New Beginning (Tracy Chapman album)

New Beginning
New Beginning
Studio album by Tracy Chapman
Released	November 14, 1995
Genre	Folk rock, blues
Length	62:19
Label	Elektra
Producer	Tracy Chapman, Don Gehman
Tracy Chapman chronology
Singles from New Beginning
	"Give Me One Reason"; Released: 1995; "New Beginning"; Released: 1996; "The Promise"; Released: 1996; "Smoke and Ashes"; Released: 1996;

New Beginning is the fourth album by singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman, released in 1995. According to Nielsen Soundscan, it is her biggest-selling recording since 1991, with 3.8 million copies sold,^[8] and according to the RIAA, it has shipped five million copies in the United States.

Quick Facts Studio album by Tracy Chapman, Released ...

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More information Review scores, Source ...

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Cash Box	(favorable)^[2]
Robert Christgau	B−^[3]
Entertainment Weekly	B^[4]
The Guardian	^[5]
Rolling Stone	^[6]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[7]

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The album's sound consists of Chapman's trademark acoustic folk-rock sound and is mainly made up of slow low-key tunes and a few upbeat tracks. One notable exception is the hit "Give Me One Reason", which is a blues piece. Chapman earned the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song for the track, and it was also nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Rock Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards of 1997.^[9]

Aside from the single “Give Me One Reason”, all of the songs are at least 4:56. The song "Unsung Psalm" was originally written and recorded for this album, but was cut. It was later included on her 2000 album Telling Stories. According to Billboard magazine, the "New Beginning" single was the first disc to have a sticker printed on the back of the packaging detailing system requirements to play the multi-media footage.

The use of a didgeridoo in the "New Beginning" track was a source of controversy. Chapman was taught to play at the Didgeridoo University in Alice Springs;^[10] however, the use of a didgeridoo by women is taboo in many aboriginal nations.^[11] The album also featured an extensive use of backup singers, which was very rare in Chapman's earlier works.

All songs written by Tracy Chapman.

"Heaven's Here on Earth" – 5:23
"New Beginning" – 5:33
"Smoke and Ashes" – 6:39
"Cold Feet" – 5:40
"At This Point in My Life" – 5:09
"The Promise" – 5:28
"The Rape of the World" – 7:07
"Tell It Like It Is" – 6:08
"Give Me One Reason" – 4:31
"Remember the Tinman" – 5:45
"I'm Ready" – 4:56
"Save a Place for Me" (hidden track)

Musicians

Tracy Chapman – organ, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, lead vocals, background vocals
Rock Deadrick – percussion, drums, background vocals
Lili Haydn – violin
Steve Ferrone – drums
Adam Levy – electric guitar, background vocals
Eric Rigler – tin whistle, Uilleann pipes
Scott Roewe – didgeridoo
Glenys Rogers – percussion, background vocals
John Philip Shenale – keyboards
Andy Stoller – bass guitar, background vocals, tamboura
Cameron Stone – cello
John Thomas – piano

Production

Producers: Tracy Chapman, Don Gehman
Engineer: Don Gehman
Assistant engineers: John Ewing, Jr., Kevin Scott, Doug Trantow
Mixing: Don Gehman
Mastering: Eddy Schreyer
Production coordination: Diane Medak
Art direction: Lee Cantelon
Design: Lee Cantelon
Graphic layout: Lavonne Murlowski
Photography: Christine Alicino

More information Chart (1995–96), Peak position ...

Weekly charts

Chart (1995–96)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[12]	6
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[13]	9
French Albums (SNEP)^[14]	44
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[15]	60
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[16]	8
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[17]	22
US Billboard 200^[18]	4

Year-end charts

Chart (1996)	Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[19]	17
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[20]	11
US Billboard 200^[21]	18

Chart (1997)	Position
US Billboard 200^[22]	119

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More information Region, Certification ...


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[23]	3× Platinum	210,000^{^}
Austria (IFPI Austria)^[24]	Gold	25,000^*
Canada (Music Canada)^[25]	7× Platinum	700,000^{^}
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)^[26]	Gold	10,000^‡
Germany (BVMI)^[27]	Gold	250,000^{^}
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[28]	Platinum	15,000^{^}
United Kingdom (BPI)^[29]	Silver	60,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)^[30]	5× Platinum	5,000,000^{^}
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone. ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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39th Annual Grammy Awards

More information Grammy Awards, Year ...

Grammy Awards
Year	Work	Award	Result	Ref
1997	New Beginning	Best Pop Album	Nominated	^[31]
	"Give Me One Reason"	Song of the Year	Nominated
		Record of the Year	Nominated
		Best Female Rock Vocal Performance	Nominated
		Best Rock Song	Won

