Tracy Chapman’s acclaimed 1988 self-titled debut album makes a remarkable return to Billboard’s album charts, as noted in the April 19 issue, following its highly anticipated vinyl reissue on April 4. This groundbreaking album, which reached the top of the Billboard 200 and earned the prestigious Grammy Award, had been out-of-print on vinyl in the United States since the early 1990s, making its resurgence a significant event for both longtime fans and new listeners alike.

In the week ending April 10 in the U.S., Tracy Chapman sold an impressive 14,000 copies across various formats, with approximately 13,500 of those sales coming from the vinyl edition. This remarkable performance marks a significant resurgence for the album, showcasing the enduring popularity of Chapman’s music and the growing demand for vinyl records among music enthusiasts and collectors.

According to the Top Album Sales chart, which was introduced in 1991, this album reenters at a new peak position of No. 4. It also makes notable debuts on various charts: No. 2 on Vinyl Albums, No. 3 on Indie Store Album Sales, and reenters at No. 4 on Americana/Folk Albums, No. 10 on Top Rock Albums, No. 11 on Top Rock & Alternative Albums (achieving a new peak), No. 12 on Catalog Albums, and No. 51 on the Billboard 200. This album previously held the top position on the Billboard 200 in 1988 and is now reaching its highest chart position since 1989.

Tracy Chapman produced three significant Billboard Hot 100-charting hits in 1988: the Grammy-winning “Fast Car” (which peaked at No. 6), “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution” (which reached No. 75), and “Baby Can I Hold You” (which climbed to No. 48). These chart successes highlight the profound impact of her music during its initial release and continue to resonate with audiences today.

The newly released vinyl edition was meticulously prepared for reissue by Tracy Chapman along with the album’s original producer, David Kershenbaum, and sourced directly from an analogue master. It was launched as a widely accessible 180-gram black vinyl edition, complemented by three exclusive color variants: opaque deep red for Walmart, transparent orange for indie stores, and opaque orange for Urban Outfitters. This attention to detail ensures that both new listeners and devoted fans can enjoy the album in high-quality formats.

Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart is a ranking of the top-selling albums of the week, based solely on traditional album sales. The chart has a rich history dating back to May 25, 1991, which marks the first week that Billboard began using electronically monitored piece count information from SoundScan, now known as Luminate. Initially, pure album sales were the primary metric for the Billboard 200 albums chart, a methodology that changed on December 6, 2014, to incorporate a blend of album sales, track equivalent album (TEA) units, and streaming equivalent album (SEA) units.

Tracy Chapman’s album is among seven debuts or reentries in the top 10 of the latest Top Album Sales chart, which is currently led by the debut of Preacher’s Daughter from Ethel Cain at No. 1. This marks Cain’s first No. 1 album and chart entry. The 2022 album was released on vinyl for the first time on April 4, selling a total of 37,000 copies for the week, with nearly all sales coming from vinyl purchases, underscoring the resurgence of interest in vinyl records in recent years.

Elton John and Brandi Carlile’s collaboration, Who Believes in Angels?, enters the charts at No. 2 with 36,500 copies sold. Meanwhile, ZEROBASEONE’s album Blue Paradise debuts at No. 3, selling nearly 20,500 copies, and Ariana Grande’s eternal sunshine rounds out the top five, dropping from No. 1 to No. 5 with 10,500 copies sold, reflecting an 83% decrease in sales.

Black Country, New Road’s Forever Howlong makes its debut at No. 6 with nearly 9,000 copies sold, while Djo’s The Crux starts at No. 7 with 8,000 copies sold. xikers’ House of Tricky: Spur bows at No. 8 with nearly 8,000 copies, and Sabrina Carpenter’s previous chart-topping album Short n’ Sweet slips from No. 6 to No. 9, selling just over 7,500 copies, a 16% decrease. Lastly, Kendrick Lamar’s chart-topping album GNX falls from No. 5 to No. 10, with approximately 7,500 copies sold, reflecting a 19% drop in sales.