Crossroads (Tracy Chapman album)

Crossroads
Studio album by Tracy Chapman
Released	October 3, 1989
Genre	Contemporary folk
Length	42:32
Label	Elektra
Producer	Tracy Chapman, David Kershenbaum
Tracy Chapman chronology
Tracy Chapman (1988) Crossroads (1989) Matters of the Heart (1992)

Crossroads is the second album by singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman, released in 1989 (see 1989 in music). It was Chapman's first album she helped produce.

Track listing

All songs written by Tracy Chapman. The song "Freedom Now" is dedicated to Nelson Mandela.

1. "Crossroads" – 4:11
2. "Bridges" – 5:24
3. "Freedom Now" – 4:02
4. "Material World" – 3:02
5. "Be Careful of My Heart" – 4:39
6. "Subcity" – 5:09
7. "Born to Fight" – 2:46
8. "A Hundred Years" – 4:20
9. "This Time" – 3:43
10. "All That You Have Is Your Soul" – 5:16

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	B [2]
Rolling Stone	[3]

Personnel

• Tracy Chapman – acoustic guitar, harmonica, electric guitar, vocals, background vocals, 12 string guitar
• Charlie Bisharat – violin, viola, electric violin, pizzicato violin
• Peggie Blu – background vocals
• Marc Cohn – piano
• Paulinho da Costa – tambourine
• Carolyn Dennis – background vocals
• Denny Fongheiser – drums
• Bobbye Hall – percussion, conga
• Jack Holder – banjo, piano
• Larry Klein – bass
• Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar – electric guitar
• Russ Kunkel – drums
• Jim Lacefield – cello
• Tim Landers – bass
• Steve Lindley – electric piano
• Bob Marlette – keyboard
• Frank Marocco – accordion
• Sheila Minard – background vocals
• Scarlet Rivera – violin
• Roz Seay – background vocals
• G.E. Smith – acoustic guitar, mandolin, electric guitar
• William D. "Smitty" Smith – organ
• John X. Volaitis – piano
• Elesecia Wright – background vocals
• Snooky Young – trumpet
• Neil Young – Acoustic Guitar, Piano

Production

• Producers: Tracy Chapman, David Kershenbaum

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year	Chart	Position
1989	The Billboard 200	9
1989	Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums	72
1989	Swedish Albums Chart	8

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1989	"Crossroads"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	26
1989	"Crossroads"	Modern Rock Tracks	7
1989	"Crossroads"	The Billboard Hot 100	90

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[4]	2× Platinum	140,000^^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[5]	Platinum	50,000^*
Canada (Music Canada)[6]	Platinum	100,000^^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[7]	Gold	30,906[7]
France (SNEP)[8]	Platinum	300,000^*
Germany (BVMI)[9]	2× Platinum	1,000,000^^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[10]	Gold	10,000^*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[11]	Platinum	15,000^^
Sweden (GLF)[12]	Gold	50,000^^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[13]	2× Platinum	100,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[14]	Platinum	300,000^^
United States (RIAA)[15]	Platinum	1,000,000^^
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

1. Henderson, Alex. Crossroads at AllMusic
2. "Robert Christgau review". Robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 2012-02-03.
3. Rolling Stone review Archived August 18, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
4. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1989 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association.
5. "Austrian album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved October 15, 2012. Enter Tracy Chapman in the field Interpret. Enter Crossroads in the field Titel. Select album in the field Format. Click Suchen
6. "Canadian album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads". Music Canada. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
7. "Tracy Chapman" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
8. "French album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
9. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Tracy Chapman; 'Crossroads')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
10. "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1990". IFPI Hong Kong.
11. "New Zealand album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
12. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
13. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Tracy Chapman; 'Crossroads')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
14. "British album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 15, 2012. Enter Crossroads in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
15. "American album certifications – Tracy Chapman – Crossroads". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 15, 2012. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH