Born March 30, 1964, Tracy Chapman turns 40 today. Happy birthday!
Her reputation rests largely on her first album, from 1990. She's had a couple of decent hits since then, but she's been a bit of a disappointment artistically.
That first album just by itself, though, is more of a career legacy than the big majority of singers ever make. It's just that good.
"Fast Car" was the big hit, but not the top choice for most people who have the album. "For My Lover" rates as a particular high point to me, but votes for "Talkin' About a Revolution" or "Mountains o' Things" will also be counted.
Who knows, maybe she'll come up with another great one. She's done it once.
Article comments
1 - Sandra Smallson
Dear oh Dear! Al,you need to stop calling Artists artistically disappointing. When will you learn that you have got a lot TO learn? At your request in another thread, do not forget, I think I must, against my will. pay you attention. You have as much brains as I have in my elbows.
I have every Chapman Album. There is nothing disappointing about Telling Stories, New Beginning or certain parts of Cross roads and Matters of the heart. Infact, There are a few gems in the most recent "Let it Rain". Some of her Albums may not have been as commercially successfull as the earlier one but she has lost none of her fantastic storytelling ability in her lyrics/ songs. You just really are pathetic when it comes to giving your opinion. It counts for shit. Your opinion is based on your warped personal judgments. Narrow minded. If I were you, I would throw myself away.
As an aside, I note that it is okay for Chapman to have one great Album but clearly not okay for others. You struggle so hard for reasons yet you are so empty of them. It is actually becoming nauseating reading your posts. One of the couple I actually scan through. Atleast, the rest of the thugs I do not agree with, I still manage to read their soporific verbiage and survive. YOU? I read you like I read the tabloid rags at the supermarket counter. That's enough attention to last you a few days? Isn't that right sugar?!
Surely, Tracy is above 40. I think she's lying but I do not blame her:)
2 - Mac Diva
It is not that Al (Hand Me My Hood) Barger is not capable of praising people, Sandra. He is. Here, he piles the accolades on Marge Schott.
Oh, I just remembered you are a Brit, so here's some background.
Schott, who is said to have collected Nazi memorabilia, became notorious as a result of referring to the African-Americans on her baseball team by the n-word and likening them to slaves. She was also an unabashed admirer of Hitler. That is the kind of person he praises. Is it any wonder that A.B. cannot bring himself to really acknowledge talent and intelligence in people of color?
3 - Chris
Since when was it a race issue to say that Chapman sucked after her first album? So did the Gin Blossoms.
4 - Eric Olsen
Seriously - regarding both issues.
And he didn't say "sucked" anyway: he said "a bit of a disappointment artistically." This is about as mild and attenuated a criticism as it gets.
I am finally coming to realize that for some people ANYTHING short of unadorned, unqualified praise for an artist they happen to like is interpreted as an irresponsible slam. How about "honest reaction"?
That is in fact what critics are supposed to do: give their honest assessment of something, which more often than not would include ambiguity, caveats, quibbles and questions along with the endorsements. To do otherwise is what would be "irresponsible."
5 - Shark
Yah, Eric, but what do you REALLY think about Madonna?
Struck a nerve. Nevermind.
Anyway, that's why it's call ART, folks; if it were science, we could test the hypothesis and empirically state that such and such a CD is a piece of crap.
And Big Al, McD is FINALLY after YOUR ASS again. I hope yer happy. I know I am!
PS: I'd rather have molten silver poured into my ears than listen to Tracy Chapman. Boring, boring, boring. Can't stand her music, but ya gotta admit she is a babe!
6 - Shark
Man, I've got spelling/typing issues today. Forgive me!
7 - Chris Kent
I would have loved to have said Comment #3 as it is kind of funny. But I am smart enough to know Chapman has had a strong following for many years, and I would have never said such a thing. My only question is, "Why is someone is using my name......?"
8 - Eric Olsen
My son and my middle name are using it as well.
9 - Chris Kent
Shark, MD,
If either one of you are doing such a thing (using my name), I would appreciate it if you would leave me out of your weird, trash-talking fest. I want no part of it.
Thanks
10 - Chris Kent
hmmmmmm
11 - Chris Kent
My apologies. I made a mistake. No one is using my name.....
12 - Sandra Smallson
Shark: Anyway, that's why it's call ART, folks; if it were science, we could test the hypothesis and empirically state that such and such a CD is a piece of crap.
LOL..Really shark? Who woulda thought in that dry brain of yours there would be some strange places that might enclose the tiniest atom of sense? It's a shame when it tries to get out, the rest of the drivel in there shuts it down. It is also a shame you do not apply your own opinions to that very comment you have written.
