2002 news

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[ RUMOR CONFIRMED BY BILLBOARD ] MAY 22, 2002

I asked to Billboard.com more infos about the release of Tracy's new album. Here's what they're answering me today : Hi Aurelie, According to Elektra, Tracy Chapman's label, the singer/songwriter has a new studio album slated for release in September. There is no U.S. release date set for a hits package [=Collection] Chapman's last studio album, 2000's "Telling Stories," debuted and peaked at No. 33 on The Billboard 200 and has sold 535,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.

[ ELEKTRAFYING NEWS ] JUNE 20, 2002

From the 20th June Elektrafying News (Elektra Entertainment newsletter): Tracy Chapman's "Collection" has been certified platinum in both the UK and France. THIS WEEK (give or take) IN ELEKTRA HISTORY: June 15, 1996: Ever since her first single, "Fast Car," hit the top ten (#6, to be exact) in 1988, Tracy Chapman has thrilled audiences with her literate, emotionally honest songwriting and her remarkably rich, soulful voice. And it was on this date that Tracy turned right back around and headed into the top ten (#3, to be exact) for her second time, with the coy, bluesy pop smash "Give Me One Reason." The song is her biggest chart hit to date, and drove her album New Beginning to a chart peak of #4 and sales of over four million. Tracy is putting the finishing touches on her new album now -- look for it this fall.

[ DVD ] JULY 10, 2002

A DVD slated for release on September or October 2002? The french magazine "Les années laser" announces it on its current issue. No more info available yet. [info posted by Maud G. from France]

[ NEW OFFICIAL WEBSITE ] JULY 30, 2002

Available for subscribers to the Elektrafying News for few days, Elektra.com is now available for everyone: New design, new content and new URL, the new official website of Tracy Chapman is now viewable at www.elektra.com/tracychapman. Update your bookmarks and Enjoy !

[ BEST GUITARIST ] AUGUST 6, 2002

Tracy Chapman was among 440 guitarists nominated by the Total Guitar magazine so that readers could vote the instrument's greatest player in a poll. Tracy didn't hit the top 100 but she was the ONLY woman singer nominated by the magazine. "Personally I don't know if it's a bad thing," said Rowley [the magazine's editor]. "Women just aren't as geeky or competitive about it as guys. Instead of showing off, they're trying to write a good song. Which is probably smarter." [source: yahoo! news]

[ LET IT RAIN ] AUGUST 15, 2002

'Let It Rain' is the name of Tracy's new album slated for release Oct 15, 2002

[ YOU'RE THE ONE ] AUGUST 25, 2002

AOL offers Tracy Chapman's Worldwide Premiere of 'You're the One', the first single from her new album 'Let It Rain'. 'You're the One' is already on radio air play in the United States.

[ MORE ABOUT LET IT RAIN ] SEPTEMBER 04, 2002

Let It Rain's cover, tracklisting and more on the Let It Rain page

[ YOU'RE THE ONE ] SEPTEMBER 13, 2002

You're The One single should be available in stores on September 27. The announced other track on the single is an acoustic version of "I Am Yours", 11th track on Let It Rain. [source: warner music]

[ RENCONTRE TRES TRES PRIVEE - RTL2 ] SEPTEMBER 18, 2002

RTL2, the pop rock french radio station organizes a very very private encounter with Tracy Chapman ("une rencontre très très privée"). Listen to RTL2 from Sept 18 'til Sept 24 and good luck ! The meeting will occur on Sept 27, 2002. [source: rtl2.fr]

[ GOOD MORNING AMERICA ] SEPTEMBER 22, 2002

Tracy will perform "You're The One" on Good Morning America on Monday Oct 21, 2002

[ LAST CALL WITH CARSON DALY ] OCTOBER 12, 2002

Tracy Chapman is headed to Last Call with Carson Daly, recorded on Oct 22nd but aired on Oct 30th. Tracy Chapman has now an official website in german, visit it at www.tracychapman.de

[ LET IT RAIN RELEASE ] OCTOBER 15, 2002

Release of Let It Rain, Tracy's 6th studio album in the US, France... It released on Oct 14 in the UK...

