Tracy Chapman (album)

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Tracy Chapman
Studio album by Tracy Chapman
Released	April 5, 1988
Genre	Contemporary folk
Length	36:11
Label	Elektra
Producer	David Kershenbaum
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Robert Christgau (B+) link Rolling Stone link
Tracy Chapman chronology
Tracy Chapman (1988) Crossroads (1989)

Tracy Chapman is the self-titled debut album by singer/songwriter Tracy Chapman, released in 1988 (see 1988 in music).

Contents 1 History 2 Track listing 3 Personnel 3.1 Production 4 Charts 4.1 Album 4.2 Singles 5 Grammy Awards

[edit] History

The album was critically acclaimed and helped to launch the 1990s female singer-songwriter movement, which included artists like Tori Amos, and Sarah McLachlan. Although the song "Fast Car" was a huge hit, subsequent singles failed to replicate its success.

Tracy Chapman was awarded the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album and "Fast Car" gained Chapman an award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 31st Grammy Awards in early 1989.

In 1989, the album was rated number 10 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the the "100 Greatest Albums of the 80's." In 2003, the album was ranked number 261 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. According to Media Traffic Tracy Chapman is the 74# most successful album of all time [1].

[edit] Track listing

1. "Talkin' Bout a Revolution" – 2:39
2. "Fast Car" – 4:56
3. "Across the Lines" – 3:24
4. "Behind the Wall" – 1:49
5. "Baby Can I Hold You" – 3:14
6. "Mountains o' Things" – 4:39
7. "She's Got Her Ticket" – 3:56
8. "Why?" – 2:06
9. "For My Lover" – 3:12
10. "If Not Now..." – 3:01
11. "For You" – 3:09

[edit] Personnel

• Tracy Chapman – acoustic guitar, percussion, rhythm guitar, vocals
• Ed Black – steel guitar
• Paulinho Da Costa – percussion
• Denny Fongheiser – percussion, drums
• Jack Holder – organ, dulcimer, dobro, piano, electric guitar, Hammond organ, sitar
• Steve Kaplan – harmonica, keyboard
• Larry Klein – bass
• David LaFlamme – electric violin
• Bob Marlette – keyboard

[edit] Production

• David Kershenbaum – production
• Brian Koppelman, Don Rubin – executive production
• Kevin Smith – engineering
• Kevin Smith – mixing
• Carol Bobolts – art direction
• Matt Mahurin – photography

[edit] Charts

[edit] Album

Year	Chart	Position
1988	The Billboard 200	1
	Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums	29
	Swedish Album Chart	2

[edit] Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1988	"Fast Car"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	19
1988	"Fast Car"	The Billboard Hot 100	6
1988	"Talkin' Bout a Revolution"	Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	78
1988	"Talkin' Bout a Revolution"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	22
1988	"Talkin' Bout a Revolution"	Modern Rock Tracks	24
1988	"Talkin' Bout a Revolution"	The Billboard Hot 100	75
1988	"Baby Can I Hold You"	Adult Contemporary	19
1988	"Baby Can I Hold You"	The Billboard Hot 100	48

[edit] Grammy Awards

Year	Winner	Category
1988	"Fast Car"	Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
1988	Tracy Chapman	Best Contemporary Folk Album

Preceded by Roll with It by Steve Winwood

Billboard 200 number-one album August 27 - September 2, 1988

Succeeded by New Jersey by Bon Jovi