Tracy Chapman

An album so nice that I listened to it twice. Talk about banger after banger after banger. I had no idea all these songs came from one album and a debut album to boot. Tracy Chapman has talent, she can beautifully string together such meaningful lyrics in a wonderful way. Even "Behind The Wall", which only had her voice in it was impactful and meaningful. Hats off to you Tracy. This one is going into my personal library. I can listen to this any day of the week.

Fantastic album. I've loved this one for years. Honestly the highlights are so high that I kinda can forgive the lower moments. Banger.

So extremely beautiful, sad and bittersweet, it feels like finding beauty in the worst of situaltions. Tracy Chapman is so goated.

no notes 10/10

I just realized how funny it is that people hearing her voice think she's a man when her last name might as well be Guydude

First time listening to this whole album. It's no surprise that the songs that stray away from the 80s tropes have endured better, but this is still a top-tier album.

Tracy Chapman’s self-titled debut album is an absolute masterclass in folk-rock storytelling, proving itself to be a timeless, "no misses" masterpiece from start to finish. Anchored by Chapman’s uniquely beautiful, resonant voice, the record seamlessly balances deeply somber social commentaries with incredibly groovy, smooth musicianship. Iconic classics like the romantic, bittersweet "Fast Car" and the urgent "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution" set a high bar, but the album's brilliance lies just as much in its deeper cuts. Whether she is tackling systemic failures acapella on the chillingly relevant "Behind the Wall," blending marimba and bongos into the exceptional sonic landscape of "Mountains of Things," or letting her vocals soar over the complementary arrangements of "Baby Can I Hold You," Chapman delivers an emotionally gripping experience that concludes with a beautifully decent farewell on "For You."

No notes. Beautiful

Really enjoyed this album and will likely listen to more Chapman going forward. She’s Got Her Ticket & Baby Can I Hold you were standouts for me. Interesting to read how she was discovered and her journey with Brian Koppelman! Happy listening all!

Genuinely brilliant. Should probably give it a 4, but I know after another listen, it will be a 5. So good, song after song. She didnt miss once.

Classic.

Wonderful album. Beautifully done.

A great acoustic folk-rock album with simple, steady beats and no flashy production. Her deep voice and excellent storytelling just draw you in and keep you listening.

I would also like to express my disdain for that particular secretary rock guy

This goes deep

Breathtaking. I only really knew Fast Car (and the cover of Baby Can I Hold You) before. Really beautiful voice, and the songs still sound really fresh. And unfortunately still so very relevant.

Finally, one that I've already listened to! I love this album so fucking much, I love her voice, its like cream, I love her poetry, her lyrics. I cannot emphasise how much this album is a must-listen. If you rated this anything less than 5, you need to seriously reconsider yourself, and then maybe section yourself.

Classic. Beautiful album

Like many I expect I was only familiar with Tracy Chapman from Fast Car. Well. Wow, what a voice, what a writer. Superb.

A beautiful album. Every song is a delicate balance of singer/songwriter, folk, and roots. The vocal performance isn't over the top. It hits just the right notes. The instrumental backing is subtle and supportive. Wonderful songwriting.

I’d only heard ‘Fast Car’ before, but this album really made an impression on me. In an era of fakeness and brash individualism in so much of society that was reflected in music, Chapman sounds like a prophetic corrective to a society gone wrong. Here instead we get gentle but arresting songs about longing to escape from difficult personal situations and a desire for political change- ‘Talkin’ Bout a Revolution’ was probably my highlight, on that note. The middle is a bit weaker so this is a slightly generous 5*, but it grabbed me, and I’ll reward it for that.

Bueeeeno, ya la 2da canción me genera cosas, Fast Car es esa canción que queres escuchar para estar tranquilo en donde te imaginas cosas lindas Maybe Together we can get somewhere, any place is better. Muy romántico con un género que no es romántico en sí pero que cuando la guitarra se roba el protagonismo suena como si fuera. Me hace acordar a The Fray. La voz de Chapman es demasiado sensible, única. Top Picks: 1- Fast Car 2- Behind the Wall (es como escucharlo en vivo y en directo acústico) 3- For My Lover (que más decir de esta canción, suena muy intensa y directa)

Simple, deep, beautiful. 9/10

Classic.

Beautiful, political, powerful. Succinct and articulate, this album captures the softer side of sorrow and anguish. Tracy Chapped her last man with this one. Reminds me of this classic bit that asks the question, "When is Tracy Chapman going to come out with a new Fast Car?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsvPUCNTjVc

I built bridges to this track. Quite literally

Not a weak song on the album. Surprisingly easy on the ear given the strength of views in the lyrics. Stone cold 5*. 5*

Tracy Chapman’s voice transcends time. She is a remarkable songwriter, guitarist, and singer whose work still feels deeply relevant today. We are fortunate to continue appreciating her artistry decades later. Her appearance at the 2024 Grammy Awards was, by far, the best surprise of the year for me.

It shouldn't be surprising that the album that gave us Fast Car is incredible, but I have been doing this list long enough to know one fantastic song doesn't equal fantastic album. Chapman deftly balances folk and pop in an album that is accessible without sacrificing any of the gravitas and soul. Just simply an immaculate record that is sadly as relevant as it is today as the day it came out.

Ce l'ho!!

New favorite singer! Love her voice. Very powerful lyrics. Music was great as well. Definitely listening to more of her

A brilliant album, full of brilliant songs sung by a legend with a brilliant voice What's not to love? An easy 5 stars

Class

Feeling good

Amazing album! I loved it

I did not know Tracy Chapman had that much weight on the lyrics

One of the most important blues songs of the 1980s - fast car. To my ears more authentic than the macho posturing of Stevie Ray Vaughan. Tracy takes her guitar and tells you rather than shows off about it. Not all the songs are as strong as fast car but - you write one half as good. It’s still a great album. 4.5 rounded up. 1500999000 with fast car.

