APA Format: Recordings

The Center for Writing Studies, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

To cite a cassette recording or CD, a typical bibliographic entry appears as follows:

Writer, A. (Date of copyright). Title of song [Recorded by artist if different from writer]. On Title of album [Medium of recording: CD, record, cassette, etc.]. Location: Label. (Recording date if different from copyright date)

Shocked, M. (1992). Over the waterfall. On Arkansas traveler [CD]. New York: PolyGram Music.

Begin with the name of the writer of the song and include the copyright date in parenthesis. Include the title of the song and place the name of the vocalist, if it is different from the writer, in brackets. After the words "On," include the name of the album in italics, and the type of recording in brackets. Finally, end the citation with the location of the music label that published the recording. If the recording date is different from the copyright date, include this information in parenthesis at the very end.

For more specific information, consult the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (Fifth Edition) or see the APA style website.