How to Cite a CD

Chicago Style

• 1

  List the primary songwriter of the CD, last name first. For example:

  Callahan, Bill.

• 2

  List the title of the CD in italics, followed by a period. For example:

  A River Ain't Too Much to Love.

• 3

  List the names of other personnel on the album, preceded by the word "with." For example:

  With Will Oldham, Mick Turner and Jim White.

• 4

  List the copyright date and the label, followed by a period. For example:

  2004 by Drag City.

• 5

  List the label number, followed by a period. For example:

  DC 423.

• 6

  List the format as "compact disc." The full citation should appear as follows:

  Callahan, Bill. A River Ain't Too Much to Love. With Will Oldham, Mick Turner and Jim White. 2004 by Drag City. DC 423. Compact disc.

MLA Style

• 7

  List the last and first name of the performer. For example:

  Joel, Billy.

  If the CD is performed by a band, list the band name. For example:

  Smog.

• 8

  List the title of the song you want to emphasize in quotation marks. For example:

  "Show Me the Colts."

  Skip this step if you want to cite the entire album rather than a specific song.

• 9

  List the name of the album in italics, followed by a period. For example:

  A River Ain't Too Much to Love.

• 10

  List the name of the record label, followed by a comma. For example:

  Drag City,

• 11

  List the year of copyright, followed by a period. For example:

  2004.

• 12

  List "CD" as the medium of publication. The full citation should be arranged as follows:

  Smog. "Show Me the Colts." A River Ain't Too Much to Love. Drag City, 2004. CD.