Following an unsuccessful early album made with his brothers, Tom and Steve, Chapin's debut album was Heads and Tales (1972, #60), which was a success thanks to the single "Taxi" (#24). Chapin later gave great credit to WMEX-Boston radio personality Jim Connors for being the DJ who "discovered" this single, and pushed the air play of this song amongst fellow radio programmers in the U.S]
However, Chapin's recording future became somewhat of a controversy between two powerful record companies headed by two very powerful men, Jac Holzman of Elektra Records and Clive Davis of Columbia. According to Chapin's biography Taxi: The Harry Chapin Story by Peter M. Coan, Chapin had agreed in principle to sign with Elektra Records on the grounds that a smaller record label would give greater personal attention to his work. Clive Davis, however, remained undaunted, doubling almost every cash advance offer Chapin received from Holzman. Despite a cordial relationship with Holzman, Davis had a long history of besting Holzman over the years to particular artists, but this was one time that he did not prevail. Chapin ultimately signed with Elektra for a smaller advance, but with provisions that made it worth the move. The biggest stipulation in the nine-album deal was that he receive free studio time, meaning he paid no recording costs. It was a move that would ultimately save Chapin hundreds of thousands of dollars over the term of his contract and set a precedent for other musicians. "This was completely unheard of," said Davis in the Coan book. "There was no such thing as free studio time."
Chapin's follow-up album, Sniper and Other Love Songs (1972, #160), was less successful despite containing the Chapin anthem "Circle" (a big European hit for The New Seekers). His third album, Short Stories (1974, #61), was a major success. Verities & Balderdash (1974, #4), released soon after, was even more successful, bolstered by the chart-topping hit single "Cat's in the Cradle", based upon a poem by his wife. Sandy Chapin had written the poem inspired by her first husband's relationship with his father and a country song she heard on the radio. When Harry's son Josh was born, he got the idea to put music to the words and recorded the result. "Cat's in the Cradle" was Chapin's only number one hit, shooting album sales skyward and making him a millionaire.
He also wrote and performed a Broadway musical The Night That Made America Famous. Additionally, Chapin wrote the music and lyrics for Cotton Patch Gospel, a musical by Tom Key based on Clarence Jordan's book The Cotton Patch Version of Matthew and John. The original cast soundtrack was produced by Tom Chapin, and released in 1982 by Chapin Productions.
Chapin's only UK hit was "WOL*D", which reached #34 in 1974. His popularity in the UK owed much to the championing of BBC disc jockey Noel Edmonds. The song's success in the U.S. was championed by WMEX jock and friend of Chapin's Jim Connors who in part inspired the song.[The national appeal of the song was a result of disc jockeys playing it for themselves, since the song dealt with a much-traveled DJ, problems in his personal life, and his difficulty with ageing in the industry. This song was also a significant inspiration (though not the only one) for Hugh Wilson, who created the popular television series about DJs and radio, WKRP in Cincinnati] Chapin's recording of "The Shortest Story", a song he wrote about a dying child and featured in his 1976 live/studio album Greatest Stories Live, was named by author Tom Reynolds in his book I Hate Myself and Want to Die as the second most depressing song of all time (just behind "The Christmas Shoes").
By the end of the decade, Chapin's contract with Elektra (which had since merged with Asylum Records under the control of David Geffen) had expired, and the company made no offer to renew it. A minor deal with Casablanca fell through, and Chapin settled on a simple one-album deal with Boardwalk Records. The Boardwalk album, though no one knew it at the time, would be his final work. The title track of his last album, Sequel, was a follow up to his earlier song "Taxi", reuniting the same characters ten years later. The songs Chapin was working on at the time of his death were subsequently released as the thematic album The Last Protest Singer.
Discography
In 1972, Chapin switched his career focus to music. After a bidding war broke out over him, he signed a recording contract with Elektra Records. The contract was unprecedented as it granted him free recording time.His 1972 debut album, Heads & Tales was an international success. It sold 1.1 million units. It was boosted by the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 single, Taxi. The song was also a top 5 hit in Canada. The song is based on Chapin's ex-girlfriend, who wanted to be an actress, selling out her dreams and marrying a rich man. While Chapin originally wanted to be a pilot, and he is now "flying" in his taxi. The story-line, however, is from a dream he had the weekend before he was supposed to start driving a taxi. He got a film job and didn't have to drive the taxi.
The follow-up album, Sniper and Other Love Songs was released the same year. The single, Sunday Morning Sunshine became a top 30 Billboard Adult Contemporary hit. The album's signature song, Sniper, is an almost 10 minute long ballad about the University of Texas tower shooting. The album also contained the Chapin anthem, Circle. The album sold 350,000 units.
His next album, Short Stories was released in 1973. It sold 1 million units. The album produced another worldwide hit, W·O·L·D. The single became a top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, a top 10 in Canada, and top 10 and 20 in various other countries. The song is about an aging disc jockey who has given up his entire life to continue his career. The song is sung in the point of view of the jockey to his ex-wife. The song was inspired by Jim Connors when Chapin listened to him during a phone call to his ex-wife while at the WMEX studio. WOLD is an actual radio station in Marion, Virginia but there is no relation. The name simply comes from getting old, hence the "O*L*D*".
