Although I didn't know it at the time (I was thirteen), this week's tune was the first classic tune that I listened to after I became aware of the power of music as it came to life and captured the fancy of people young and old across the globe. Almost fifty years later, and people are still debating its meaning...and enjoying listening to it as much as ever.
Don McLean was born in New Rochelle, New York in 1945, and developed a love for folk music at a young age. By the time he was sixteen he was playing clubs around New York and developing contacts in the music world (Pete Seeger was a big early supporter of McLean's music). After graduating from college, he began his musical journey in earnest, and recorded his first album in 1970. It was the release of his second album that made him a household name, and through the years he was able to build off that success and have a number of hits (though somewhat smaller), and it has allowed him to record and tour to this day. For his career, McLean has released 22 studio albums, 4 live albums, and nine compilations, with one of them reaching #1 on the Billboard 200 (and the latest studio release in 2021). He also released 16 singles and was fortunate enough to have two of those make the top five on the Billboard Hot 100. McLean has also been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
"American Pie" was the first single released from McLean's career changing second album, the aptly titled American Pie. It only took the single eight weeks to reach number one, and it stayed there for four weeks in 1972. The album, like the single, was the only number one of McLean's career.
Fun Fact: The lyrics to "American Pie" have been among the most scrutinized lyrics this side of Bob Dylan, but when at one point McLean (who did not prefer to discuss the song's meaning) was asked what the song meant, he replied that the song meant he never had to work another day in his life. McLean would later sell his notes from the writing of "American Pie" (with plenty of clues as to its references and meanings) for over a million dollars.
There have probably been dissertations written about "American Pie" and I'm not about to compete with people much smarter and more talented at writing about music than I am. Suffice it to say, just give it a listen...and revel in the glory, and later the sorrow, that was both the early days of rock and roll and the 1960's.
Lyric Sheet: "And the three men I admire most/The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost/They caught the last train for the coast/The day the music died..."
Enjoy:
Republican = Racist
Peace,
emaycee
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