Album of the Day

Tracy Chapman was attending Tufts University and playing local coffeehouses when a fellow student passed one of the singer-songwriter's demos to his father, a music publisher. Chapman's sound – intimate and infused with social conviction – was out of step with the synth-pop and hair metal then on the radio, but that turned out to be its strength, as audiences had grown thirsty for meaning in their music. Spurred by a strong performance at Nelson Mandela's 70th birthday tribute concert at Wembley Stadium, TRACY CHAPMAN topped the U.K. album chart on this day in 1988 and soon followed suit in America, going on to sell nearly 20 million copies worldwide and win three Grammys. With tasteful acoustic accompaniment, Tracy's vision and voice ring clear on 11 originals including “Talkin' 'Bout A Revolution,” “Baby Can I Hold You” and Top Ten single “Fast Car.” A touchstone album of the 1980s, whose simplicity and sincerity ensures it will always sound fresh.