A Place in the World (Mary Chapin Carpenter album)

A Place in the World
A Place in the World
Studio album by Mary Chapin Carpenter
Released	October 22, 1996
Genre	Country
Length	45:06
Label	Columbia Nashville/TriStar
Producer	Mary Chapin Carpenter; John Jennings
Mary Chapin Carpenter chronology

A Place in the World is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter, released by Columbia Records on October 22, 1996. It rose to No. 3 on the Billboard's Country Albums chart and No. 20 on the Billboard 200, with four of its tracks reaching the Hot Country Songs chart: "Let Me into Your Heart" (No. 11), "I Want to Be Your Girlfriend" (No. 35), and "Keeping the Faith" (No. 58).

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Chicago Tribune	^[2]
Robert Christgau	B−^[3]
Entertainment Weekly	B^[4]
Q	^[5]

Track listing

All songs written by Mary Chapin Carpenter.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Keeping the Faith"	3:19
2.	"Hero in Your Own Hometown"	3:50
3.	"I Can See It Now"	3:34
4.	"I Want to Be Your Girlfriend"	3:30
5.	"Let Me into Your Heart"	2:54
6.	"What If We Went to Italy"	3:38
7.	"That's Real"	3:53
8.	"Ideas Are Like Stars"	4:05
9.	"Naked to the Eye"	3:54
10.	"Sudden Gift of Fate"	5:05
11.	"The Better to Dream of You"	3:18
12.	"A Place in the World"	4:06
Total length:		45:06

Personnel

Pete Barenbregge – tenor saxophone
J.T. Brown – background vocals
Jon Carroll – piano, accordion, background vocals
Mary Chapin Carpenter – lead vocals, background vocals, acoustic guitar
Shawn Colvin – background vocals
Mike Crotty – baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone
Bob Glaub – bass guitar
Rich Haering – trumpet
John Jennings – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, backpacker, baritone guitar, bass guitar, fretless bass, lap steel guitar, percussion, synthesizer, background vocals
Duke Levine – electric guitar, mandola
Robbie Magruder – drums
Dave Mattacks – drums, tambourine
Kim Richey – background vocals
Harry Stinson – drums, cowbell
Benmont Tench – piano, organ

String section

Kim Miller, Margaraet Gutierrez, Lilly Soong Kramer, Theresa Lazar, Steven Romer, Matthew Loden, Mark Dulac, Ozman Kivrak, Joan Singer, Vickie Yanics, Tracy Jasas, Christoff Richter – violins
Marcio Botelho, Timothy Butler, Russell Powell, Nancy Jo Snyder, David Teie – cellos

Strings and horns conducted and arranged by Michael "Rico" Petruccelli.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1996)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA) ^[6]	121
Canadian Country Albums (RPM)	13
Scottish Albums (Official Charts)^[7]	33
UK Albums (Official Charts)^[8]	36
US Billboard 200^[9]	20
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[10]	3

Year-end charts

Chart (1996)	Position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[11]	75
Chart (1997)	Position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[12]	30

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)^[13]	Gold	50,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)^[14]	Gold	500,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

↑ Jurek, Thom. A Place in the World at AllMusic
↑ "Mary Chapin CarpenterA Place in the World..." Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
↑ Robert Christgau Consumer Guide
↑ Entertainment Weekly review
↑ Album reviews at CD Universe
↑ "Mary Chapin Carpenter ARIA chart history (to 2025)". ARIA. Retrieved June 6, 2026 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 27/10/1996 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
↑ "Official Albums Chart on 27/10/1996 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
↑ "Mary Chapin Carpenter Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
↑ "Mary Chapin Carpenter Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
↑ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
↑ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1997". Billboard. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
↑ "Canadian album certifications – Mary Chapin Carpenter – A Place in the World". Music Canada. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
↑ "American album certifications – Mary Chapin Carpenter – A Place in the World". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 1, 2021.

External links

Mary Chapin Carpenter's official website

[1] Jurek, Thom. A Place in the World at AllMusic

[2] "Mary Chapin CarpenterA Place in the World..." Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.

[3] Robert Christgau Consumer Guide

[4] Entertainment Weekly review

[5] Album reviews at CD Universe

[ARIA_Chart-6] "Mary Chapin Carpenter ARIA chart history (to 2025)". ARIA. Retrieved June 6, 2026 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.

[ac_Scotland_-7] "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 27/10/1996 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 1, 2021.

[ac_UK2_-8] "Official Albums Chart on 27/10/1996 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 1, 2021.

[ac_Billboard200_Mary_Chapin_Carpenter-9] "Mary Chapin Carpenter Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 1, 2021.

[ac_BillboardCountry_Mary_Chapin_Carpenter-10] "Mary Chapin Carpenter Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 1, 2021.

[11] "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved February 1, 2021.

[12] "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1997". Billboard. Retrieved February 1, 2021.

[CanadaMary_Chapin_CarpenterA_Place_in_the_WorldalbumCertRef-13] "Canadian album certifications – Mary Chapin Carpenter – A Place in the World". Music Canada. Retrieved February 1, 2021.

[United_StatesMary_Chapin_CarpenterA_Place_in_the_WorldalbumCertRef-14] "American album certifications – Mary Chapin Carpenter – A Place in the World". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 1, 2021.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]