Expecting the same kind of derisory comments from my son as if I had played the Teletubbies album, I pressed a button on the car CD and selected Tracy Chapman, the 1988 classic album by.. guess who?
His girlfriend said “great” and announced that she too had the album that was ... Read review
One of the most striking debut albums ever released, this disc instantly established ... more
Chapman as a musical force, and with good reason. Immediacy, integrity of purpose and unqualified artistry are apparent in nearly every song. And while "Fast Cars...
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One of the most striking debut albums ever released, this disc instantly established ... more
Chapman as a musical force, and with good reason. Immediacy, integrity of purpose and unqualified artistry are apparent in nearly every song. And while "Fast Cars...
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Some albums just can't be bettered. Tracy Chapman's 1988 self-titled debut is one of them. ... more
Led by poignant singles "Fast Car", "Baby Can I Hold You Tonight" and "Talkin' Bout a Revolution", its fragile acoustic laments tugged at the heart-strings and established Chapman as a songwriter with a uniquely human touch--selling 10 million copies and picking up three Grammies in the process. As this collection illustrates, such genius sets a difficult precedent. Despite including some truly beautiful songs from her four subsequent albums, the impact of those emotive early singles still dwarfs everything here. "I'm Ready" and "Smoke and Ashes" line up as the best of the rest, but with "Speak The Word", "Wedding Song" and "Open Arms" brimming with tender melodies and sentiments that touch in a way that most songwriters can only dream of, it's a close run thing. "Fast Car" & Co. may be untouchable, but with the quiver in her voice adding a depth of emotion to her words of love, need and hope, these 16 tracks make n salient point: with Tracy Chapman, there is no such thing as an average song. --Dan Gennoe
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After the enormous success of her eponymous debut album in 1988, enhanced by her ... more
appearance at a Nelson Mandela tribute concert that same year, it was never going to be easy for Tracy Chapman to deliver a similar bolt from the singer-songwriter blues a year later on this, her "tricky" second album. On Crossroads Chapman plays it cautiously from a musical point of view, offering a slightly fleshed-out version of the smouldering acoustics of her debut. But Chapman's subdued sound can't conceal the unabated anger of her lyrics. "Freedom Now", dedicated to Nelson Mandela, "Material World and "Subcity", a scalding diatribe against racism and urban poverty are reminiscent of Nina Simone in their quivering indignation. After this album, however, Tracy Chapman had made her point and seemed to lose interest in her career. --David Stubbs
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Telling Stories is Chapman's first album in over four years. With this collection she has ... more
gone back to the spare, unsentimental feel of her early work, recapturing some of the urgency and simple melody lines that made her 1988 self-titled debut such a classic. There's maturity here, and strong sense of spiritual metaphor. On "Unsung Psalm", for instance, she imagines her funeral, singing: "I'd have a halo and flowing white robes / If I live right", while "Wedding Song" has the devotional line: "I reach out for your hand / For you I'd don a veil". The musical arrangements, too, are pared-down, with ghostly bluegrass banjo, silvery fiddle and guitar woven into subtle drum loops. Though not as immediate as her debut, it's Chapman's most focused work in a long time. --Lucy O'Brien
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If not now... then when
Advantages: A real classic that spans the generations Disadvantages: Still sold at full price!
...the car CD and selected Tracy Chapman, the 1988 classic album by.. guess who?
His girlfriend said “great” and announced that she too had the album that was released when she was still in nappies!
My daughters already knew “Baby Can I Hold You”, a perfectly crafted track that had been copied (quite badly) by one of the conveyor-belt boy bands.
What is it that makes this album such ... ...generations?
Tracy Chapman was one of the singer-songwriters who helped to put the genre into the forefront of popular culture during the 1980’s, along with other artists, such as Joan Armatrading. Not only is Chapman an accomplished musician, her lyrics are confessional, assertive, and heart-rending – “Across the Lines” describing the struggle of African-Americans, and “Behind the Wall”, a voice ... more
Expecting the same kind of derisory comments from my son as if I had played the Teletubbies album, I pressed a button on the car CD and selected Tracy Chapman, the 1988 classic album by.. guess who?