A great album. Amazing voice and deep feelings

When to listen: in a bubble bath after a long day of secretarial duties, obviously. Gorgeous album.

One of my favorites. Whole album is a masterpiece!

Simple, yet incredibly powerful. Not much more to say. One of my top 5 favorites so far.

One of the albums which is totally timeless. Each song stands out and is still relevant.

the Joni Mitchell’s Blue of the Greater Boston metropolitan area

Oh my gid I can’t actually believe I haven’t listened to this album in it entirety before. It is amazing!

Ok, so... wtf!? It’s mind-blowing to me that I haven’t heard anything from Tracy Chapman until now. The only song that sounded remotely familiar was 'Fast Car'—and what a masterpiece it is! This is a beautiful album from start to finish; it’s so emotional that I almost started crying on the bus. This record proves that simplicity goes a long way. The lyrics are stunning and, sadly, they are still just as relevant in today’s world. Tracy has a unique way of transmitting emotion without trying to 'over-impress' with her vocals. It feels raw and authentic. There’s a certain quality to her voice—it almost sounds like she’s bored, but in the best way possible. It’s as if the things she’s singing about have left her feeling numb, and I really love that vibe. This is going straight into my heavy rotation.

que ma came

Conoscevo letteralmente 3 canzoni sue. Album incredibilmente bello, ad ogni ascolto guadagna punti

Listened in the car and walking through Costco. What a disarmingly beautiful album. I had only previously heard Fast Car and loved the variety of different songs on this one. Will listen again!

i only knew a few songs of Tracy Chapman before this album, that I loved wholeheartedly and after this I can safely say that I became to love her music as a whole

Chapman's voice is soulful and robust and her songwriting is fantastic. Couldn't get enough of this album, I listened to it the entire time I was off work today

5 Stars. Only This Note.

So many great songs

no es mi tipo de música, me aburrió un poco

4.5

What a truly beautiful set of songs.

Oh fuck yes let’s go! Incredible: how have I only known Fast Car!? I remember the first time it made its way to one of my CDs, freshman year of college I think? Driving to Vass, windows down, probably getting one of 100 speeding tickets because I didn’t know I had adhd yet, singing about driving fast and unknown futures and fucking hell. Across the Lines, Behind the Wall, this whole opening to the album is perfect. Devastating, I hate that this was written the year before I was born and I haven’t gotten to see a world where every song doesn’t still hit. Also. Her VOICE. Magic.

i liked it

One of the best albums of all time.

Loved this he first time around and super grateful to have it come up as a suggestion. Simple, fabulous music and lyrics with a social conscience, veering into protest. Could not be more relevant if penned yesterday - in fact, I would argue even more so. Essential listening

This is an album that I've always wanted to listen to, but never did. I am glad I finally put this on. Great album, not only the melodies and Tracy vocal deliveries are great, but oh boy, the stories and lyricism on the lyrics shine bright as well. Fast Car is such a powerful song that after 30+ years was rerecorded and is still a massive hit. Long love AlphaFM (Brazilian radio)for still playing her music (usually the ones we love but have no idea who sings) . Classic and hidden gem at the samee time 5/5

Great! One of the best albums of the late eighties.

Demasiado interesante, además descubrí que una de las canciones Fast Car, el es el autor original

Another album on this list which I really should have listened to before, but I'm glad I did. This is a classic for a reason, Chapman's writing is beautifully earnest and touches on a number of important themes, both relating to social injustice and her own relationships. I also find the way she sings really makes me believe what she's saying. It's a shame folk musicians don't write as many protest songs as they did back Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan's time, so I appreciated this being kept alive in the 80s too.

Fast Car has been a love of mine since it came out, but I'd never listened to the album. And I missed out. Best song that's new to me: For My Lover. The way her voice wraps around the lyrics is a piece of heaven.

Hauntingly beautiful.

One of my favorite albums EVER!!!

Wonderful. Mostly a girl and her guitar. Beautifully stripped down deliveries of poignant songs. Fast Car still gives me goosies. Across The Lines made me weep. Mellow but in the best way.

I'm not a secretary, and I approve this album. Her voice is smooth and soulful. Her lyrics are a gut punch.

Icónica, guerrera, sensibla.

Love love love

Great songs, only one or 2 which are fairly average. A really nice album to listen to, I'd forgotten how good Tracy Chapman was.

Took me way too many years to listen to this full album, love it.

Absolutely beautiful. Spreading revolution through music. An art.

LOVE.

Beautiful voice singing brutally beautiful songs. Is fast car the greatest song ever written? No notes here.

- I love Tracy Chapman; her voice and the music behind it are done beautifully - Transported me back to when my mom would play her songs all the time

Man, what a great album. I enjoyed every second of this. From the lyrics, to the instrumentation, to the overall feel; this guy sings from the soul.

Oh, I remember it well when this album came out. It made a huge impact. Tracy Chapman became world-famous overnight thanks to the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert. The debut struck a chord with the spirit of the times: racism, social injustice, misogyny, the lack of prospects for the working class – all these were issues that played a major role in the politically charged 1980s. Add to that Tracy Chapman’s clever songwriting, her expressive voice and the – from today’s perspective – timeless production, which make the album a true singer-songwriter classic. Chapman was never able to replicate the commercial success of her debut, nor perhaps the extremely high artistic standard of this album. But she doesn’t need to, as this album already establishes her as one of the most significant female songwriters of the 1980s. It is shocking how relevant the lyrics still are. It’s as if 40 years haven’t passed…

Damn, only knew two songs but this album blew me away. It seemed really prescient for today's times. 4.5/5

Este álbum lo petó literalmente, y con merecimiento. Tracy se erigió en la cantautora de protesta de su época, que ya hacían falta, y no necesitó pegar muchos gritos, protestó desde la sencillez, la sensibilidad y la emoción. “Fast Car”, “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution”, “Baby, Can I Hold You” o “For My Lover” son temazos eternos. De vez en cuando surgen figuras del folk que desde las raíces nos ponen en nuestro sitio y nos reconcilian con el ser humano cuando ya estamos perdiendo toda esperanza en él. Por todo eso, gracias, Tracy.

