Tracy Chapman | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Tracy Chapman helped restore singer/songwriters to the spotlight in the 80s. The multi-platinum success of Chapmans eponymous 1988 debut was unexpected, and it had lasting impact. Although Chapman was working from the same confessional singer/songwriter foundation that had been popularized in the 70s, her songs were fresh and powerful, driven by simple melodies and affecting lyrics. At the time of her first album, there were only a handful of artists performing such a style successfully, and her success ushered in a new era of singer/songwriters that lasted well into the 90s. Furthermore, her album helped usher in the era of political correctness -- along with 10,000 Maniacs and R.E.M., Chapmans liberal politics proved enormously influential on American college campuses in the late 80s. Of course, such implications meant that Chapmans subsequent recordings were greeted with mixed reactions, but after several years out of the spotlight, she managed to make a very successful comeback in 1996 with her fourth album, New Beginning, thanks to the Top Ten single "Give Me One Reason." Raised in a working class neighborhood in Cleveland, Ohio, Chapman learned how to play guitar as a child, and began to write her own songs shortly afterward. Following high school, she won a minority placement scholarship and decided to attend Tufts University, where she studied anthropology and African studies. While at Tufts, she became fascinated with folk-rock and singer/songwriters, and began performing her own songs at coffeehouses. Eventually, she recorded a set of demos at the college radio station. One of her fellow students, Brian Koppelman, heard Chapman play and recommended her to his father, Charles Koppelman, who ran SBK Publishing. In 1986, she signed with SBK and Koppelman secured a management contract with Elliot Roberts, who had worked with Neil Young and Joni Mitchell. Roberts and Koppelman helped Chapman sign to Elektra in 1987. Chapman recorded her debut album with David Kershenbaum, and the resulting eponymous record was released in the spring of 1988. Tracy Chapman was greeted with enthusiastic reviews, and she set out on the road supporting 10,000 Maniacs. Within a few months, she played at the internationally televised concert for Nelson Mandelas 70th birthday party, where her performance was greeted with thunderous applause. Soon, the single "Fast Car" began climbing the charts, eventually peaking at number six. The albums sales soared along with the single, and by the end of the year, the record had gone multi-platinum. Early the following year, the record won four Grammys, including Best New Artist. It was an auspicious beginning to Chapmans career, and it was perhaps inevitable that her second album, 1989s darker, more political Crossroads, didnt fare quite as well. Although it was well-reviewed, the album wasnt as commercially successful, peaking at number nine and quickly falling down the charts. Following Crossroads, Chapman spent a few years in seclusion, returning in 1992 with Matters of the Heart. The album was greeted with mixed reviews and weak sales, and for a time, it seemed Chapman had begun to fall into obscurity. Three years later, she rebounded with New Beginning, which featured the bluesy single "Give Me One Reason." Released in 1995, the song slowly climbed the charts, eventually peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning Chapman another Grammy for Best Rock Song in 1997. It was a quiet, successful comeback from an artist most observers had already consigned to languish in cult status. After a four-year break, she delivered her fifth album, Telling Stories, in 2000. The album and its single, "Telling Stories," fared well both in the U.S and in Europe, where Chapmans presence was increasingly in demand. Throughout the next decade, she would continue to fare well overseas, releasing 2002s Let It Rain and 2005s Where You Live and touring frequently both Stateside and in Europe. Still a socially conscious artist, Chapman was commissioned by the American Conservatory Theater in 2008 to compose the music for their production of Athol Fugards apartheid-themed play Blood Knot. That same year, she released her eighth album, Our Bright Future, and received another Grammy nomination, this time for Best Contemporary Folk Album. For a number of years following its release, little was heard from Chapman until a 2015 live appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman. Performed during the final week of Lettermans tenure on the show, Chapmans haunting rendition of Ben E. Kings "Stand by Me" became a viral hit and was eventually included on her first Greatest Hits compilation, released in November of that year. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 10 Title: Tracy Chapman Released: 1988-04-01 Tracks: 11 Duration: 36:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Talking About a Revolution (02:40) 2 Fast Car (04:56) 3 Across the Lines (03:24) 4 Behind the Wall (01:49) 5 Baby Can I Hold You (03:14) 6 Mountains o’ Things (04:39) 7 She’s Got Her Ticket (03:56) 8 Why? (02:06) 9 For My Lover (03:12) 10 If Not Now… (03:01) 11 For You (03:09) |
