Crossroads (Tracy Chapman album)

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Crossroads
Tracy Chapman - Crossroads.jpg
Studio album by
Tracy Chapman
ReleasedOctober 3, 1989
StudioPowertrax Studio, Hollywood, California
GenreContemporary folk, folk rock[1]
Length42:32
LabelElektra
ProducerTracy Chapman, David Kershenbaum
Tracy Chapman chronology
Tracy Chapman
(1988) 		Crossroads
(1989) 		Matters of the Heart
(1992)
Singles from Crossroads
  1. "Crossroads"
    Released: 1989
  2. "All That You Have Is Your Soul"
    Released: 1989
  3. "Subcity"
    Released: 1990

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.

Track listing[]

All songs written by Tracy Chapman.

  1. "Crossroads" – 4:11
  2. "Bridges" – 5:24
  3. "Freedom Now" – 4:02
  4. "Material World" – 3:02
  5. "Be Careful of My Heart" – 4:39
  6. "Subcity" – 5:09
  7. "Born to Fight" – 2:46
  8. "A Hundred Years" – 4:20
  9. "This Time" – 3:43
  10. "All That You Have Is Your Soul" – 5:16
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic3/5 stars[2]
Robert ChristgauB[3]
Hi-Fi News & Record ReviewA*:1[4]
Rolling Stone4/5 stars[5]

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 (United States)

Year Chart Position
1989 The Billboard 200 9
1989 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 72
1989 Swedish Albums Chart 8

Singles – Billboard (United States)

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)[6] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[7] Platinum 50,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[8] Platinum 100,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[9] Gold 30,906[9]
France (SNEP)[10] Platinum 300,000*
Germany (BVMI)[11] 2× Platinum 1,000,000^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[12] Gold 10,000*
Italy
sales in 1989 		— 300,000[13]
Netherlands (NVPI)[14] Gold 50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[15] Platinum 15,000^
Portugal (AFP)[16] Gold 20,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[17] 2× Platinum 200,000^
Sweden (GLF)[18] Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[19] 2× Platinum 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] Platinum 300,000^
United States (RIAA)[21] Platinum 1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[]

  1. ^ "Crossroads - Tracy Chapman | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  2. ^ Henderson, Alex. Crossroads at AllMusic
  3. ^ "Robert Christgau review". Robertchristgau.com. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  4. ^ Fariner, Neville (December 1989). "Review: Tracy Chapman — Crossroads" (PDF). Hi-Fi News & Record Review (magazine). 34 (12). Croydon: Link House Magazines Ltd. p. 140. ISSN 0142-6230. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 3, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  5. ^ Rolling Stone review Archived August 18, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 54.
  7. ^ "Austrian album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  8. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads". Music Canada. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Tracy Chapman" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  10. ^ "French album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  11. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Tracy Chapman; 'Crossroads')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  12. ^ "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1990". IFPI Hong Kong.
  13. ^ Caroli, Daniele (December 9, 1989). "Italy > Talent Challenges" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 101 (49): I-8. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved July 25, 2020 – via World Radio History.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  16. ^ Tenente, Fernando (April 14, 1990). "INTERNATIONAL: Floyd, Kaoma Top Sellers In Portugal Certs" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 102 no. 15. p. 69. Retrieved November 28, 2020 – via World Radio History.
  17. ^ Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990 (in Spanish). Iberautor Promociones Culturales. ISBN 8480486392.
  18. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  19. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Tracy Chapman; 'Crossroads')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  20. ^ "British album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  21. ^ "American album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
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