09/10

Great songs and vocals

This was so beautiful that I wish to listen to this album again.

I feel like this album is so much more than the ultra famous 'Fast Car' - Incredible, will definitely be listening again.

Definitely deserves on this list!!

LOVE

such an amazing album! still as relevant and poignant in 2026

Great! I recognised more songs than I expected. Incredible album. Very soulful

Everyone only know fast car but don't realize it's a piece of a greater project Chapman 's humble demeanor shows how great of an album this is.

Very enjoyable album. Some of the tracks on it still feel fresh and there are some remixes from it that got very famous not so long ago. Lyrics are still relatable either it is about the system or about love.

Big voice

Amamos este album con todo el cora desde que mi mama me lo recomendo <3 Triste saber que las cosas siguen igual desde que salio este disco. Parece que el ser humano no cambia.

Fast car 🔛🔝

❤️

Oh Tracy Luv.

This album is phenomenal

10/10

Never listed to the whole thing. Really good

Absolutely beautiful prose, so thought-provoking.

“But you can say ‘Baby Baby, can I hold you tonight? Maybe if I told you the right words At the right time, you’d be mine’” We all know “Fast Car”. It’s a wonderful and devastating bittersweet masterpiece. It beautifully conveys the longing inside everyone to have done something with the time you have in this world as you feel it slipping through your fingers. The famous footage of Tracy Chapman being sent out to kill time at Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday concert whilst behind the scenes the techs try and fix an issue with Stevie Wonder’s stage set is nothing short of astonishing. Chapman holds an audience of tens of thousands in near silent awe with her voice, her guitar, and the intangible magic of a song as good as “Fast Car”. With all that being said, “Fast Car” is not the song from Chapman’s wonderful self titled debut that means the most to me. That honour goes to “Baby Can I Hold You”. Until I was about 12 my family for the most part drove cars with a tape deck but no CD player. This meant that the soundtrack to family car rides up until I was in secondary school was my dad’s handmade mixtapes. There is a plethora of classic songs that take me straight back to the back seat of my parents’ worn out second hand people carrier and “Baby Can I Hold You” is one of those. It near enough brings me to tears every time I hear it. The rest of the album is chock full of raw and catchy tunes preaching on social justice without ever feeling preachy. Chapman achieves a melancholic but optimistically defiant feel which suits the themes perfectly. She also produces an affecting if not necessarily technically impressive vocal performance. I will never tire of this record and feel that it is up there as one of the best ever debut albums.

Amazing album, why i didn't discover before?

I'm a big fan of a few later Tracy Chapman albums, so it was illuminating to return to this one, which i hadn't listened to in probably 30 years. My biggest impression: she already had it on her first album. Songs with sharp lyrics, very singable tunes, quality arrangements that don't get in the way of her words. What a great singer and songwriter.

Virkelig nice.

A perfect album

Wait, John Martyn has two albums on here and Tracy Chapman gets only one? Robert, make it make sense. Anyway, in high school my older sister had New Beginning. My wife brought Telling Stories to our collective CD collection. Both of those albums are excellent and so is this one.

No notes. She is incredible.

Great album!

Maravilloso. Temas importantísimos contados de manera sencilla por una voz divina. Fundamental y sincero como ya no se hacen.

Loved this album

I love this album when it came out. I played it incessantly. All the songs are incredibly heartbreaking and I cried from start to finish. Sometimes it’s good to feel bad. And she has an absolutely amazing voice and there is power in these vignettes.

Brilliant I love Tracy Chapman the album, the musician, and the person so much that any words going into a review just won't be worthy. This was one of my first CDs when that format hit the market. What surprised me about this listen is that I forgot ...Behind the Wall was a cappella.

A perfect album

I really enjoyed this. Not something I’d listen to often, but she has a good voice, good music, and lyrics that are still relevant almost 40 years later. 5/5

Beautiful voice, fantastic album.

Great sounding guitars and vocals. Obviously great songs. "For You" was beautiful.

It was really soothing, and the message was really strong

Her calm, grounded voice draws me in.

Tracy Chapman is so cool

me gusta

10/10. No notes. Love this album!

This is a beautiful and sad album. Normally when such a successful album is on here it's Taylor Swift, it's Coldplay, it's Adele. Middle of the road anodyne music catering to the lowest common denominator. Tracy Chapman however is so much more than that. Her voice suits the downbeat lyrics and simple, but effective melodies, very well - perhaps it's the passage of time or perhaps the way so many of the songs are about lost hopes and dreams, but even the ostensibly positive Talkin' Bout A Revolution, feels melancholy. Simultaneously sad and comforting. Tracy Chapman is one of those artists that I knew of, liked, but really didn't appreciate enough before starting this project. Five stars.

Perfect. Will try to listen at home loud. Definitely a top 100 album of all time.

perfection

We've all heard "Fast Car" at this point, especially after a white male country singer won an award covering it. Tracy's original is better. The rest of the album? Also great! I'm not usually into singer/songwriter kind of stuff, but it's really great and she just has a ton to say. Beautiful singing, the backing tracks work well with, and I just can't say anything bad about this.

Unquestionable 5/5 Chapmans lyrics about the heartbreak of hope and tragedy are absolutely timeless .

Was only familiar with Fast Car before. I'm early into the 1001, but albums like this are exactly why i'm doing it. This was something that would have otherwise been in my blindspot that moved me. So many messages from 35 years ago that unfortunately ring true today.

The generator has been cooking recently. This is probably the most accessible album I've had so far - literally anyone could listen to this and say its a 10/10. Amazing songs front to back

Earnest simple beauty

First listen to a great album, thank you.

