Crossroads (Tracy Chapman album)
1989 studio album by Tracy Chapman
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Crossroads is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman, released in 1989. Chapman was also a producer on this album, the first time she had taken on such a role. The song "Freedom Now" is dedicated to Nelson Mandela.
ReleasedOctober 3, 1989
StudioPowertrax Studio, Hollywood, California
Length42:32
| Crossroads | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 3, 1989 | |||
| Studio | Powertrax Studio, Hollywood, California | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 42:32 | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Producer | ||||
| Tracy Chapman chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Crossroads | ||||
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Track listing
All songs written by Tracy Chapman.
- "Crossroads" – 4:11
- "Bridges" – 5:24
- "Freedom Now" – 4:02
- "Material World" – 3:02
- "Be Careful of My Heart" – 4:39
- "Subcity" – 5:09
- "Born to Fight" – 2:46
- "A Hundred Years" – 4:20
- "This Time" – 3:43
- "All That You Have Is Your Soul" – 5:16
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Christgau’s Consumer Guide | B[3] |
| Hi-Fi News & Record Review | A*:1[4] |
| NME | 8/10[5] |
| Rolling Stone | [6] |
| Tom Hull | B[7] |
Personnel
Musicians
- Tracy Chapman – acoustic guitar, harmonica (tracks 6, 10), electric guitar (tracks 3, 8), vocals, background vocals (track 3), 12 string guitar (tracks 6, 9), stagecoach guitar (track 10)
- Charlie Bisharat – viola (track 6), electric violin (track 6), violin pizzicato (track 1)
- Peggie Blu – background vocals (track 3)
- Marc Cohn – piano (track 2)
- Paulinho da Costa – tambourine (track 3), conga (track 8)
- Carolyn Dennis – background vocals (track 3)
- Denny Fongheiser – drums (tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8)
- Bobbye Hall – percussion (tracks 1, 4, 5), conga (tracks 3, 6), tambourine (track 7)
- Jack Holder – banjo (track 3), piano (tracks 2, 7), acoustic stagecoach guitar (track 9), organ (track 9)
- Larry Klein – bass guitar (tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9)
- Danny Kortchmar – electric guitar (track 8)
- Russ Kunkel – drums (tracks 2, 6, 9)
- Jim Lacefield – cello (track 10)
- Tim Landers – bass guitar (tracks 3, 7)
- Steve Lindley – electric piano (track 8)
- Bob Marlette – keyboards (tracks 1, 2)
- Frank Marocco – accordion (track 1)
- Sheila Minard – background vocals (track 3)
- Scarlet Rivera – violin (track 9)
- Roz Seay – background vocals (track 3)
- G.E. Smith – acoustic picking guitar (track 1), mandolin (track 5), electric guitar (track 4)
- William D. "Smitty" Smith – organ (tracks 4, 6, 8)
- John X. Volaitis – piano (track 9)
- Elesecia Wright – background vocals (track 3)
- Snooky Young – trumpet (track 7)
- Neil Young – acoustic guitar (track 10), piano (track 10)
Production
- Producers: Tracy Chapman, David Kershenbaum
- Kevin W. Smith – engineer, mixing
- Herb Ritts – cover photography
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
Singles
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Certifications and sales
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina (CAPIF)[29] | Gold | 30,000^ |
| Australia (ARIA)[30] | 2× Platinum | 140,000^ |
| Austria (IFPI Austria)[31] | Platinum | 50,000* |
| Canada (Music Canada)[32] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
| Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[33] | Gold | 30,906[33] |
| France (SNEP)[34] | Platinum | 300,000* |
| Germany (BVMI)[35] | 2× Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
| Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[36] | Gold | 10,000* |
| Italy sales in 1989 |
— | 300,000[37] |
| Netherlands (NVPI)[38] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[39] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
| Portugal (AFP)[40] | Gold | 20,000^ |
| Spain (Promusicae)[41] | 2× Platinum | 200,000^ |
| Sweden (GLF)[42] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[43] | 2× Platinum | 100,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[44] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[45] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
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* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
Awards
| Grammy Awards | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Work | Award | Result | Ref | |
| 1990 | Crossroads | Best Contemporary Folk Album | Nominated | [46] | |