| Tracy Chapman : Allmusic album Review : Arriving with little fanfare in the spring of 1988, Tracy Chapmans eponymous debut album became one of the key records of the Bush era, providing a touchstone for the entire PC movement while reviving the singer/songwriter tradition. And Tracy Chapman is firmly within the classic singer/songwriter tradition, sounding for all the world as if it was recorded in the early 70s -- that is, if all you paid attention to were the sonics, since Chapmans songs are clearly a result of the Reagan revolution. Even the love songs and laments are underscored by a realized vision of trickle-down modern life -- listen to the lyrical details of "Fast Car" for proof. Chapmans impassioned liberal activism and emotional resonance enlivens her music, breathing life into her songs even when the production is a little bit too clean. Still, the juxtaposition of contemporary themes and classic production precisely is what makes the album distinctive -- it brings the traditions into the present. At the time, it revitalized traditional folk ideals of social activism and the like, kick starting the PC revolution in the process, but if those were its only merits, Tracy Chapman would sound dated. The record continues to sound fresh because Chapmans writing is so keenly observed and her strong, gutsy singing makes each song sound intimate and immediate. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 10 Title: Crossroads Released: 1989-09-01 Tracks: 10 Duration: 43:01 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Crossroads (04:14) 2 Bridges (05:27) 3 Freedom Now (04:05) 4 Material World (03:05) 5 Be Careful of My Heart (04:41) 6 Subcity (05:14) 7 Born to Fight (02:49) 8 A Hundred Years (04:23) 9 This Time (03:43) 10 All That You Have Is Your Soul (05:15) |
| Crossroads : Allmusic album Review : Tracy Chapmans self-titled debut album of 1988 was an incredibly tough act to follow, but the folk-rocker delivered an inspired sophomore effort with Crossroads. While it falls short of the excellence of her stunning debut, Crossroads is a heartfelt, honest offering thats well worth obtaining. Dedicated to South African freedom fighter Nelson Mandela, the anthemic "Freedom Now" is one of Chapmans best protest songs. Equally compelling is "Subcity," a lament for the poor, disenfranchised underclass that stands on the outside of the American Dream looking in. Much of the time, however, Chapman isnt going for immediacy -- introspective and subtle songs like "Bridges," "Be Careful of My Heart," and "All That You Have Is Your Soul" require at least several listens in order to be fully appreciated. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 10 Title: Matters of the Heart Released: 1992-04-28 Tracks: 10 Duration: 43:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Bang Bang Bang (04:22) 2 So (03:27) 3 I Used to Be a Sailor (03:58) 4 The Love That You Had (04:11) 5 Woman’s Work (02:03) 6 If These Are the Things (04:41) 7 Short Supply (04:24) 8 Dreaming on a World (05:04) 9 Open Arms (04:35) 10 Matters of the Heart (06:58) |
| Matters of the Heart : Allmusic album Review : Less bold and angry than her previous work, Chapman paces Matters of the Heart over an acoustic course that touches equally on personal vignettes and social commentary. With her fluid, rapid-fire delivery, Chapman takes aim at society and lands several direct hits devoid of self-righteousness: songs about the downtrodden ("Bang Bang Bang"), feminism ("Womans Work"), and freedom ("I Used to Be a Sailor"). The albums centerpiece is "If These Are the Things," a subtle, passionate masterpiece about coming to grips with innocence lost. A couple of songs suffer from too much sweetening in the studio, diluting the impact of Chapmans potent lyrics. The extraneous bells and whistles dressing up "Dreaming on a World" provide the most obvious example of a trend Chapman would do well to avoid in the future. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 10 Title: New Beginning Released: 1995-11-10 Tracks: 11 Duration: 1:04:35 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Heaven’s Here on Earth (05:23) 2 New Beginning (05:33) 3 Smoke and Ashes (06:39) 4 Cold Feet (05:40) 5 At This Point in My Life (05:09) 6 The Promise (05:28) 7 The Rape of the World (07:10) 8 Tell It Like It Is (06:05) 9 Give Me One Reason (04:30) 10 Remember the Tinman (05:45) 11 I’m Ready (07:08) |