A classic. Beautiful protest songs. It's just sad to think that things didn't get better after these songs were released in 1988. The poor didn't rise up. Women are not safer in their own homes.

What an album!!! Devastating, beautiful, hard-hitting and so needed. It was sad to see how little has changed since this album was released. I knew Fast Car and Baby can I hold you but didn’t know most of the others. I feel grateful to have listened to it though and will now become that annoying friend who recommends it to everyone else!

Awesome debut album, she was doing coffee shop gigs 12 months before this album came out. 3 outstanding songs elevate this to a 5*, her lyrics and vocal delivery is amazing and the production of the album is very clever.

Stellar. Every song is a gem. Her voice is distinctive and perfect for her storytelling. Love her, and specifically, this album.

впервые попалось что-то о чем я ни разу не слышала и мне понравилось. надо будет переслушать

10/10

Tracy Chapman is great on relisten, and she is probably the best modern folk singer.

When you're touching something so soft and smooth that you feel like you're not actually touching anything. This is the only way I can describe Tracy Chapman's voice.

I love it. Cant believe its taken me this long to get into it.

Was nice to hear the full album of songs that I've heard for decades

Wow.... just a wonderful album. Need to find it when I'm at the record store.

This is a deceptive album. On the surface it is a pretty laid back acoustic rock album with two MASSIVE hits that have been covered by more people than I can remember. "Fast Car" and "Baby Can I hold you" must be some of the most covered songs ever. But listen in any amount to the lyrics of any of these songs and you find a call to arms and reconciliation for anyone that has been discriminated against. Tracy is clever, thought provoking and emotionally intelligent. The lyrics to her songs are as relevant today as were in '88. It is depressing how so little has actually changed in almost 40 years. "Behind the Wall" is brave, heartbreaking and technically perfect. The acapella leaves a silence between the lyrics that is almost deafening. (4.7)

Just a gorgeous album. One in a million voice with such emotional and vulnerable songwriting. Impressed me then and impresses me now. THIS is the real version of Fast Car

Love this one, Tracy is a queen

preetygood heavenly voice

100% !!!! Yes yes yes🫠

A stone cold classic that, if anything, speaks louder today than it did when it was released. (But I loved it back then, too.) I cried through a couple. There is no filler either; each song is worth listening to.

Masterpiece

8/10

A classic. Not a lot of artists are as simultaneously ahead of their time and of their time as Chapman was in the late 80s. Fast Car remains one of the best pop songs and one of the best political songs of the 20th century. The rest of the album is packed with gems like this one.

Chilling, raw, and brutally honest. I'd normally roll my eyes at a review like that, but this album sent me somewhere else.

Way ahead of its time. Wonderful album. It’s a shame a lot of the issues Chapman calls to attention are still there today.

Huh. This was a pleasant surprise. All of the tracks on here are emotionally evocative, and Chapman's vocals serve to add a nice flavor to the whole ensemble.

Sem palavras

I love everything about this album. Loved it when it came out; love it now. 5 +++

This album is a masterpiece from start to finish.

Thought this would be a one track wonder but the whole album is incredible.

absolutely beautiful

Fantastic songwriting in a style I adore with points that are still salient today. Change doesn’t happen overnight. Keep fighting.

Excellent lyrics, fantastic voice, it just grabs you

Yesterday’s album was Urban Hymns by The Verve, and I hated it so much that I decided that today’s album would automatically be a 5/5 no matter what. Fortunately, I would’ve given this one a 5/5 anyway because Tracy Chapman is incredible.

One of my favorite albums

good

I sleep, but good music to travel

Fantastic. Country/folksy sound with raw political message with heart

This one is a strong love

Important. 4.8/5

This was great!

First time hearing this and its an amazing album! Front to back its still relevant to our time.

Great to listen to this album again. Loved it

Phenomenal in every way. Socially, culturally, lyrically, and musically.

me encantó wow y me siento avergonzada por sentirme asombrada por las temáticas q aborda me falta definitivamente escuchar a artistas racializados muy lindo álbum

This is one that I need to relisten to with my full attention. Chapman's voice is angelic and the guitar is so good. Favorite Track: Mountain O' Things

This album is magical.

Stark inledning på albumet. Gillar främst talking about a revolution och baby can i hold you

I LOVE Tracy Chapman. That is it, that’s the whole note. I love her. She’s amazing.

first, the only one i would skip by now would be baby can you hold me, the other ones? chills, also, the production of mountains o things, she’s got her ticket and why? chef kiss, i almost cried during behind the walls and across the lines, because protest music at its best omg tracy chapman the woman you are.

I’ve heard Fast Car a million times and as great as that song is, I've never thought about listening to this album. I've been missing out all this time. There's so much to like about this record. The melodic feel despite the simplistic approach. Chapman's cool, dare I say great, voice. The earnestness of many of these tracks. It's just an incredible debut effort. Right from the jump, Talkin' Bout a Revolution demonstrates how she is different from other artists, especially when you consider the sound that dominated the late 80s (hair metal, rock, synth pop, etc.). What she was doing just didn't fit the scene of the time, and yet she ascended to massive heights, which speaks to her talent and especially the reach of Fast Car. Even after these first two tracks, there's so much feeling throughout this record, but she proves to not be just a one-trick pony. Take a song like Baby Can I Hold You, which was the only other track I had heard before. An excellent love song, on a record full of protest, hardship, and inequity anthems? Amazing. A true singer songwriter when the scene had mainly moved on from them. Selling 20m records from a debut? A truly astonishing feat. Really it was a very modern feel on stuff that would have felt right at home in the 70s. 5 stars.

J’avais jamais ecouté l’album et je suis trop fan

A phenomenal debut full of emotion. She is a great singer and songwriter. It is political and beautiful. Haunting with a masterful production that rises above some dated choices. Is sublime on vinyl.

Tracy Chapman is one of those artists that bringa fantastic voice to some beautifully touching lyrics.

