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.
"Crossroads" – 4:11 "Bridges" – 5:24 "Freedom Now" – 4:02 "Material World" – 3:02 "Be Careful of My Heart" – 4:39 "Subcity" – 5:09 "Born to Fight" – 2:46 "A Hundred Years" – 4:20 "This Time" – 3:43 "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
Weekly charts Chart (1989) PeakpositionSpanish Albums (AFYVE)3
Year-end charts Chart (1989) Position Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) 40 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 58 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) 1Portugal Albums (AFP)Music & Media, vol. 7, issue 13; Mar 31, 1990 10 UK Albums (OCC) 53 Chart (1990) Position Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) 27 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 16 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) 30 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) 30 US Billboard 200 73
Singles YearSingleChartPosition1989"Crossroads"Mainstream Rock Tracks261989"Crossroads"Modern Rock Tracks71989"Crossroads"The Billboard Hot 10090
Certifications and sales
Awards 32nd Annual Grammy Awards Grammy Awards Year Work Award Result Ref1990CrossroadsBest Contemporary Folk Album
References