Tracy Chapman (album)

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Tracy Chapman

| type = studio

| artist = Tracy Chapman

| cover = Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman.jpg

| alt = A black-and-white photograph of Chapman looking down

| released = {{Start date|1988|4|5}}

| recorded = 1987–88

| studio = Powertrax, Hollywood, California

| genre = *Contemporary folk

  • folk rock{{cite web|url=https://www.thisisdig.com/feature/fast-car-tracy-chapman-song-story/|title = Fast Car: Behind the Song That Drove Tracy Chapman to Fame}}
  • roots rock{{cite magazine |last= Blender Staff |first= |date= May 2003 |title= 500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die! |url= https://archive.org/details/blender-2003-04-15-eminem-c/page/n59/mode/2up |magazine= Blender |location= New York |publisher= Dennis Publishing Ltd |access-date= April 1, 2023}}

| length = {{Duration|m=36|s=11}}

| label = Elektra

| producer = David Kershenbaum

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title = Crossroads

| next_year = 1989

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Tracy Chapman

| type = studio

| single1 = Fast Car

| single1date = April 1988

| single2 = Talkin' 'bout a Revolution

| single2date = July 1988

| single3 = Baby Can I Hold You

| single3date = October 1988

}}

}}

Tracy Chapman is the debut album by the American singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman, released on April 5, 1988, by Elektra Records. The album was recorded at the Powertrax studio in Hollywood, California. In 1987, Chapman was discovered by fellow Tufts University student Brian Koppelman. He offered to show her work to his father, who owned a successful publishing company; however, she did not consider the offer to be serious. After multiple performances, however, Koppelman found a demo tape of her singing "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution", which he promoted to radio stations, and she was eventually signed to Elektra.

In early attempts to produce the first album, many producers turned down Chapman as they did not favor her musical direction. David Kershenbaum, however, decided to produce it as he wanted to record an acoustic music album. It was recorded in Hollywood, California, in eight weeks. Most of the writing is based on political and social causes.

Tracy Chapman quickly gained critical acclaim from a wide majority of music critics, praising the simplicity, Chapman's vocal ability and her political and social lyrical content. The album achieved commercial success in most of the countries it was released, making it to the top of the charts in many countries, including Austria, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, Denmark and the United Kingdom. It peaked at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 and was certified six-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), with sales exceeding over six million copies in the United States alone.

Three singles were released from the album, with the most successful single being "Fast Car". The song was performed at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute. It rose to the top ten on the US Billboard Hot 100 and also did well in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and other European countries. Tracy Chapman is one of the best-selling albums of all time, with sales of over 20 million units worldwide.

In April 2025, it was inducted into National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress.{{Cite web |title=National Recording Registry Inducts Sounds of Elton John, Chicago, Broadway’s ‘Hamilton,’ Mary J. Blige, Amy Winehouse, Minecraft and Microsoft |url=https://newsroom.loc.gov/news/national-recording-registry-inducts-sounds-of-elton-john--chicago--broadway-s--hamilton---mary-j.-bl/s/986b2312-27dd-4b66-bd41-3113e0cb2e57 |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=Library of Congress - News and Content for Media |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Ted |date=2025-04-09 |title=Elton John’s ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,’ ‘Hamilton’ Cast Album And ‘Minecraft’ Among Additions To Library Of Congress’ National Recording Registry |url=https://deadline.com/2025/04/national-recording-registry-library-of-congress-2025-1236363956/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |title=National Recording Registry adds Tracy Chapman, Hamilton and the Minecraft game soundtrack |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/04/09/nx-s1-5352774/national-recording-registry-tracy-chapman-elton-john-hamilton-minecraft |access-date=2025-04-10 |work=NPR |language=en}}

Background

In 1987, Chapman was discovered by fellow Tufts University student Brian Koppelman. In an interview, Koppelman said, "I was helping organize a boycott protest against apartheid at school, and [someone] told me there was this great protest singer I should get to play at the rally." He went to see Chapman perform at a coffeehouse called Cappuccino, adding, "Tracy walked onstage, and it was like an epiphany. Her presence, her voice, her songs, her sincerity—it all came across."{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-albums-of-the-eighties-20110418/tracy-chapman-tracy-chapman-19691231 |title=100 Best Albums of the Eighties: Tracy Chapman, 'Tracy Chapman' |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=November 16, 1989 |access-date=September 21, 2013}}

After this, Koppelman told Chapman that his father, Charles Koppelman, was at the time a co-owner of SBK Publishing and that he could help her make a record. She did not consider the offer seriously.