Great record ! I’m not sure why that goofy hillbilly felt a need to cover her already perfect version of “Fast Car”. But she says she’s cool with it so whatevs.

Sehr schön.

I thoroughly enjoyed this album, though the sound is quite similar in each song I was still captivated. One of the rare times I rerun the album as soon as I was done!

Hard to not give this one a 5, some masterful songs on here. She's an icon.

Beautiful songs plus social justice messages 🤩 I had fast car and talkin bout a revolution saved already but just saved 3 more!! I love music with meaning — she’s so talented.

Awesome!

Banger! 10/10

First album of this project that I already knew front to back really well, and what a joy it is to listen through again. Just one of the best albums ever made, Tracy Chapman is a gift. Baby Can I Hold You remains one of my favourite songs of all time

This is such a perfect and beautiful record.

Manchmal muss man zur richtigen Zeit am richtigen Ort sein. Den ersten Auftritt von Tracy Chapman beim Nelson Mandela Tribute Konzert hatte ich verpasst. Nachmittags trat sie nochmal als "Lückenfüller" für einen angekündigten Überraschungsgast auf, und dieser Auftritt hat mich beeindruckt. Da zieht eine junge, (mir) unbekannte Künstlerin, nur mit einer Akustikgitarre bewaffnet, vor das Mikrofon und die Kameras der Welt und singt Fast Car. Starker Auftritt, starke Debutscheibe.

Loved it

Ja bangers allemaal, helemaal mooi.

Beautiful album, one of the best I've heard and a hell of a debut. Chapman's voice is so powerful and smooth. Very hard hitting lyrics, beautiful cohesion throughout the songs. Loved 'Talkin' Bout a Revolution', 'Fast Car' (obviously), 'Behind the Wall', Mountains O' Things', 'Why?' and 'For My Lover'.

Chapman's simple guitar chords, relatable lyrics and distinct voice make for one incredible album. I've heard one of two of these tracks on the off chance over the years (Fast Car ofc), but never have I sat with the whole album. "Across the Lines" stood out to me, it's electric twangs, backing the lead acoustic, were very reminiscent of Pink Floyd which will always sway me. "Behind the Wall" took me by surprise. Never before have I heard a song with no instruments, just pure singing. Chapman's voice haunting and beautiful, she pulls it off effortlessly. "Why" has real attitude, with matching lyrics that are unfortunately still relevant today and fit into a punchy 2min~ track that make it endlessly replayable. Overall, I loved this album. Chapman is a force of nature to be able to create tracks that stand apart, using mostly just her voice and guitar.

tracy i love you you're a genius

My favourite discovery so far!

Very melow

Geiles Album, toller Sound und klasse Texte

Truly a wonderful album. Simple, but sung with such complexity. Soft, but lyrically so loud. Unfortunately, not much has changed in our world Tracy Chapman…

5/5

Having missed the Chance to go to Live Aid (I was just 15 at that time) I jumped at the chance to go to the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday concert at Wembley Stadium I was just 18 and really thought Music could help change the World. Having negotiated pamphleteers from (I think) the South African Embassy handing out leaflets detailing why we shouldn’t celebrate a terrorist I made my way towards the front of the stage. The Mandela concert was not only in front of a sold out 72,000 crowd but being televised pretty much worldwide and so to keep continuity as well as the main stage there was a small second stage where comedians and smaller artists (or artists not so well known in the UK such as the amazing Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens) etc played whilst the main stage was being reconfigured. Having already seen such artists as Sting, The Eurythmics and a surprising George Micheal, amongst others, out onto that small stage stepped a diminutive Black Women with an acoustic guitar that then very nervously, and with little eye contact, launched into a three song set. Later, at peak time, as we all waiting for the mystery special guest little did we know that Stevie Wonders software for his keyboards had either been lost or stolen and so we were treated to two more songs (including Fast Car) as the organisers hurriedly pushed out Tracy Chapman to cover. This second set would have been conservatively watched by half a billion people. This was, as a music obsessed teen, my first exposure to Tracy Chapman and I’m sure most of that half billion. It genuinely was a standout moment of the concert. I quickly acquired the album and knew it very well by the time I saw her again in September as part of the Amnesty Human Rights Now Tour by which time it was a global hit. Listening back to this after many years, did this deserve the hype and recognition? I think so. The albums songs mark Chapman as an observer of life especially of marginalised society and cover things like race, poverty and domestic violence, with a strong acoustic feel backed with a nicely produced backing band and warm clean bass. The album is nicely sequenced as well, for instance the bleak a Capella of behind the wall being followed by Baby Can I Hold You. I noted that another reviewer described this as Secretary Rock and in my mind nothing could be further from the truth. Released in the Reagan era when Whitney, Dirty Dancing and George Micheal were topping the charts this stripped back, acoustic and overtly political album often promoted in the way the songs were originally performed by one small, black woman and her acoustic guitar was radical. Even if the music is easily digestible the tremor of the voice and the righteous anger draws you in (were they even listening). Listening some 38 years on was interesting. At 18 it was an optimistic call for change but listening back at 56 the Revolution never came that she was talking about. Nobody had to answerer the questions in Why and I imagine behind the wall still resonates with many. If anything the lyrics Love is hate War is peace No is yes And we're all free Feels more relevant than ever in the MAGA generation.

fast car baby can i hold you talkin' bout a revolution 1988 united states contemporary folk

A fantastic album, this a remained a classic album

fast car

Instant classic. Insanely vulnerable with deep story telling. Deeper than I thought it would be- layered with immense rich vocals . Another classic self titled album

love it

I remember when this album came out. Spectacular debut. Eye opening and troubling. Every song is a highlight.

stunning

i can't think of the last time i listened to the album in full as usually it's just "fast car" that gets airtime, but "baby can i hold you" is slept on i think. tracy chapman's voice is fantastic. even on the tracks that don't work for me as much as the others, her singing is exceptional. she covers a lot of ground here with tracks like "behind the wall" that are quite distressing. chapman carries strong emotion across the whole album, but with the instrumentation stripped back entirely it hits even harder. an album full of love and hope despite every reason to not have either. really great stuff.

