Tracy Chapman – Tracy Chapman (1988)
I might have neglected to list this album had I not been reminded of it by a random selection this past weekend. But revisiting it for that post, I once again succumbed to its earnest folk charm.
This album is half protest record and half romance. But, as the AllMusic review points out, even the love songs are laced with the sorrows of the lower class. Nearly 25 years ago, Chapman’s debut was the soundtrack of the 99%.
But if the subject matter was sometimes a bit too somber (‘Behind the Wall’ is an a capella re-telling of a woman killed by an abusive husband — yikes), the music is uniformly uplifting. Chapman’s rich, expressive voice wrings the emotion out of every line and her melodies — backed by clean, crisp acoustic guitar arrangements — are exquisite.
I lost track of Chapman completely after this album. I know my sister bought at least a couple more of her seven subsequent albums, reversing the roles we normally find ourselves in (she’s usually more of a greatest hits type, while I’m a completist). Maybe I should break down and borrow them.
I think she gonna use it
I think she going to fly away
No one should try and stop her
Persuade her with their power
She says that her mind is made
Up
Why not leave why not
Go away
Too much hatred
Corruption and greed
Give your life
And invariably they leave you with
Nothing
Young girl ain’t got no chances
No roots to keep her strong
She’s shed all pretenses
That someday she’ll belong
Some folks call her a runaway
A failure in the race
But she knows where her ticket takes her
She will find her place in the sun
Why not leave why not
Go away
Too much hatred
Corruption and greed
Give your life
And invariably they leave you with
Nothing
She’s got her ticket
I think she gonna use it
I think she going to fly away
No one should try and stop her
Persuade her with their power
She says that her mind is made
Up
And she’ll fly, fly, fly…
Meet Me In Montauk 
Yes, as I mentioned the other day, some her subsequent albums are really very good, though not as wonderful as her debut.
I think her “New Beginning” album is her best and I put it close to Lucinda Williams’ “Car Wheels” album as one of my all time favorite albums. I think you should try it sometime, it’s very good and quite different from her earlier stuff.
I agree with Denise that New Beginning is a wonderful album, though I wouldn’t rank it above her debut. “Give Me One Reason” is a favorite of mine on that album, and it was on tour to promote this album when I finally got to see Chapman in concert, so it holds a special place for that reason as well.
Your point about “Tracy Chapman” being the soundtrack for the 99% is powerful, though, of course, she’s capturing the voices of the people at the bottom of that 99%. This album coincided with the awakening of my inner social activist, as I participated in anti-apartheid rallies at UF and started to view learning as not only a means to do well on a test but as a way to better understand the world around me – something that I fear was not stressed in my high school career.
These were the years when music, film, books, lectures, conversations… all came together seamlessly. I think it happens for kids at a younger age now, largely because of the Internet. For me, though, my undergraduate years provided that opportunity – and this album provided a significant a contribution to my status as an “educated” person.
Reblogged this on PORTAFOLIO. BITACORA DE UN TRANSFUGA. 2000.2010.