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Crossroads (Tracy Chapman song)

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"Crossroads"
Single by Tracy Chapman
from the album Crossroads
B-side"Born to Fight"
Released1989
Length4:11
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)Tracy Chapman
Producer(s)David Kershenbaum
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman singles chronology
"Baby Can I Hold You"
(1988) 		"Crossroads"
(1989) 		"All That You Have Is Your Soul"
(1989)

"Crossroads" is a song by American singer Tracy Chapman. It was released in 1989 as the lead single from her second studio album Crossroads. The song was written by Chapman, and produced by David Kershenbaum and Chapman. "Crossroads" reached No. 90 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1] The song's music video was directed by Matt Mahurin.[2]

Reception

In a review of Crossroads, Fred Goodman of Rolling Stone noted the "rich arrangement and heartfelt delivery" and added: "Crossroads" breaks little new ground for Chapman musically, but its subtly shaded percussion, pizzicato violin and lilting accordion give new muscle to Chapman's previously bareboned presentation."[3] Steve Morse of The Boston Globe felt the song "opens the album in a startling confessional manner".[4] Sian Pattenden of Smash Hits described the song as "very much the kind of folksy, sombre song you'd expect from Tracy". She added: "If you liked "Fast Car" then you'll like this because it's jolly similar."[5]

Parry Gettelman of The Orlando Sentinel considered the song to "proclaim [Chapman's] independence from materialism and money-changers who beset her."[6] Brian Springer of The Daily Tar Heel wrote: "The title track adds the only new lyrical wrinkle [on the album], with Chapman making the usual star complaint of having to deal with all the attention. Accordion and violin pizzicato give this song a slightly different flavor than the previous album."[7]

Track listing

7" single
  1. "Crossroads" - 4:11
  2. "Born to Fight" - 2:46
12" single
  1. "Crossroads" - 4:11
  2. "Born to Fight" - 2:46
  3. "Mountains O'Things" (Live) - 5:05
12" single (UK release)
  1. "Crossroads" - 4:11
  2. "Born to Fight" - 2:46
  3. "Fast Car" - 4:57
Cassette single
  1. "Crossroads" - 4:11
  2. "Born to Fight" - 2:46
CD single (German release)
  1. "Crossroads" - 4:11
  2. "Born to Fight" - 2:46
  3. "Mountains O'Things" (Live) - 5:05
CD single (US promo)
  1. "Crossroads" - 4:11

Personnel

Crossroads

Born to Fight

  • Tracy Chapman - vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Jack Holder - acoustic piano
  • Snooky Young - trumpet
  • Tim Landers - bass
  • Denny Fongheiser - drums
  • Bobbye Hall - tambourine

Production

  • David Kershenbaum, Tracy Chapman - producers
  • Kevin W. Smith - engineer, mixing
  • John X Volaitis - additional engineer
  • Marty Lester - assistant engineer, assistant mixer
  • Bob Ludwig - mastering
  • Claude Nobs - producer on "Mountains O'Things"
  • David Richards - engineer on "Mountains O'Things"

Charts

Chart (1989) Peak
position
Austrian Singles Chart[8] 21
Australian Singles Chart[9] 58
Belgian Singles Chart (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] 37
Canada (RPM 100)[11] 32
Dutch Singles Chart[12] 15
German Singles Chart[13] 38
Irish Singles Chart[14] 11
Italian Singles Chart (FIMI)[15] 16
New Zealand Singles Chart[16] 21
Swiss Singles Chart[17] 18
UK Singles Chart (Official Charts Company)[18] 61
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[19] 41
US Billboard Album Rock Tracks[20] 26
US Billboard Hot 100[1] 90
US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks[21] 7

References

  1. ^ a b Billboard. "Tracy Chapman Crossroads Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  2. ^ "Tracy Chapman - Crossroads". Billboard. 4 November 1989.
  3. ^ ilrnr (1989-10-05). "Rolling Stone : Tracy Chapman: Crossroads : Music Reviews". Web.archive.org. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  4. ^ Globe, STEVE MORSE, The Boston. "TRACY CHAPMAN AT 'CROSSROADS'". Sun-Sentinel.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Pattenden, Sian (4 October 1989). "Review: Singles". Smash Hits.
  6. ^ Parry Gettelman (27 October 1989). "Tracy Chapman". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 15 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Brian Springer (12 October 1989). "Tracy's back and O.K.". Daily Tar Heel. Retrieved 15 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Steffen Hung. "Tracy Chapman - Crossroads". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  9. ^ Scott, Gavin. "This Week In 1989: October 22, 1989". chartbeats.com.au. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  10. ^ "Tracy Chapman - Crossroads". ultratop.be. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  11. ^ "Item: 5030 - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  12. ^ Steffen Hung. "Tracy Chapman - Crossroads". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  13. ^ Steffen Hung. "Tracy Chapman - Crossroads". germancharts.de. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  14. ^ Jaclyn Ward - Fireball Media Group - http://www.fireballmedia.ie. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2019-11-15. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)
  15. ^ "Hit Parade Italia - Indice per Interprete: C". Hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  16. ^ Steffen Hung. "charts.org.nz - Tracy Chapman - Crossroads". Charts.nz. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  17. ^ Steffen Hung. "Tracy Chapman - Crossroads". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  18. ^ "TRACY CHAPMAN | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  19. ^ Billboard. "Tracy Chapman Crossroads Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  20. ^ Billboard. "Tracy Chapman Crossroads Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  21. ^ Billboard. "Tracy Chapman Crossroads Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
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