Oh Hell yeah! An album I know I already love and have heard a number of times before but I am happy to listen to it again. Incredible songs with amazing production throughout this album. Y'know there's a review on here saying that "talkin' Bout a revolution" is too vague? Like that any protest song has to exist as a list of specific demands. Wild. Anyhow, Fast Car is like, the very high peak of 80s Folk singer songwriter music. That said I worry it overshadows, in popular discourse at least, the rest of this album which is also great and very worth talking about. This is a straight up harrowing album the different forms of violence and oppression ubiquitous in America. Highlights for me, besides the obvious two headliners, include Mountain's o'things and Behind the Wall. I guess if I had to complain about one thing, it's that towards the end of the album it feels a little like the romance and love themes overpower the afformentioned inequality and violence themes in a way that makes me feel a bit conflicted. After hearing songs about being unable to stop domestic abuse, about racial violence and starving children I don't feel like I can just swing back to songs about loving someone so seemlessly. That's mostly an album sequencing issue though, and it doesn't undermine an incredible album enough for me to take away any points.

An all-time classic. Chapman makes social critique & protest songs into unforgettable anthems for everyone. The imagery and emotions (struggle, loneliness, despair, misplaced hope) are unforgettable. The spare arrangements & combined with Chapman’s beautiful and haunting voice make these tracks timeless. Unfortunately, the subject matter seems to remain timeless as well. One day, songs like this will help change the consciousness & change the world. A 5.

• go lesbians in an og way • absolutely love Tracy Chapman but have never listened to her self-titled from start to finish and it’s fucking fantastic • great way to start 1001 albums • standouts: fast car (obviously), talkin’bout a revolution, and for my lover

LOOOOVE THE ALBUM UGHHH SOOO GOOD

This was wonderful. I love Chapman's voice and style and this album was full of great music. I knew a few of the songs, but even the ones I didn't were awesome and varied and made me happy to hear. I listened to the album twice and I would do it again. Five stars.

Timeless classic.

Oh.

Was mixed by the same guy in Springfield MO who did a bunch of Cat Steven's and stuff like that and IT SHOWS such a good album.

This was a nice present of a Christmas Eve recommendation. I love this album, and can still remember seeing Tracy Chapman performing at Wembley on Nelson Mandela's 70th birthday concert. After that, she was the name on a lot of people's lips and I, like thousands of others, bought the album on the strength of what we'd seen. It wasn't disappointing then, and its aged really well. A lot of issues from then; apathy, racism and domestic abuse, are still massively relevant. Behind the Wall is such a chilling brilliant song, but then, the whole album is consistently excellent. I remember playing the cassette for the first time, getting to the end of Side 1, rewinding the tape and listening to it again. I did that for a week, worried that Side 2 couldn't possibly be as good. Listening again now, I do think the standard drops after Baby Can I Hold You, but only slightly. A high 5.

What a great album. Tracy brings a beautiful soulfulness to her folk music and creates something that feels profound. Of course Fast Car is an all-time great song, but you also get Across the Lines and Mountains o' Things, among others. When one of your two weakest songs is Talkin' 'bout a Revolution, a song I genuinely like (the other being Why?, maybe the only miss on the album), then you've done really well.

polityczne przekazem ale jednak buja ,bardzo przyjemne

Absolute masterpiece. Soulful and intelligent. You can feel the struggle in her songs. Its very powerful.

Beautiful voice. Gorgeous songs. Heartbreaking lyrics. Just a masterpiece from beginning to end.

yummmmmm... perfect actually

One of my favorites

Fast Car is a life changing song and it's complemented by a slew of other great tracks that demonstrate Tracy's singer-songwriter ability

sou fascinado com esse aqui letras brutais e melodia incrível, fora a voz da tracy que eu acho incrível um dos melhores já feitos na história, inclusive (na minha humilde opinião)

This album holds a special place for me. I was in college and thinking a lot about social justice and disparity between have and have-nots and blacks and whites...and Tracy Chapman gifted us with these songs. What a phenomenal album. Way more than just "Fast Car" which is an all time great song. "Talkin About a Revolution," "Baby Can I Hold You," the stunning a capella "Behind the Wall", these songs were real and raw and, though it's a cliche, they spoke ro me. I saw her at the Amnesty International show in Philly with Springsteen, Sting, and Peter Gabriel and, though she was a new artist with one album, she more than held her own. It's hard when your career peaks on the first album but I am so thankful for this album.

Not many notes for this one, just a gorgeous and singular album through and through. Every song gets to the heart, whether its a love song, or reflection on economic and racial injustice, or both

Un disco 10 de principio a fin, me lo sé de memori y jamás me canso de él. Este y el segundo son de lo mejorcito publicado por un cantautor. Voz y guitarra, no se necesita más. No es una cualquiera, universitaria y además de antropóloga, sus letras tienen una fondo y una calidad fuera de duda. Su carrera discográfica también. Este es un disco para escuchar más de una vez en la vida, de principio a fin. Impecable. Su segundo y tercer disco son realmente buenos, pero este está tocado por una varita. Sus interpretaciones en la gira de Amnistía Internacional fueron sensacionales. Supo y pudo aguantar el tipo y la presión entregando otro segundo disco magistral. Los temas más conocidos son Fast Car, la canción que la catapultó, Baby Can I Hold You o Talkin' Bout a Revolution. Pero el resto no bajan ni un milímetro su calidad. 20 millones de oyentes no pueden estar equivocados. Con la versión de Fast Car de Luke Combs, Tracy fue la primera mujer negra en la historia en escribir en solitario un número 1 de la música country. Han pasado años desde el disco country de Ray Charles…

