NPR’s Don Gonyea speaks with Tamara Saviano, who produced a brand new album by people and nation singer Man Clark based mostly on long-lost recordings.
DON GONYEA, HOST:
I am fortunate sufficient to have seen Man Clark carry out, I do not know, perhaps a dozen instances, in all probability greater than, that through the years. The primary was someday within the mid-’80s, and by then, he was already Man Clark, residing legend, songwriter’s songwriter.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “L.A. FREEWAY”)
GUY CLARK: (Singing) If I can simply get off of this L.A. freeway with out getting killed or caught.
GONYEA: However earlier than Man Clark was that Man Clark, he was a 28-year-old, nonetheless struggling to make it as a songwriter, standing in entrance of a small viewers in a espresso home on the College of Houston in 1970.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
CLARK: (Singing) The previous nation blues is all I see rolling into Austin, searching for thee.
GONYEA: His opening act that night time was a highschool scholar named John Koontz. He requested Clark if he might file the set, and Man stated sure.
TAMARA SAVIANO: John handed this cassette recorder round to his associates, and I heard from a couple of of those associates that they performed the tape till it broke. And the reel-to-reel or no matter he first recorded on was misplaced.
GONYEA: That is Tamara Saviano, good friend, producer and knowledgeable in all issues Man Clark. She says that everybody thought that recording was misplaced endlessly. However then…
SAVIANO: In 2021, John was cleansing up his home and stumbled upon one copy of this cassette tape.
GONYEA: That recording ultimately made its strategy to Saviano and her studio, and it is going to be launched on February 28. I requested Saviano which observe stood out to her.
SAVIANO: “Step Inside My Home.” That is the primary track Man wrote. And in order that one at all times – I am form of listening in a different way to listen to how this track progressed as Man would play it.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “STEP INSIDE MY HOUSE”)
CLARK: (Singing) Step inside my home, Babe. I am going to sing for you a track. And I am going to let you know ’bout the place I have been. It should not take too lengthy.
SAVIANO: Man I at all times thought that that was an unfinished track. So I can hear the hesitance. Like, am I actually singing this track? Is that this track completed? Is that this track value singing in entrance of an viewers?
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “STEP INSIDE MY HOUSE”)
CLARK: (Singing) It positive is good from proper over right here when the sunshine’s just a little dim.
SAVIANO: He by no means recorded it in a studio setting, however he would play it stay in Houston, and it was handed round from songwriter to songwriter in Houston. So somebody would hear Man play it, after which they’d play it. And that is the way it made its strategy to Lyle Lovett, who later recorded it.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “STEP INSIDE THIS HOUSE”)
LYLE LOVETT: (Singing) Step inside this home, lady. I am going to sing for you a track.
GONYEA: He does 18 songs on this file. Six of them are covers, songs he did not write. He does a really well-known Jackson Browne track. He does “These Days.”
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “THESE DAYS”)
JACKSON BROWNE: (Singing) And I had a lover.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “THESE DAYS”)
CLARK: (Singing) I do not suppose I am going to danger one other today. Lately.
GONYEA: He positive makes it a Man Clark track right here, regardless that I do know each phrase is a Jackson Browne track.
SAVIANO: He does, and I discovered myself questioning, how did he discover this track? , the place did he discover “These Days”?
GONYEA: I discovered a 1967 model of that track recorded by Nico on that Velvet Underground banana file.
SAVIANO: Oh. Nicely, that is smart, OK. I could not determine how he received the track.
GONYEA: Music apart, what do you hear in right here?
SAVIANO: The primary observe known as “Susanna.” And any time that Man writes about Susanna or talks about his love for Susanna, that intrigues me.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “SUSANNA LET YOUR HAIR DOWN ON ME”)
CLARK: (Singing) Susanna, let your hair down on me. Cowl up the blues.
SAVIANO: That they had such an attention-grabbing relationship from the very begin, how they met by means of Susanna’s demise. After which additionally “Headed Again To California,” which can be speaking about that, , relationship with Susanna.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “HEADED BACK TO CALIFORNIA”)
CLARK: (Singing) All the best way from California I’ve come see you smile once more.
SAVIANO: That is the very early days of their relationship. So to listen to Man sing “Headed Again To California” about Susanna, about his dedication already to Susanna and his love for Susanna simply months into their relationship, that simply actually struck me.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “HEADED BACK TO CALIFORNIA”)
CLARK: (Singing) From the Greyhound stationed to your door, I circled 10 instances or extra.
GONYEA: We’re arising on a decade since Man handed away. He was 74 years previous. You have spent numerous time working his legacy and fascinated by his legacy within the years since. How does this contribute?
SAVIANO: Nicely, I believe, , there are numerous us who know who Man Clark is, and we love Man Clark, and we admire him because the artist that he was. However Man will not be a family title. And so something that we will add to that legacy to herald new folks, to have the ability to say, here is one thing new for the folks that already love Man, and here is one thing you may need to hear in case you’ve by no means heard of Man.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
CLARK: (Singing) Selecting up strains that somebody misplaced upon my avenue, singing them again. Do the tapping of my ft.
GONYEA: Tamara Saviano is the inventive director and president of Man Clark, LLC, and the Man Clark Household Basis. Tamara, thanks for sharing these tales with us.
SAVIANO: Oh, I am so glad to be right here with you, Don. Thanks.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
CLARK: (Singing) I am searching for the phrases and say you are actually…
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