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Tracy Chapman Producer David Kershenbaum on Recording ‘Fast Car’ & Why It Still Resonates: ‘Everybody’s Been in an Impossible Situation in Their Life’


Tracy Chapman’s Producer David Kershenbaum on the First Time He Heard ‘Fast Car’

David Kershenbaum remembers the first time he heard Tracy Chapman ’s “Fast Car.” The Grammy-nominated producer, who was well regarded for his work with such acts as Joe Jackson, Cat Stevens and Joan Baez, had been asked to meet with Chapman at music executive Charles Koppelman ’s New York office to discuss producing her debut album after Koppelman’s son, Brian, had discovered her while in college in Boston. A number of other artists have cut “Fast Car” since then, but none with more fanfare than country superstar Luke Combs, who included his faithful rendition on 2023’s Gettin’ Old. His dad was a music publisher, and I would go to Nashville when I was 12 and sit there with Chet Atkins and listen to Porter Wagner and Dolly Parton and all on them record and just salivate.

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