If you’re writing about music for an essay, you might have to cite song or composition. But how do you cite a music recording in Chicago footnote referencing? In this post, we explain what you need to know.
As with any source in Chicago footnote referencing, you can cite a musical recording with a superscript number in the text:
We hear this on the opening track, ‘Spinning Song’.1
This number then points to a footnote, where you will provide source information. But the information you should include here will depend on what you’re citing.
In the following, we’ll look at how to cite songs and longer recordings on both physical and digital media. Read on to find out more.
The key components when citing a single song in Chicago referencing are:
You won’t need all this information every time! The key is including enough detail for your reader to find the exact version of the recording you’ve cited. For instance:
1. This Is the Kit, ‘Was Magician’, track 10 on Off Off On, Rough Trade RTO148CD, 2020, compact disc. 2. Peggy Lee, vocalist, ‘Fever’, additional lyrics by Eddie Cooley and John Davenport, recorded 19 May 1958, track 14 on Things Are Swingin’, Capitol Records, 2004, Spotify.
Provide full information in the first footnote citation. However, if you cite a song more than once in your work, you can use a shortened format for repeat citations.
The format for an album or a standalone recording is similar, except you use the name of the collection in place of a song title and omit any irrelevant details:
3. MC Lars, This Gigantic Robot Kills, Horris Records OGL71003-2, 2009, compact disc. 4. Benjamin Britten, composer and conductor, War Requiem, with Galina Vishnevskaya and the London Symphony Orchestra, Decca Records B00E3TEGJK, 1963, 33⅓ rpm.
Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.
As with citing a song, the key is including enough information for the reader to find the recording. If you are citing a specific part of a long recording that isn’t broken up into tracks, moreover, you can include a time stamp at the end of the citation.
The entry for a musical recording in a Chicago bibliography will be similar to the first footnote entry for the same source, but with two key differences:
For instance, we would list the recordings above as follows in a bibliography:
Britten, Benjamin, composer and conductor. War Requiem. With Galina Vishnevskaya and the London Symphony Orchestra. Decca Records B00E3TEGJK, 1963, 33⅓ rpm.
Lee, Peggy, vocalist. ‘Fever’. Additional lyrics by Eddie Cooley and John Davenport. Recorded 19 May 1958. Track 14 on Things Are Swingin’. Capitol Records, 2004, Spotify.
MC Lars. This Gigantic Robot Kills. Horris Records OGL71003-2, 2009, compact disc.
This Is the Kit. ‘Was Magician’. Track 10 on Off Off On. Rough Trade RTO148CD, 2020, compact disc.
If you’re citing several recordings in your work, you could list them in a separate ‘Discography’, or in a separate section of your bibliography, to separate them from text sources. However, unless you have been asked to do this, it is optional.
Chicago referencing is a very flexible system, but it can also be quite confusing! To make sure your referencing is always correct, then, why not try our academic proofreading services? Submit a free trial document today to find out more.
Δ
3-minute read
Google Docs is a powerful collaborative tool, and mastering its features can significantly enhance your...
2-minute read
If you’re writing about health issues, you might need to reference the Centers for Disease...
5-minute read
Introduction If you’re involved with ecommerce, you’re likely familiar with the often painstaking process of...
Are you interested in learning more about the role of a content editor and the...
4-minute read
Proofreading is important to ensure your writing is clear and concise for your readers. Whether...
Creating presentations can be time-consuming and frustrating. Trying to construct a visually appealing and informative...