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ROCK
ON THE NET:
Tracy Chapman
|
 
 Tracy Chapman was born
March 20, 1964, in Cleveland, Ohio. In her
childhood, Tracy learned to play the ukulele, the
piano, and eventually the guitar and started
writing her own songs. She attended a private
school in Connecticut after receiving a
scholarship and then Tufts University in Boston
after winning a minority placement scholarship.
While studying African culture and anthropology
at Tufts, Tracy began performing her folk sound
at local coffeehouses on the streets of Harvard
Square. She recorded some demos that eventually
made their way to the right people, and Tracy
singed with Elektra Records in 1987. An important
musical artist had emerged from the ashes of the
80s. In 80s, when the pop radio airwaves were
filled with synthesizers and video-generated pop
stars, Tracy emerged with her debut LP filled
with a raw, calming folk sound that was welcomed
by music fans. Her subtle lyrics and sound made
her a hit with critics, and her landmark single
"Fast Car" introduced her to a
legion of fans. Tracy has a knack for singing
about a disenfranchised environment with an
overtone of ultimate optimism for change.
 April 5: Tracy released Tracy
Chapman. The LP was applauded for its
potent lyrics and simple melodies. Tracy reminded
the Reagan-era, pop-culture that life wasn't
carefree for everyone. The first single, "Fast Car" became a Top 10 smash. Her
debut LP went on to sell over 6 million copies in
the U.S. (10 million world-wide) and also
contained the tracks classic Tracy-anthem,
"Talkin' 'Bout A Revolution" and Top
40, "Baby Can I Hold You."
- Tracy was invited on
many touring performances and appeared at the
Freedomfest concert for Nelson Mandela and
Amnesty International's tour.
- October 3: Tracy released Crossroads. The LP was also applauded
by critics, but seemed too political and darker
for radio.
 April 28: Tracy released Matters
Of The Heart, which was also not very successful
with record buyers. Critics of Tracy's new LP
were also mixed in their praise of the music. The
track "Bang Bang Bang" was one of the
more popular songs on the LP.
 November 14: Tracy returned to the
spotlight with the LP, New
Beginning. Tracy described the theme of the
LP as "change, growth, and renewal"
which many felt also represented her career in
music. New
Beginning gave Tracy her first #1
pop hit, "Give Me One Reason." The LP also
contains the favorites, "Smoke And
Ashes," "I'm Ready," and "The
Promise."
- Tracy toured with the
successful Lilith Fair tour throughout North
America.
- July 1: Tracy made chart history
when the remake of her classic "Fast Car" was covered by country singer
Luke Combs and topped the
Billboard Country Airplay chart - the first black
female to top the chart. Tracy told Billboard
"I never expected to find myself on the
country charts, but I'm honore to be there. I'm
happy for Luke and his success and grateful that
new fans have found and embraced "Fast Car"."
- February 17: After a memorable
performance at the Grammy Awards with Luke
Combs, Tracy topped the Billboard
Digital Songs chart for 1 week with "Fast Car."
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Tracy
Chapman
 Released: April 5, 1988
US: 6x Platinum
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 1 (for 1
week)
Billboard # 1: Top Pop Compact Disk
Grammy Winner: Best Contemporary
Folk Recording
Grammy Nominee: Album of the Year
Rolling Stone: 
Rolling
Stone: '500 Greatest Albums of All-Time': # 261
Rolling Stone:
'50 Essential 'Woman In Rock' Albums': # 28
Tracks: "Talkin' Bout A
Revolution" - "Fast Car" - "Across
The Lines" - "Behind The Wall"
- "Baby Can I Hold You" -
"Mountains O' Things" - "She's
Got Her Ticket" - "Why?" -
"For My Lover" - "If Not
Now" - "For You"
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Crossroads
Released: October 3, 1989
US: Platinum
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 9
Grammy Nominee: Best Contemporary
Folk Recording
Rolling Stone:
Tracks:
"Crossroads" - "Bridges"
- "Freedom Now" - "Material
World" - "Be Careful Of My
Heart" - "Subcity" -
"Born To Fight" - "A Hundred
Years" - "This Time" -
"All That You Have Is Your Soul"
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Matters
Of The Heart
Released: April 28, 1992
US: Gold
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 53
Rolling Stone:  - Entertainment
Weekly: A-
Tracks: "Bang Bang
Bang" - "So" - "I Used To
Be A Sailor" - "Love That You
Had" - "Woman's Work" -
"If These Are The Things" -
"Short Supply" - "Dreaming On
A World" - "Open Arms" -
"Matters Of The Heart"
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New
Beginning
Released: November 14, 1995
US: 5x Platinum
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 4
Grammy Nominee: Best Pop Album
Rolling Stone: - Entertainment
Weekly: B
Tracks: "Heaven's Here
On Earth" - "New Beginning" -
"Smoke And Ashes" - "Cold
Feet" - "At This Point In My
Life" - "The Promise" -
"The Rape Of The World" -
"Tell It Like It Is" - "Give Me One Reason" - "Remember
The Tinman" - "I'm Ready"
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Telling
Stories
Released: February 14, 2000
US: Gold
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 33
Rolling Stone: 
Tracks: "Telling
Stories"
- "Less Than Strangers" -
"Speak The Word" - "It's
OK" - "Wedding Song" -
"Unsung Psalm" - "Nothing
Yet" - "Paper & Ink" -
"Devotion" - "The Only
One" - "First Try"
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Let
It Rain
Released: October 15, 2002
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 25
Rolling Stone: - Entertainment
Weekly: B
Tracks: "Let It
Rain" - "Another Sun" -
"You're The One" - "In The
Dark" - "Almost" - "Hard
Wired" - "Say Hallelujah" -
"Broken" - "Happy" -
"Goodbye" - "Over In
Love" - "I Am Yours"
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Where
You Live
Released: September 13, 2005
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 49
Tracks: "Change" -
"Talk To You" - "3,000
Miles" - "Going Back" -
"Don't Dwell" - "Never
Yours" - "America" -
"Love's Proof" - "Before
Easter" - "Taken" - "Be
And Be Not Afraid"
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Our
Bright Future
Released: November 11, 2008
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 57
Grammy Nominee: Best Contemporary
Folk Recording
Tracks: "Sing For
You" - "I Did It All" -
"Save Us All" - "Our Bright
Future" - "For A Dream" -
"Thinking Of You" - "A
Theory" - "Conditional" -
"Something To See (No War)" -
"The First Person On Earth" -
"Spring"
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Greatest
Hits
Released: November 20, 2015
Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 105
Tracks: "Telling Stories" - "Baby Can I Hold You" -
"Change" - "The Promise"
- "Open Arms" - "Subcity"
- "Fast Car" - "Bang
Bang Bang" - "Crossroads" -
"Speak The Word" - "Smoke And
Ashes" - "Sing For You" -
"You're The One" - "Save Us
All" - "All That You Have Is Your
Soul" - "Talkin' 'Bout A
Revolution" - "Give Me One Reason" - "Stand By
Me" (live)
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