Album of the Day

Tracy Chapman breathed new life into the singer-songwriter genre with her eponymous debut for Elektra Records. With spare production that places Chapman's strong voice front-and-center, the set recalls the sound of such early-'70s bards as James Taylor and Joni Mitchell as well as the political engagement of the early-'60s folk movement. While “Fast Car” was the album's biggest hit, all 11 songs are of a remarkably high quality, driving the album to multi-platinum status and bringing Tracy three Grammy Awards. Thirty years ago today, TRACY CHAPMAN was at No.1 on the U.S. album chart, and its clear vision and passionate performances still shine brightly.