Crossroads (Tracy Chapman album)
| Crossroads | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 3, 1989 | |||
| Studio | Powertrax Studio, Hollywood, California | |||
| Genre | Contemporary folk | |||
| Length | 42:32 | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Producer | Tracy Chapman, David Kershenbaum | |||
| Tracy Chapman chronology | ||||
| ||||
Crossroads is the second album by singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman, released in 1989 (see 1989 in music). 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.
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 |   [1] |
| Robert Christgau | B[2] |
| Rolling Stone | [3] |
Personnel
- 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)
- Technical
- Kevin W. Smith – engineer, mixing
- Herb Ritts – cover photography
Production
- Producers: Tracy Chapman, David Kershenbaum
Charts
Album – Billboard (North America)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | The Billboard 200 | 9 |
| 1989 | Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | 72 |
| 1989 | Swedish Albums Chart | 8 |
Singles – Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | "Crossroads" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 26 |
| 1989 | "Crossroads" | Modern Rock Tracks | 7 |
| 1989 | "Crossroads" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 90 |
Certifications and sales
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[4] | 2× Platinum | 140,000^ |
| Austria (IFPI Austria)[5] | Platinum | 50,000* |
| Canada (Music Canada)[6] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
| Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[7] | Gold | 30,906[7] |
| France (SNEP)[8] | Platinum | 300,000* |
| Germany (BVMI)[9] | 2× Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
| Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[10] | Gold | 10,000* |
| Italy sales in 1989 |
— | 300,000[11] |
| Netherlands (NVPI)[12] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[13] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE)[14] | 2× Platinum | 200,000^ |
| Sweden (GLF)[15] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[16] | 2× Platinum | 100,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[17] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[18] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- ^ Henderson, Alex. Crossroads at AllMusic
- ^ "Robert Christgau review". Robertchristgau.com. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
- ^ Rolling Stone review Archived August 18, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 54.
- ^ "Austrian album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads". Music Canada. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
- ^ a b "Tracy Chapman" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
- ^ "French album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Tracy Chapman; 'Crossroads')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
- ^ "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1990". IFPI Hong Kong.
- ^ Caroli, Daniele (December 9, 1989). "Italy > Talent Challenges" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. 101 (49). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: I-8. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved July 25, 2020 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Dutch album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Tracy Chapman" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Tracy Chapman in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1989 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
- ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 22, 2015.[dead link]
- ^ "Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990" (in Spanish). Iberautor Promociones Culturales. ISBN 8480486392.
- ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
- ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Crossroads')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
- ^ "British album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
- ^ "American album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 15, 2012.