Studio Album · No. 4
Surfacing Songwriting Credits by Sarah McLachlan
Produced by Pierre Marchand
Nettwerk / Arista
Adult AlternativePop Rock
Complete Artist
100%
Authorship
Holds writing credit on 10 of 10 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 10 / 10 documented
Who wrote the songs?
Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Sarah McLachlan carries a lyricist or composer credit.
10 trackswritten by Sarah McLachlan
0 tracksoutside writers
Sarah McLachlan's roles on this album
Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer0%
Performer100%
By the Numbers
10
Tracks
3
Lyricists
1
Producers
1997
Released
Data Insight
Six of the ten tracks are hers alone and Pierre Marchand takes four, his largest share on any album. It came out the same year she founded Lilith Fair and it sold more than everything before and after it combined.
Surfacing came out on Nettwerk and Arista in July 1997 and is certified 8x platinum, her best selling album. "Adia" reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and "Angel" number four.
Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks
Written by the artist
Written by outside writers
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Building a Mystery
#13
|
Sarah McLachlanPierre Marchand | Sarah McLachlanPierre Marchand | Pierre Marchand | Sarah McLachlan (Performer) |
| 2 |
I Love You
|
Sarah McLachlan | Sarah McLachlan | Pierre Marchand | Sarah McLachlan (Performer) |
| 3 |
Sweet Surrender
#28
|
Sarah McLachlan | Sarah McLachlan | Pierre Marchand | Sarah McLachlan (Performer) |
| 4 |
Adia
#3
|
Sarah McLachlanPierre Marchand | Sarah McLachlanPierre Marchand | Pierre Marchand | Sarah McLachlan (Performer) |
| 5 |
Do What You Have to Do
|
Sarah McLachlanColleen Wolstenholme | Sarah McLachlanColleen Wolstenholme | Pierre Marchand | Sarah McLachlan (Performer) |
| 6 |
Witness
|
Sarah McLachlanPierre Marchand | Sarah McLachlanPierre Marchand | Pierre Marchand | Sarah McLachlan (Performer) |
| 7 |
Angel
#4
|
Sarah McLachlan | Sarah McLachlan | Pierre Marchand | Sarah McLachlan (Performer) |
| 8 |
Black & White
|
Sarah McLachlan | Sarah McLachlan | Pierre Marchand | Sarah McLachlan (Performer) |
| 9 |
Full of Grace
|
Sarah McLachlan | Sarah McLachlan | Pierre Marchand | Sarah McLachlan (Performer) |
| 10 |
Last Dance
|
Sarah McLachlan | Sarah McLachlan | Pierre Marchand | Sarah McLachlan (Performer) |
Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 3 contributors
More from Sarah McLachlan
1988
100%
Touch
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1991
100%
Solace
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100%
Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
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2003
100%
Afterglow
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Wintersong
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92%
Laws of Illusion
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2014
91%
Shine On
Verve
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2016
0%
Wonderland
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2025
100%
Better Broken
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Frequently Asked Questions Surfacing
Who wrote Surfacing?
Sarah McLachlan on all ten tracks and the only writer on six. Pierre Marchand shares four.
How did it sell?
It is certified 8x platinum by the RIAA, diamond by Music Canada and gold by the BPI.
Which singles charted?
"Adia" reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100, "Angel" number four, "Building a Mystery" number 13 and "Sweet Surrender" number 28.
Did it win Grammy Awards?
"Building a Mystery" won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and "Last Dance" won Best Pop Instrumental Performance at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards.
Is this the Lilith Fair album?
She founded the festival in 1997, the year it came out.
Are engineering credits published?
No. The album article lists producers and writers but no engineers.
How long is the album?
41:14 across ten tracks.