Telling Stories is the fifth album by American singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman, released on February 14, 2000, by Elektra Records. A two-disc special edition was released in Europe in 2000. The album is composed of contemporary rock songs in the first half, and folk songs in the second half. The record marked a return to shorter songs for Tracy; on New Beginning they had been somewhat longer.

Background and Writing

In 1999, Chapman began working on her first new record in four years, her longest ever hiatus at the time. For the record, she reunited with producer David Kershenbaum, the producer of her first album, Tracy Chapman (1988), and co-producer of her second album, Crossroads (1989). The song "Unsung Psalm" was originally written for her previous album, New Beginning (1995), but it didn't make it onto the album.

Track listing

All songs written by Tracy Chapman.

Cover versions

Trivia

Personnel

Musicians

• Tracy Chapman – acoustic guitar, bouzouki, harp, vocals, background vocals, baritone guitar, record producer, mixing, art design • Alex Acuña – percussion • Rock Deadrick – vocals, background vocals • Tommy Eyre – organ, keyboard • Mike Finnigan – organ • Denny Fongheiser – percussion, drums • Emmylou Harris – vocals • Howard Hersh – bass guitar • Steve Hunter – dulcimer, lap steel guitar, baritone guitar • Larry Klein – bass guitar • JayDee Mannes – pedal steel guitar • John Pierce – bass guitar • Tim Pierce – acoustic guitar, dobro, mandolin, sitar, baritone guitar • Eric Rigler – Uilleann pipes, low whistle • Scarlet Rivera – violin • Glenys Rogers – percussion, vocals, background vocals • Andy Stoller – bass guitar • Patrick Warren – keyboard, Chamberlin

Technical personnel

• Duane Baron – engineering, mixing • Tim Hailand – artwork • Jeri Heiden – design • John Heiden – design • Renata Kanclerz – production coordination • David Kershenbaum – mixing, production • Martie Kolbl – production coordination • Curt Kroeger – assistant engineering • Iki Levy – drum programming • Bob Ludwig – mastering • Herb Ritts – portraits • Roger Sommers – assistant engineering

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Singles

Billboard (United States)

Certifications