In 1974, he released his most successful album, Verities and Balderdash. It sold 2.5 million units. It was boosted by the #1 hit, Cat's in the Cradle. The single itself sold 1.3 million units. The song is about a dad who didn't have time for his son during his childhood, and then quickly turns into his son not having time for him. The song is from a poem his wife, Sandra Chapin, wrote. A second single from the album, I Wanna Learn a Love Song, was a top 10 hit on the Billboard Adult Contemporary. The song is based on how he met his wife. Another notable song from the album is 30,000 Pounds of Bananas. Although not released as a single, the song was extremely popular. It is based on a real truck crash in Scranton, Pennsylvania that was hauling bananas.
In 1975, he released his fifth studio album, Portrait Gallery. The album was less successful than the last, but contained the top 40 Billboard Adult Contemporary hit, Dreams Go By. The album sold 350,000 units. However, he was working on a Broadway play, The Night That Made America Famous. The play earned a total of 4 award nominations.
In 1976, he released two albums. The first was Greatest Stories Live. The album sold 2.1 million units. It was his first live album featuring a select number of songs from the previous albums. He also released On the Road to Kingdom Come. The album had no single release, but contained two popular songs, Corey's Coming and The Mayor of Candor Lied. The album sold 350,000 units.
In 1977, he released his seventh studio album, Dance Band on the Titanic. The album had no single release, but was named London's album of the year. The album sold 500,000 units.
In 1978, he released his ninth studio album, Living Room Suite. Despite the economic recession, the top 20 Irish hit, Flowers Are Red, was produced. The album sold 350,000 units.
In 1979, he released his second live album, Legends of the Lost and Found. Still in the economic recession, the album sold 250,000 units.
In 1980, his recording contract was up. He signed a new one-album deal with Boardwalk Records. He released the final album of his lifetime, Sequel. The single release, Sequel, was a follow up to his first hit single, Taxi. The song was a top 20 near miss on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #23. It is considered to be his fastest breaking album. The album sold 500,000 units.
In 1981, Chapin was killed in a car crash on the Long Island Expressway. He was buried at the Huntington Rural Cemetery. Millions of fans throughout the world mourned him following the news of his death.
On December 7, 1987, on what would have been his 45th birthday, Chapin was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his campaigning on social issues, particularly his highlighting of hunger around the world and in the United States. His work on hunger included being widely recognized as a key player in the creation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger (under 39th President Jimmy Carter) in 1977. There was also a tribute concert held at the Carnegie Hall to commemorate his 45th birthday if he were alive, and also to award him the Congressional Gold Medal which was presented to his son Joshua Chapin and laid to rest on an empty stool with Harry's guitar leaning against it. Various artists contributed, including Bruce Springsteen, Richie Havens, and Pat Benatar, whom Harry taught to sing rock & roll. It was hosted by Harry Belafonte.
Albums
Studio albums
Live Albums
Compilation and specialty albums
| Year | Album | Chart Positions | Certifications | Sales | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | CA | ||||
| 1972 | Heads & Tales
|
60[2] | 57 | Gold (US) Platinum (CA) | 1,100,000 |
| 1972 | Sniper and Other Love Songs
|
160[3] | 350,000 | ||
| 1973 | Short Stories
|
61[4] | 39 | Gold (US) Platinum (CA) | 1,100,000 |
| 1974 | Verities & Balderdash
|
4[5] | 4 | 2x Platinum (US) 2x Platinum (CA) | 2,700,000 |
| 1975 | Portrait Gallery
|
53[6] | 350,000 | ||
| 1976 | On the Road to Kingdom Come
|
87[7] | 66 | 350,000 | |
| 1977 | Dance Band on the Titanic
|
58[8] | 91 | Gold (US) [9] | 500,000 |
| 1978 | Living Room Suite
|
133[10] | 350,000 | ||
| 1980 | Sequel
|
58[11] | 72 | Gold (US) | 500,000 |
| Year | Album | Charts | Certifications | Sales | |
| US | CA | ||||
| 1976 | Greatest Stories Live
|
48[12] | 71 | 2x Platinum (US) Platinum (CA) | 2,100,000 |
| 1979 | Legends of the Lost and Found
|
163[13] | 72 | 250,000 | |
| Year | Album | Charts | Certifications | Sales | |
| US | |||||
| 1985 | Anthology of Harry Chapin
|
— | 250,000 | ||
| 1987 | Remember When the Music
|
— | 250,000 | ||
| 1988 | The Gold Medal Collection
|
— | Platinum (US) | 1,000,000 | |
| 1988 | The Last Protest Singer
|
— | 250,000 | ||
| 1990 | Harry Chapin Tribute
|
— | N/A | ||
| 1998 | The Bottom Line Encore Collection
|
— | N/A | ||
| 1999 | Story of a Life
|
— | N/A | ||
| 1999 | Storyteller
|
— | N/A | ||
| 2000 | Onwards and Upwards
|
— | N/A | ||
| 2001 | VH1 Behind the Music: The Harry Chapin Collection
|
— | N/A | ||
| 2002 | The Essentials
|
— | N/A | ||
| 2003 | Classics
|
— | N/A | ||
| 2006 | Introducing... Harry Chapin
|
— | N/A | ||
| 2015 | Bottom Line Archive Series: Live 1981
|
— | N/A | ||
| 2019 | The Singles A's & B's
|
— | N/A | ||
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Chapin_discography
