Tracy Chapman

Where there's a Fast Car, there's a magic feeling.

Classic album with 2 really great hits.

Vackert singer - songwriter album. Vacker röst och en gitarr, man behöver int mera

Debut album. Many producers turned her down. Eventually it got done and became one of the biggest selling albums ever. Talkin Bout a Revolution has great lyrics and vocals. The whole album does really. Baby Can I Hold You is beautiful and the classic track Fast Car is just wonderful. Behind the Wall is an acapella song about DV. Why? Is a very good political and social track. Amazing album.

Good soulful messages

What an amazing ability to story tell and really pull at the heart. Very easy listening, which in part is due to Tracy's amazing voice. It gets a little samey at some points but I can't really complain. Love the run time of the album too. Nothing feels forced at all. Will definitely be revisiting this often.

Good album.

I really like Tracy Chapman’s voice.

She’s so good, as others have said the lyrics are just as poignant today. I would like to add that the one reviewer dismissing anything women like as “secretary rock” should keep those sentiments between himself and the other members of No Ma’am

Mild background blues, used in soundtracks for a reason.

Album is quality from start to finish. Not normally my style but definitely a solid album. At times sounds almost like a 2010-ish indie rock era album, which is impressive for an album from 1988.

First time listening to this all the way thru, being obviously very familiar with Fast Car. The stripped down coffeehouse feel of the album is great, it makes you realize how much Fast Car is doing with really minimal instrumentation.

Talkin' Bout a Revolution - Cute, catchy and I'm a fan of her voice. 8/10 Fast Car - I mean...it's such a main character moment of a song. 10/10 Across the Lines - It was a good song, nothing too remarkable I could pick. 7/10 Beyond the Wall - Kind of a interlude kind of song. I actually like it, acapella style. 9/10 Baby can I hold You - This actually pops off. I know this went fucking hard in the 80s. 10/10 Mountain O' Things - I really like this groove. 10/10 She's got her Ticket - I forgot what i was going to say, but it was a good song. 7/10 Why? - I enjoy this song a lot, has a fun melody. 8/10 For my Lover - I really like this song. Gives me The Highway Man energy. 9/10 If not now... - This gave me very nice feelings, I like the vibe of the song. 9/10 For You - This is a really nice ending to the album. I really like this. 9/10 Overall: 8.72 - A great album. As a debut album it shows off such a strong songwriter and a powerful independence that I'm sure only matures as her artistry progressed.

great selection of music. fast car is fantastic

Fast Car is such a GEM!

Tracy Chapman - S/T A light 4 for me, took a couple of listens for the fairly subtle arrangements to grab me but there’s something undeniable about the songwriting here. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Feels ahead of its time for 1988. Like this would’ve smashed in 2004 just as hard. Trendsetter.. also some somes with no instruments. Her voice is that good. Some interesting songs too. Kinda like Mr morale and big steppers where he really gets creative with a few story telling songs. Honestly really beautiful. Lots of range. Beautiful voice and intstruments. Can really play it front to back and it’ll be well received in most places.

A handful of amazing songs and some meh songs

Zoom zoom

Tracy Chapman’s debut album is a powerful mix of soul, folk, and social commentary. Her alto voice is warm and steady — the kind of voice that instantly pulls you in. I grew up hearing “Fast Car” constantly on the radio, and even though it’s the big hit, the rest of the album proves she’s far from a one-song wonder. “Behind the Wall” is a chilling a cappella track that still gives me goosebumps, and “Why?” keeps that thread of activism going with some biting questions about injustice. There are several really strong songs here, both musically and lyrically. It’s a thoughtful, emotional album that holds up decades later. Favorite song: "Fast Car"

The highs are so insanely high on this. There are a couple of forgettable songs but overall this is an essential album. 4.5/5

talkin' bout a revolution - really good, like the instrumentation on this fast car - know the cover of this song, knew at some point that it was a cover, but had never heard the original... it's great. a little long, but I liked this one. not sure on if I like the cover or this original better, luke combs did a great job at this song, but they are both great! across the lines - great song behind the wall - another great song, I'm sure that these were greatly important when they came out baby can i hold you - another good song, no misses so far mountains o' things - great she's got her ticket - good why - really good, like the instrumental and slightly faster pace of this one for my lover - love this one, great instrumental, great lyrics, great performance (favorite) if not now - definitely heard this before, great song for you - great closing track, great overall song my general thoughts so far are that this is one of those albums that has no skips or bad songs, but still isn't a 10/10 for me personally. There's something about it that while I'm listening to each song, I know that they are good, high quality songs, but there's still something that's not clicking with me personally... a song "give me one reason" from her album New Beginning came on right after this one, and I liked it more than all but maybe one or two from this album, so maybe this one just wasn't for my ears. Again, these songs were all great and its a high quality incredible project, but maybe just not for me. I'd give it probably an 8.5/10

This was really good. I like pretty much the entire album but wasn’t a massive fan of the more generic radio ahh songs like behind the wall but they were still good. Favourites were talking about a revolution, across the lines, why?, mountain of things and she’s got her ticket. Which is quite a lot of highlights which reflects in the rating. Also, the overall messages on these songs were powerful which is why I wasn’t a massive fan on the ones which were more simplified love songs. Overall, 8/10.

Talkin' 'bout a Revolution" is great. "Fast Car" is great. "Behind the Wall" being acapella is... a choice. "Baby Can I Hold You" is great. 4/5

Decent album. Fast Car is a great song.

Singer-songwriter done well, although sort of depressing how true these songs ring almost 40 years later.

dit is zo'n verborgen pareltje... kende dit toevallig door mijn vrouw... zelf meer fan van het hardere genre, maar deze kan mij toch bekoren

Fast Car is great but so are other songs on here as well. Good album.

