Tracy Chapman Makes Bold Statement Ahead of Milestone Anniversary

Her chart-topping debut is being reissued for its belated 35th anniversary

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 04: (L-R) Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs perform onstage during the 66th GRAMMY Awards on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Tracy Chapman is belatedly celebrating the 35th anniversary of her chart-topping debut album with a vinyl reissue of the record, and she’s also making a bold statement about her music and the current political climate.

“I wrote ‘Talkin’ Bout A Revolution’ when I was 16 years old and at that time, like a lot of teenagers, you think that you are able to will the world to be as you want it to be. I really did have this notion, a belief that with the raising of consciousness change would come, where people wouldn’t have to march in the streets for their civil rights,” Chapman said in a statement shared on Instagram.

“While it’s gratifying as a songwriter to know that something I wrote more than 30 years ago still seems to have some relevance today, from a human rights perspective it’s disheartening. So many of the songs on the record, a song like ‘Fast Car’ for instance, are aspirational in nature. I still believe that we can come to a better place.”

Chapman had a comeback moment last year when she made at surprise appearance at the 66th Grammy Awards, joining country star Luke Combs for a duet on “Fast Car.” It marked 35 years since Chapman first performed the song on the Grammys and as Combs was enjoying success with his cover version, which topped Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100.

The vinyl reissue of Tracy Chapman is out Friday, April 4 in four different versions, standard black vinyl as well as three colored vinyl variations inspired by the color-scheme of the album’s cover. The album topped the Billboard 200 in August 1988.