Freaky Styley cover art

  Studio Album · No. 2

Freaky Styley Songwriting Credits by Red Hot Chili Peppers

1985 EMI America Records 14 tracks 39 min

Produced by George Clinton  ·  Engineered by Greg Ward, John Bauer

EMI America Records Funk RockPsychedelic FunkFunkDance-Rock
79%
Authorship
Songwriter

Holds writing credit on 11 of 14 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 11 / 14 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 14 tracks with documented writers, by whether Red Hot Chili Peppers carries a lyricist or composer credit.

79%
11 trackswritten by Red Hot Chili Peppers 3 tracksoutside writers
Red Hot Chili Peppers's roles on this album

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

Lyricist79%
Composer79%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

14
Tracks
12
Lyricists
1
Producers
1985
Released
Data Insight

Freaky Styley, released in 1985, is credited to the band as a group and marks the return of founding guitarist Hillel Slovak alongside Anthony Kiedis, Flea and drummer Cliff Martinez, whose final album with the band this was. Funk pioneer George Clinton produced it at United Sound Studios in Detroit, and his influence pulls the record deep into P-Funk territory. The album leans heavily on the band's own funk-rock songwriting but includes two covers: Sly and the Family Stone's 'If You Want Me to Stay' and The Meters' 'Africa,' reworked as 'Hollywood (Africa).' So while the bulk of the writing is the band's, two key tracks are interpretations of earlier funk records.

Produced by George Clinton, this album leaned harder into Parliament-Funkadelic-inspired funk. Featuring Hillel Slovak on guitar after Jack Sherman's departure.

Track Listing & Credits 14 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Jungle Man
Anthony KiedisFleaJack ShermanCliff Martinez Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJack ShermanCliff Martinez George Clinton Maceo ParkerBenny CowanFred Wesley
2
Hollywood (Africa)
Zigaboo ModelisteArt NevilleLeo NocentelliGeorge Porter Jr. Joseph ModelisteArthur NevilleLeo NocentelliGeorge Porter Jr. George Clinton Maceo ParkerBenny CowanFred WesleyGeorge Clinton
3
American Ghost Dance
Anthony KiedisFleaJack ShermanCliff Martinez Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJack ShermanCliff Martinez George Clinton Maceo ParkerBenny CowanFred Wesley
4
If You Want Me to Stay
Sly Stone Sylvester Stewart George Clinton Maceo ParkerBenny CowanFred Wesley
5
Nevermind
Anthony KiedisFleaHillel SlovakJack Irons Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryHillel SlovakJack Irons George Clinton Maceo ParkerBenny CowanFred Wesley
6
Freaky Styley
Anthony KiedisFleaJack ShermanCliff Martinez Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJack ShermanCliff Martinez George Clinton Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
7
Blackeyed Blonde
Anthony KiedisFleaJack ShermanCliff Martinez Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJack ShermanCliff Martinez George Clinton Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
8
The Brothers Cup
Anthony KiedisFleaHillel SlovakJack Irons Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryHillel SlovakJack Irons George Clinton Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
9
Battleship
Anthony KiedisFleaJack ShermanCliff Martinez Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJack ShermanCliff Martinez George Clinton Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
10
Lovin' and Touchin'
Anthony KiedisFleaJack ShermanCliff Martinez Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJack ShermanCliff Martinez George Clinton Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
11
Catholic School Girls Rule
Anthony KiedisFleaJack ShermanCliff Martinez Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJack ShermanCliff Martinez George Clinton Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
12
Sex Rap
Anthony KiedisFleaHillel SlovakJack Irons Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryHillel SlovakJack Irons George Clinton Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
13
Thirty Dirty Birds
Anthony KiedisFleaJack ShermanCliff Martinez Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJack ShermanCliff Martinez George Clinton Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
14
Yertle the Turtle
Dr. Seuss Theodor Seuss Geisel George Clinton Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 21 contributors

More from Red Hot Chili Peppers

Frequently Asked Questions Freaky Styley

Did the Red Hot Chili Peppers write Freaky Styley themselves?
Most of Freaky Styley is original material credited to the band, including Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Hillel Slovak and Cliff Martinez. The album also contains two covers: 'If You Want Me to Stay' by Sly and the Family Stone and 'Hollywood (Africa),' a reworking of The Meters' 'Africa.' So the album mixes the band's own songwriting with those two funk covers.
Who produced the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Freaky Styley?
George Clinton, the leader of Parliament-Funkadelic, produced Freaky Styley in 1985. The sessions took place at United Sound Studios in Detroit. Clinton's funk background strongly shaped the album's sound.
Is Hollywood (Africa) a cover song?
Yes. 'Hollywood (Africa)' is the Red Hot Chili Peppers' reworking of 'Africa' by the New Orleans funk band The Meters. The band adapted the original and gave it a new title for Freaky Styley.
Which guitarist played on Freaky Styley?
Hillel Slovak, a founding member of the band, played guitar on Freaky Styley. It was his studio album debut with the Red Hot Chili Peppers after he had missed the first record. Drummer Cliff Martinez also appeared, in what would be his last album with the group.
Did Freaky Styley chart in the United States?
Freaky Styley failed to enter the Billboard 200, so its promotional singles 'Jungle Man' and 'Hollywood (Africa)' did not reach the Billboard Hot 100 either. The album found a wider audience only in retrospect after the band's later success.
Is If You Want Me to Stay on Freaky Styley a cover?
Yes. 'If You Want Me to Stay' was written and originally recorded by Sly and the Family Stone. The Red Hot Chili Peppers covered it on Freaky Styley, fitting the album's strong funk theme.

Sources