Really liked this. Especially Baby can I hold you and she's got her ticket. Would mabye make a 5 star after another couple of listens.

This is a beautiful album with a unique sound

This is who wrote fast car?

Pretty solid album, I thought it might be a bit samey but there was enough variety in there to keep things interesting

Wow, more than the car

Decent

3.7

Wow, what a great record. Outside of Fast Car, I don't think I had heard any of these songs before, but this is definitely going in the rotation. 8/10

Fantastic start to finish. Few songs that didn't grip me as much to warrant a 5 but great record!

3 1/2 stars

4* 87%

Love her voice. Fast Cars is one of my favourite songs ever. Liked a lot of songs on this album.

obviously Fast Car is 10/10. the rest of the album very 90s but I liked it! Improves on re-listen as well. Just an immense amount of talent.

I’m always shocked that this came out in the 80s. timeless and very solid all around

Amazing songwriter and voice, and sub phenomenal songs

Very impressive debut, and it opens with possibly the two biggest hits of Tracy Chapman's career. The rest of the album never quite reaches those heights again, so having it be that front-loaded is a bit of a double-edged sword. That said, the rest is fine, just not as good. 'Behind the Wall' being acapella really makes the message stand out Standouts Talkin' Bout a Revolution Fast Car Behind the Wall 4/5

So good. An honest and authentic folk rock album with a distinctive vocal that sticks with you long after it is finished.

Mix of good and not so good songs.

- Behind the Wall broke me. - Had no idea she wrote Baby Can I Hold you - much better version. - Fast Car not the best song on the album (in my opinion)

A really mature album, lyrically and musically. Thought-provoking and powerful lyrics overlayed with tender guitar melodies and incredible vocals. First half of the album is nearly perfect, but the second half does start to taper a bit in quality; it's still good, but not great like the first 5 tracks. Top tracks: Fast Car, Behind the Wall, Baby Can I Hold You

Loved. Icon

I knew that she had written Fast Car, but didn't know her work besides that. I enjoyed her vocals on this album.

This is a great album that I enjoy every time I listen to it! I liked it more when I was younger.

Solid 4.

Yes!!!!! Music!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, her voice is just so good. fav = for my lover

Enjoyed it, political, and great voice

Solid songs straight from the soul. Of course I knew Fast Car very well but not so familiar with the others so I was quite moved by how political this album was, and saddened at how little has changed in 37 years. Fantastic voice, interesting tunes, some nice country/western influences etc. Very good all round. (4.5 stars)

Great tunes great voice

As others have said, unfortunately this brings home that nothing's been fixed since 1988. We had some hope for a bit, but it went badly wrong. However, although painful, I loved hearing it again. I'm glad the production is simple, mainly just a bit of bass and percussion; it's just enough to enhance the beautiful songs and their hard-hitting lyrics. Really good album. The last track is simple, poignant and beautiful. May this resonate and inspire.

Only knew the first two tracks, but this album is cohesive, soothing and poetic. 8/10 Fave: fast car or for my lover

Songwriting expertise mixed with a vocal rawness (ala Joni Mitchell). Read a description of both musicians stating "they represent the Power of music without spectacle." And I think that sums up this album perfectly. You're drawn to the lyrics, like a thirsty cat to milk. Of course, FAST CAR and TALKIN' BOUT A REVOLUTION are timeless, but other highlights were the quick paced WHY? and MOUNTAINS O'THINGS.

Rounding up to a 4. Enjoyed it more than a 3 but a lot of it is almost a bit too musically understated for my taste. Talking About a Revolution and Fast Car slap of course

8/10

She sells every song with raw emotion. It especially stands out in its era. Rock was dominated by hair and glam, pop was focused on big, bright ballads, and this stands out as a more intimate and directly emotional experience. I'm not trying to criticize fun here, but I'm always down for a shakeup. Whether it works or not, I respect the effort. Her lyricism and musical style really sells the emotion behind her work, and gives an important weight to small, intimate moments. Her explicitly political songs are disappointingly edgeless, with "Talkin Bout A Revolution" vaguely gesturing toward change, or "Why" listing talking points so rapidly that they don't have time to sink in. Most of the good political songs need to have a specific point, like Fortunate Son calling out the hypocrisy of the rich and politically connected, or Ohio narrowing in on one specific incident to highlight a broader issue, or Fight the Power focusing on multiple broad issues to focus on the people targeted. "Talkin Bout A Revolution" fails as a call to action because it doesn't really have a call to action, it's saying it's already started, you don't have to do anything. "Why" fails as a protest song in the same way that "We Didn't Start the Fire" does, it's more useful in a history classroom than a protest line.

Okay, so. Wether you like the lyrics or not (and I don't really love them) the voice and the melodies are out of this world. The music behind the voice is really not all that amazing though. Everything has to come from Chapman herself, and while she does a lot, parts of this album still falls a bit flatterende.

Great songwriter, great voice!

fast car might be the best song ever made. the rest is really damn great too

I would never have listened to this album except for this project. It’s actually beautiful and sad - she is a storyteller and it’s all about working class struggles - and I enjoyed it quite a lot.

Banat’s a dick

Amazingly talented, her voice, her message and the music just work so well together. A little top heavy in terms of hit songs, but overall a really good album. 4/5 Will listen again

83% Best: Fast Car; Baby Can I Hold You; Mountains O' Things; Why?; For My Lover Must-Hear? Sure

Tonight for our main course we have some easy listening that's not so easy if you're listening. I don't vibe with the production style of late 80s folk very often; and yes, if you're not paying attention, you will only hear the kind of stale, safe vibe this album gives off. But the lyrics tell a much different story. There's a reason Fast Car remains a cultural titan of a song after almost 40 years. It's a devastating slice of life that rings true to too many individuals. And the rest of the socially-driven songs here aren't just fluff to eat up the runtime. This is a 5 star album that will get 4 stars from me because I'm an asshole.