Koppelman was still very interested in Chapman, and he attended most of her shows. Chapman finally agreed to talk to him, but she did not record any demos for him. He later discovered that she had recorded demos at the Tufts' radio station WMFO for copyright purposes in exchange for the station's right to play her music. Koppelman smuggled a demo tape of her song "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution" from the station, which he showed to his father.

According to the interview, "He immediately got the picture and flew up to see her". Her demo led to her signing a contract with Elektra Records. Chapman said, "I have to say that I never thought I would get a contract with a major record label [...] All the time since I was a kid listening to records and the radio, I didn't think there was any indication that record people would find the kind of music that I did marketable. Especially when I was singing songs like 'Talkin' 'bout a Revolution' during the Seventies [...] I didn't see a place for me there."

Producer David Kershenbaum said that the album was "made for the right reasons," adding, "There was a set of ideas that we wanted to communicate, and we felt if we were truthful and loyal to those ideas, then people would pick up on the emotion and the lyrical content that was there."

Recording

Chapman immediately started writing songs when she was signed to Elektra. Koppelman started finding producers for the album with the demo tape of her single "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution". However, she was turned down, due to the popularity of dance-pop and synthpop at the time. In an interview with The Guardian in 2008, Chapman stated, "My first record was almost not my first record." After the originally chosen producer was killed in a car accident, Elektra initially selected a producer with less experience to replace him, and the recording sessions were, according to Chapman, "horrible" and "bombastic".{{cite web |last=Fleming |first=Amy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/oct/31/tracy-chapman-women-pop-usa |title=The quiet revolutionary |website=The Guardian |date=October 31, 2008 |access-date=September 21, 2013}}

They then found Kershenbaum, who later recalled, "I'd been looking for something acoustic to do for some time," adding, "There was a sense in the industry of a slight boredom with everything out there and that people might be willing to listen again to lyrics and to someone who made statements." Chapman's greatest concern during her meetings with Kershenbaum was that the integrity of her songs remain intact, because she wanted to record "real simple". Kershenbaum said, "I wanted to make sure that she was in front, vocally and thematically, and that everything was built around her." Every song that was featured on the resultant studio album had been featured on her demo tape, except for "Fast Car", which was one of the last songs recorded for the album. Kershenbaum recalled that the first time she sang and performed it for him, he "loved it the minute I heard it."

The album was, in total, recorded in eight weeks at Powertrax, Kershenbaum's Hollywood studio. Interviewed in 2002 by The Guardian, Kershenbaum stated that a lot of the public wanted "what she had", adding, "And they weren't getting it. She got there at the right moment with stuff that was good."{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/sep/28/artsfeatures.popandrock |title=A militant mellows |last=Younge |first=Gary |website=The Guardian |date=September 28, 2002}} Chapman was also interviewed and talked about the background of the album, stating, "The first record [Tracy Chapman] is seen as being more social commentary... more political. But I think that's just all about perspective."

Reception

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/tracy-chapman-mw0000199023 |title=Tracy Chapman – Tracy Chapman |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=July 26, 2012 |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine}}

| rev2 = Los Angeles Times

| rev2score = {{Rating|4|4}}{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-12-11-ca-532-story.html |title=Do You Hear What They Hear?: U2 Starts Pop Top 40 List |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=December 11, 1988 |access-date=August 13, 2022 |last1=Hilburn |first1=Robert |author1-link=Robert Hilburn |last2=Hunt |first2=Dennis |last3=Morden |first3=Darryl |last4=Willman |first4=Chris |last5=Sims |first5=Tammy |last6=Strauss |first6=Duncan |last7=Grein |first7=Paul |last8=Johnson |first8=Connie |last9=Garza |first9=Janiss |last10=Boehm |first10=Mike |author10-link=Mike Boehm |last11=Hochman |first11=Steve |last12=Waller |first12=Don |author12-link=Don Waller}}

| rev3 = NME

| rev3score = 8/10{{cite magazine |title=Cold Comfort |magazine=NME |date=April 23, 1988 |last=Brown |first=Len |page=34}}