Wow. Very simply. The genre "singer songwriter" has been one of the genres that has changed and transformed the most, in my opinion. In modern eyes if you're a famous singer songwriter you're a pop star essentially but if you were to boil down the genre to its main components and add a little sugar and you'd get this album. Tracy's voice is incredibly powerful, so much so one of the songs has no instruments and instead of sitting in the silence you wait, you linger on every word she says as she sings to your very soul. This album has real history, so much so I've only ever heard Fast Car and I thought "oh this will be a good listen", and the aforementioned song would be my favourite and I'd be content. But no, shockingly this is a contender for the best album I've heard so far. So much so I gave it a double listen before I affirmed anything and the first half is certainly PERFECT. I can't exactly explain why but the middle section seems to drag just a little for me, before settling back into the sound I'd hoped for albeit with a little less flair. I still think this album is phenomenal though, it presents itself clearly and well for a very swift 36 minutes of beautiful activism and lovely story telling. Best songs: Baby Can I Hold You Worst song: N/A Rank compared to everything else so far: 3/11 (above LA Woman below Superfly)

Amazing

Only the second album by someone I'd pretty much never heard to get a 5. Although I've actually recorded a cover of Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution with a very short lived folk band I've amazingly never sought Tracy Chapman out. Idiot. Like Tori Amos, something about it just makes me love it, but it's also the voice, the melody and the message. And the fact she can write everything in 3 minutes (although the one criticism I have is they a couple of songs finish a bit abruptly). Also nobody has ever pointed out that the melody from Behind the Wall was nicked by EZ Rollers on Walk this Land?

Tracy champwomen mit em r riese Album in mittwuch grüehrt. Ich habe viel Freude gehabt. Irgendwie hani s gfühl ich bewerte zu nice i de letste ziit. Aber es pässlet mir halt scho sehr.bour a reeevelution. Aso erstens 3-4 mega track und 4-5 gueti tracks. Au hani ca 3 mal glosst die letste 30h. Also rundum verdient zum 5 champion pilz z geh

I honestly have nothing bad to say about this one. A masterpiece

Absolute banger of an album!

Brilliant - the songs are all different styles and topics but all pulled together by the common them of Tracy's amazing voice. Heartfelt and poignant from start to end.

This album definitely belongs on this list. Chapman is a phenomenal singer-songwriter. Extraordinary voice, excellent lyrics, simple music that emphasizes her voice and her message.

Amazing writing and unique voice.

Beautiful, exquisite, I love this album! x

Fantastic, I love the car one

I mean, what else can I say... I was quoted in the New York Times for my thoughts of "Fast Car". How can I possibly rise to that level again? I do think Tracy Chapman is a masterpiece of an album and a person. Her lyrics are so raw but also incredibly thought-provoking and sincere. Her melodies are simple but add so much depth to her lyricism. I love this album so much!!

Beautiful. The emotion, tenderness, and yet grit that she conveys with her voice is just amazing. I hadn't heard most of these tracks, and each of them was uniquely beautiful. The a cappella "Behind the Wall" really struck me, but so did all the other tracks. I am just so impressed with Tracy Chapman. Favorite track: "Fast Car" but everything else as well.

I love Tracy Chapman. The music is simple and the lyrics are poignant. She has a beautiful, strong voice with lots of warmth.

Great voice and a great chill album.

It's amazing, I've heard some of the songs but never the full album. 5 out 5

11/15 午前11時に拝聴。 普遍的なサウンドに乗せる声がひたすらリアル。心に訴えかけてくるものがある。

Super

An old favorite that I have in my collection

Starka, gripande texter. Musiken är som en varm, sorgfylld kram. Gåshud hela vägen. 👍: For My Lover

Great album hard to call 4 or 5 - gone 5

Ofc 5*

Listening to the hits in context really changes them Torn between a 4 or 5 for this one ...fuck it, Tracy gets five cause I love her

Hooray! A good one. End to end good album. Love her soulful voice and acoustic guitar.

var faktisk veldig bra

Loved it

Gorgeous album. I wasn’t expecting it to be so political - I only knew Fast Car which is obviously also political but not as overtly I guess. I already knew her voice was fantastic, but I was surprised by the other songs. Loved it. Will definitely listen again. Fav song: Talkin’ Bout A Revolution - also liked Why? and Fast Car Least fav: She’s Got Her Ticket

The only album I gave 5 stars to the first time I started this project (to be fair I didn't review many albums), an incredible voice, stunning lyrics, just truly iconic album. Favourite song: Why? Least: Baby Can I Hold You

Beautifully yet painfully heartfelt. Optimistic with walls closing in and every song poetic about those pressures. Great voice,great album.

Chapman er alvöru listamaður með hjartað á réttum stað. Lögin eru falleg og bera góðan boðskap. Hvenær kemur byltingin?

Ótrúlegt byrjendaverk, hrikalega góð lög og sterkir textar. Man enn vel þegar Tracy birtist alveg óþekkt á Nelson Mandela tónleikunum 1988 og gjörsamlega sló í gegn með sinni hæglátu framkomu en áhrifamiklu lögum. Því miður lítið breyst til batnaðar af þvi sem hún syngur um.

Very simple structure, but I loved this album. Looking at these lyrics now really broke my heart. Favorite Songs: Talkin' Bout a Revolution, Fast Cards, Mountain O' Things

Beautiful voice. Powerful message.

Talkin' Bout A Revolution - Good opener. Solid lyrics. WAY WAY better than the last album already! 7/10 Fast Car - Amazing lyricism, well thought-out yet simple. Very very good and well worth the amount of listens (over 1 billion!!) 8/10 Across The Lines - LOVE this instrumental! The message is heart-wrenching and desolate, with anti-racist themes across the track. Chapman creates a great atmosphere here. 9/10 Mountains O' Things - No words except "great track" 8/10 Baby Can I Hold You - ??? Why is this album so god damn good... amazing song. 9/10 Why? - Wow. 10/10 For My Lover - This is getting repetitive just saying it. 8/10 If Not Now... - Wow... 9/10 For You - So simple, yet so emotional. Love it. 7/10

This album came out in ‘88? Could’ve come out in 1968, could’ve come out yesterday.