Great album, reminds me of childhood and my mom!

This record sounds amazing but none of the songs hold up to “Fast Car”

Really solid and a great recording.

I like Tracy's voice Ive heard it before but its been years and was nice to revisit it. Revolution song speaks volumes and Fast car is a classic. Most songs are great nice easy listen and chilled out vibe with an acoustic feel.

There was a window of time between late 80s hair metal and early 90s grunge when this album worked. Beautiful

Pretty soft and nice music.

Was good!

4/5 holy shit, Fast Car incredibile

She has an amazing voice but didn't feel anything super new in the album

Amazing voice

Great voice. Never got credit, and acknowledgment that she deserved. Some great songs. It’s an honor when others sing your songs, and takes them to number one.

Hated Fast Car when I was 16. At 53 I’m upset with my younger self for not realizing how beautiful this album is.

I never really pay attention to lyrics but it's really hard to overlook the masterful storytelling and poignancy of every track in this album. These are the kind of lyrics that make you wanna drop whatever you're doing just to make sure you're hearing every word.

The album starts with Talking about a revolution and Fast car, which is a great strong start. I like the other tracks too, so I'll give it 4/5

Astounding.

What a voice album is great.

A lovely Wednesday listen. Have never listened to this album all the way through but god Tracey is good, and such a trailblazer. Fast Car obviously god tier but I also really enjoyed Why? and Baby can I hold you.

Lovely album

Iconic! Endlich mal eine Frau, eine Gute!

a beautiful album that fights against the injustices of the world

This was a really challenging record for me, as I had never heard anything from this record beyond "Fast Cars". I expected Chapman's lyrics to be more autobiographical, but surprisingly, Chapman is more of an observer.

SO I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE DRIVING, DRIVING IN YOUR CAR SPEED SO FAST IT FELT LIKE I WAS DRUNK CITY LIGHTS LAY OUT BEFORE US AND YOUR ARM FELT NICE WRAPPED 'ROUND MY SHOULDER AND I-I HAD A FEELING THAT I BELONGED I-I HAD A FEELING I COULD BE SOMEONE (Heard it before. Wonderful album. 4/5)

Chapman’s discography was (allegedly) never better than her debut, a claim I’ve yet to verify myself. But some go further to say that even within her debut, nothing could match Fast Car. And yes, it’s the standout on the record, and certainly my favourite if I had to choose. But this album isn’t just a mish-mash of supporting tracks, it’s a genuine heartfelt compendium of songwriting. Opening with the subtle call-to-arms of Talkin’ Bout a Revolution, and of course followed up by the stratospheric strumming of Fast Car, such subsequent tracks as Behind the Wall, a no-nonsense near-spoken word track taking domestic abuse head-on, Mountains O’ Things, the other track above 4 minutes, and For My Lover, with the second-best chorus on the record, are not to be dismissed.

9/10 Favorite Tracks: All of them Least favorite: None

Tracy's voice is everything. And "Fast Car" is somehow even better than I remembered, which is saying something since I hear it on the radio pretty constantly.

Okay, other than the fact that I don't like the song Fast Car (and I hate that cover which is constantly on the radio) i quitr liked this album. Tracy Chapman has a great voice, which is nicely complimented by slightly ascetic guitar sounds. Definitely my favourite song is the opening track - Talkin' 'bout a revolution. Rest of the record holds a quite high standard, so very enjoyable 36 minutes (minus Fast Car).

Ja die stem, fantastisch he. Goed album, maar geen vijf sterren ofzo. Fast Car blijft een banger en Baby Can I Hold You is ook echt een underrated nummer. 3.8

really good

Never has an album been more deserving of the renewed recognition this one is getting.

Not my cup of tea but an amazing voice. Giving it a 4 in response to the wanker reviewer who called this ‘secretary music’. And that was the most polite name he called it.

Depressing but good

I have no idea why every Boomer Dad was so into this record. It’s kind of insane, when you think about it. Like, a bunch of white cishet middle managers in the suburbs were vibing to a black lesbian’s folk songs about revolution? Crazy!!! The ‘80s were fucking crazy!! Anyway, Tracy Chapman’s self-titled is still a very good debut album. I think the first 4 tracks justify its inclusion alone, and justify a strong rating. After that, it does start to wobble a little bit, as the synths on “Baby Can I Hold You” and vocal choices on “Mountains o’ Things” both feel very of their time. I think the back half has some strong cuts, particularly “Why?,” but it never reaches the heights of “Talkin’ ‘bout a Revolution,” let alone “Fast Car.” That doesn’t mean anything here is bad– actually, all of it is great– but I think Tracy Chapman’s debut is a bit overhyped in popular memory, especially since her critical reevaluation over the last 2ish years. To me, people today in 2024 and people back in the day in 1988 may have been overly kind to this record. When I first heard it in the early 2000s while picking through my Dad’s CD collection, the consensus was that it’s an incredibly strong album with high high peaks and no valleys, but a few plateaus, and that sentiment aligns more with my own feelings about this record. Tracy Chapman deserves flowers, for sure, and this album is still good, but not as good as the hype suggests. That said, if it had one more track like “Give Me One Reason” from later in her career, I think I’d be singing a very different tune.

Absolute classic.

Chapman’s break out album - several hits

Soulful great album

8/10 such a good song writer. I like stripped down folk music and Tracy does it well. 1-15-2025

I have this album! (#2!) And I still like it just as much as I did when I got it*. After Luke Combs's's cover of 'Fast Car', I feel Tracy & this album are having a (small) renaissance, which is nice. The lyrics certainly still apply, which is not nice. *When I first heard Fast Car on the radio, before my Internet era, it was one of those ":o I must learn what this is" songs (and luckily it wasn't too hard to find out because my parents knew what it was when I asked about it). She had such a unique voice compared to the other songs I was hearing on pop radio. It did take me a while to appreciate the non-Fast Car songs, since they're a lot more acapella (which I found boring at the time), but I got there eventually. Highlights: 'Fast Car' (duh), 'Baby Can I Hold You', 'Why?', 'If Not Now...'

