Tracy Chapman (album)

chronology
Tracy Chapman
Studio album by Tracy Chapman
Publication ; (s)	April 5, 1988
Label (s)	Elektra
Format (s)	CD, LP
Genre (s)	Folk
Title (number)	11
running time	36 min 11 s
occupation	Vocals , guitar , percussion : Tracy Chapman; Drums , percussion: Denny Fongheiser; Bass : Larry Klein; Piano , Electric Guitar , Hammond Organ , Hammered Dulcimer , Electric Sitar , Dobro : Jack Holder; Steel Guitar : Ed Black; Synth harmonica , keyboard: Steve Kaplan; Percussion: Paulinho da Costa ; Keyboard: Bob Marlette; Electric violin : David LaFlamme ;
production	David Kershenbaum
Studio (s)	Powertrax Studio, Hollywood, California

Tracy Chapman is the debut album by the singer Tracy Chapman . It was released in 1988 under the Elektra music label .

Music genre

The album features simple folk songs without large arrangements, all of which Tracy Chapman composed himself between 1982 and 1987. The album made it to number one in the charts in both the UK , the US and Germany , rather unusual for a debut. This success was made possible by her appearance at Nelson Mandela's seventieth birthday celebration . The Rolling Stone named Chapman Singer of the Year 1988. In addition to Tracy Chapman, the album features Paulinho da Costa , Larry Klein and David LaFlamme, among others .

The lyrics in the booklet are printed in five different languages (English, Italian, French, Spanish, German).

The song Fast Car was released as a single with the album and reached number 5 in the UK and number 6 in the US singles charts. Fast Car is Tracy Chapman's debut single.
The song Talkin 'Bout a Revolution was released as a single in October 1988 and reached number 75 on the US charts.
The song Baby Can I Hold You was released as a single in December 1988 and reached number 48 in the US singles chart.
The album sold over 2,250,000 times in Germany and therefore reached 9 × gold.

Country / Region	Award	Sales
Awards for music sales (country / region, Award, Sales)
Argentina (CAPIF)	2 × platinum	120,000
Australia (ARIA)	7 × platinum	490,000
Belgium (BEA)	platinum	50,000
Brazil (PMB)	platinum	250,000
Denmark (IFPI)	5 × platinum	250,000
Germany (BVMI)	9 × gold	2,250,000
France (SNEP)	diamond	1,000,000
Hong Kong (IFPI / HKRIA)	platinum	20,000
Italy (FIMI)	gold	50,000
Canada (MC)	3 × platinum	300,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)	platinum	15,000
Netherlands (NVPI)	platinum	100,000
Austria (IFPI)	2 × platinum	100,000
Sweden (IFPI)	gold	50,000
Switzerland (IFPI)	4 × platinum	200,000
United States (RIAA)	6 × platinum	6,000,000
United Kingdom (BPI)	8 × platinum	2,710,000
All in all	3 × gold 56 × platinum 1 × diamond	13,915,000