Track Listing

1. American Pie
2. Till Tomorrow
3. Vincent (Starry Starry Night)
4. Crossroads
5. Winterwood
6. Empty Chairs
7. Everybody Loves Me Baby
8. Sister Fatima
9. Grave
10. Babylon
11. Mother Nature
12. Aftermath

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1709 in Music
• Released on: 2004-11-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .12 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
Be careful what you wish for--you just might get it. Don McLean, like any other singer/songwriter, no doubt wanted a hit or some degree of success. "American Pie" gave him that and too much more. McLean's ode to Buddy Holly begins with a folky intro that sounds like a protest song. Almost nine minutes later, the tune finally ends. Sure, the song's poetic; sure, it's a touching tribute; and sure, it's undeniably a classic. But it also became the bane of McLean's existence for many years, as it was the only song of his that people wanted to hear. The album American Pie sold well on the strength of the title track, and even propelled the comparatively weak "Vincent" into the Top 20. A fine release rooted in folk, American Pie is a classic, whether or not one actually pays attention to the other songs. --Steve Gdula

Customer Reviews

A Classic Album
Lots of people tend to miss out on the depth of this album simply beacuse of the over exposure of the title track.

If that is in fact the case, there are many people missing out on an album full of emotions and songs that will evoke all kinds of memories for each individual listener.

Empty Chairs and 'till tommrow are almost too joyously painful to listen to and Crossroads is a most wonderful creation that stirs past, present and future.

Don't listen to the hype about Don Mclean.

Try him out for yourself and then decide.

I recomend it...

American Sanity!
I've been sharing my life with this album for about thirty years and stillfind it surprising. Apart from the two well known tracks ('American Pie' -which is atypical of Mcleans work ((but still absolutely superb in itsalbum entirety)) and 'Vincent' - which is beautiful and haunting andcompletely unforgetable), this album is very well balanced and endlesslylistenable.
There is no over the top production or post-production; itis pure country/folk all the way. 'Empty Chairs' is a compellinglythoughtful view on loss; 'Everybody loves me' is so tongue in cheek it'salmost comedy; 'Winterwood' is a love song of warming proportions;'Crossroads' simply addresses what most of us have felt at one or moretimes in our lives, wih or without a partner.
'The Grave' is aparticularly poignant song relating, I would guess, to Vietnam, althoughit could be any one of our madnesses.
All the tracks on this album are well written and delivered and actuallyprove that sometimes less is more.
To all of you who discovered'American Pie' by Madonna, my commiserations - now go and get the albumand start to understand.

Classic
Many people who would not normally listen to the music of Don McLean will be purchasing this CD, simply out of a curiosity generated by Madonna's recent version of 'American Pie'.

Such people will find Don McLean to be a song-writer of many classics and will be surprised to find other McLean #1 hits such as 'Crying' (from 1980) and 'Vincent' (1972). The version of 'Castles in the Air' included here was recorded in 1981 and became a hit single in the UK and USA; 'Mountains of Mourne' was #1 in Ireland in 1974. Lesser known hits from the USA include 'If We Try' and 'Wonderful baby'. But for some the best tracks will be songs such as 'Crossroads' and 'Empty Chairs'.

This album deserves to go to number 1 in the charts. Success with this CD will in some small way be recognition for a lifetime of achievement in the music business.

Don McLean is still highly active - recording new material and touring constantly...