Very nice indeed. Very sad also. I know this reasonably well, but it's never a chore to listen to well written, melodic, melancholy songs.

Great one, sounded familiar to me, Ed Sheeran has kinda similar style

A soft and easygoing album with an extremely strong message throughout. The less is more and acoustic approach is done phenomenal and perfectly fits the concept pf the record. I liked how the emphasis was on the vocals and the lyricism of the album making it all the more powerful. Near the end there was, for me, a slight dip in quality, but nevertheless the complete picture is rather excellent. Favorite song: across the lines. Overall score: 7.4_10

An impressive debut album. Her writing and voice are fully-formed, assured, and vulnerable. Honest and timely.

Very enjoyable album, "Fast Car" is a classic but the entire album is great and you can really feel her personal emotion in the songs

i enjoyed the album. i already loved and knew fast car, but listening to the album’s entirety really served me well. Tracy’s got a beautiful knack for storytelling, and her warm voice really lends to that. Tracy does what music is built for; sharing a story, giving feeling.

Great and revolutionary

Beautiful! So soulful and emotional. Tracy has a very distinct voice and her music will live forever

This was a beautiful as well as an incredibly sad album.

The lyrics are good and the main focus. The instrumentals are simple, which can make the lyrics more pronounced but sometimes leave something to be desired

Really really good. I could do without hearing fast car ever again, but the rest is really strong Mountains o things- superb

I’m always up for Tracy.

definició de tia moderna/tia guai raw vocals omg em puc obsessionar fort jo vull seguir la revolució si la dirigeix tracy chapman final rodó

I remember when this record came out. It was a bit of a revelation, a glimpse of a different sort of life led by someone who was on the same planet as the rest of us. Really excellent songwriting. I'm tempted to give it five stars, but not everything can be five stars.

'Talkin' about a revolution', 'Fast car' and 'Baby can I hold you' all on one album. Solid.

It was pretty good. Not my usual type of music but it ended up being very good. I love Fast Car and Baby Can I Hold You. I really enjoyed how everything progressed in the album through each track from start to finish. Pretty solid album!

Love her voice. 4/5

This album is nice and sounds great. The themes it touches on are powerful. I went in having only heard Fast Car and it’s still a great song. Overall this album wasn’t for me but can I still say it’s a good album, just probably not one I’d listen to again.

I’m so sad now.

Some truly exceptional songs and some filler.

Absolutely beautiful. Raw emotion.

Timeless album. Very strong lyrically. She explores some very deep topics in American culture, which are still relevant today almost 40 years later.

fast car still one of my top tier songs

It‘s pretty gospel‘ish within the structural iteration/repetition of some very strong lyrics.

So sad, so angry, so beautiful

Familiar as ever. That gated reverb tho, amirite.

Nice

I was in a fast car once

Interessant album! Groot deel is protestnummers a la What's Going on? Maar qua muziek pakt ze inspiratie uit traditionele pop, folk en zelfs wat Afrikaanse invloeden op bijvoorbeeld Mountains o things. Het helpt dat ik Tracy Chapman niet goed ken buiten de grote hit om, maar dit is als eerste kennismaking een zeer prettige. Nummers gaan richting het einde wel iets te veel op elkaar lijken en het is in elk geval duidelijk dat de sterkste nummers op het begin zitten. Die conclusie maakt het een heel erg prettig album, maar niet een 5 sterren dit is perfect album. Geen schande, alsnog een lekker album! FAVO: Talkin bout a revolution, Fast Car, Baby can I hold you, Why?, For my lover, For you

It was good. I liked it. After hearing it 1000 times, though, I have to say "Fast Car" is still the highlight of the album.

For me, this is the best of its genre of its time. Beautiful vocals and arrangements.

I was a bit reluctant to review this album as my dog had died today. That meant I wasn't in the mood to listen at all. "Fast Car" is a banger and always will be. Some other songs were great as well. Better than a few other albums I reviewed in the last few days. 4 stars for "Self Titled".

Tracy Chapman is clearly a very good artist. Some really good songs on here with strong messages. However, I don’t see myself listening to this pretty much ever.

Not my first listen, won’t be my last. Obviously it starts with two certified hits but for a short album it’s really solid. Doesn’t feel preachy when she talks about revolution or reform and you really feel the experiences that have shaped her are genuine. Tracy Chapman is the type of person others pretend to be.

Tracy Chapman is silky smooth. This album reminded me a lot of the Norah Jones album. I recognized one song, but I let the rest just take me on a journey. The acoustic guitar in this is beautiful as well. Her voice just pairs with it so well. Easy four stars for me

Really enjoyed this album. Her songwriting is very interesting and distinct. It’s super cool, like the lyrics and the actual composition of the songs are not over produced or bogged down in symbolism. It’s simple yet powerful. She’s very “to the point” which allows for an engaging listen (as evident in the song Behind the wall). And Jesus fast car. What a freakin powerful heartbreaking song. The light nature of the acoustic guitar makes you feel that it’s going to be a happy ending but then she hits you with the final verse “see more of your friends then you do your kids” and you see the vicious circle of growing up around alcoholism. I know this song is everywhere now but something that I feel needs to be specifically pointed out and praised that people can take for granted is the songwriting ability to make the most memorable part of the song (the eye-ee-eye of the chorus) a completely original way to just say the word “I”. Top tier songwriting.