Can't believe nobody wanted to produce this album. Not secretary rock! Very good!

Iconic

Talkin' Bout a Revolution - 10/10, one of the most impactful songs I think I've heard at this time, and it's something i grew up listening to. Fast Car - 10/10 Fast Car is soooo good. I think this alone can make this album a 10 Across the Lines - 8.5/10, all of the songs on this album are quite sad, but regardless, they have an amazing groove. Behind the Wall - 10/10, it's not a song that I would put on a playlist, but it's a very touching song, and something I can personally relate to Baby, Can I Hold You - 8/10, not for me, but I can appreciate the sentiment. Mountains O' Things - 9/10 the instrumental aids the lyrics, but doesn't cause it to overwhelm the rest of the track. She's Got Her Ticket - I think she's gonna use her ticket maybe 8/10 Why? - Why is an amazing song that addresses the problems of her time, yet is still relevant today. 9/10 For My Lover - one of the songs that I expected not to enjoy as much, but to my pleasant surprise, I think this song is overshadowed by other songs on this amazing album, 9/10 If Not Now... - I don't know when, but I do know that this song is a banger ( not really, but it's still really good), 8.5/10 For You - a very sentimental end to this album 8/10 OVERALL 9.5/10

A cultural icon for a reason. The honesty and rawness with which it discusses the unearned challenges faced by millions of Americans every day is sobering. The simple, acoustic accompaniment only goes to highlight Tracy Chapman’s beautiful voice and the message of her songs. Although the musical tone isn’t always my personal style, I can appreciate the artistry and skill behind the execution.

She is a very impressive singer-songwriter and it definitely shows with this album. 5 stars or A.

Classic, iconic, soulful, and sad.

One of a kind voice. Incredible

Awesome, gorgeous music. Chapman deserves so much more mainstream recognition than she gets... oh, and that recent popular cover of "Fast Car" sucks ass compared to the original, BTW.

Det e så mange album som føles som om man har hørt dem sjøl om man aldri har hørt dem, det her e nok et av dem. Og nu e æ glad æ har hørt på det.

This is a classic.

Now *this* album holds up. That run of first 4 tracks still gives me chills.

Wow.

PERFECT

Once in a while an album pops into popular consciousness and ticks all the boxes of being artistic whilst still generating mainstream success. This was one of those albums. I’d forgotten how good it was. Amongst the synth fuelled soft rock of the era, most young white male teens in the UK weren’t listening to black American singer songwriters on acoustic guitar. Then in 88 we surprisingly were. Sung in such a distinct and warm voice yet emotion laden voice, much of the subject matter still holds up well in 2025. A few overly saccharine sweet yet well crafted 80’s love songs perhaps, but this has stood the test of time well. An album you should listen to before you die for sure.

I had never heard anything but Fast Car. This is such a solid, impactful album. It's so pure and straightforward. It's also sad and hard to listen to at times, not because of her gorgeous voice or the simplicity of the music, but because of the lyrics. This is a must listen to for anyone. But it's meant to be heard as a message and not just as music. I see this as an album of poetic statements put to music.

meu deusssssssss

I have been a Tracy Chapman champion for forever. I used to sing Fast Car at the top of my lungs hoping that the all too real portrait of growing up broke wasn't going to be my future. Baby Can I Hold You has been a song I've sang at the top of my lungs for far too many years now. I love the messaging, the lyrics, the imagery. I'm ready to follow her into the revolution!

love

Chappin' my balls off right now. I am a huge huge fan of Tracy's greatest hits, and her best and lesser known songs aren't well represented on this album: Telling Stories, Change, Bang Bang Bang, Crossroads, Smoke and Ashes. These songs are super spread out across her discography, so I don't think there is another better album to put on this list. I've never gone through this full album - it obviously doesn't pack the same punch as a greatest hits album, but that shouldn't be the bar. Revolution, Fast Car, Baby Can I Hold You - lots to love here. A little on the nose lyrically at times, but redeemed by a great voice and melodies. Probably a 4 or so overall, but rounding up since I think this is the only Chap on this list.

Glad she got a bag for letting that annoying country guy cover Fast Car

Great album and especially lyrics

What a debut album! Doesn't get much better in terms of singer-songwriters. Beautiful melodic songs, good lyrics, and a very characterful, voice. No bad songs, all are very decent or stunners. Not my favourite album of all times, maybe I've heard it too often, but still a 5.

Wow!

Beautiful as ever. One of my favorites

Really ended up enjoying this one.

Que álbum gostoso! Só conhecia a clássica Baby Can I Hold You. Amei!

In my top 100 All Time Albums… This album is a game changer!

This is SUCH a great album, I wish Tracy got more recognition than she does because she was exceptional

Bought this when it came out and my god does it hold up. Her incredible voice and her aching earnestness writing about love and politics and how they mix. Sniffled during Fast Car, actually got goosebumps during Talkin' Bout a Revolution. For My Lover also a fave, but really everything is terrific.

A soulful debut from Tracy Chapman. She combines r&b with folk music and every song on here is a banger

This album is absolutely amazing. Great songwriting and great production.

gostei muito, já conhecia, uns dos meus albums favoritos de viagem! um prazer ouvi-lo novamente. Tracy sabe cantar uma relaxante, como ninguém!! <3

Can’t believe I thought she was a one hit wonder. This whole album is great with emotions swinging between defiance and desperation. Revolution and Mountains are new favourites.

It's pretty much perfect

Love this album. Her voice is amazing

nice relaxing. Beautiful voice that i thought was a man when i was a kid