Matters of the Heart

by Tracy Chapman

Overview

Less bold and angry than her previous work, Chapman paces Matters of the Heart over an acoustic course that touches equally on personal vignettes and social commentary. With her fluid, rapid-fire delivery, Chapman takes aim at society and lands several direct hits devoid of self-righteousness: songs about the downtrodden ("Bang Bang Bang"), feminism ("Woman's Work"), and freedom ("I Used to Be a Sailor"). The album's centerpiece is "If These Are the Things," a subtle, passionate masterpiece about coming to grips with innocence lost. A couple of songs suffer from too much sweetening in the studio, diluting the impact of Chapman's potent lyrics. The extraneous bells and whistles dressing up "Dreaming on a World" provide the most obvious example of a trend Chapman would do well to avoid in the future. ~ Roch Parisien

Product Details

Release Date:	04/28/1992
Label:	Elektra
UPC:	0075596121521

Tracks

1. Bang Bang Bang
2. So
3. I Used to Be a Sailor
4. The Love That You Had
5. Woman's Work
6. If These Are the Things
7. Short Supply
8. Dreaming on a World
9. Open Arms
10. Matters of the Heart

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Tracy Chapman   Primary Artist,Guitar (Acoustic)
Alex Acuna   Guest Artist,Percussion
Tony Levin   Guest Artist,Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Manu Katche   Guest Artist,Drums
Omar Hakim   Guest Artist,Drums
Roy Bittan   Guest Artist,Accordion,Keyboards
Mike Campbell   Guest Artist,Bouzouki,Mandolin,Guitar (Electric)
Bobby Womack   Guest Artist,Guitar (Acoustic)
Vernon Reid   Guest Artist,Guitar (Electric)
Charlie Judge   Keyboards
Nelle Hooper   Percussion
Bob Glaub   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Larry Klein   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Larry Williams   Keyboards,Keyboards
Waddy Wachtel   Guitar (Electric)
Jimmy Iovine   Guitar (Acoustic)
Michael Fisher   Percussion
Nellee Hooper   Percussion
Randy Jackson   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Mino Cinelu   Percussion
Steve Thornton   Percussion

Technical Credits

Mark Stent   Recording
Nelle Hooper   Recording
Bob Ludwig   Mastering
Ed Korengo   Assistant Engineer
Greg Goldman   Assistant Engineer
Joe Pirrera   Assistant Engineer
Mark "Spike" Stent   Engineer
Niko Bolas   Engineer,Recording
Jimmy Iovine   Producer
Thom Panunzio   Engineer,Recording
Bradshaw Leigh   Engineer,Recording
David Bianco   Engineer,Recording
Susie Tallman   Coordination
Femi Jiya   Mixing,Engineer,Recording
Chad Blinman   Assistant Engineer
Nellee Hooper   Engineer
Tracy Chapman   Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Art Direction
Bob Clearmountain   Mixing
Herb Ritts   Photography
Rick Plank   Assistant Engineer
Chad Munsey   Assistant Engineer