Really great. Her songwriting and voice really shine through. Another thing that I think this album does really well is the production aspect when it comes to the singer-songwriter genre. She has a lot of unique accompaniment in the album, but it feels natural and fits in extremely well with the minimalist style. It is very crisp and timeless, despite being unique. Fast Car is such an amazing song. I’m not sure if it’s the right interpretation of it, but I imagine it as a child singing it to an adult. In the way they address an impossible problem with a seemingly simple solution. It is heartbreakingly sweet and earnest. It fills you with hope while also recognizing the beauty and sometimes futility in that hope.

There are very few artists that have been and will be on the list that have a singing voice that I enjoy listening to more than Tracy Chapman. Combine that with the composition and the social commentary in the lyrics and it’s really something special. Not quite a five, but a strong four.

This was a tough one to come into because I felt obligated to give it a high score especially with the recent resurgence in "Fast Car". I'm glad to say that I really enjoyed it! Chapman has an awesome voice and is tackling some seriously deep subject matter with racism, unjust responsibilities, and domestic abuse. This is why I love debut albums like this because they come from real world experiences and a place of relatability, unlike later albums once an artist is successful. I'm not going to say this album is perfect. It trails off a bit on the back half, but it's short enough that this isn't really an issue. This is another album that would be a 9/10 if we were on that scale.

Awesome.

Sad that she kinda disappeared only to resurface when a Country cover of Fast Car was so very successful. She has a lovely voice. I get her and Joan Armstrading confused although Tracy is 10 years later, discographically

gran disco, y qué tema "baby can i hold you", por dios

Up there for the best cover of that Luke combs song

What a surprise. Excellent. Great voice, intelligent lyrics. Catchy tunes. Sound quality very good. Nicely mastered. 4/5.

7,09

4 - the first half of this was especially great, got a lot of songs where I said “oh this is where this is from”

I did not realise just how good this album was the first 2 times I listened to it. Chapman has a golden voice, and the songwriting is superb. Really really want to give this a 5, but there are quite a handful of songs that have the instrumentation too busy to truly enjoy fully. Chapman's voice begs to be front and center, this would have easily been a 5 star acoustic album, or just a more subdued instrumentation

It is a good piece of work, very evocative of a time for me. Some great songs. Overall a little too background music at times but stands up well.

What a great album. Having only heard the singles this is a revelation.

I’m in awe with the amount of care that Chapman puts into her songwriting as she tackles such difficult topics with grace and makes it look effortless. Favourite tracks: Fast Car, For My Lover

the only good thing luke combs ever did for music was get people listening to tracy chapman again. i had never listened to the full album but really enjoyed it

Really good stuff overall, very prescient

This album was Good. Its lyrics, while simple, were pretty good. They went good with the music and overall makes it a pretty good album. I recommend this album.

have you ever heard a song and thought it reminds me of something like to friends hanging out in a movie and think its good also I feel that what talking bout a revolution made me think of it and I started liking it because of how the instruments are and the singer I think this song was good and recommend listening to it

Incredibile album

LOVE IT

Fantastic voice, some great songs but a little repetitive

Has to be the greatest busker --> superstar story of all-time?

Most songs are a little slow for me - but Fast Car is an all-time greatest hit.

Many albums on this list have one song that is truly remarkable, and then others that don't come close to it; almost like that one song is so important to music as a whole that the album that it exists upon must be included here. I've hopped back and forth about whether or not this is one of those albums, because "Fast Car" is really a legendary piece of music that needs representation on this list for the song alone. That this album has "Talkin' Bout a Revolution" and "Baby Can I Hold You" on it as well is a big help in dispelling that idea. "Fast Car" is such an amazing piece of music; one of those songs that you could go your whole life and never find someone who dislikes it. The melancholic guitar parts, the poetic lyrics, the emotive vocal performance; it has so many elements that make it truly incredible and timeless. I also find it to be ahead of it's time. This album came out 4 months into 1988 but it is so inherently 90's. The soft singer-songwriter acoustic storytelling style has been around for decades (millennia if we are going back to some baroque bards?) but it is really so antagonistic to the 80's, and the sound is so impressive for this 24 year old to accomplish. I'm not entirely smitten with the rest of the album and in fact I'm re-writing my review here because I was going to slap a "5/5" on it but after re-listening to a lot of the "other" tracks, I'm kind of left wanting more. It definitely tries to do more, like "For My Lover" has a cool country twang to it, "Baby Can I Hold You" utilizes a sitar in a really tasteful manner, "For You" ends the album on a really strong vocal performance where she shows off her range and agility. But these other ones are really kind of really just that- "other ones", and after a day of listening to them I sat down and looked at the list and thought "how does that one go?" for too many of them. It's still going to get a really strong score, just not as top-tier as I initially thought. 4.2/5

Great story behind this album

Great folk, the deep lyricism that touches social justice as well as personal emotion, and Tracy’s vocal delivery that is touching when it needs to be and powerful when it needs to be.

Classic

Pretty good. Behind the wall is creepy and sad

This was great! Never listened to the whole thing before and certainly would again!

Great album. Well written songs. Some diversity in musicianship too. Lyrically brilliant.

4.5

This was great. I like Tracy Chapman a lot. 4/5

Tracy Chapman & Cat Stevens - so far the only artists to survive the Boyzone Test. 4.2

Lots of classics on here, very solid complete album.

Starting off w/ a cover of a bob marley song (I think) please don’t set the tone for a political type of thing Fast car is such a fucking cool song. no wonder everyone wants to cover it

That voice. The way she builds songs that are full of tension and swell to a sense of triumph or at least hope. And the songs that feel like they've lost hope. They just make you feel. It's beautiful.

