Maps of Music

Crossroads (1989)

Where the lyrics of Crossroads take you, and where it was really made.

It was the first time Tracy Chapman took on the producer's role, and the cover photograph was shot by Herb Ritts.

Key places

Recorded at Powertrax Studio (1989)

Recording site The Music Grinder (Hollywood) — Crossroads was recorded at Powertrax Studio in Hollywood, and the same studio is credited with the mixing. The map point sits at the Hollywood city centre, not the exact studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Crossroads: second studio album by American singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman
• Released in 1989; label Elektra according to German Wikipedia
• Chapman co-produced the album with David Kershenbaum
• First time Chapman took on a producer's role
• Ten tracks, all songs written by Chapman
• Opening track 'Crossroads' runs 4:11

Background

• 'Crossroads' was released as the first single on 18 September 1989
• 'All That You Have Is Your Soul' and 'Subcity' were released later as singles and missed the charts
• 'Freedom Now' is dedicated to Nelson Mandela

Recording

• Recorded at Powertrax Studio, with mixing also done there (Discogs credits)
• Mastered at Masterdisk, with mastering credited to Bob Ludwig
• Kevin W. Smith credited as engineer and mixer
• Session players include Larry Klein on bass and drums by Denny Fongheiser and Russ Kunkel
• Neil Young plays acoustic guitar and piano on 'All That You Have Is Your Soul'

Cover

• Cover photography by Herb Ritts
• Black-and-white front cover showing Chapman seated with her eyes closed (German Wikipedia)

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com · de.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Early life

• Born March 30, 1964 in Cleveland; raised by her mother, who bought her a ukulele at age three.
• Began playing guitar and writing songs at age eight.
• Attended an Episcopal high school through the A Better Chance program, graduated from Wooster School in Connecticut.
• Studied anthropology at Tufts University, busking in Harvard Square and on MBTA Red Line platforms while a student.

Career

• Signed to Elektra Records in 1987 after Charles Koppelman of SBK Publishing signed her in 1986.
• Debut album Tracy Chapman (1988) became a commercial success, certified 6× platinum by the RIAA and winning three Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist.
• "Fast Car" rose after her performance at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert at Wembley Stadium in June 1988.
• Later albums include Crossroads (1989), Matters of the Heart (1992), New Beginning (1995), Telling Stories (2000), Let It Rain (2002), Where You Live (2005) and Our Bright Future (2008).
• Greatest Hits, a compilation she curated, was released in 2015.
• In 2023, Luke Combs' cover of "Fast Car" made her the first Black woman to score a country number one with a solo composition and the first Black songwriter to win the CMA Song of the Year.

Activism

• Politically and socially active, with a particular interest in human rights; performed for Amnesty International and at charity events such as Make Poverty History and amfAR.
• Received the South African Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo in Silver in 2023.

Reception

Records

• Germany: entered the album chart at number three on 16 October 1989, reached number one three weeks later
• Germany: held the top spot for four weeks; 38 weeks in the top 100 and 20 weeks in the top 10
• United Kingdom and New Zealand: number one
• Top 10 in Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Australia, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United States
• France: second place (French Wikipedia)
• United States: ninth on the Billboard 200 (French Wikipedia)
• Germany year-end chart: number 58 in 1989, number 16 in 1990
• Germany: double platinum in 1996 for more than one million units
• Worldwide sales above 3.8 million (German Wikipedia)
• Listed under the 32nd Annual Grammy Awards in the awards section

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · de.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Chapman produced the album herself, the first time she had taken on such a role.
• 'Freedom Now' is dedicated to Nelson Mandela.
• Neil Young appears on the final track, 'All That You Have Is Your Soul', playing acoustic guitar and piano.
• 'All That You Have Is Your Soul' and 'Subcity' were released later as singles but missed the charts.
• Herb Ritts shot the cover photograph.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · de.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org

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