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''Tracy Chapman'' is the self-titled debut album by singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman, released on April 5, 1988, by Elektra Records. The album was recorded at the Powertrax studio in Hollywood, California. In 1987, Chapman was discovered by fellow Tufts University student Brian Koppelman. He offered to show her work to his father, who owned a successful publishing company; however, she did not consider the offer to be serious. After multiple performances, however, Koppelman found a demo tape of her singing her single "Talkin' Bout a Revolution", which he promoted to radio stations, and she was eventually signed to Elektra Records. In early attempts to produce the first album, many producers turned down Chapman as they did not favor her musical direction. David Kershenbaum, however, decided to produce it as he wanted to record an acoustic music album. It was recorded in Hollywood, California in only eight weeks. Most of the writing is based on political and social causes. ''Tracy Chapman'' gained critical acclaim from a wide majority of music critics, praising the simplicity, Chapman's vocal ability and the lyrical content. They also noticed the political and social lyrical content. The album received commercial success in most of the countries it was released. It made it to the top of the charts in many countries, including Austria, New Zealand, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, and the United Kingdom. It peaked at No. 1 on the US ''Billboard'' 200, and was certified six-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), with sales exceeding over six million copies in the United States alone. Three singles were released from the album, with the most commercially successful single being "Fast Car". The song was performed at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute. It rose to the top ten on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and also did well in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and other European countries. ==Background== In 1987, Chapman was discovered by fellow Tufts University student Brian Koppelman. In an interview he said "I was helping organize a boycott protest against apartheid at school, and () told me there was this great protest singer I should get to play at the rally."〔 He went to see Chapman perform at a coffeehouse called Cappuccino. He said "Tracy walked onstage, and it was like an epiphany. Her presence, her voice, her songs, her sincerity—it all came across."〔 After this, Koppelman told her that his father was at the time a co-owner of SBK Publishing and could help her make a record. She did not consider the offer seriously.〔 Koppelman, however, was very interested in Chapman, so he attended most of her shows. She finally agreed to talk to him, but did not record any demos for him. He later discovered that she had recorded demos at the Tufts radio station WMFO for copyright purposes.〔 Her demo of the song "Talkin' Bout a Revolution" was taken to radio stations and, after the success, he copied it and took it to his father.〔 According to the interview, "He immediately got the picture and flew up to see her." Her demo led her to a signing with Elektra Records. She said "I have to say that I never thought I would get a contract with a major record label () All the time since I was a kid listening to records and the radio, I didn't think there was any indication that record people would find the kind of music that I did marketable. Especially when I was singing songs like 'Talkin' Bout a Revolution' during the Seventies () I didn't see a place for me there."〔 David Kershenbaum said that the album was "made for the right reasons". "There was a set of ideas that we wanted to communicate, and we felt if we were truthful and loyal to those ideas, then people would pick up on the emotion and the lyrical content that was there."〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Tracy Chapman (album)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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