| rev4 = Orlando Sentinel

| rev4score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1988/06/12/tracy-chapman-7/ |title=Tracy Chapman |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel |date=June 12, 1988 |access-date=April 7, 2017 |last=Duffy |first=Thom}}

| rev5 = The Philadelphia Inquirer

| rev5score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{cite news |title=Music with humor from Leonard Cohen |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=April 24, 1988 |last=Tucker |first=Ken |author-link=Ken Tucker}}

| rev6 = Pitchfork

| rev6score = 9.4/10{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/tracy-chapman-tracy-chapman/ |title=Tracy Chapman: Tracy Chapman |website=Pitchfork |date=January 20, 2019 |access-date=January 20, 2019 |last=Gaillot |first=Ann-Derrick}}

| rev7 = Q

| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Tracy Chapman: Tracy Chapman |magazine=Q |issue=20 |date=May 1988}}

| rev8 = Rolling Stone

| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/tracychapman/albums/album/107504/review/5941277/tracy_chapman |title=Tracy Chapman: Tracy Chapman |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=June 2, 1988 |access-date=July 26, 2012 |last=Pond |first=Steve |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002033043/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/tracychapman/albums/album/107504/review/5941277/tracy_chapman |archive-date=October 2, 2007 |url-status=dead}}

| rev9 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

| rev9score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite book |chapter=Tracy Chapman |last=Evans |first=Paul |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor1-link=Nathan Brackett |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |editor2-link=Christian Hoard |publisher=Simon & Schuster |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/153 153]}}

| rev10 = The Village Voice

| rev10score = B+{{cite news |url=https://robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv588-88.php |title=Christgau's Consumer Guide |newspaper=The Village Voice |date=May 24, 1988 |access-date=February 3, 2012 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau}}

}}

=Critical=

According to Rolling Stone, Chapman "caught everyone's ear in the hair-metal late Eighties" with the album.{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/tracy-chapman-tracy-chapman-19691231 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602142059/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/tracy-chapman-tracy-chapman-19691231 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 2, 2012 |title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time: Tracy Chapman, 'Tracy Chapman' |publisher=Rolling Stone |access-date=September 21, 2013}} Robert Christgau of The Village Voice found "Fast Car" and "Mountains o' Things" very perceptive and Chapman an innately gifted singer but was disappointed by the presence of "begged questions" and "naive left-folkie truisms", such as "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution" and "Why": "She's too good for such condescension ... Get real, girl."

In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote, "Arriving with little fanfare in the spring of 1988, Tracy Chapman's eponymous debut album became one of the key records of the Bush era, providing a touchstone for the entire PC movement while reviving the singer-songwriter tradition." According to Erlewine, "the juxtaposition of contemporary themes and classic production precisely is what makes the album distinctive – it brings the traditions into the present." He highlighted the album as being the best in her entire discography.

=Commercial=

Over three weeks after its release, the album first reached the Billboard charts for the week of April 30 at No. 122.{{Cite magazine |last=Cabison |first=Rosalie |date=2013-01-02 |title=Billboard 200™ |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/ |access-date=2024-02-06 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} The following week, it reached No. 77 and continued to slowly climb the charts until it reached No. 1 in the week of August 27. Her live televised performance at Wembley Stadium in June marked a shift in album sales. Prior to that performance, 250,000 copies had been sold.{{Cite web |title=April 1988: Tracy Chapman Debuts with TRACY CHAPMAN {{!}} Rhino |url=https://www.rhino.com/article/april-1988-tracy-chapman-debuts-with-tracy-chapman |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=Rhino Entertainment |language=en}} By June 22, it was awarded gold record status by the RIAA. By July 27, it was awarded platinum status, having sold 1,000,000 copies.{{Cite web |title=Gold & Platinum |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Tracy+Chapman#search_section |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=Recording Industry Association of America |language=en-US}} Ultimately, it sold over 20 million copies worldwide and is one of the first albums by a female artist to have more than 10 million copies sold worldwide.{{cite news |url=http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-11-20/tracy-chapmans-new-greatest-hits-album-celebrates-quietly-powerful-legacy |title=Tracy Chapman's new greatest hits album celebrates a quietly powerful legacy |last=Wernick |first=Adam |publisher=Public Radio International |date=November 20, 2015 |access-date=February 5, 2016}}

