Maps of Music

Our Bright Future (2008)

Where the lyrics of Our Bright Future take you, and where it was really made.

The album came out in November 2008, but its first single had already been released digitally on October 31.

Key places

Recorded and mixed at Henson Recording Studios (2008)

Recording site Motown Recording Studios — The album was recorded and mixed at Henson Recording Studios in Hollywood, California. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Our Bright Future: eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman
• Released November 2008 via Elektra
• Co-produced by Larry Klein
• First single "Sing For You" released digitally on October 31, 2008
• Chapman's latest studio album as of the source

Background

• Promotion: Chapman appeared on radio stations across Europe with interviews and sessions
• European tour through November and December 2008 in support of the disc
• US tour planned for January 2009 but postponed
• Chapman toured Europe again in summer 2009

Recording

• Recorded and mixed at Henson Recording Studios, Hollywood, California
• Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering Studio, Hollywood, California
• All songs published by Purple Rabbit Music (ASCAP)
• Larry Klein plays bass guitar and organ
• Steve Gadd on drums; Joey Waronker on drums and percussion
• Dean Parks plays guitar, clarinet, mandolin and pedal steel guitar
• Carla Kihlstedt plays violin and nyckelharpa

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

At release

• Released November 2008 via Elektra, the eighth studio album by Tracy Chapman
• First single Sing For You released digitally on October 31, 2008
• Promotion through radio interviews and sessions across Europe
• Chapman performed Sing For You on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
• European tour through November and December 2008 supported the album
• US tour planned for January 2009 was postponed

Records

• France: Platinum certification, more than 200,000 copies sold there
• Switzerland: Gold certification, sales in excess of 15,000
• 52nd Grammy Awards (2009): nominated for Best Contemporary Folk Album
• Chapman toured Europe again in summer 2009

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

Trivia

• Chapman performed "Sing for You" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to promote the album.
• Promotion included appearances on radio stations across Europe, with interviews and sessions.
• A US tour planned for January 2009 was postponed rather than held.
• The album's first single was released digitally a few weeks before the full album.
• Carla Kihlstedt's violin and nyckelharpa parts are among the album's credited instruments.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · pt.wikipedia.org

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