The first time I remember hearing a Tracy Chapman song was in the mid-nineties, when "Give Me One Reason" stormed up the charts. That song felt like it was everywhere for a solid year or so. I don't remember having heard "Fast Song" until around the same time, and for years and years, I assumed they both came from the same album. I can't remember when I first learned about the chronological distance between those songs, but it blew my mind. I hate that I've never listened to this album before, especially now that I'm seeing a lot of rave reviews for it. I guess there's no time like the present to fire this one up! I was worried that this album would lead-off with a few strong tracks, and then have a steep drop off in quality, but thankfully that wasn’t the case. Yes, “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution” and “Fast Car” are the best part of this album, but the songwriting is incredible throughout the whole album. I’m always caught off guard when an album from the eighties really pushes the envelope with social and political issues (especially a pop album), because I think there’s been some revisionist history that’s sanitized a lot of what was going on in the U.S. during that time. This album really manages to tackle those issues in a sincere and tangible way. I love that this album really harkens back to some of the folk rock of the sixties in terms of lyrical tone, but the music is soft, and blends in well with popular sounds from the era. There arrangements on these songs are really great, and I like the variation, but the bouncing back and forth between acoustic guitar songs and songs with more African influences was a little jarring to me. On top of that, there were some moments later on in the album that dragged a bit, but this album certainly never lacked for quality of songwriting and vocals. But, overall, this is a great album, and “Fast Car” is an absolute masterpiece, which still carries all of its emotional weight over 35 years later.

When I started listening to these, there were always a few iconic albums that I just KNEW were going to come up. This album is so iconic, the lyrics are so genius and precious to me. I’m really sentimental over this album.

Good album. Hadn't heard most of the songs before. Tracy has a beautiful, soulful voice.

Such a soulful voice

I didn't realize she had some reggae influence in her music! Really enjoyed listening to more of her. She has an effortless voice

Some moving lyrical commentary on social and political issues. I enjoyed the acoustics on songs. Some quirky melodies but overall an awesome album.

Unique and beautiful vice, capturing and poignant lyrics. A bit confused by the island/yacht rock vibe in the middle of the album.

Folk rock. Un megahit. Un 4.

I wouldn't put Chapman's style in my list of gotos - she is skilled beyond a doubt in her playing, composition, and lyricism. I do think this one is an actual must hear, for people in the United States in particular.

Sounds modern and stylish

Really really enjoy her voice a lot. It almost seems as though if this was any other artist there would be a lot of belting out the tunes, but Tracy doesn't need to do that at all, her voice absolutely carries this album. It dips a little bit for a couple of songs in the middle but ends just as it started. Fast Car is the obvious highlight but I'm glad the rest of the album matches up to it. Across The Lines is the other best song. If I could give it 4.5 I would, but alas, it's a 4.

Ok

Great album

A beautiful record which is so evocative.

Tracy comes out of the gate swinging. The album loses some steam as things go ahead and it can be a bit preachy at times but Fast Car alone makes it all worthwhile.

Always remember my GCSE English teacher forcing the class to listen song after song on repeat in a lesson Great album

I had almost completely forgotten about "Talkin' Bout a Revolution", "Fast Car" and "Baby Can I Hold You". Tracy Chapman has a great voice. The music is great, even if I don't particularly like conceptual folk/roots rock. All in all, an album that I liked very much, that I heard in its entirety for the first time in this project and that I want to hear again. 4/5

My mother LOVED this album and I used to dislike it because she played it a lot, so I made an effort to try and move past my negative reaction and actually it is a quality album with a couple of absolute classic songs. It wouldn't be something I'd choose to listen to, but she does what she does well. Fave Track: Fast Car Rating: 4

Loved this. I had never dove into Tracy Chapman, but loved the strong messages and the simple yet deep musical creativity.

A beautiful voice, and knack for storytelling, courage to write about difficult topics such as racial and economic inequality, and then the audacity to lay down one of the best Americana songs of all time. Tracy is aptly underrated for her contribution to music with this album, and that was reflected as she became the first black woman to top the country music charts with the presence of a white man. Tracy broke barriers and wrote some incredible folk on her way.

Great singer, great album. Front half slaps harder than the back.

Fast Car might be the perfect song. The rest of the album reminded me why Fast Car is the only Tracy Chapman song I can name. But goddamn it is it a great son.

One of the best opening two tracks on any album. Fades a little toward the end

Better than expected. And a good story, what with the recent appreciation for her

"You got a fast car And I want a ticket to anywhere Maybe we make a deal Maybe together we can get somewhere." Great lyrics. Great guitar. Great voice. Great talent. Love this.

While this album is musically very satisfying, it always leaves me feeling devastated. Thirty-six years have passed since its release and not much has changed; there was no revolution. Certain songs definitely make you think about the state of things, and why we're not doing enough to fix it. Anyway... Musically, this album aged very well. It's not only lyrically relevant, but also sounds like it could've been recorded this year. The only reason why I'm not giving it five stars is because I consider this album very heavy and I can't listen to it often. 4 stars

Great album, so many popular songs, and it's not like you can party with it, but it's just an enjoyable album to listen to.

The name Tracy Chapman makes you think of a certain voice… a certain sound. This album is why. 4.5 out of 5

Tracy Chapman's self-titled debut album is a poignant and powerful collection that blends folk, rock, and soul with raw, emotive storytelling. The album's most iconic track, Fast Car, captures the desperation and hope of escaping a cyclical life, showcasing Chapman's ability to craft vivid narratives. Talkin' bout a Revolution serves as a call to arms, highlighting the album's underlying themes of social justice and change. Throughout, Chapman's voice is both tender and fierce, a perfect match for the introspective lyrics that explore love, struggle, and resilience. The minimalist production allows her voice and guitar to take center stage, creating an intimate, almost haunting atmosphere. Tracks like Behind the Wall strip back the instrumentation entirely, relying solely on Chapman's a cappella delivery to convey the stark reality of domestic violence. The album's emotional depth and timeless relevance have cemented it as a classic, resonating with listeners across generations. Tracy Chapman's debut is a masterclass in storytelling and an enduring testament to the power of music to inspire change. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 4 STAND OUT TRACK - Fast Car

Amazing album, great lyrics. Very good songwriter

This was a great album. I only knew fast car beforehand, which is honestly still my favorite song, but the whole album has a similar vibe

Despite some of the more unfortunate 80s-ness of this record it’s a banger. Despite being close to 40 years old it feels fresh and new.

