Tracy Chapman hit #1 on both the US & UK album charts. The album was critically acclaimed and helped to launch the 1990s female singer-songwriter movement, which included artists like Tori Amos and Sarah McLachlan. The first single "Fast Car" was very popular, peaking at #5 in the US and #6 in the UK. The second single "Talkin' Bout a Revolution" was less successful reaching only #75, but received much airplay and also charted in the Adult Contemporary and Modern Rock charts amongst others.
In 1989, the album was rated number 10 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Albums of the 80's." In 2003, the album was ranked number 261 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
Lawson ‘s story continues with the repack of their debut album, Chapman Square / Chapter II. The repack has a massive 18 tracks, with 6 new songs including Brokenhearted featuring B.o.B, and the anthemic Parachute. The iTunes deluxe version includes 7 bonus acoustic tracks and bonus video: “Everywhere We Go (The Chapman Square Tour Film)”
…At the time, it revitalized traditional folk ideals of social activism and the like, kick starting the PC revolution in the process, but if those were its only merits, Tracy Chapman would sound dated. The record continues to sound fresh because Chapman's writing is so keenly observed and her strong, gutsy singing makes each song sound intimate and immediate.