=Awards=

31st Annual Grammy Awards

class="wikitable"
colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| Grammy Awards
Year

! style="width:200px;" | Work

! style="width:300px;" | Award

! style="width:65px;"| Result

! style="width:20px;"| Ref

rowspan=7|1989

|rowspan=2|Tracy Chapman

|Album of the Year

|{{nom}}

| rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/tracy-chapman|title=Tracy Chapman|publisher=Grammy Awards|access-date=July 21, 2019}}

Best Contemporary Folk Album

|{{won}}

rowspan=3|"Fast Car"

|Song of the Year

|{{nom}}

Record of the Year

|{{nom}}

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

|{{won}}

Tracy Chapman

|Best New Artist

|{{won}}

David Kershenbaum

|Producer of the Year

|{{nom}}

| style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/david-kershenbaum/9220|title=David Kershenbaum|publisher=Grammy Awards|access-date=January 2, 2022}}

Legacy

In 1989, the album was rated No. 10 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Albums of the 80s". In 2003, the album was ranked No. 261 on Rolling Stone{{'}}s list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time",{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/ |title=500 Greatest Albums List (2003) |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=May 31, 2009 |access-date=February 8, 2024}} No. 263 in a 2012 revised list,{{cite web| url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/tracy-chapman-tracy-chapman-2-171828/| year=2012| title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time Rolling Stone's definitive list of the 500 greatest albums of all time| publisher=Rolling Stone| access-date= September 10, 2019}} and No. 256 in a 2020 revised list.{{Cite magazine|date=2020-09-22|title=The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/|access-date=2021-08-20|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}

Slant Magazine listed the album at No. 49 on its list of "Best Albums of the 1980s".{{cite web|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/feature/best-albums-of-the-1980s/308/page_6 |title=The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s | Feature |date=March 5, 2012 |publisher=Slant Magazine |access-date=September 21, 2013}}

The album was critically acclaimed and helped to revive the singer-songwriter tradition.

"Fast Car" was later recorded by country music singer Luke Combs for his 2023 album Gettin' Old, from which it was released as the second single. Combs' rendition of the song reached number one on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, making Chapman the first African-American woman to solely write a country number one.{{Cite magazine |last=Bernstein |first=Jonathan |date=June 30, 2023 |title=Tracy Chapman Will Become the First Black Woman to Score a Number One Country Song as Sole Writer |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/tracy-chapman-fast-car-luke-combs-number-one-song-1234781760/ |magazine=Rolling Stone}} Additionally, it reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100, higher than Chapman's original version.{{cite magazine |title=Luke Combs Chart History – Hot 100 |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/luke-combs/chart-history/hsi/ |access-date=July 3, 2023 |magazine=Billboard}} Chapman and Combs subsequently performed the song together live at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 4, 2024.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/tracy-chapman-fast-car-grammys-how-it-happened-secret-1234962581/ |title=Tracy Chapman's Grammys Appearance Was the Event of the Night. Here's How It Happened |last=Hudak |first=Joseph |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=February 8, 2024 |access-date=February 8, 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/videos/tracy-chapman-luke-combs-fast-car-2024-grammys-performance-66th-annual-grammy-awards |title=Tracy Chapman & Luke Combs Deliver Gripping Performance Of "Fast Car" |website=Grammy Awards |access-date=February 8, 2024}}

In 2025, the album was inducted into National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, and/or aesthetically significant".

Track listing

All songs written by Tracy Chapman.

{{Track listing

| title1 = Talkin' 'bout a Revolution

| length1 = 2:40

| title2 = Fast Car

| length2 = 4:57

| title3 = Across the Lines

| length3 = 3:25

| title4 = Behind the Wall

| length4 = 1:50

| title5 = Baby Can I Hold You

| length5 = 3:14

| title6 = Mountains o' Things

| length6 = 4:39

| title7 = She's Got Her Ticket

| length7 = 3:57

| title8 = Why?

| length8 = 2:06

| title9 = For My Lover

| length9 = 3:12

| title10 = If Not Now…

| length10 = 3:01

| title11 = For You

| length11 = 3:10

}}

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's booklet.{{cite AV media notes |title=Tracy Chapman |year=1988 |publisher=Elektra Records |type=CD liner notes |id=CD 60774}}