That kind of albums should be on this list. I knew some songs from years ago, haven't got a clue who sang them, and now I know. The whole album is a great experience.

When this came out I thought it was so lame. Now with age and wisdom I see how good it is.

Очень хороший альбом. Удивлен приятно. Я люблю такое в целом, а здесь еще и 1) невероятный голос и 2) интересные истории. Лучшая песня - Fast Car.

I was surprised at how many songs I knew from the album without realizing it. I don't find her voice particularly pleasant, but it definitely sounds unique and gives her already very personal songs an even more personal touch. The songs are the highlight anyway. If you don't listen closely, it's just solid singer-songwriter acoustic music. If you listen closely, Tracy Chapman will break your heart.

This album really starts off hot. Fast Car is definitely one of those songs that I feel like I have heard too much already but its just undeniably awesome. I was not aware that she wrote Baby Can I Hold You - there are some real heavyweights on this album. The end tails off for me, but still a pretty solid album. Fave Tracks: Talkin' Bout A Revolution, Fast Car, Baby Can I Hold You 4/5

Always love me some Tracy Chapman

A modern Bob Dylan. An album for a revolution, and boy, do we need one!

Ein sehr schönes Album. Wunderbare Songs, sehr kritisch, aber geht wunderbar ins Ohr. Tolle Stimme. Ein Genuß

Outstanding vocalist. Essence of story telling via music. Feels like a lot of later artists tried to model themselves after Tracy. Ed Sheeran in particular seems like He took a lot of inspiration from her. Song highlights: Talkin' Bout a Revolution, Fast Car, Baby Can I Hold You, If Not Now

Überraschenderweise waren mir einige Lieder bekannt, obwohl ich den Künstler gar nicht kannte. Sehr weiche Stimme, angenehme Melodien, Lieder abwechslungsreich.

Never heard this before, and want to re-listen!

This is a very strong album. It just isn't an album I'll really ever put on. That would lead me to giving it a 3. But!, it has Fast Car on it. That is like a top 25 song of all time. So I'm giving this a pretty easy 4.

This is one of those albums that I like in spite of the seemingly similar albums that I don't like.

Fast Car is a classic, don't think that can ever be taken away. Sadly the rest of the album isn't as good, but it came close enough.

Beautiful performance throughout, I think I need to become more familiar with tracks that aren't Fast Car to properly judge this one.

还阔以

Really solid album. Not a bad track on the whole thing. I remember when this came out, Fast Car was everywhere. Glad to have listened to it.

Fantastic debut. Excellent lyrics. Social consciousness and good music.

Low 4

Another incredible record. More like what I can listen to when WFH. The album is a great journey through heartbreaking scenarios and hope.

8.5/10

Interesting time capsule of what mainstream “protest-y” music was talking about in the late 80s. Obviously Fast Car is goated, but I was struck by the bleakness of the rest of it as well. Really clear why she blew up so big back then.

Gear: Fostex TH610 Artwork: 🤷‍♂️ Mix: 🎧😘🤌 Musik: 🎸🎙️📃💎 Wertung: 🏎️🏎️🏎️(🏎️)/5

I don’t usually just listen to music, instead have it playing in the background of whatever I’m doing. However, within the first minute of this album starting (as I had just added it to my queue) I went to check my phone. I wanted to know the name (Talkin’ Bout a Revolution) and to add it to my current playlist. I mean I shouldn’t be surprised really, we are referring to the artist and album of ‘Fast Car’. So review: this album is great, Tracy’s voice is easy to listen to and there is so much truth and thought behind the lyrics

Brutal, beautiful storytelling over simple guitar arrangements. I would normally be bored by how simple the guitar work is, but the simplicity of it really amplifies her lyrics, and it works really well. The latter half of this album falls off a little bit with the lyrics, but a very strong album nonetheless.

Classic iconic album!

Musically, the first songs are the most interesting, and this is a three star album; however, the socio-political nature of the lyrics take this up a notch. Unfortunately, still relevant today. “Talkin’ about a Revolution” is worth a listen.

Great album, and still sounds good. Fast Car has been unfortunately played to death.

Was really enjoying this… till the song that Ronan Keating covered from this album (Baby Can I Hold You) pops up and now I can’t get his version out of my head…. that’s not the original albums fault though…..

I'm running on no sleep, otherwise I'd type a little more here, but I found it to be an excellent work of auditory art.

Meio que não tem como ficar muito melhor no gênero do Folk. Uma voz linda, com instrumentais quase sempre austeros e suaves, com letras às vezes de amor, às vezes críticas à sociedade de seu tempo (que infelizmente, apesar do cinismo que algo tão frontal seria recebido hoje, não deixa de ser atual). Ótimo álbum de estreia da Tracy Chapman.

Powerful songs on this album has a great sound that is deceptively sparse which I think gives it a more universal feel given the time it was released.

That was great. Talkin’ Bout a Revolution and Fast Car are classics. I was surprised by a lot of the sounds of some of the other songs. Very powerful lyrics too. 8.5/10

I both really enjoyed this album, and wanted to enjoy it more. Chapman's voice is a powerful and Fast Car is a helluva song.

Amazing songs that tell stories that break your heart.

A pleasant reminder of how good an album this is.

Words don’t come easily.

Tracy Chapman

Nice little acoustic album

A few duds (Mountains of Things), but overall great. Kicks off with two masterpieces in “Fast Car” and “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution”

Simple, great voice and lyrically brilliant. Covers race, politics and relationships, much more than just fast car.