His girlfriend said “great” and announced that she too had the album that was released when she was still in nappies!
My daughters already knew “Baby Can I Hold You”, a perfectly crafted track that had been copied (quite badly) by one of the conveyor-belt boy bands.
What is it that makes this album such a classic, with such staying power and appeal across the generations?
Tracy Chapman was one of the singer-songwriters who helped to put the genre into the forefront of popular culture during the 1980’s, along with other artists, such as Joan Armatrading. Not only is Chapman an accomplished musician, her lyrics are confessional, assertive, and heart-rending – “Across the Lines” describing the struggle of African-Americans, and “Behind the Wall”, a voice solo with no backing track, which is a recital on the plight of women in violent relationships. These two tracks contrast brilliantly with the love songs, such as “Baby Can I Hold You” and “For My Lover”.
This multi-platinum debut album crept up on the music scene from nowhere and is here to stay. As a black working class woman from Cleveland, Ohio, Tracy Chapman played the guitar as a child, and followed a successful education, ending up at Tufts University, reading anthropology and African studies. It was here that she started to perform her own songs, eventually recording a few tracks for the college radio station.
Elliot Roberts, who had a track record with Neil Young and Joni Mitchell became her manager and helped to sign with Elektra records in 1987.
“Tracy Chapman” was released in the spring of 1988, and such was the interest and appreciation of her debut album, she was invited to play at Nelson Mandela's Seventieth Birthday Party which was televised world-wide. Her performance was so successful that the single from the album, "Fast Car", climbed the charts, and, within a few months the album had gone multi-platinum. In 1989 Tracy Chapman won four Grammys, including Best New Artist.
Unfortunately, if your first album is this brilliant, it is difficult to improve, and her subsequent releases, although warmly received by the critics, have not had the same commercial success.
The album “Tracy Chapman” is a definite classic, and could almost be described as a cult record, such is its following.
Her acoustic guitar playing is gifted, and her voice full of character and emotion; every track on the album stands well on its own, and makes a classic set when played end to end. If you haven’t heard the album, now is the time to get hold of a copy, broaden your musical horizons, and find out what you have been missing for all these years.
Advantages: Strong songs that can make you think and catchy songs that can make you sing. Disadvantages: When you listen to 'Baby can i hold you', the memory of the Boyzone cover version - Ronan, for the sake of humanity, STOP WEARING CRAP LEATHER TROUSERS!
Tracey Chapman is one of those artists who can be described as a really genuine singer/performer, with no pretesnions. Her songs are exactly that, "her songs", brimming with self opinion, honesty and life experience. 'Tracey Chapman' the album that brought her to the music-loving public's attention back in the 80s, is an excellent mixture of striking lyrics and original, memorable music. With the now veritable modern classics such as 'Fast Car' and ... ...tracks including 'Across the lines' 'why' and 'Behind the wall' this album is one of those albums that ought never to be left neglected at the bottom of the CD rack. Other highlights for me include the melodramatic 'For my lover', the uplifting 'She's got her ticket' and of course the song that has been and will be covered by many artists to come 'Baby can I hold you'. After hearing Tracey's own original, moody, intimate version of this touching ...
Broo 09.06.2001 (02.07.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman
Advantages: very distinctive sound Disadvantages: may be a bit sparse for some people's tastes
Tracy Chapman's eponymous debut album caused a sensation on its release in 1988. 13 years later, it is still a masterpiece, with its hearfelt simplicity and raw emotion. Chapman's career had been pretty much limited to a minor cult following in the USA until the 'Free Nelson Mandela' concert. One act had withdrawn at the last minute, and so her set was increased. Singing acoustically, this relative unknown became an overnight sensation due to her ... ...seemed to sum up the event perfectly. All of the songs on the album were self-written, and some of the copyrights date back to 1982, and so this really was the cream of her recordings up to that point. The demand for her album became huge, and reached it managed to reach #1 soon afterwards. Very short (35 minutes, 11 tracks), it is as basic as an album can be, but this contributes to the powerfulness of the message that she wants to put across. Singles ...