Musicians

Technical

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (1988–2025)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"|Argentina (CAPIF){{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=axQoAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22argentina%2FLPs%22&pg=PA30&article_id=1729,1320536|title=Outras paradas - Argentina|newspaper=Jornal do Brasil|language=pt-br|access-date=3 November 2023|date=23 January 1989|page=30}}

| 1

{{album chart|Australia|2|artist=Tracy Chapman|album=Tracy Chapman|rowheader=true|access-date=June 21, 2021}}
{{album chart|Austria|1|artist=Tracy Chapman|album=Tracy Chapman|rowheader=true|access-date=June 21, 2021}}
{{album chart|Flanders|23|artist=Tracy Chapman|album=Tracy Chapman|rowheader=true|access-date=April 13, 2025}}
{{album chart|Wallonia|65|artist=Tracy Chapman|album=Tracy Chapman|rowheader=true|access-date=April 13, 2025}}
scope="row"| Canadian Albums (RPM){{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=5335& |title=Item: 5335 - Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Bac-lac.gc.ca |date= July 17, 2013|accessdate=2022-10-07}}

| 1

scope="row"| Croatian International Albums (HDU){{cite web |url=https://www.top-lista.hr/www/lista-prodaje-strano-15-tjedan-2025/ |title=Lista prodaje 15. tjedan 2025 |date=24 April 2025 |trans-title=Sales list Week 15 2025 |publisher=HDU |language=hr |access-date=April 24, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250424085527/https://www.top-lista.hr/www/lista-prodaje-strano-15-tjedan-2025/|archive-date=April 24, 2025}}

| 5

{{album chart|Denmark|17|M|url=https://hitlisten.nu/default.asp?w=14&y=2025&list=a40|title=Album Top-40 Uge 14, 2025|publisher=Hitlisten|artist=Tracy Chapman|album=Tracy Chapman|rowheader=true|access-date=April 16, 2025}}
{{album chart|Netherlands|1|artist=Tracy Chapman|album=Tracy Chapman|rowheader=true|access-date=June 21, 2021}}
{{album chart|France|27|artist=Tracy Chapman|album=Tracy Chapman|rowheader=true|access-date=June 21, 2021}}
{{album chart|Germany4|1|id=740|artist=Tracy Chapman|album=Tracy Chapman|rowheader=true|access-date=June 21, 2021}}
{{album chart|Hungary|3|year=2025|week=15|rowheader=true|access-date=April 16, 2025}}
{{album chart|Italy|55|artist=Tracy Chapman|album=Tracy Chapman|rowheader=true|access-date=June 21, 2021}}
{{album chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Tracy Chapman|album=Tracy Chapman|rowheader=true|access-date=June 21, 2021}}
{{album chart|Norway|2|artist=Tracy Chapman|album=Tracy Chapman|rowheader=true|access-date=June 21, 2021}}
scope="row"|Spanish Albums (AFYVE){{cite book|last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st|date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}

|align="center"|2

{{album chart|Sweden|2|artist=Tracy Chapman|album=Tracy Chapman|rowheader=true|access-date=June 21, 2021}}
{{album chart|Switzerland|1|artist=Tracy Chapman|album=Tracy Chapman|rowheader=true|access-date=June 21, 2021}}
{{album chart|UK|1|artist=Tracy Chapman|rowheader=true|access-date=June 21, 2021}}
{{album chart|Billboard200|1|artist=Tracy Chapman|rowheader=true|access-date=June 21, 2021}}
{{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|24|artist=Tracy Chapman|rowheader=true|access-date=June 21, 2021}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (1988)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/1988/albums-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1988|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=June 21, 2021}}

| 7

scope="row"| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria){{cite web|url=https://austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=a&id=1988|title=Jahreshitparade Alben 1988|website=austriancharts.at|access-date=June 21, 2021}}

| 13

scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100){{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1988&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten – CD 1988|website=dutchcharts.nl|access-date=June 21, 2021}}

| 5

scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100){{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-1988|title=Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts|language=de|work=GfK Entertainment|publisher=offiziellecharts.de|access-date=June 21, 2021}}

| 6

scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/1988-12-31|title=Top Selling Albums of 1988|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=February 14, 2022}}

| 11

scope="row"| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/1988/alben|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1988|website=hitparade.ch|access-date=June 21, 2021}}

