Crossroads (Tracy Chapman album)

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.

Crossroads
Studio album by
Tracy Chapman
ReleasedOctober 3, 1989
StudioPowertrax Studio, Hollywood, California
GenreContemporary folk
Length42:32
LabelElektra
ProducerTracy Chapman, David Kershenbaum
Tracy Chapman chronology
Tracy Chapman
(1988)		 Crossroads
(1989)		 Matters of the Heart
(1992)

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
AllMusic[1]
Robert ChristgauB[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 CertificationCertified 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
^shipments figures based on certification alone

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References
  1. Henderson, Alex. Crossroads at AllMusic
  2. "Robert Christgau review". Robertchristgau.com. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  3. Rolling Stone review Archived August 18, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  4. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 54.
  5. "Austrian album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  6. "Canadian album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads". Music Canada. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  7. "Tracy Chapman" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  8. "French album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  9. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Tracy Chapman; 'Crossroads')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  10. "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1990". IFPI Hong Kong.
  11. 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.
  12. "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.
  13. "New Zealand album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  14. "Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990" (in Spanish). Iberautor Promociones Culturales. ISBN 8480486392.
  15. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  16. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Tracy Chapman; 'Crossroads')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  17. "British album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  18. "American album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 15, 2012. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
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