Fresh Air, Barry Manilow and Tom Waits

By: Terry Gross

Narrated by: Terry Gross

Singer/songwriters Barry Manilow and Tom Waits on this edition of Fresh Air. Barry Manilow made the pop charts in the 1970s and early 80s with love ballads such as "Mandy," "Looks Like We Made It," "I Write the Songs" and "Copacabana (At the Copa)." Before becoming a singer he was Bette Midler's accompanist and arranger. His most recent album is Here at the Mayflower, his first pop album since the 1980s, and a new anthology of his hits. Then, since the 1973 release of Tom Waits' first album, Closing Time, Waits has won fans over with his original songwriting and distinctive, gravelly vocal style. Musicians including Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen and Rod Stewart have recorded covers of his songs. He has also acted in films, including Sylvester Stallone's Paradise Alley, Jim Jarmusch's Down By Law and Robert Altman's Short Cuts. Waits has two recent: Alice and Blood Money. The pair of very different-sounding albums were written and produced by Tom Waits and his wife and long-time collaborator, Kathleen Brennan. (Original Broadcast Dates: March 21, 2002 and May 21, 2002)Want more Fresh Air?

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