Blood Sugar Sex Magik cover art

  Studio Album · No. 5

Blood Sugar Sex Magik Songwriting Credits by Red Hot Chili Peppers

1991 Warner Bros. Records 17 tracks 73 min

Produced by Rick Rubin  ·  Engineered by Brendan O'Brien, Chris Holmes, Howie Weinberg

Warner Bros. Records Funk RockFunk MetalAlternative RockRap Rock
94%
Authorship
Artist

Holds writing credit on 16 of 17 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 16 / 17 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 17 tracks with documented writers, by whether Red Hot Chili Peppers carries a lyricist or composer credit.

94%
16 trackswritten by Red Hot Chili Peppers 1 trackoutside writers
Red Hot Chili Peppers's roles on this album

Share of the 17 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist94%
Composer94%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

17
Tracks
5
Lyricists
1
Producers
14 million
Worldwide Copies Sold
1991
Released

Awards & Recognition 1

Best Hard Rock Performance with Vocal (Give It Away) (1993)
Data Insight

Every song on Blood Sugar Sex Magik is credited to all four members of Red Hot Chili Peppers, with Anthony Kiedis writing lyrics over the funk and rock foundations built by Flea, John Frusciante, and Chad Smith. This was John Frusciante's second album with the band and the first the group made with producer Rick Rubin, who recorded them live in a rented Los Angeles mansion to capture an unfiltered ensemble performance. The collective credit reflects the band's jam-based writing process, where grooves were developed by the full lineup before Kiedis added vocals. 'Under the Bridge' stands apart as a deeply personal Kiedis lyric, drawn from his isolation and his past addiction in downtown Los Angeles.

Produced by Rick Rubin and widely considered the band's masterpiece. Featuring "Under the Bridge" and "Give It Away," it became one of the best-selling rock albums of the 1990s with over 13 million copies sold.

Track Listing & Credits 17 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
The Power of Equality
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad Smith Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord Smith Rick Rubin Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
2
If You Have to Ask
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad Smith Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord Smith Rick Rubin Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
3
Breaking the Girl
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad Smith Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord Smith Rick Rubin Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
4
Funky Monks
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad Smith Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord Smith Rick Rubin Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
5
Suck My Kiss
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad Smith Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord Smith Rick Rubin Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
6
I Could Have Lied
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad Smith Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord Smith Rick Rubin Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
7
Mellowship Slinky in B Major
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad Smith Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord Smith Rick Rubin Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
8
The Righteous & the Wicked
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad Smith Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord Smith Rick Rubin Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
9
Give It Away #73
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad Smith Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord Smith Rick Rubin Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
10
Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad Smith Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord Smith Rick Rubin Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
11
Under the Bridge #2
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad Smith Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord Smith Rick Rubin Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
12
Naked in the Rain
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad Smith Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord Smith Rick Rubin Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
13
Apache Rose Peacock
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad Smith Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord Smith Rick Rubin Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
14
The Greeting Song
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad Smith Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord Smith Rick Rubin Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
15
My Lovely Man
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad Smith Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord Smith Rick Rubin Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
16
Sir Psycho Sexy
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad Smith Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord Smith Rick Rubin Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
17
They're Red Hot
Robert Johnson Robert Leroy Johnson Rick Rubin Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 10 contributors

AK
Anthony Kiedis
Writer · Vocals
On this album16 written
CG
Chad Gaylord Smith
Writer
On this album16 written
CS
Chad Smith
Writer
On this album16 written
F
Flea
Writer
On this album16 written
JA
John Anthony Frusciante
Writer
On this album16 written
JF
John Frusciante
Writer
On this album16 written
MP
Michael Peter Balzary
Writer
On this album16 written
RJ
Robert Johnson
Writer
On this album1 written
RL
Robert Leroy Johnson
Writer
On this album1 written
RR
Rick Rubin
Producer
On this album17 produced

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Frequently Asked Questions Blood Sugar Sex Magik

Who produced Blood Sugar Sex Magik?
Rick Rubin produced Blood Sugar Sex Magik, his first album with Red Hot Chili Peppers. He had the band record together live in a rented Los Angeles mansion rather than a conventional studio. The setup was designed to capture the group's full-band chemistry in a single environment.
What is Under the Bridge by the Red Hot Chili Peppers about?
'Under the Bridge' is about Anthony Kiedis's feelings of loneliness and isolation, written during a period of depression after years of heroin and cocaine addiction. Kiedis wrote the lyric reflecting on a low point in his life in downtown Los Angeles, where he had bought drugs under a bridge. It became the band's biggest hit to that point, reaching number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Who wrote the songs on Blood Sugar Sex Magik?
All songs on Blood Sugar Sex Magik are credited to all four members of Red Hot Chili Peppers: Anthony Kiedis, Flea, John Frusciante, and Chad Smith. The music typically grew out of full-band jams, with Kiedis adding lyrics and vocal melodies. This shared credit reflects the band's collaborative writing approach.
Who played guitar on Blood Sugar Sex Magik?
John Frusciante played guitar on Blood Sugar Sex Magik. It was his second studio album with Red Hot Chili Peppers after Mother's Milk. His melodic, layered playing on songs like 'Under the Bridge' became central to the album's sound.
How well did Blood Sugar Sex Magik sell?
Blood Sugar Sex Magik has sold over 14 million copies worldwide. In the United States it was certified 7x Platinum by the RIAA. It is the band's commercial breakthrough and one of their best-selling albums.
Did Blood Sugar Sex Magik win any Grammy Awards?
Yes. 'Give It Away' won the Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance with Vocal at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards in 1993. It was the band's first Grammy win.
What was the lead single from Blood Sugar Sex Magik?
'Give It Away' was the lead single from Blood Sugar Sex Magik. It reached number 1 on the Alternative Airplay chart and peaked at number 73 on the Billboard Hot 100. The follow-up single 'Under the Bridge' became the larger crossover hit.

Sources

Wikipedia: Blood Sugar Sex Magik Discogs master: Blood Sugar Sex Magik Wikipedia: Under the Bridge Wikipedia: Give It Away (Red Hot Chili Peppers song) MusicBrainz release group Cover Art Archive front cover Cover Art Archive: Blood Sugar Sex Magik by Red Hot Chili Peppers