Liner notes


You may need to consult more than one section of Re:cite to accurately represent the source used. Your citation may look different depending on the number of authors it has. Check the frequently asked questions about Chicago B page for further advice.


The citation of liner notes accompanying audio recordings is not dealt with comprehensively in the Chicago Manual of Style, apart from a brief note in the Q&A section. The following guidance incorporates this advice but also includes some interpretation based on examples provided for sound recordings and supplementary information (e.g. a preface to a book).

In-text citation example

Discussing the technique employed (Cairns 2019)...

In the liner notes to their album The Gospel Project (Idea of North, 2006)...

Reference list

Reference list template

No author

Composer/Performer. Year. Title of Recording. Label & publisher number. Format. Liner notes.

With an author

Author Surname, Given Name. Year. [Liner notes to] Composer/Performer. Title of Recording. Label & publisher number. Format.

Reference list example

No author

Idea of North. 2006. The Gospel Project. Magnetic Records 934 128-4. Compact disc. Liner notes.

With an author

Cairns, David. 2019. Liner notes to Hector Berlioz. The Complete Works. Warner Classics 190295519414. Compact disc.

Tips for this reference type

  • Liner notes are not mentioned in the Chicago Manual of Style itself. See this brief note on liner notes in the Q&A section, Manual 14.163 for citing Musical Recordings, and 14.1 for adapting examples to Chicago B.
  • Liner notes accompanying a sound recording may also be treated like a preface to a book. See Manual 14.12.
  • Where liner notes are unsigned (no attributed author), simply include 'Liner notes' at the end of the citation. Where there is a named author, you may cite them by the name of the author.
  • If the notes are titled, include the title in quotation marks after the author or composer/performer's name.
  • Include any information about the work that is relevant, including performers, conductors, performance dates, medium and publisher details.
  • For the date, include the date of the recording, the copyright date or published date included with the recording. If a date cannot be found, consult a library catalogue or other resource. Citations without a date are generally unacceptable. If no date can be found, use “n.d.” (for no date).
  • Publisher numbers can be found on the CD liner notes or track listing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)