Tracy Chapman

2025 press. LTD orange vinyl.
The full length of Tracy Chapman's self-titled debut (the 30th Anniversary Edition came out in 2018 and is now reissued again) remains as timeless as its speedometric hit, 'Fast Car'. Encapsulating Chapman's blitzed blend of folk, rock, and social commentary, this one came when the singer and instrumentalist was only just beginning to find her voice. Chapman was relatively unknown when she recorded the album, and much of her early life was marked by a sense of personal introspection: she moved to San Francisco to attend college at Tufts University, where she studied anthropology and African studies. It was during her time at Tufts that she began performing in coffeehouses, eventually leading to her discovery by producer David Kershenbaum. It would prove a challenge for Chapman to square her deeply personal, emancipatory and justice-conscious approach to music with the largely rather carnivorous music industry, but 'Talkin' 'bout a Revolution', 'Let It Rain' and 'Behind The Wall' all further highlight her political awareness and desire for change, essentially clustering around the theme of escaping into a better life.