| New Beginning : Allmusic album Review : One might assume that the difference between Tracy Chapmans third album, which spent less than three months in the charts (and took nine years to reach gold status) after her first two albums had sold in the millions, and her fourth, which restored her to substantial commercial success, was the albums hit single, "Give Me One Reason." In fact, after a disappointing start, New Beginning turned around and started selling a few months after its release and before the single took off. It went gold the week that "Give Me One Reason" hit the charts. Of course, having a hit single helps, too, but since "Give Me One Reason" is a nearly generic blues song that isnt particularly characteristic of Chapman or of the album, it may have brought in an audience that didnt get what it expected. Though she has added a backup band, Chapman continues to take a simple musical approach that focuses attention on her voice and to sing lyrics that alternate between intimate emotional portraits and broad political generalizations that seem more felt than deeply thought out. Three songs here, "Heavens Here on Earth," "The Rape of the World," and the title cut, are about the state of the whole world, which is viewed in either excessively sunny or gloomy terms. As such, Chapmans relationship songs, though they too can be a little vague, register more powerfully because they are so personal. As the title suggests, Chapman is adopting a more open and hopeful posture in both her feelings and her politics on New Beginning, and while the surprise success of "Give Me One Reason" is heartening from a career perspective, thats the real news here. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 10 Title: Telling Stories Released: 2000-02-14 Tracks: 11 Duration: 42:08 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Telling Stories (03:57) 2 Less Than Strangers (03:19) 3 Speak the Word (04:12) 4 Its OK (04:00) 5 Wedding Song (04:36) 6 Unsung Psalm (04:19) 7 Nothing Yet (03:22) 8 Paper and Ink (04:52) 9 Devotion (02:48) 10 The Only One (03:08) 11 First Try (03:32) |
| Telling Stories : Allmusic album Review : Forget that Tracy Chapmans fifth album shares a title with the Charlatans fifth album (and sole masterpiece) Telling Stories -- as far any fan knows, Chapman probably isnt even aware of the Madchester groups existence. Instead, it should be viewed as what it is -- the sequel to New Beginning, the album that reaffirmed Chapmans status as a fine singer/songwriter to a wide audience. That record became a hit thanks to a bluesy, hooky cut called "Give Me One Reason." Telling Stories, as the title suggests, leans toward narratives, but not necessarily in the conventional sense of the term. There are no story songs, in the way that "Fast Car" was a story. Instead, they are emotional, poetic snapshots -- sort of like the musical equivalent of a dense, impressionistic short story. Chapmans songs on Telling Stories may not be as packed with detail as, say, Raymond Carvers work, but they certainly have a way of creating impressionistic lyrics, making short lines mean a lot. Also, the last album taught her a valuable lesson: her lyrics can be rich, but her compositions wont work collectively as a record if she doesnt craft melodic songs and warm productions. Thats exactly what she delivers on Telling Stories. Some may think she does this to a fault -- its easy to coast on the sound of the record without digging into the lyrics -- but the end result is basically the same: a strong, appealing collection of sturdy, tuneful, and evocative songs. This album may not sparkle with genius, as her debut did, nor is it as direct as its predecessor, but its a strong, solid record that maintains Chapmans reputation as a reliably intriguing and substantive singer/songwriter. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 10 Title: Collection Released: 2001-09-17 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:12:51 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Fast Car (04:56) 2 Subcity (05:14) 3 Baby Can I Hold You (03:14) 4 The Promise (05:28) 5 I’m Ready (04:56) 6 Crossroads (04:14) 7 Bang Bang Bang (04:22) 8 Telling Stories (03:57) 9 Smoke and Ashes (06:39) 10 Speak the Word (04:12) 11 Wedding Song (04:36) 12 Open Arms (04:35) 13 Give Me One Reason (04:30) 14 Talking About a Revolution (02:40) 15 She’s Got Her Ticket (03:56) 16 All That You Have Is Your Soul (05:15) |
| Collection : Allmusic album Review : The 2001 import Collection is the first compilation to round up Tracy Chapmans key tracks, and it succeeds on every level. All the hits (and almost-hits) are here, beginning with her two U.S. Top Tens -- the legendary "Fast Car" and the bluesy comeback hit "Give Me One Reason." Other charted singles on this album include the fiery, politically charged "Talkin Bout a Revolution," the ghostly, self-determined "Crossroads," the 2000 single "Telling Stories," and "Baby Can I Hold You," arguably one of the most stirring and beautiful songs ever recorded. In fact, this set features tracks from all five of Chapmans albums, but, since her musical output has been so consistent, several favorites, such as "Freedom Now" from Crossroads, were left off, and Matters of the Heart is represented only by two tracks. Regardless, every song on this collection is a gem, but, in reality, nothing compares to the modern masterpieces she created with the emotional car wreck that is "Fast Car" and the touching, desperate love plea that is "Baby Can I Hold You." A wonderful collection, representing some of the finest work from one of the latter 20th centurys most celebrated American artists. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 10 Title: Let It Rain Released: 2002-10-14 Tracks: 12 Duration: 41:58 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Let It Rain (03:40) 2 Another Sun (03:11) 3 You’re the One (03:06) 4 In the Dark (05:02) 5 Almost (03:52) 6 Hard Wired (03:36) 7 Say Hallelujah (02:11) 8 Broken (04:25) 9 Happy (03:58) 10 Goodbye (02:31) 11 I Am Yours (03:33) 12 Over in Love (02:49) |
