Mother's Milk cover art

  Studio Album · No. 4

Mother's Milk Songwriting Credits by Red Hot Chili Peppers

1989 EMI Records 13 tracks 44 min

Produced by Michael Beinhorn  ·  Engineered by Garth Richardson, Dave Jerden

EMI Records Funk MetalFunk RockAlternative Metal
85%
Authorship
Artist

Holds writing credit on 11 of 13 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 11 / 13 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 13 tracks with documented writers, by whether Red Hot Chili Peppers carries a lyricist or composer credit.

85%
11 trackswritten by Red Hot Chili Peppers 2 tracksoutside writers
Red Hot Chili Peppers's roles on this album

Share of the 13 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist77%
Composer85%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

13
Tracks
7
Lyricists
1
Producers
1989
Released
Data Insight

Mother's Milk, released in 1989, is credited to the band as a group and introduced guitarist John Frusciante and drummer Chad Smith alongside Anthony Kiedis and Flea, the lineup that would define the band's commercial breakthrough. Michael Beinhorn returned as producer after The Uplift Mofo Party Plan. The album is mostly the band's own funk-metal songwriting, but two of its best-known tracks are covers: Stevie Wonder's 'Higher Ground' and Jimi Hendrix's 'Fire,' the latter recorded as a tribute featuring departed members Hillel Slovak and Jack Irons. So the writing here mixes original group compositions with two notable outside songs.

The first album with John Frusciante on guitar and Chad Smith on drums, recorded in the wake of Hillel Slovak's death. Includes a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground" and Jimi Hendrix's "Fire."

Track Listing & Credits 13 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Good Time Boys
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad Smith Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord Smith Michael Beinhorn Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
2
Higher Ground
Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris Michael Beinhorn Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
3
Subway to Venus
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad Smith Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord Smith Michael Beinhorn Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
4
Magic Johnson
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad Smith Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord Smith Michael Beinhorn Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
5
Nobody Weird Like Me
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad Smith Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord Smith Michael Beinhorn Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
6
Knock Me Down
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad Smith Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord Smith Michael Beinhorn Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)John Frusciante (Lead Vocals)
7
Taste the Pain
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad Smith Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord Smith Michael Beinhorn Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
8
Stone Cold Bush
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad SmithD.H. Peligro Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord SmithD.H. Peligro Michael Beinhorn Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
9
Fire
Jimi Hendrix James Marshall Hendrix Michael Beinhorn Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
10
Pretty Little Ditty
Not documented Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord Smith Michael Beinhorn -
11
Punk Rock Classic
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad Smith Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord Smith Michael Beinhorn Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
12
Sexy Mexican Maid
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad SmithD.H. Peligro Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord SmithD.H. Peligro Michael Beinhorn Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)
13
Johnny, Kick a Hole in the Sky
Anthony KiedisFleaJohn FruscianteChad Smith Anthony KiedisMichael Peter BalzaryJohn Anthony FruscianteChad Gaylord Smith Michael Beinhorn Anthony Kiedis (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 13 contributors

More from Red Hot Chili Peppers

Frequently Asked Questions Mother's Milk

Did the Red Hot Chili Peppers write Mother's Milk themselves?
Most of Mother's Milk is original material credited to the band, including Anthony Kiedis, Flea, John Frusciante and Chad Smith. The album contains two covers: Stevie Wonder's 'Higher Ground' and Jimi Hendrix's 'Fire.' Outside those two songs, the album is the band's own writing.
Is Higher Ground by the Red Hot Chili Peppers a cover?
Yes. 'Higher Ground' was written and originally recorded by Stevie Wonder in 1973. The Red Hot Chili Peppers covered it on Mother's Milk, and their version became one of the album's most recognized tracks. It peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart.
Whose first album with the band was Mother's Milk?
Mother's Milk was guitarist John Frusciante's first studio album with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It was also the first to feature drummer Chad Smith. This lineup, alongside Anthony Kiedis and Flea, went on to record the band's biggest albums.
Is Fire on Mother's Milk a cover?
Yes. 'Fire' was written by Jimi Hendrix. The version on Mother's Milk was recorded as a tribute and features former guitarist Hillel Slovak and former drummer Jack Irons rather than the album's main lineup.
Did any singles from Mother's Milk chart on the Billboard Hot 100?
The singles 'Higher Ground,' 'Knock Me Down' and 'Taste the Pain' did not reach the Billboard Hot 100. They performed on the alternative and modern rock charts instead, where 'Higher Ground' reached number 11 and 'Knock Me Down' reached number 6. The album was the band's commercial breakthrough despite no Hot 100 single.
Is Mother's Milk certified Platinum?
Yes. Mother's Milk was certified Platinum by the RIAA for more than one million units in the United States. It was the band's first album to reach Platinum status. The album was also certified Gold in Canada and Silver in the UK.

Sources