Blonde (Boys Don’t Cry)

~ Release by Frank Ocean (see all versions of this release, 5 available)

Annotation

CD-R with MP3 files contained within ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ magazine. Includes an extended version of “Nikes”, featuring a third verse by Japanese rapper KOHH, and an abridged version of “Pretty Sweet”, with a different introduction, both cut from streaming and later physical releases.

Annotation last modified on 2023-06-08 16:05 UTC.

Tracklist

1▼CD-R
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Nikes
recording of:
Nikes
writer:
Christopher Breaux
Frank Ocean feat. KOHH46:10
2Ivy
producer:
Frank Ocean, Om’mas Keith and Rostam Batmanglij (American producer & songwriter)
guitar:
Fish (Derek William Dick, ex‐Marillion frontman)
arranger:
Rostam Batmanglij (American producer & songwriter)
recording of:
Ivy (in 2016)
writer:
Christopher Breaux and Malay Ho (record producer, songwriter and engineer)
publisher:
Boys Don’t Cry
Frank Ocean44:09
3Pink + White
recording engineer:
Eric Caudieux and Greg Keller
drum machine programming:
Pharrell Williams
producer:
Frank Ocean and Pharrell Williams
bass and keyboard:
Pharrell Williams
cello:
Alisha Bauer, Stefanie Fife, Simon Huber, John Krovoza and Ginger Murphy (cellist)
viola:
Leah Katz (violist), Stefan Smith, Rodney Wirtz and Adriana Zoppo
violin:
Charlie Bisharat (US violinist), Daphne Chen, Crystal Alforque, Lisa Dondlinger (American classical violinist), Terry Glenny, Eric Gorfain, Neel Hammond (violinist), Gina Kronstadt, Marisa Kuney, Songa Lee, Marcy Vaj, Katie Sloan and Chris Woods (violinist)
additional vocals:
Beyonce Knowles-Carter
strings arranger:
Jon Brion and Benjamin Wright
concertmaster:
Eric Gorfain
recorded at:
Henson Recording (former A&M Studios) in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
part of:
Spotify CLASSICS: The 100 Greatest R&B Songs of the Streaming Era (number: 2) and Top Songs of 2024: Global (number: 95)
recording of:
Pink + White
writer:
Christopher Breaux and Pharrell Williams
composer:
Ramin Djawadi (Iranian‐German score composer)
Frank Ocean4.353:04
4Be Yourself
spoken vocals:
Rosie Watson
samples:
Running Around by Buddy Ross (US producer Josiah Sherman)
recording of:
Be Yourself
writer:
Buddy Ross (US producer Josiah Sherman)
Frank Ocean31:26
5Solo
additional programming:
Frank Ocean
producer:
James Blake (English singer and producer) and Frank Ocean
keyboard:
James Blake (English singer and producer) and Mars 1500
additional vocals:
Jazmine Sullivan
arranger:
James Blake (English singer and producer) and Frank Ocean
recording of:
Solo
writer:
Christopher Breaux and Malay Ho (record producer, songwriter and engineer)
Frank Ocean3.54:17
6Skyline To
drum machine programming:
Tyler Okonma
producer:
Malay Ho (record producer, songwriter and engineer), Frank Ocean and Om’mas Keith
guitar:
Malay Ho (record producer, songwriter and engineer)
keyboard:
James Blake (English singer and producer) and Christophe Chassol
solo Moog:
Christophe Chassol
arranger:
Christophe Chassol, Malay Ho (record producer, songwriter and engineer) and Frank Ocean
recording of:
Skyline To
writer:
Christopher Breaux, Christophe Chassol and Tyler Okonma
Frank Ocean3.53:04
7Self Control
recording engineer:
Eric Caudieux and Greg Keller
programming:
Frank Ocean
producer:
Jon Brion, Malay Ho (record producer, songwriter and engineer) and Frank Ocean
cello:
Alisha Bauer, Stefanie Fife, Simon Huber, John Krovoza and Ginger Murphy (cellist)
guitar:
Alex Giannascoli (American indie singer‐songwriter), Austin Feinstein and Malay Ho (record producer, songwriter and engineer)
keyboard:
Jon Brion
viola:
Leah Katz (violist), Stefan Smith, Rodney Wirtz and Adriana Zoppo
violin:
Charlie Bisharat (US violinist), Daphne Chen, Crystal Alforque, Lisa Dondlinger (American classical violinist), Terry Glenny, Neel Hammond (violinist), Gina Kronstadt, Marisa Kuney, Songa Lee, Marcy Vaj, Katie Sloan and Chris Woods (violinist)
vocals:
Austin Feinstein and Yung Lean (Swedish rapper)
strings arranger:
Jon Brion
arranger:
Alex Giannascoli (American indie singer‐songwriter), Jon Brion and Austin Feinstein
concertmaster:
Eric Gorfain
recorded at:
Henson Recording (former A&M Studios) in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
recording of:
Self Control
writer:
Christopher Breaux
Frank Ocean3.54:09
8Good Guy
producer:
Frank Ocean
keyboard:
Frank Ocean
recording of:
Good Guy
writer:
Christopher Breaux
Frank Ocean31:06
9Nights
drum machine programming:
Joe Thornalley (UK producer and DJ) and Michael Uzowuru
producer:
Joe Thornalley (UK producer and DJ), Frank Ocean, Buddy Ross (US producer Josiah Sherman) and Michael Uzowuru
guitar:
Frank Ocean and Spaceman
keyboard:
Jon Brion, Joe Thornalley (UK producer and DJ) and Buddy Ross (US producer Josiah Sherman)
arranger:
Jon Brion, Joe Thornalley (UK producer and DJ), Frank Ocean and Buddy Ross (US producer Josiah Sherman)
part of:
Stereogum Readers’ 10 Best Songs of 2016 (number: 9), Stereogum: The 200 Best Songs of the 2010s (number: 16), Pitchfork: The 200 Best Songs of the 2010s (number: 40) and Rolling Stone: The 100 Best Songs of the 2010s (number: 79)
