Entertainment
Frank Ocean Shared More Secrets About ‘Blonde’ In The Album’s Linear Notes
As revealed on Reddit
Frank Ocean continues to be full of little surprises. The latest includes the list of contributors that helped shape Blond(e) into the record-breaking album that it is today. Turns out that Beyoncé ("Pink + White"), Kanye West ("White Ferrari"), Pharrell Williams ("Pink + White"), and James Blake ("Solo," "Godspeed") were among a few of the selected artists to lend their expertise on some of the tracks.
Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij also collaborated with Ocean on the tracks "Ivy" and "Seigfried." Oh, and remember Yung Lean? He was featured on "Godspeed," no big deal. Needless to say, playing any part in the creation of this album is truly an honor. We love when brilliant minds come together for the love of music.
All of this information was revealed in the linear notes of the Blond(e) CDs that were available to purchase during Ocean’s exclusive Black Friday sale. (A happy customer broke the news on Reddit.)
Check out the full credits, below.
1. "Nikes"
(C. Breaux)
Production: Frank Ocean, Malay Ho, and Om'mas Keith
Arrangement: Frank Ocean, Malay Ho, and Om'mas Keith
Mellotron: Malay
Drum Programming: Malay Ho and Om'mas Keith
Additional Programming: Frank Ocean
Additional Vocals: Amber Coffman
2. "Ivy"
(C. Breaux, M. Ho)
Production: Frank Ocean, Om'mas Keith, and Rostam Batmanglij
Arrangement: Rostam Batmanglij
Guitars: Fish
3. "Pink + White"
(C. Breaux, P. Williams)
Production: Frank Ocean and Pharrell Williams
Keyboards: Pharrell Williams
Drum Programming: Pharrell Williams
Bass: Pharrell Williams
String Arrangement: Jon Brion and Benjamin Wright
Additional Vocals: Beyoncé Knowles-Carter
Violin: Eric Gorfain (Concertmaster), Daphne Chen, Marisa Kuney, Charlie Bisharat, Katie Sloan, Songa Lee, Gina Kronstadt, Lisa Dondlinger, Terry Glenny, Chris Woods, Neel Hammond, Marcy Vaj, and Crystal Alforque
Viola: Leah Katz, Rodney Wirtz, Stefan Smith and Adriana Zoppo
Cello: John Krovoza, Simon Huber, Ginger Murphy, Alisha Bauer, and Stefanie Fife
Strings recorded by Greg Keller and Eric Caudieux at Henson Recording
*Beyonce appears courtesy of Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records
4. "Be Yourself"
(B. Ross)
*Contains a sample of 'Running Around' by Buddy Ross
5. "Solo"
(C. Breaux, M. Ho)
Production: Frank Ocean and James Blake
Arrangement: Frank Ocean and James Blake
Keyboards: James Blake and Mars 1500
Additional Vocals: Jazmine Sullivan
Additional Programming: Frank Ocean
6. "Skyline To"
(C. Breaux, T. Okonma, C. Chassol)
Production: Frank Ocean, Malay Ho, and Om'mas Keith
Arrangement: Frank Ocean, Malay Ho, and Christophe Chassol
Guitars: Malay Ho
Moog Solo: Christophe Chassol
Keyboards: Christophe Chassol and James Blake
Drum Programming: Tyler Okonma
7. "Self Control"
(C. Breaux)
Production: Frank Ocean, Malay Ho, and Jon Brion
Arrangement: Alex Giannascoli, Austin Feinstein, and Jon Brion
String Arrangement: Jon Brion
Guitars: Alex Giannascoli, Austin Feinstein, and Malay Ho
Keyboards: Jon Brion
Programming: Frank Ocean
Violin: Eric Gorfain (Concertmaster), Daphne Chen, Marisa Kuney, Charlie Bisharat, Katie Sloan, Songa Lee, Gina Kronstadt, Lisa Dondlinger, Terry Glenny, Chris Woods, Neel Hammond, Marcy Vaj, and Crystal Alforque
Viola: Leah Katz, Rodney Wirtz, Stefan Smith, and Adriana Zoppo
Cello: John Krovoza, Simon Huber, Ginger Murphy, Alisha Bauer, and Stefanie Fife
Strings recorded by Greg Keller and Eric Caudieux at Henson Recording
8. "Good Guy"
(C. Breaux)
Production: Frank Ocean
Keyboards: Frank Ocean
9. "Nights"
(C. Breaux, J. Thornalley, M. Uzowuru)
