt's roles on this album

Share of the 14 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer7%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

14
Tracks
1
Lyricists
3
Producers
1,587,000
US Copies Sold
2000
Released
Data Insight

The first No Doubt album composed entirely without Eric Stefani. Gwen Stefani handled all lyrics, working with Tom Dumont and Tony Kanal on composition. Glen Ballard, who co-wrote and produced Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill, co-produced most of the album. Despite being nominated for Best Rock Album at the 43rd Grammy Awards, the album lost to Foo Fighters and received no Grammy wins.

Return of Saturn is the fourth studio album by No Doubt, released in April 2000 on Interscope Records and produced by Glen Ballard alongside the band, a deliberate departure from the ska energy of Tragic Kingdom toward a more introspective and atmospheric pop-rock sound, with Stefani's lyrics addressing her relationship anxieties and identity questions with an emotional directness that the exuberant Tragic Kingdom material had not consistently demonstrated. Stefani, Tom Dumont, and Tony Kanal co-wrote most of the material; 'Simple Kind of Life,' 'Ex-Girlfriend,' and 'New' were the principal tracks. 'Simple Kind of Life' reached number one on the Billboard Modern Rock chart. Return of Saturn debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 with 168,000 first-week sales and has been certified double platinum in the United States; it is regarded by critics as the band's most emotionally mature and lyrically sophisticated album. Return of Saturn's emotional maturity and the quality of its songwriting have made it the most critically reassessed album in the No Doubt catalog, an album that was commercially overshadowed by the expectations created by Tragic Kingdom but that is now regarded as the most emotionally complex and lyrically sophisticated expression of Stefani and her bandmates' creative capabilities.

Track Listing & Credits 14 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Ex-Girlfriend
Gwen Stefani Gwen StefaniTom DumontTony Kanal Glen Ballard Gwen Stefani (Lead Vocals)
2
Simple Kind of Life #38
Gwen Stefani Gwen Stefani Glen Ballard Gwen Stefani (Lead Vocals)
3
Bathwater
Gwen Stefani Gwen StefaniTony KanalTom Dumont Glen Ballard Gwen Stefani (Lead Vocals)
4
Six Feet Under
Gwen Stefani Gwen StefaniTony Kanal Glen Ballard Gwen Stefani (Lead Vocals)
5
Magic's in the Makeup
Gwen Stefani Gwen StefaniTom Dumont Glen Ballard Gwen Stefani (Lead Vocals)
6
Artificial Sweetener
Gwen Stefani Gwen StefaniTom DumontTony Kanal Glen Ballard Gwen Stefani (Lead Vocals)
7
Marry Me
Gwen Stefani Gwen StefaniTony Kanal Glen Ballard Gwen Stefani (Lead Vocals)
8
New
Gwen Stefani Gwen StefaniTom Dumont Jerry HarrisonNo Doubt Gwen Stefani (Lead Vocals)
9
Too Late
Gwen Stefani Gwen StefaniTom DumontTony Kanal Glen Ballard Gwen Stefani (Lead Vocals)
10
Comforting Lie
Gwen Stefani Gwen StefaniTom DumontTony Kanal Glen Ballard Gwen Stefani (Lead Vocals)
11
Suspension Without Suspense
Gwen Stefani Gwen Stefani Glen Ballard Gwen Stefani (Lead Vocals)
12
Staring Problem
Gwen Stefani Gwen StefaniTony KanalEric Stefani Glen Ballard Gwen Stefani (Lead Vocals)
13
Home Now
Gwen Stefani Gwen StefaniTom DumontTony Kanal Glen Ballard Gwen Stefani (Lead Vocals)
14
Dark Blue
Gwen Stefani Gwen StefaniTom Dumont Glen Ballard Gwen Stefani (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 7 contributors

More from No Doubt

Frequently Asked Questions Return of Saturn

When was Return of Saturn released?
April 2000 on Interscope Records, co-produced by Glen Ballard and the band.
Who wrote the songs on Return of Saturn?
Gwen Stefani wrote all lyrics. Tom Dumont and Tony Kanal composed most of the music alongside her, this was the first No Doubt album without any Eric Stefani songwriting contribution.
What themes does Return of Saturn explore?
Primarily Stefani's relationship anxieties and identity questions, centered on turning 30 and relationship uncertainty. 'Simple Kind of Life' is the most direct expression of these themes.
How did Return of Saturn chart?
It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 with 168,000 first-week sales and was certified Platinum in the US, a significantly smaller commercial footprint than Tragic Kingdom.
What was the critical reception?
Reception was positive but subdued on release. Return of Saturn has since been reassessed as the band's most emotionally mature and lyrically sophisticated album.
Who co-produced Return of Saturn?
Glen Ballard, who co-wrote and produced Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill, co-produced the majority of the album alongside the band. Don Was produced additional tracks.
Which single reached number one on the Modern Rock chart?
'Simple Kind of Life' reached number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 38 on the Hot 100.

Sources