recording of:
Nights
writer:
Christopher Breaux, Joe Thornalley (UK producer and DJ) and Michael Uzowuru
Frank Ocean3.655:07
10Solo (reprise)
drum machine programming:
Jon Brion
producer:
James Blake (English singer and producer), Jon Brion and Frank Ocean
keyboard:
James Blake (English singer and producer) and Jon Brion
vocals:
André 3000
arranger:
James Blake (English singer and producer) and Jon Brion
recording of:
Solo (reprise)
writer:
André Benjamin, James Blake (English singer and producer) and Christopher Breaux
Frank Ocean31:18
11Pretty Sweet
recording engineer:
Eric Caudieux and Greg Keller
producer:
Malay Ho (record producer, songwriter and engineer), Frank Ocean and Om’mas Keith
bass:
Buddy Ross (US producer Josiah Sherman)
cello:
Alisha Bauer, Stefanie Fife, Simon Huber, John Krovoza and Ginger Murphy (cellist)
guitar:
Malay Ho (record producer, songwriter and engineer)
viola:
Leah Katz (violist), Stefan Smith, Rodney Wirtz and Adriana Zoppo
violin:
Charlie Bisharat (US violinist), Daphne Chen, Crystal Alforque, Lisa Dondlinger (American classical violinist), Terry Glenny, Eric Gorfain, Neel Hammond (violinist), Gina Kronstadt, Marisa Kuney, Songa Lee, Marcy Vaj, Katie Sloan and Chris Woods (violinist)
strings arranger:
Jon Brion
arranger:
Jon Brion, Malay Ho (record producer, songwriter and engineer) and Om’mas Keith
concertmaster:
Eric Gorfain
recorded at:
Henson Recording (former A&M Studios) in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
recording of:
Pretty Sweet
writer:
Christopher Breaux
Frank Ocean32:37
12Facebook Story
producer:
Frank Ocean
spoken vocals:
Sébastien Akchoté (SebastiAn)
samples:
Running Around by Buddy Ross (US producer Josiah Sherman)
recording of:
Facebook Story
writer:
Sébastien Akchoté (SebastiAn) and Buddy Ross (US producer Josiah Sherman)
Frank Ocean31:08
13Close to You
additional programming:
Buddy Ross (US producer Josiah Sherman)
drum machine programming:
Joe Thornalley (UK producer and DJ)
producer:
Frank Ocean, Buddy Ross (US producer Josiah Sherman) and Francis Starlite
keyboard:
Buddy Ross (US producer Josiah Sherman)
vocoder:
Francis Starlite
arranger:
Frank Ocean, Buddy Ross (US producer Josiah Sherman) and Francis Starlite
recording of:
Close to You (Frank Ocean’s vocoder version on “Blonde”, not the Bacharach/David original)
lyricist:
Hal David
additional writer:
Christopher Breaux and Buddy Ross (US producer Josiah Sherman)
composer:
Burt Bacharach
is based on:
(They Long to Be) Close to You
Frank Ocean3.51:25
14White Ferrari
drum machine programming:
Sebastian Akchote (SebastiAn)
sampler [sample] programming:
Frank Ocean and Sebastian Akchote (SebastiAn)
producer:
Jon Brion, Frank Ocean and Om’mas Keith
guitar:
Alex Giannascoli (American indie singer‐songwriter)
keyboard:
Jon Brion, Malay Ho (record producer, songwriter and engineer) and Buddy Ross (US producer Josiah Sherman)
arranger:
Alex Giannascoli (American indie singer‐songwriter), Jon Brion, Frank Ocean and Buddy Ross (US producer Josiah Sherman)
recording of:
White Ferrari
writer:
Christopher Breaux, Kanye West (Ye, formerly Kanye West), John Lennon (The Beatles), Malay Ho (record producer, songwriter and engineer) and Paul McCartney (The Beatles)
Frank Ocean44:08
15Seigfried
producer:
Malay Ho (record producer, songwriter and engineer) and Frank Ocean
bass and guitar:
Malay Ho (record producer, songwriter and engineer)
keyboard:
Malay Ho (record producer, songwriter and engineer) and Rostam Batmanglij (American producer & songwriter)
strings:
London Contemporary Orchestra
strings arranger:
Johnny Greenwood (English musician and score composer)
recording of:
Seigfried
writer:
Christopher Breaux, Malay Ho (record producer, songwriter and engineer), Rostam Batmanglij (American producer & songwriter) and Elliott Smith (US singer‐songwriter)
Frank Ocean3.55:34
16Godspeed
additional programming:
Frank Ocean
producer:
James Blake (English singer and producer), Malay Ho (record producer, songwriter and engineer), Frank Ocean and Om’mas Keith
keyboard:
James Blake (English singer and producer), Malay Ho (record producer, songwriter and engineer) and Mars 1500
strings:
Sebastian Akchote (SebastiAn)
choir vocals:
Frank Ocean
guest vocals:
Kim Burrell and Yung Lean (Swedish rapper)
arranger:
James Blake (English singer and producer), Frank Ocean and Sebastian Akchote (SebastiAn)
recording of:
Godspeed
writer:
Christopher Breaux and Malay Ho (record producer, songwriter and engineer)
Frank Ocean3.352:57
17Futura Free
drum machine programming:
Frank Ocean and Om’mas Keith
producer:
Malay Ho (record producer, songwriter and engineer), Frank Ocean and Om’mas Keith
bass:
Om’mas Keith
keyboard:
Malay Ho (record producer, songwriter and engineer) and Frank Ocean
arranger:
Malay Ho (record producer, songwriter and engineer) and Om’mas Keith
samples:
Love Like Anthrax by Gang of Four (English post‐punk band)
recording of:
Futura Free
writer:
Dave Allen (UK bassist for Gang of Four/Shriekback/Low Pop Suicide), Christopher Breaux, Hugo Burnham (drummer), Andy Gill (guitarist and record producer) and Jon King (vocalist in Gang of Four)
Frank Ocean39:24