| 6

scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1988/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1988|magazine=Billboard|date=January 2, 2013|access-date=June 21, 2021|archive-date=January 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123060504/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1988/the-billboard-200|url-status=live}}

| 21

scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1988/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1988|magazine=Billboard|date=January 2, 2013|access-date=June 21, 2021}}

| 100

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (1989)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/1989/albums-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1989|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=June 21, 2021}}

| 46

scope="row"| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria){{cite web|url=https://austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=a&id=1989|title=Jahreshitparade Alben 1989|website=austriancharts.at|access-date=June 21, 2021}}

| 1

scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100){{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1989&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 1989|website=dutchcharts.nl|access-date=June 21, 2021}}

| 91

scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100){{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-1989|title=Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts|language=de|work=GfK Entertainment|publisher=offiziellecharts.de|access-date=June 21, 2021}}

| 3

scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/1989-12-31|title=Top Selling Albums of 1989|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=February 14, 2022}}

| 27

scope="row"|Portugal Albums (AFP)[https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-03-31.pdf Music & Media, vol. 7, issue 13; Mar 31, 1990]

| 3

scope="row"| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/1989/alben|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1989|website=hitparade.ch|access-date=June 21, 2021}}

| 10

scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1989/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1989|magazine=Billboard|date=January 2, 2013|access-date=June 21, 2021}}

| 41

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (1999)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/19990110/37502/|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1999|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=September 8, 2021}}

| 66

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (2001)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC){{cite web|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2001.pdf|title=The Official UK Albums Chart 2001|work=UKChartsPlus|access-date=November 24, 2021}}

| 169

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (2002)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC){{cite web|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2002.pdf|title=UK Year-End Charts 2002|work=UKChartsPlus|access-date=November 21, 2021}}

| 173

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (2003)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC){{cite web|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2003.pdf|title=The Official UK Albums Chart 2003|work=UKChartsPlus|access-date=November 21, 2021}}

| 199

= All-time charts =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
Chart

! Position

scope="row"| Irish Female Albums (IRMA){{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-top-50-biggest-female-artist-albums-of-all-time-in-ireland__25728/|title= Ireland's Top 50 biggest female artist albums|publisher=The Official Charts Company |access-date=March 6, 2019|archive-date=March 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306235254/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-top-50-biggest-female-artist-albums-of-all-time-in-ireland__25728/}}