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[1]
Ruhlmann, William (November 14, 1995). "AllMusic review". AllMusic. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
[2]
Baltin, Steve (December 2, 1995). "Pop Albums" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 13. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
[3]
"Robert Christgau review". Robertchristgau.com. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
[4]
"New Beginning". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
[5]
Sullivan, Caroline (November 24, 1995). "Music: This week's pop cd releases". The Guardian.
[6]
"Rolling Stone review". July 26, 2008. Archived from the original on July 26, 2008. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
[7]
Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (May 20, 2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780743201698. Retrieved May 20, 2021 – via Google Books.
[8]
"Ask Billboard: Mariah Carey, Tracy Chapman, Jeff Bates". Billboard. January 20, 2009. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
[9]
"Tracy Chapman". Grammy Awards. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
[10]
"Learning to Play the Didgeridoo". Aboriginalart.com.au. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
[11]
"The ongoing debate about women playing didgeridoo: how a musical icon can become an instrument of remembering and forgetting" (PDF). Lryb.aiatsis.gov.au. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
[12]
"Australiancharts.com – Tracy Chapman – New Beginning". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
[13]
"Austriancharts.at – Tracy Chapman – New Beginning" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
[14]
"Lescharts.com – Tracy Chapman – New Beginning". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
[15]
"Offiziellecharts.de – Tracy Chapman – New Beginning" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
[16]
"Charts.nz – Tracy Chapman – New Beginning". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
[17]
"Swisscharts.com – Tracy Chapman – New Beginning". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
[18]
"Tracy Chapman Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
[19]
"ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1996". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
[20]
"Top Selling Albums of 1996". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
[21]
"Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
[22]
"Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1997". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
[23]
Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 54.
[24]
"Austrian album certifications – Tracy Chapman – New Beginning" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
[25]
"Canadian album certifications – Tracy Chapman – New Beginning". Music Canada. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
[26]
"Danish album certifications – Tracy Chapman – New Beginning". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
[27]
"Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Tracy Chapman; 'New Beginning')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
[28]
"New Zealand album certifications – Tracy Chapman – New Beginning". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
[29]
"British album certifications – Tracy Chapman – New Beginning". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
[30]
"American album certifications – Tracy Chapman – New Beginning". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
[31]
"Tracy Chapman". Grammy Awards. Retrieved July 21, 2019.

[1] [1]
Ruhlmann, William (November 14, 1995). "AllMusic review". AllMusic. Retrieved February 3, 2012.

[2] [2]
Baltin, Steve (December 2, 1995). "Pop Albums" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 13. Retrieved November 10, 2022.

[3] [3]
"Robert Christgau review". Robertchristgau.com. Retrieved February 3, 2012.

[4] [4]
"New Beginning". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 20, 2021.

[5] [5]
Sullivan, Caroline (November 24, 1995). "Music: This week's pop cd releases". The Guardian.

[6] [6]
"Rolling Stone review". July 26, 2008. Archived from the original on July 26, 2008. Retrieved February 3, 2012.

[7] [7]
Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (May 20, 2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780743201698. Retrieved May 20, 2021 – via Google Books.

[8] [8]
"Ask Billboard: Mariah Carey, Tracy Chapman, Jeff Bates". Billboard. January 20, 2009. Retrieved February 3, 2012.

[9] [9]
"Tracy Chapman". Grammy Awards. Retrieved August 8, 2021.

[10] [10]
"Learning to Play the Didgeridoo". Aboriginalart.com.au. Retrieved June 16, 2019.

[11] [11]
"The ongoing debate about women playing didgeridoo: how a musical icon can become an instrument of remembering and forgetting" (PDF). Lryb.aiatsis.gov.au. Retrieved June 16, 2019.

[ac_Australia_Tracy_Chapman-12] [12]
"Australiancharts.com – Tracy Chapman – New Beginning". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

[ac_Austria_Tracy_Chapman-13] [13]
"Austriancharts.at – Tracy Chapman – New Beginning" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

[ac_France_Tracy_Chapman-14] [14]
"Lescharts.com – Tracy Chapman – New Beginning". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

[ac_Germany4_Tracy_Chapman-15] [15]
"Offiziellecharts.de – Tracy Chapman – New Beginning" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

[ac_New_Zealand_Tracy_Chapman-16] [16]
"Charts.nz – Tracy Chapman – New Beginning". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

[ac_Switzerland_Tracy_Chapman-17] [17]
"Swisscharts.com – Tracy Chapman – New Beginning". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

[ac_Billboard200_Tracy_Chapman-18] [18]
"Tracy Chapman Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

[19] [19]
"ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1996". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

[20] [20]
"Top Selling Albums of 1996". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved February 1, 2022.

[21] [21]
"Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

[22] [22]
"Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1997". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

[AustraliaTracy_ChapmanNew_BeginningalbumCertRef-23] [23]
Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 54.

[AustriaTracy_ChapmanNew_BeginningalbumCertRef-24] [24]
"Austrian album certifications – Tracy Chapman – New Beginning" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved October 15, 2012.

[CanadaTracy_ChapmanNew_BeginningalbumCertRef-25] [25]
"Canadian album certifications – Tracy Chapman – New Beginning". Music Canada. Retrieved October 15, 2012.

[DenmarkTracy_ChapmanNew_BeginningalbumCertRef-26] [26]
"Danish album certifications – Tracy Chapman – New Beginning". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

[GermanyTracy_ChapmanNew_BeginningalbumCertRef-27] [27]
"Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Tracy Chapman; 'New Beginning')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved October 15, 2012.

[New_ZealandTracy_ChapmanNew_BeginningalbumCertRef-28] [28]
"New Zealand album certifications – Tracy Chapman – New Beginning". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.

[United_KingdomTracy_ChapmanNew_BeginningalbumCertRef-29] [29]
"British album certifications – Tracy Chapman – New Beginning". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 20, 2022.

[United_StatesTracy_ChapmanNew_BeginningalbumCertRef-30] [30]
"American album certifications – Tracy Chapman – New Beginning". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 15, 2012.

[31] [31]
"Tracy Chapman". Grammy Awards. Retrieved July 21, 2019.

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Musicians

Production

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

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New Beginning (Tracy Chapman album)

Musicians

Production

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Wikiwand in your browser!

Track listing

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Awards

References