Credits

Release group

creative direction:Thomas Mastorakos
Frank Ocean
part of:Pitchfork: The 200 Best Albums of the 2010s (number: 1) (order: 1)
Stereogum Readers’ 10 Best Albums of 2016 (number: 1) (order: 1)
Stereogum Readers’ 10 Favorite Albums of the 2010s (number: 1) (order: 1)
Rolling Stone: The 250 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century So Far (January 10, 2025) (number: 3) (order: 3)
Vice: The 100 Best Albums of the 2010s (number: 3) (order: 3)
Apple Music: 100 Best Albums (number: 5) (order: 5)
Stereogum: The 100 Best Albums of the 2010s (number: 5) (order: 5)
Musikexpress – Die 100 besten Alben des 21. Jahrhunderts (2025) (number: 6) (order: 6)
TheNeedleDrop: Top 50 Albums of 2016 (number: 7) (order: 7)
Spotify CLASSICS: Classic Hip-Hop and R&B Albums of the Streaming Era (order: 10)
Rolling Stone: The 100 Best Albums of the 2010s (number: 12) (order: 12)
The A.V. Club: The 50 best albums of the 2010s (number: 20) (order: 20)
Billboard: The 100 Greatest Albums of the 2010s (number: 28) (order: 28)
TheNeedleDrop: Top 200 Albums of the 2010s (number: 48) (order: 48)
Consequence of Sound: Top 100 Albums of the 2010s (number: 56) (order: 56)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2020 edition (number: 79) (order: 79)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2023 edition (number: 79) (order: 79)
Discogs:https://www.discogs.com/master/1046042 [info]
lyrics page:https://genius.com/albums/Frank-ocean/Blonde [info]
other databases:https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/frank-ocean/blonde/ [info]
https://www.musik-sammler.de/album/828772/ [info]
Allmusic:https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0002974584 [info]
Wikidata:Q26450992 [info]
discography entry:https://www.last.fm/music/Frank+Ocean/Blonde [info]