Eric, when I find some respect for you, and regard the printing of your opinions as something more than a barren desert of verbiage, maybe I will care about what you think about me. Meanwhile, I care more about how my ex-boyfriend is doing and believe me, that is saying something.
I think it is clear from any who can read, that my issue was with Al saying anything after tracy's 1st Album was artistically disappointing. Therefore, I responded. Also, from anyone who can read, I Was giving Al his share of the response he had been asking for from a previous thread. What does this all mean? Folks, it means, what on earth is Olsen talking about me looking for unqualified praise?
The day I look for praise from a lackey like Al is the day I take a revolver to my head.
Macdiva, you are telling me nothing new. I have come to understand the mentality of Al. I have no respect or regard for him whatsoever. His praising of a nazi, is typical of the sort of person I believe he is. No surprise here.
13 - HW Saxton Jr.
Tracy Chapman: She looks like Buckwheat
and has all of the sentiment and depth
of a Hallmark poet. Whattawasteofapost!
14 - Al Barger
Diva! I was beginning to think you didn't love me anymore.
Of course you nailed me. My lack of high admiration for later Tracy Chapman records is clear evidence of some kind of leadership position in the KKK.
The Marge Schott thing has absolutely not a thing to do with Tracy Chapman's birthday, but still it bolsters your case about my alleged leading role in the Grand Wizard of the Klan Illuminati, or whatever it is exactly that I supposedly am.
Of course, it's just ridiculous for anyone to be calling her a "Nazi." She never did much bad to anyone. Nor did she intend to.
She said a few dumb things here and there, but I'll judge her actions over her occasionally foolish words. If she supposedly made some reference to players as "slaves," I'd like to volunteer for some of that indentured servitude- at a million bucks a year.
Do my expressions of admiration for James Brown constitute endorsement and an assumption of co-guilt in his long history of wife beating? Wife beating- actual violence- surely constitutes a far greater offense than Marge having stuck her foot in mouth now and again.
15 - Mac Diva
Chris Kent, wake up and read! There are so many Chrisses/Krisses around here we would be rich if the four letters were gold. However, I haven't mentioned any of you until now. If you want to be 'special,' rename youself Hyacinth.
Furthermore, my point is not trash talk. It is an observation about how mores can be revealed in blog entries.
I mentioned Schott because praising her and dissing Chapman fits Al (I Keep Tripping Over My Robe) Barger's pattern and practice. He is obsessed with people of color to the extent that his posts are disproportionately about them. But, even when he would say he is being kind to one of us in an entry, there is a backhanded slap at the person. Pretty much each time. I say that after not just reading A.B.'s entries here, but on his blog. I believe other Blogcritics of color have picked up on the same thing, though I may be the first to express in it in legalese. When behavior is repeated like that, it is considered a pattern and practice and evidence of the party's intentions.
Am I saying everyone has to praise Tracy Chapman? Absolutely not. But, most people criticizing her don't have the same motivation A.B. does.
Well . . . that is not totally true. There is the H.W. (Someone Teach Me Not to Justify) Saxton, who comes running to say something bigoted whenever Barger sends for him. He is not the only one of his type.
16 - Al Barger
Diva- this is interesting "legalese."
"He is obsessed with people of color to the extent that his posts are disproportionately about them."
How curious. Is there any possible way NOT to fall foul here? If I don't write about black folk, then obviously I would be bad for excluding them. If, on the other hand, I write TOO much about black folk, then I am "obsessed."
Is there some special blog quota I need to meet but not exceed? 10%? 12%? Also, am I meeting my proper quota for other minorities?
Actually, my "obsession" would be with American popular music. When I'm writing about THAT field, it's going to be disproportionately about blacks. Black folks have clearly contributed disproportionately in this field relative to their place in the population. Put differently, a lot more than 10 or 12% of my record collection comes from black folk.
I do not claim to being "kind" to "one of you" when I say something good about, in this case, Tracy Chapman. I am being JUST to ONE person, Ms Chapman. I'm not praising her album cause I want to cut a black girl a break, but because she made an outstanding album. I'm merely paying her due credit she has earned for her artistic achievement.
I note how you managed to get "disrespect" for Ms Chapman out of this- despite saying that her first album was a career making achievement.
However, no one is perfect. Even Prince and Elvis Costello have a few crappy records in the pile. Hey, unqualified gushing uncritical praise wouldn't mean much. Treating the work of black artists equally to whites (which division I care not a whit about) means being equally subject to criticism.
What else exactly is it that you expect? Am I supposed to debase myself by going on like Warren Beatty in Bulworth, where even the nasty thug dope dealing black man is some magical Negro with Deep Spiritual Insights? Is THAT what you want?
17 - herby rides again
nice heads. a geezer in uk just shot his wife and sister in law after lots of brandy and an overdose of tracy. just a thought..