Crossroads (Tracy Chapman album) explained

Crossroads
Type:	studio
Artist:	Tracy Chapman
Cover:	Tracy Chapman - Crossroads.jpg
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
Prev Title:	Tracy Chapman
Prev Year:	1988
Next Title:	Matters of the Heart
Next Year:	1992

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

Personnel

Musicians

• 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

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

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (1989)	Position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[3]	40
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[4]	58
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[5]	1
Portugal Albums (AFP)^[6]	10

Chart (1990)	Position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[7]	27
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[8]	16
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[9]	30
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[10]	30
US Billboard 200^[11]	73

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1989	"Crossroads"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	26
1989	"Crossroads"	Modern Rock Tracks	7
1989	"Crossroads"	The Billboard Hot 100	90

Awards

32nd Annual Grammy Awards

Notes and References

1. Web site: Crossroads - Tracy Chapman. AllMusic.
2. Book: Salaverri, Fernando. Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002. 1st. September 2005. Fundación Autor-SGAE. Spain. 84-8048-639-2.
3. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Album 1989. dutchcharts.nl. February 14, 2022.
4. Web site: Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts. de. GfK Entertainment. offiziellecharts.de. February 14, 2022.
5. Web site: Top Selling Albums of 1989. Recorded Music NZ. February 14, 2022.
6. https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-03-31.pdf Music & Media, vol. 7, issue 13; Mar 31, 1990
7. Web site: Jahreshitparade Alben 1990. austriancharts.at. February 14, 2022.
8. Web site: Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts. de. GfK Entertainment. offiziellecharts.de. February 14, 2022.
9. Web site: Top Selling Albums of 1990. Recorded Music NZ. February 14, 2022.
10. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1990. hitparade.ch. February 14, 2022.
11. Web site: Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1990. Billboard. February 14, 2022. January 23, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150123035751/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1990/the-billboard-200. dead.
12. Web site: Tracy Chapman. Grammy Awards. July 21, 2019.