Crossroads (Tracy Chapman album)

1989 studio album by Tracy Chapman

Crossroads

Studio album by

Tracy Chapman

Released| October 3, 1989
Studio| Powertrax Studio, Hollywood, California
Genre|

* Contemporary folk
* folk rock[1]

Length| 42:32
Label| Elektra
Producer|

* Tracy 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

[edit]

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 ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [2]
Christgau’s Consumer Guide| B[3]
Hi-Fi News & Record Review| A*:1[4]
NME| 8/10[5]
Rolling Stone| [6]
Tom Hull| B[7]

## Personnel

[edit]

### Musicians

[edit]

* 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)

### Production

[edit]

* Producers: Tracy Chapman, David Kershenbaum
* Kevin W. Smith – engineer, mixing
* Herb Ritts – cover photography

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

| Chart (1989)  | Peak
position

|

Australian Albums (ARIA)[8] | 4
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[9] | 3
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[10] | 5
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[11] | 1
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[12] | 1
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[13] | 3
Spanish Albums (AFYVE)[14] | 3
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[15] | 8
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[16] | 2
UK Albums (OCC)[17] | 1
US Billboard 200[18] | 9
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[19] | 72

### Year-end charts

[edit]

| Chart (1989)  | Position

|

Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[20] | 40
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[21] | 58
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[22] | 1
Portugal Albums (AFP)[23] | 10
Chart (1990)  | Position

|

Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[24] | 27
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[25] | 16
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[26] | 30
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] | 30
US Billboard 200[28] | 73

### Singles

[edit]

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

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Argentina (CAPIF)[29] | Gold  | 30,000^
Australia (ARIA)[30] | 2× Platinum  | 140,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[31] | Platinum  | 50,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[32] | Platinum  | 100,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[33] | Gold  | 30,906[33]
France (SNEP)[34] | Platinum  | 300,000*
Germany (BVMI)[35] | 2× Platinum  | 1,000,000^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[36] | Gold  | 10,000*
Italy
sales in 1989  | —  | 300,000[37]
Netherlands (NVPI)[38] | Gold  | 50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[39] | Platinum  | 15,000^
Portugal (AFP)[40] | Gold  | 20,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[41] | 2× Platinum  | 200,000^
Sweden (GLF)[42] | Gold  | 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[43] | 2× Platinum  | 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[44] | Platinum  | 300,000^
United States (RIAA)[45] | Platinum  | 1,000,000^

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

## Awards

[edit]

32nd Annual Grammy Awards

Grammy Awards

Year  | Work  | Award  | Result  | Ref
1990  | Crossroads | Best Contemporary Folk Album | Nominated  | [46]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Crossroads - Tracy Chapman". 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). Vol. 34, no. 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. ^ Kirsch, Michele (October 7, 1989). "Long Play: Dred Good!". NME. p. 38.
6. ^ Rolling Stone review Archived August 18, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
7. ^ Hull, Tom. "Grade List: Tracy Chapman". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
8. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
9. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
10. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
11. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
12. ^ "Charts.nz – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
13. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
14. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
15. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
16. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
17. ^ "Tracy Chapman | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
18. ^ "Tracy Chapman Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
19. ^ "Tracy Chapman Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
20. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1989". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
21. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
22. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1989". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
23. ^ Music & Media, vol. 7, issue 13; Mar 31, 1990
24. ^ "Jahreshitparade Alben 1990". austriancharts.at. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
25. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
26. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1990". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
27. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1990". hitparade.ch. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
28. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 23, 2015. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
29. ^ "Discos de oro y platino" (in Spanish). Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
30. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 54.
31. ^ "Austrian album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
32. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads". Music Canada. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
33. ^ a b "Tracy Chapman" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
34. ^ "French album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
35. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Tracy Chapman; 'Crossroads')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
36. ^ "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1990". IFPI Hong Kong.
37. ^ Caroli, Daniele (December 9, 1989). "Italy > Talent Challenges" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. 101 (49): I-8. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved July 25, 2020 - via World Radio History.
38. ^ "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".
39. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
40. ^ 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.
41. ^ Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990 (in Spanish). Iberautor Promociones Culturales. ISBN 8480486392.
42. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
43. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Crossroads')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
44. ^ "British album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
45. ^ "American album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
46. ^ "Tracy Chapman". Grammy Awards. Retrieved July 21, 2019.

* v
* t
* e

Tracy Chapman

Studio albums|

* Tracy Chapman (1988)
* Crossroads (1989)
* Matters of the Heart (1992)
* New Beginning (1995)
* Telling Stories (2000)
* Let It Rain (2002)
* Where You Live (2005)
* Our Bright Future (2008)

Compilations|

* Collection (2001)
* Greatest Hits (2015)

Singles|

* "Fast Car"
* "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution"
* "Baby Can I Hold You"
* "Crossroads"
* "Give Me One Reason"

Related articles|

* Discography

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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