| 5

{{col-end}}

Sales and certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Argentina|type=album|title=Tracy Chapman|artist=Tracy Chapman|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1988|certyear=1993|certref={{cite web|url=http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=&album=&LanDesde_MM=1&LanDesde_AA=1980&LanHasta_MM=12&LanHasta_AA=2010&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110706084844/http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=&album=&LanDesde_MM=1&LanDesde_AA=1980&LanHasta_MM=12&LanHasta_AA=2010&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP |archive-date=July 6, 2011 |title=Discos de oro y platino |access-date=October 15, 2012 |publisher=Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas |language=es |url-status=dead }}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|title=Tracy Chapman|artist=Tracy Chapman|award=Platinum|number=7|relyear=1988|certyear=2001|access-date=October 15, 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|type=album|title=Tracy Chapman|artist=Tracy Chapman|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1988|certyear=1992|access-date=October 15, 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|type=album|title=Tracy Chapman|artist=Tracy Chapman|award=Platinum|relyear=1988|certyear=1998|access-date=July 20, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=album|title=Tracy Chapman|artist=Tracy Chapman|award=Platinum|relyear=1988|certyear=1994|access-date=July 20, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|title=Tracy Chapman|artist=Tracy Chapman|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1988|certyear=1988|access-date=October 15, 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=album|title=Tracy Chapman|artist=Tracy Chapman|award=Platinum|number=6|relyear=2011|certyear=2022|relmonth=5|id=11291|note=sales since 2011|access-date=23 May 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=album|title=1er Album|artist=Tracy Chapman|award=Diamond|relyear=1988|certyear=2000}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=album|title=Tracy Chapman|artist=Tracy Chapman|award=Gold|number=9|relyear=1988|certyear=2010|access-date=October 15, 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Hong Kong|title=Tracy Chapman|artist=Tracy Chapman|type=album|award=Platinum|certyear=1989|relyear=1988}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=India (IMI)|title=Tracy Chapman|artist=Tracy Chapman|type=album|nocert=yes|salesamount=6,500|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/80s/1989/BB-1989-04-29.pdf|title=Madonna's 'Prayer' Selling Well In India|magazine=Billboard|date=April 29, 1989|access-date=September 11, 2020|page=66|volume=101|issue=17}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Ireland|type=album|title=Tracy Chapman|artist=Tracy Chapman|award=Platinum|number=9|relyear=1988|salesamount=145,000|salesref=|certref={{cite magazine|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/back-on-track-1.219960|magazine=The Irish Times|title=Back on track|date=November 28, 1998|access-date=September 21, 2021}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=Tracy Chapman|title=Tracy Chapman|type=album|nocert=true|salesamount=700,000|relyear=1977|note=sales 1988-1989|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/80s/1989/BB-1989-12-09.pdf|title=Italy > Talent Challenges|magazine=Billboard|first=Daniele|last=Caroli|volume=101|number=49|page=I-8|date=December 9, 1989|issn=0006-2510|via=World Radio History|access-date=July 25, 2020}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=album|title=Tracy Chapman|artist=Tracy Chapman|award=Platinum|note=sales since 2009|relyear=2009|certyear=2024|access-date=November 18, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|type=album|title=Tracy Chapman|artist=Tracy Chapman|award=Platinum|relyear=1988|certyear=1988|access-date=August 25, 2018}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=album|title=Tracy Chapman|artist=Tracy Chapman|award=Platinum|relyear=1988|id=1990-03-02|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|certyear=1989}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|award=Platinum|relyear=1988|title=Tracy Chapman|artist=Tracy Chapman|type=album|certref={{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1990/BB-1990-04-14.pdf|title=INTERNATIONAL: Floyd, Kaoma Top Sellers In Portugal Certs|magazine=Billboard|page=69|volume=102|issue=15|date=April 14, 1990|via= World Radio History|first=Fernando|last=Tenente|access-date=November 28, 2020}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Singapore|nocert=true|salesamount=10,000|salesref={{cite web|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/newpaper19880829-1.2.10.4?qt=&q=|title=Tracy Chapman's a hot number|work=The New Paper|date=August 29, 1988|access-date=June 21, 2024|page=13}}}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Spain|artist=Tracy Chapman|title=Tracy Chapman|salesamount=350,000|salesref={{cite news|url=https://prensahistorica.mcu.es/es/catalogo_imagenes/grupo.do?path=1000471852&idImagen=1003807324&idBusqueda=11457&posicion=40&presentacion=pagina|title=Tracy Chapman saltó a la fama en el homenaje a Nelson Mandela|last=Campos|first=Santiago|date=November 4, 1989|page=40|language=es|work=Diario de Burgos|access-date=November 8, 2022}}|award=Platinum|number=3|certyear=2000|relyear=1988|certref={{cite book |last=Salaverrie |first=Fernando |date=September 2005|url=http://www.mediafire.com/file/7q55521w7go6vh6/Spanish+Certifications+for+2000-2002.pdf |title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 |language=es |edition=1st |location=Madrid |publisher=Fundación Autor/SGAE |page=956 |isbn=84-8048-639-2 |access-date=June 20, 2019}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=album|title=Tracy Chapman|artist=Chapman Tracy|award=Gold|relyear=1988|certyear=1988|access-date=October 15, 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|type=album|title=Tracy Chapman|artist=Tracy Chapman|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=1988|certyear=1994|access-date=October 15, 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|title=Tracy Chapman|artist=Tracy Chapman|award=Platinum|number=9|relyear=1988|certyear=2020|id=7739-378-2|salesamount=2,668,869|salesref={{cite news|url=http://www.musicweek.com/businessanalysis/read/official-charts-analysis-bowie-album-chart-domination-continues/063975|title=Official Charts Analysis: Bowie album chart domination continues|last=Jones|first=Alan|date=January 29, 2016|work=Music Week|access-date=January 29, 2016|url-access=subscription }}|access-date=October 15, 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|title=Tracy Chapman|artist=Tracy Chapman|award=Platinum|number=6|relyear=1988|certyear=2001|access-date=October 15, 2012}}

{{Certification Table Summary}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=Tracy Chapman|artist=Tracy Chapman|region=Worldwide|nocert=true|salesamount=20,000,000|salesref=|access-date=July 25, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

See also

References

{{Reflist|30em}}