[ LET IT RAIN SALES ] OCTOBER 24, 2002

Tracy Chapman's new album, "Let It Rain,'' debuted at No. 25, having sold about 39,000 copies in its first week in the USA.

[ COMMERCIALS ] OCTOBER 27, 2002

In an AP article about Artists using TV to sell their songs, David Bauder is citing Tracy who's giving her point of view on it: 'Singer Tracy Chapman wouldn't mind a commercial that showed the cover of her album or a performance snippet. But she isn't about to act. "There was talk of me being in a commercial and that didn't feel very comfortable to me," said Chapman, who released a new disc this month. "We couldn't think of a way of doing it in a dignified manner. "I feel like that's the record company's job - to sell what I made," she said. ' [source: Associated Press]

[ HALLOWEEN ] OCTOBER 30, 2002

VH1 asked some of pop's biggest stars to share some their Halloween stories and here is what Tracy told them: "I dressed up as a veterinarian for a Halloween costume party. I had the lab coat. I went to FAO Schwartz and I got a couple of stuffed animals for patients and put bandages on them. I bought a stethoscope and one of those little flashlights that you use to look in your eyes. I had a lot of business cards printed up, too. They read, "Party Animal, Vet Services."

[ VIDEO INTERVIEWS ] NOVEMBER 01, 2002

TracyChapman.de added 4 videos from an interview given by Tracy this summer while recording Let It Rain in San Francisco, visit the german official website at www.tracychapman.de

[ LATER WITH JOOLS HOLLAND ] NOVEMBER 10, 2002

Tracy will perform to the UK TV show Later with Jools Holland on Friday November 15, 2002 (11:40 pm). Re-run on Sunday November 17, 2002 (11.40pm) [source: Dan. A from the UK and bbc.co.uk]

[ LET IT RAIN TABS ] NOVEMBER 18, 2002

New addition on the site: Let It Rain tabs!! Enrique M. from Spain gently sent me his personal transcription of all "Let It Rain" songs, so if you're a guitar player, here is some joy for the days to come. Many thanx to Enrique for his great contribution! http://www.about-tracy-chapman.net/tabs.htm

[ INTERVIEWS ] NOVEMBER 28, 2002

Pulse Magazine December 2002 issue is featuring a great, long and learning interview/article on Tracy Chapman and her new album Let It Rain. Read it at Pulse.TowerRecords.com [source: Pulse Magazine] A radio interview was airplayed on Cadena100 in Spain on october 14 but its transcript is published on cadena100.es [source: Cadena100.es]

[ MUSIC PLANET 2NITE ] NOVEMBER 29, 2002

The "MUSIC PLANET 2NITE" ARTE TV show recorded in Berlin last November 02 Traenenpalast with David Gray will be aired on January 28, 2003 just before the launch of the "Let It Rain" tour in Roubaix (France) on Jan 31. See Concert @ Traenenpalast [source: http://www.tracychapman.de ]

[ LET IT RAIN DVD EDITION ] DECEMBER 10, 2002

An DVD-Audio edition of "Let It Rain" just released on December 10 in Canada and is scheduled to release on Feb 24 in Germany and on Feb 26, 2003 in Japan. [source: JAM! Music Releases]

[ 2ND DATE ADDED IN DUBLIN ] DECEMBER 17, 2002

Due to phenomenal demand Tracy Chapman has added a second date to her show at The Olympia, Dublin (Ireland). She will now play March 20th and the extra date of March 21st 2003. Tickets are on sale now. [source : Ticketmaster.ie]

[ PAPE & CHEIKH] DECEMBER 28, 2002

Pape & Cheikh will open for Tracy Chapman on the Let It Rain european tour It's a senegalese band, "newcomers with an original take on Senegalese pop" says the Guardian Weekly. You may have already heard them if you saw the Later with Jools Holland show the day Tracy also played. [Check their website: RealWorldRecords.com] Encore European tour in July 2003: Tracy is coming again in Europe in July !! Tickets are already on sale for the Royal Albert Hall concert in London on July 6th on www.tickets-online.co.uk. Other concerts are said to be announced soon [source : Tickets-online.co.uk]