Production: Frank Ocean, Joe Thornalley, Michael Uzowuru, and Buddy Ross
Arrangement: Frank Ocean, Buddy Ross, Jon Brion, and Joe Thornalley
Guitars: Frank Ocean and Spaceman
Drum Programming: Michael Uzowuru and Joe Thornalley
Keyboards: Buddy Ross, Joe Thornalley and Jon Brion
10. "Solo (Reprise)"
(A. Benjamin, J. Blake, C. Breaux)
Production: Frank Ocean, James Blake, and Jon Brion
Arrangement: James Blake and Jon Brion
Keyboards: James Blake and Jon Brion
Drum Programming: Jon Brion
*Andre 3000 appears courtesy of Epic Records
11. "Pretty Sweet"
(C. Breaux)
Production: Frank Ocean, Malay Ho, and Om'mas Keith
Arrangement: Malay Ho, Om'mas Keith, and Jon Brion
String Arrangement: Jon Brion
Guitars: Malay Ho
Drum Production: Malay And Om'mas Keith
Bass: Buddy Ross
Violin: Eric Gorfain (Concertmaster), Daphne Chen, Marisa Kuney, Charlie Bisharat, Katie Sloan, Songa Lee, Gina Kronstadt, Lisa Dondlinger, Terry Glenny, Chris Woods, Neel Hammond, Marcy Vaj, and Crystal Alforque
Viola: Leah Katz, Rodney Wirtz, Stefan Smith, and Adriana Zoppo
Cello: John Krovoza, Simon Huber, Ginger Murphy, Alisha Bauer, and Stefanie Fife
Strings recorded by Greg Keller and Eric Caudieux at Henson Recording
12. "Facebook Story"
(S. Akchote, B. Ross)
Production: Frank Ocean
*Contains a sample of 'Running Around' by Buddy Ross
13. "Close to You"
(C. Breaux, B. Ross, B. Bacharach, H. David)
Production: Frank Ocean, Buddy Ross, and Francis Starlite
Arrangement: Frank Ocean, Buddy Ross, and Francis Starlite
Additional Programming: Buddy Ross
Drum Programming: Joe Thornalley
Keyboards: Buddy Ross
Vocoder: Francis Starlite
*Contains a sample of 'They Long to Be Close to You' (Cacharach/David) performed by Stevie Wonder live on The David Frost Show, courtesy of Rellin' in the Years Productions, LLC
14. "White Ferrari"
(C. Breaux, K. West, M. Ho, J. Lennon, P. McCartney)
Production: Frank Ocean, Jon Brion and Om'mas Keith
Arrangement: Frank Ocean, Buddy Ross, Jon Brion, and Alex Giannascoli
Guitars: Alex Giannascoli
Keyboards: Buddy Ross, Malay Ho, and Jon Brion
Drum Programming: Sebastian Akchote
Sample Programming: Sebastian Akchote and Frank Ocean
*Contains an interpolation of 'Here, There and Everywhere' by the Beatles
15. "Seigfried"
(C. Breaux, M. Ho, R. Batmanglij, E. Smith)
Production: Frank Ocean and Malay Ho
Guitars: Malay Ho
Bass: Malay Ho
Keyboards: Rostam Batmanglij and Malay Ho
String Arrangement: Johnny Greenwood
Strings: London Contemporary Orchestra
*Contains a quote from 'A Fond Farewell' by Elliott Smith and a sample from 'Untitled' by Rostam Batmanglij
16. "Goodspeed"
(C. Breaux, M. Ho)
Production: Frank Ocean, Om'mas Keith, Malay Ho, and James Blake
Arrangement: Frank Ocean, James Blake and Sebastian Akchote
Keyboards: Malay Ho, James Blake, Mars 1500
Strings: Sebastian Akchote
Featured Vocals: Kim Burrell and Yung Lean
Choir: Frank Ocean
Additional Programming: Frank Ocean
17. "Futura Free"
(C. Breaux, D. Allen, H. Burnham, A. Gill, J. King)
Production: Frank Ocean, Om'mas Keith, and Malay Ho
Arrangement: Om'mas Keith and Malay Ho
Keyboards: Frank Ocean and Malay Ho
Bass: Om'mas Keith
Drum Programming: Frank Ocean and Om'mas Keith
*Contains a sample of 'Anthrax' (Allen/Burnham/Gill/King) performed by Gang of Four, produced under license from Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company (for the United States, Canada and Mexico) and Parlophone Records Limited, a Warner Music Group Company (for the rest of the world)
Interviews
(B. Ross)
Interviewer: Mikey Alfred
Subjects: Ryan Moore, Ibrahim Hariri, Na-Kel Smith, Sage Elsessler, Evan Clark, Nabil Hariri, and Frank Ocean
Keyboards: Buddy Ross
*Contains a sample of "Running Around" by Buddy Ross