| Let It Rain : Allmusic album Review : Irrespective of the ups and downs of her career, Tracy Chapman has had one thing going for her that a number of singer/songwriters lack: a major label. This assures that shell always get what every performer wants: a fair hearing and perhaps even radio exposure. On Let It Rain, Chapman turns in another introspective album that flows quietly from track to track and will remind listeners of New Beginning (1995) and Telling Stories (2000). The album begins with a sequence of warm, easygoing songs. "Another Sun" finds a slow, bluesy groove that perfectly matches Chapmans soulful lyric, while "In the Dark" explores the murky undercurrent of relationships. Theres a loose quality to many of Chapmans lyrics, meaning that a number of things can be read into them. On the title cut, she expresses an openness to everything that the rain brings, whether its good or bad. "Almost" evokes the spiritual longing familiar to anyone whos come very close, but still fell short, of attaining a dream, a goal, or a perfect relationship. John Parishs full arrangements and warm production provide a sympathetic setting for Chapmans songs and vocals. The only grievance one might find with Let It Rain is that many of the songs have a similar feel and lack distinctive melodies to keep them from blending together. Fans who have enjoyed Chapmans recent albums, however, will enjoy Let It Rains evocative lyrics and lovely vocals. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 10 Title: Where You Live Released: 2005-09-12 Tracks: 11 Duration: 46:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Change (05:06) 2 Talk to You (04:27) 3 3,000 Miles (05:58) 4 Going Back (05:22) 5 Don’t Dwell (03:22) 6 Never Yours (03:37) 7 America (03:43) 8 Love’s Proof (03:44) 9 Before Easter (03:03) 10 Taken (03:42) 11 Be and Be Not Afraid (04:44) |
| Where You Live : Allmusic album Review : Where You Live is a reminder that somewhere during her career, Tracy Chapman softly transformed from just an early publicized face of contemporary folk into a quiet stalwart of social commentary and atmosphere. Though she is certainly best known for her hits "Fast Car" and "Give Me One Reason," those two songs stand within her history as suspension bridge supports: visible from afar as beacons of a structure with purpose, whose job is to sustain the action from point A to point B in her slow evolution. And with major labels consistent tendency to lean further and further away from hosting artists for more than an album or two, it is commendable that Elektra seems dedicated in serving Chapmans subtlety and dependable longevity, affording her the luxury of having producers and players aboard who nurture her sound through said evolution. Where You Live is yet another elegant and easy album from Chapman, just the kind her fan base has come to expect, and with the help of co-producer Tchad Blake, it embraces some details of Chapmans penchant for darkness, where parts of her earlier records glossed over these folds. Judging by many of the artists with whom he has worked, Blakes inclination seems to be to find minutiae such as this and latch on, his approach being generally heavy-handed, but here he has left plenty of room for the songs to really breathe around their most intriguing attribute: Chapmans warm voice. Perhaps it was Chapmans role as co-producer that served as a ballast, or perhaps it is an example of Blakes growth, but it is worth noting Blakes late-90s trademark -- ultra-compressed, watery, and claustrophobic drum sounds -- has been given a rest in exchange for simple, dry, and tight drums played minimally by Quinn. This restrained foundation is integral to the dynamics of Where You Live, allowing any flourish to meet the ear with immediacy and purpose. Short of a few examples, Where You Live slides along at a gentle, mid-tempo gait. The nature of Chapmans calm delivery, as with much of her catalog, is deceiving, considering some of the heavy subject matter, but it is perhaps one of her greatest assets that she is able to allow her messages to sink in like mellow fatigue on a late-summer Sunday evening. In anyone elses hands, these smooth edges would likely suffer under the force of preaching, but her demeanor allows the words and melodies to work for themselves. Perhaps due to the albums fluidity, no song from Where You Live immediately presents itself as the single; instead the album operates entirely as a measured course and will enlighten those who will choose to fall into its simple allure, rather than acting as a hook for new listeners. