Vitalogy cover art

  Studio Album · No. 3

Vitalogy Songwriting Credits by Pearl Jam

1994 Epic 14 tracks 55 min

Produced by Brendan O'Brien, Pearl Jam  ·  Engineered by Nick DiDia, Brett Eliason

Epic Alternative RockGrungePunk 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 Pearl Jam carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
14 trackswritten by Pearl Jam 0 tracksoutside writers
Pearl Jam's roles on this album

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

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

14
Tracks
1
Lyricists
2
Producers
5 million
US Copies Sold
1994
Released

Awards & Recognition 1

Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance (1996, 'Spin the Black Circle')
Data Insight

Vitalogy keeps Vedder as the sole lyricist while the music credits show a bit more individual variation than usual: most tracks are credited to the full band, but Jeff Ament wrote the music to 'Nothingman,' Stone Gossard to 'Satan's Bed,' and Vedder himself to 'Better Man.' There are no outside writers, so the band owns the record entirely, with the composer column quietly mapping who drove each song.

Vitalogy is the third studio album by Pearl Jam, released in November 1994 at the peak of their fame and their discomfort with it. The band's most experimental and abrasive 1990s record, it mixes raw punk energy on 'Spin the Black Circle' with the tender ballad 'Better Man' and willfully strange detours like the closing sound collage. Eddie Vedder wrote all of the lyrics, while the music was credited mostly to the full band, with a few tracks composed by individual members. It marked the end of drummer Dave Abbruzzese's tenure, and the album won the band their first Grammy, for 'Spin the Black Circle.' Vitalogy debuted at number one and was certified five-times platinum.

Track Listing & Credits 14 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Last Exit
Eddie Vedder Dave AbbruzzeseJeff AmentStone GossardMike McCreadyEddie Vedder Brendan O'BrienPearl Jam Eddie Vedder (Lead Vocals)
2
Spin the Black Circle #18
Eddie Vedder Dave AbbruzzeseJeff AmentStone GossardMike McCreadyEddie Vedder Brendan O'BrienPearl Jam Eddie Vedder (Lead Vocals)
3
Not for You
Eddie Vedder Dave AbbruzzeseJeff AmentStone GossardMike McCreadyEddie Vedder Brendan O'BrienPearl Jam Eddie Vedder (Lead Vocals)
4
Tremor Christ
Eddie Vedder Dave AbbruzzeseJeff AmentStone GossardMike McCreadyEddie Vedder Brendan O'BrienPearl Jam Eddie Vedder (Lead Vocals)
5
Nothingman
Eddie Vedder Jeff Ament Brendan O'BrienPearl Jam Eddie Vedder (Lead Vocals)
6
Whipping
Eddie Vedder Dave AbbruzzeseJeff AmentStone GossardMike McCreadyEddie Vedder Brendan O'BrienPearl Jam Eddie Vedder (Lead Vocals)
7
Pry, To
Eddie Vedder Dave AbbruzzeseJeff AmentStone GossardMike McCreadyEddie Vedder Brendan O'BrienPearl Jam Eddie Vedder (Lead Vocals)
8
Corduroy
Eddie Vedder Dave AbbruzzeseJeff AmentStone GossardMike McCreadyEddie Vedder Brendan O'BrienPearl Jam Eddie Vedder (Lead Vocals)
9
Bugs
Eddie Vedder Dave AbbruzzeseJeff AmentStone GossardMike McCreadyEddie Vedder Brendan O'BrienPearl Jam Eddie Vedder (Lead Vocals)
10
Satan's Bed
Eddie Vedder Stone Gossard Brendan O'BrienPearl Jam Eddie Vedder (Lead Vocals)
11
Better Man
Eddie Vedder Eddie Vedder Brendan O'BrienPearl Jam Eddie Vedder (Lead Vocals)
12
Aye Davanita
Eddie Vedder Dave AbbruzzeseJeff AmentStone GossardMike McCreadyEddie Vedder Brendan O'BrienPearl Jam Eddie Vedder (Lead Vocals)
13
Immortality
Eddie Vedder Dave AbbruzzeseJeff AmentStone GossardMike McCreadyEddie Vedder Brendan O'BrienPearl Jam Eddie Vedder (Lead Vocals)
14
Hey Foxymophandlemama, That's Me
Eddie Vedder Jeff AmentStone GossardMike McCreadyEddie VedderJack Irons Brendan O'BrienPearl Jam Eddie Vedder (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 8 contributors

More from Pearl Jam

Frequently Asked Questions Vitalogy

Who wrote Pearl Jam's Vitalogy?
Eddie Vedder wrote all of the lyrics. The music was credited mostly to the whole band, with 'Nothingman' written by Jeff Ament, 'Satan's Bed' by Stone Gossard, and 'Better Man' by Vedder.
Did Vitalogy win a Grammy?
Yes. 'Spin the Black Circle' won Best Hard Rock Performance at the 1996 Grammy Awards, the band's first Grammy.
Why is Vitalogy considered experimental?
Recorded amid the band's unease with fame, it mixes punk, ballads, and abstract sound collages, deliberately resisting the polish of their earlier hits.
Who played drums on Vitalogy?
Dave Abbruzzese played drums on most of the album, his last with the band, while Jack Irons drummed on the closing track.
What is Better Man?
'Better Man' is one of the band's most enduring songs, written entirely by Eddie Vedder years earlier and reworked for the album.
How well did Vitalogy sell?
It debuted at number one and is certified five-times platinum in the United States.

Sources