# Crossroads (Tracy Chapman album)

Crossroads is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman, released in 1989. Chapman was also a producer on this album, the first time she had taken on such a role. The song "Freedom Now" is dedicated to Nelson Mandela.

## Track listing

All songs written by Tracy Chapman.
* "Crossroads" – 4:11
* "Bridges" – 5:24
* "Freedom Now" – 4:02
* "Material World" – 3:02
* "Be Careful of My Heart" – 4:39
* "Subcity" – 5:09
* "Born to Fight" – 2:46
* "A Hundred Years" – 4:20
* "This Time" – 3:43
* "All That You Have Is Your Soul" – 5:16
Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Robert Christgau | B |
| Hi-Fi News & Record Review | A*:1 |
| New Musical Express | 8/10 |
| Rolling Stone | |

## Personnel
### Musicians

* Tracy Chapman – acoustic guitar, harmonica (tracks 6, 10), electric guitar (tracks 3, 8), vocals, background vocals (track 3), 12 string guitar (tracks 6, 9), stagecoach guitar (track 10)
* Charlie Bisharat – viola (track 6), electric violin (track 6), violin pizzicato (track 1)
* Peggie Blu – background vocals (track 3)
* Marc Cohn – piano (track 2)
* Paulinho da Costa – tambourine (track 3), conga (track 8)
* Carolyn Dennis – background vocals (track 3)
* Denny Fongheiser – drums (tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8)
* Bobbye Hall – percussion (tracks 1, 4, 5), conga (tracks 3, 6), tambourine (track 7)
* Jack Holder – banjo (track 3), piano (tracks 2, 7), acoustic stagecoach guitar (track 9), organ (track 9)
* Larry Klein – bass guitar (tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9)
* Danny Kortchmar – electric guitar (track 8)
* Russ Kunkel – drums (tracks 2, 6, 9)
* Jim Lacefield – cello (track 10)
* Tim Landers – bass guitar (tracks 3, 7)
* Steve Lindley – electric piano (track 8)
* Bob Marlette – keyboards (tracks 1, 2)
* Frank Marocco – accordion (track 1)
* Sheila Minard – background vocals (track 3)
* Scarlet Rivera – violin (track 9)
* Roz Seay – background vocals (track 3)
* G.E. Smith – acoustic picking guitar (track 1), mandolin (track 5), electric guitar (track 4)
* William D. "Smitty" Smith – organ (tracks 4, 6, 8)
* John X. Volaitis – piano (track 9)
* Elesecia Wright – background vocals (track 3)
* Snooky Young – trumpet (track 7)
* Neil Young – acoustic guitar (track 10), piano (track 10)

### Production

* Producers: Tracy Chapman, David Kershenbaum
* Kevin W. Smith – engineer, mixing
* Herb Ritts – cover photography

## Certifications and sales

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Argentina (CAPIF) | Gold | 30,000$^^$ |
| Australia (ARIA) | 2× Platinum | 140,000$^^$ |
| Austria (IFPI Austria) | Platinum | 50,000$^*$ |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Platinum | 100,000$^^$ |
| Finland (Musiikkituottajat) | Gold | 30,906 |
| France (SNEP) | Platinum | 300,000$^*$ |
| Germany (BVMI) | 2× Platinum | 1,000,000$^^$ |
| Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong) | Gold | 10,000$^*$ |
| Italy sales in 1989 | — | 300,000 |
| Netherlands (NVPI) | Gold | 50,000$^^$ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | Platinum | 15,000$^^$ |
| Portugal (AFP) | Gold | 20,000$^^$ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | 2× Platinum | 200,000$^^$ |
| Sweden (GLF) | Gold | 50,000$^^$ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) | 2× Platinum | 100,000$^^$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Platinum | 300,000$^^$ |
| United States (RIAA) | Platinum | 1,000,000$^^$ |
| $^*$ Sales figures based on certification alone. $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |||

## Awards

32nd Annual Grammy Awards
Grammy Awards :
| Year | Work | Award | Result | Ref |
| 1990 | Crossroads | Best Contemporary Folk Album | Nominated | |