Greatest Hits

by Tracy Chapman

Overview

Apart from a 2001 import-only retrospective titled simply Collection, Tracy Chapman has largely ignored the whole anthology route. Since her remarkable eponymous debut long-player in 1988, the multiple Grammy Award winner has amassed more than enough quality material for a sonic victory lap, and this 18-track set from Elektra/Rhino doesn't disappoint. Chapman chose all of the songs, as well as had them remastered, so there is a nice mix of hits and deep cuts, and with eight studio albums to parse through, it's a far more comprehensive distillation of her career thus far than Collection ever was. Chapman's greatest strength is her ability to be both vulnerable and self-possessed, and her most compelling offerings ("Fast Car," "Change," "Give Me One Reason," "Crossroads," "Telling Stories," "Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution") are as relatable as they are powerful; beacons of hope and tough love in the midst of oppression and self-doubt. Nowhere does that fire for both compassion and social justice burn brighter than on an emotionally pitch-perfect, spotlight-stealing rendition of "Stand by Me," which she performed live on The Late Show with David Letterman in the waning days of the program's final season. With just her voice and an electric guitar, she managed to simultaneously bring the house down and build it back up again, which is no small feat, even for an artist who has proven herself time and again to be a powerful yet always benevolent force of nature. ~ James Christopher Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	11/20/2015
Label:	Elektra / Rhino
UPC:	0081227950132
Rank:	1067

Tracks

1. Telling Stories
2. Baby Can I Hold You
3. Change
4. The Promise
5. Open Arms
6. Subcity
7. Fast Car
8. Bang Bang Bang (Song for Little Man)
9. Crossroads
10. Speak the Word
11. Smoke and Ashes
12. Sing for You [Single Edit]
13. You're the One
14. Save Us All
15. All That You Have Is Your Soul
16. Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution
17. Give Me One Reason
18. Stand by Me [Live at the Late Show With David Letterman]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Tracy Chapman   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Harmonica,Percussion,Handclapping,Guitar (Rhythm),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Guitar (12 String),Vocals (Background)
Glenys Rogers   Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Phil Shenale   Keyboards
Adam Levy   Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
John Thomas   Piano
Charlie Judge   Keyboards
William Smith   Organ
Patrick Warren   Organ
Joey Waronker   Drums,Percussion,Tambourine,Handclapping
David LaFlamme   Violin (Electric)
Waddy Wachtel   Guitar (Electric)
Dean Parks   Slide Guitar
Denny Fongheiser   Drums,Percussion
Vernon Reid   Guitar (Electric)
Rob Burger   Piano,Pump Organ
Rhonda Brice   Vocals (Background)
Steve Hunter   Dulcimer,Lap Steel Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Steve Gadd   Drums
Steve Thornton   Percussion
Bob Marlette   Keyboards
Bobby Womack   Guitar (Acoustic)
Rock Deadrick   Drums,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Jack Holder   Organ (Hammond),Sitar (Electric),Guitar (Electric)
Larry Goldings   Pump Organ
Larry Klein   Bass,Organ,Bass (Acoustic),Bass (Electric)
Larry Williams   Keyboards
Joe Gore   Keyboards,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Ed Black   Guitar (Steel)
Greg Leisz   Guitar (Electric)
Frank Marocco   Accordion
Russ Kunkel   Drums
Flea   Bass (Electric)
Roy Bittan   Keyboards
Lili Haydn   Violin
Jim Lacefield   Cello
Neil Young   Piano,Guitar (Acoustic)
Bobbye Hall   Congas,Percussion
Michael Fisher   Percussion
Mike Campbell   Guitar (Electric)
Mitchell Froom   Organ,Harpsichord
Mike Finnigan   Organ
Tim Pierce   Guitar (Electric)
Cameron Stone   Cello
Manu Katche   Drums
Carla Kihlstedt   Nyckelharpa
G.E. Smith   Guitar (Acoustic)
Charlie Bisharat   Viola,Violin (Electric)
Jeanie Tracy   Vocals (Background)
Nellee Hooper   Percussion
Randy Jackson   Bass
Mino Cinelu   Percussion
Alex Acuna   Percussion
Andy Stoller   Bass,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Scott Sedillo   Studio Assistant
Mike Wilson   Archivist,Sound Library
Lisa Glines   Design,Art Direction
Susanne Savage   A&R
Joe Bozzi   Studio Assistant
Kate Dear   Producer
Matthew Rankin   Project Supervisor
Tracy Chapman   Composer,Producer,Selection,Compilation Producer
David Kershenbaum   Producer,Compilation Producer
Don Gehman   Producer
Marie Lewis   Studio Assistant
Kristan Crossley   Archivist,Sound Library
El Mirage   Cover Photo
Tchad Blake   Producer
Bernie Grundman   Compilation Mastering
Larry Klein   Producer
Ben E. King   Composer
Jerry Leiber   Composer
Jimmy Iovine   Producer
Mike Stoller   Composer
Charlie Bisharat   Violin Piccolo
John Parish   Producer
Herb Ritts   Photography