A nice, easygoing yet politically charged acoustic album. The Standouts are Fast Car, Across The Line, Mountain O'Things, and Why.

this was a nice album to listen to, the intro had the right amount of energy to get me invested for the rest of the album, the second track Fast Car was amazing too, all songs held up with standard and it was a nice listen overall.

a low key album but quite lovely.. some songs to return to although not really my thing generally speaking

This album is a true representation of what American folk is. The lyrics and storytelling are vivid and play like a cinema to the listener. Poetry at it's finest not to mention the clean heartfelt strumming of the chords on the guitar. Tracy is an artist too far overlooked. Her artistry and honesty in her music make the listener feel a bit anxious and heart broken at what she felt when composing this music, something very few artists have the capacity to do.. If you don't believe me listen closely to the mainstream hit Fast Car, or the hidden gems in Across the Lines or Behind the Wall.

This was a solid and memorable listen. Musically, it mixes folk, rock, and soul with powerful lyrics and a soulful voice. The simple arrangements keep the focus on the lyrics. Lyrically, there are some hot takes on social issues.

An all-time classic from Tracy. Silky voice and simple melodies make it an extremely easy-listening record, like Tapestry by Carole King, but with a terrific voice. The fun fact is that Spotify always recommends Rumours songs afterward.

For too long I thought Tracy was a man. Part of that is my main association with the name Tracy is my uncle, and then also Dick Tracy (which I don't quite know off hand if Dick is a title or thier actual name.... probably a name so that doesn't count) At any rate, I also didn't realize Fast Car and give me one reason were on different albums, so I suppose the former could come back around on the list here. Tracy does have a unique and lovely voice, so smooth. The album was over before I knew it so I'll have to come back a second time and take some better notes. It's just one of those unobjectionable voices that can be on in almost any situation. A perfect department store sound, and I mean that as a compliment. Favorite track "Fast Car" 4/5

Fast Car is a classic and a couple of other quality songs on here, but not something that I would ever add to my regular rotation. Very country feel on a 90's style alternative sound.

It's understated with a powerful message and that voice is so unique!

So nearly perfect but not quiet

De très belles chansons folk bien exécuté, ya rien à redire

Pretty decent and definitely an album with a lot to say. Have always loved the haunting melody and plaintive way Tracy sings Fast Car.

4/5

Calming

I enjoyed her voice and the style of song, but I think there could have been more energy. I'd listen again though.

yeah baby!! sad lesbian music!!

first listen in entirety. I'm glad I had finally listened to the full album. I've been meaning to do it for a while and I really liked it. Will definitely come back to it.

3.5

Xiu Xiu covering fast car is wild

Always a good song writer, great singer and super popular. Might be a 2 to 3 hit wonder. But she definitely has talent.

Such an unbelievable voice. Not every song is special, but there are just enough to push this into four-star territory for me. And "Fast Car" is one of the 20th century's great ballads, period.

powerful

A very thoughtful and well-constructed folk album. Maybe lacking in energy here and there, but largely engaging, reflective, and rewarding with a couple genuine classics. Best song: Fast Car

During multiple listens the album really grew on me. There are really nice songs on this that have a really clear political message as well! 4/5

This album is the reason we can give 4 stars.

Hadn’t heard this in full but very good! Impressive as a blend of catchy singer/songwriter fare and blunt, poetic lyrics - I loved her vocal textures on Behind the Wall and would have loved more experimentation with a cappella but as I said, the music is a very strong vehicle for the messaging!

Fast Car is an all-timer! Surprised by how successful this was given how explicitly political it is

tracy chapman is looking like a ghost on this album artwork - kinda matches the sad ass proletariat music in which it contains!!

8/10 una sorpresa que me gustó mucho

Great album!

Great singer song writer album. The three singles are absolute classics. With fast car one of the best songs ever written. The rest of the album does get a bit repetitive though musically and lyrically, hence doesn’t get the full 5 stars.

Excellent record that contains one of the finest songs ever recorded in Fast Car. Is there a line that evokes as much emotion as “your arm felt nice wrapped ‘round my shoulder”? To me the album is good start to end with Fast Cat being a masterpiece of a track.

beautifully observed stories, told with an amazing voice - delicate or powerful as needed.

Really, really excellent. On the verge of five stars, but there's not a ton of range here, and no real bangers outside of the already mega-famous tracks. It's all great, but nothing popped in a way I was hoping it would.

I'm not much for singer/songwriter music, but at least this is genuine. Unlike T-Swizzle, I am not rolling my eyes throughout the entire album. 3.5/5

After 1,000 tepid copycats since its release still one of the best singer/songwriter albums out there. 4.5*

Have always liked Tracy Chapman sound. Don’t love every song, but love the overall vibe of the album.

Talkin' Bout a Revolution Fast Car Baby I Can Hold You

Has clear peaks that are much better then the rest, but those peaks are so high that its still a 4

I’m a known hater folk. And I don’t know if it’s nostalgia (Tracy Chapman’s music was everywhere when it was released) or not but something about the combination of her voice and guitar work is just captivating. Her lyrics are powerful and moving without ever seeming forced or contrived. Her ability to impart desperation as well as hope feels unique.

Great album. Hard to believe this was released in 1987. I listened a couple of times and enjoyed it.

Songs that are intimate enough for the coffee shop with ideas big enough to propel a revolution.

I've loved this album dearly since I was a teenager.

Really powerful voice with a powerful personality, the project speaks on deep issues but can get boring at times

This was very good and it will get another listen some day. 4 stars for me.

I'm glad this album's on the list, as otherwise I probably never would have checked out Tracy Chapman. I initially wished there was a little more pace, but I ended up really enjoying the chill vibes on this album. Great vocals and overall an enjoyable listen.

Really good. Enjoying the sound and her voice. Will come back to this. 8/10