October 24, 1971 - Don McLean and American Pie

On October 24, 1971 American singer Don McLean released his second album "American Pie". The title track is the only song I have off this album, as well as my only song by McLean, but man is this one a good one. But who is Don McLean? He was born in New Rochelle, New York In 1945 and is a singer and guitarist, playing acoustic on this song. It's about "the day the music died", when a plane crash in 1959 killed Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens, three icons of the early rock and roll era. It opens with some beautiful piano by Paul Griffin and in the first verse Don sings about how he learned of the tragedy while delivering papers. We hear the chorus for the first time, and we will hear it after every single verse in this 8 and a half minute song. It's very catchy so you don't even mind hearing it over and over, and McLean kicks off the next verse with a cool acoustic riff. The second verse is about a girl he doesn't think he can woo anymore and the third is about a king and jester in court. Griffin plays some fantastic piano throughout the song and the fourth verse is about a band playing at halftime of a football game. The fifth verse talks about fire and Satan and is the last before we return to the sad piano that kicked it all off. Sixth and final verse about how no music is played anywhere and even God has left. The chorus is just Don at first, but everyone joins in for a communal final chorus that everyone can't help but sing along to. It really is a fantastic song and it's actually the longest song ever to reach #1 on the charts. How can you not like this wonderful tune? My next release is on Halloween, it'll be a graveyard smash!

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