stoffy 28.08.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman's debut album was released in 1988 to high critical aclaim. The album is a powerful, emotive album which draws you in slowly till you are finally singing along with her. The album clearly shows that this is one woman who believes passionately in what she is singing about.Her political beliefs are undiluted as she looks at life for the have nots in the great American dream, but before you think you're just going to have left wing dogma ... ...first time I came across Tracy Chapman. I was watching the 70th Birthday party celebrations for the still imprisoned Nelson Mandala on TV. It was the usual round of big names singing along with mega loads of equipement and you got the impression that some were there not to celebrate the birthday of Mandala but to celebrate a few more record sales! Suddenly a small diminitive black woman came on stage sat on a stool with her guitar and sang her heart ...
jo1l 15.07.2000 (17.11.2002)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman
Advantages: Great lyrics, very thought provoking Disadvantages: sad at times
...also have all of Tracy Chapman's other albums and apart from maybe 'crossroads' none of the others come close. Tracy Chapman deserves far more success than she achieves. This album is one I listen to time and again and certainly makes my top 10 album list. ...
nigelpm 21.06.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman
Advantages: Outstanding vocals, beautiful songs and meaningful lyrics Disadvantages: None
...expect to enjoy listening to Tracy Chapman's 1988 debut album, especially as I was born only 3 years before its release. But I grew up hearing it in the background and dug it out from my parents' collection last year after catching 'Fast Car' on VH1. And I have to say that this is one outstanding CD. Tracy Chapman has a very distinct sound and a lot of vocal talent, and there are some really stunning songs on here. The lyrics are intensely meaningful ... ...but the words of each track go a whole lot deeper than most of today's pop songs; they really are incredible. My personal favourites are 'Fast Car' and 'Why'. Many record stores still sell copies of this CD and I would urge you to pick one up -- I have a feeling you'll be pleasantly surprised. ...
Lara_King 30.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman
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Advantages: Powerful and meaningful lyrics that are together with beautifully produced songs. Disadvantages: None.
This review is taken from my Dooyoo page also but as I put so much effort into writing it I felt I should have it on both sites. It is however, entirely my own work and I absolutely love this album. I really hope you enjoy and appreciate reading it, thank you!
TracyChapman the album is without doubt of the best album's which I have ever bought simply for its real beauty in inner song form. TracyChapman is you do not know is a singer and songwriter who began her career as a busker and really has taken herself to the next level, she has performed at many anti-poverty shows around the world. This album was released in 1988 and contains 11 absolutely beautifully written songs.
The album is very country folk and this becomes very clear throughout the album, the lyrics are quite simply umbelivable and they are just so powerful which ...
Advantages: good songs and lyrics Disadvantages: none
ABIT ABOUT TRACYCHAPMANTracyChapman was born in Cleveland, Ohio on the 30th March 1964. She went onto go to university and Majored in Anthropology and African Studies in 1986.
She recorded her first demo while at university at the university radio station, and was heard by a fellow student, who recommended her to his father. Who introduced her to Elektra Records, where she linked up with her Manager Elliot Roberts.
This is her Debut album which was released in 1988. She did go on to release another 7 albums besides this one, although i think this was her best.
ABIT ABOUT THE ALBUM
This to me is a great album and i liked every single song on it. Which is unusual for me. I will now tell you abit about the songs:
1) Talking About A Revolution (2.38) - This song as in the title is all about a revolution, that is just ...
Advantages: Thought- provoking songs Disadvantages: Only 11 songs
The first of Tracy's many albums, this self-titled album provides the listener with more thought provoking songs than Bob Dylan could wave a stick at. With 11 tracks in total, each one more poignant than the last, this album is a MUST for all music lovers.
Tracy was given her first guitar by a teacher at school- it seems that perhaps we have him to thank for her international presence for he is thanked personally in the inlay of this debut. The first track "Talkin bout a Revoultion" is, perhaps, a plea with the less fortunate of the world to finally stand up and be counted- "poor people gonna rise up and take what's their's" Tracy insists.
The second track is the classic "Fast Car" detailing the life of a poor girl whose Dad "lives with the bottle" and who hopes for a better life with her boyfriend; "you have a fast car, is it ...
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