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 10 Title: Our Bright Future Released: 2008-11-07 Tracks: 11 Duration: 42:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Sing for You (04:25) 2 I Did It All (03:09) 3 Save Us All (03:45) 4 Our Bright Future (04:12) 5 For a Dream (03:18) 6 Thinking of You (04:49) 7 A Theory (03:17) 8 Conditional (04:05) 9 Something to See (04:13) 10 The First Person on Earth (03:52) 11 Spring (03:06) |
| Our Bright Future : Allmusic album Review : For Tracy Chapman, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Twenty years after her self-titled debut made her an unexpected overnight star, Chapmans music has changed remarkably little, and while it would be unfair to say shes revealed no stylistic growth since her first album, two decades on shes still following a remarkably similar path, offering well-crafted, midtempo acoustic-oriented songs rooted deep in issues of social justice and matters of the heart on her eighth album, Our Bright Future. Produced by Larry Klein, best known for his work with Joni Mitchell, Our Bright Future doesnt sound retro quite so much as it seems to have appeared by magic from some time warp linking Chapman to the early 70s, complete with Steve Gadd delivering supremely tasteful drumming and Dean Parks doing the same on guitar. With the exception of the sly "I Did It All," in which Chapman assumes the voice of some wild-child celebrity celebrating her paparazzi-worthy exploits, Our Bright Future covers the thematic territory youd expect from Chapman -- the universality of faith against the factionalism of religion ("Save Us All"), the folly of war ("Our Bright Future"), the struggle to overcome cynicism in a culture gone wrong ("Thinking of You"), the longing for a better world ("Something to See"), and the sweet solace of love ("A Theory"). Chapmans songs are both heartfelt and literate, as theyve always been, and the production and arrangements are free of clutter, allowing her subtle but passionate vocals to take the center stage without strain. The craft of Our Bright Future is impressive and Chapmans talents are as clearly evident as ever, but unfortunately this album offers precious little in the way of anything fresh or unexpected from this artist. Theres a fine line between doing what you do best and simply following formula, and Our Bright Future finds Chapman leaning too far towards the bad side of that equation for her own good. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 10 Title: Greatest Hits Released: 2015-11-20 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:16:40 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Telling Stories (03:57) 2 Baby Can I Hold You (03:14) 3 Change (05:05) 4 The Promise (05:25) 5 Open Arms (04:35) 6 Subcity (05:10) 7 Fast Car (04:56) 8 Bang Bang Bang (04:22) 9 Crossroads (04:12) 10 Speak the Word (03:23) 11 Smoke and Ashes (06:29) 12 Sing for You (single edit) (03:43) 13 You’re the One (03:06) 14 Save Us All (03:45) 15 All That You Have Is Your Soul (05:14) 16 Talking About a Revolution (02:40) 17 Give Me One Reason (04:30) 18 Stand by Me (live at The Late Show With David Letterman) (02:49) |
| Greatest Hits : Allmusic album Review : Apart from a 2001 import-only retrospective titled simply Collection, Tracy Chapman has largely ignored the whole anthology route. Since her remarkable eponymous debut long-player in 1988, the multiple Grammy Award winner has amassed more than enough quality material for a sonic victory lap, and this 18-track set from Elektra/Rhino doesnt disappoint. Chapman chose all of the songs, as well as had them remastered, so there is a nice mix of hits and deep cuts, and with eight studio albums to parse through, its a far more comprehensive distillation of her career thus far than Collection ever was. Chapmans greatest strength is her ability to be both vulnerable and self-possessed, and her most compelling offerings ("Fast Car," "Change," "Give Me One Reason," "Crossroads," "Telling Stories," "Talkin Bout a Revolution") are as relatable as they are powerful; beacons of hope and tough love in the midst of oppression and self-doubt. Nowhere does that fire for both compassion and social justice burn brighter than on an emotionally pitch-perfect, spotlight-stealing rendition of "Stand by Me," which she performed live on The Late Show with David Letterman in the waning days of the programs final season. With just her voice and an electric guitar, she managed to simultaneously bring the house down and build it back up again, which is no small feat, even for an artist who has proven herself time and again to be a powerful yet always benevolent force of nature. | ||