Customer Reviews

Legendary Songs of Don Mclean

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Don McLean was a singer-songwriter in the folk-pop tradition who first achieved fame in the early seventies, scoring an American number one hit with American pie (a song later covered superbly by Madonna, for whom it became a British number one), a British number one with Vincent (the song about the painter Van Gogh that begins Starry starry night) and an Irish number one with Mountains of Mourne, though that song is not included here. Perry Como had a huge hit with a cover of And I love you so, another classic song that Don wrote. Among the other notable but less well-known songs written by Don and included here are Winterwood and If we try, both covered by Olivia Newton-John in her early recording career.

Don was also a fine interpreter of other people's songs. His second and last British number one hit was with a revival of Roy Orbison's Crying, a song that was only a minor British hit for Roy in the sixties but which, helped by Don's cover, has become one of Roy's most popular songs.

The song Killing me softly was inspired by one of Don's concerts. It became a huge international hit for Roberta Flack. So Don has done it all - his own songs, covers and live shows - but he never been very prolific. The quality of his music makes up for any lack of quantity. Anybody who is seriously interested in folk-pop music needs at least one collection of Don's music. This is as good as any.

While he is mostly known for the mega-hits "American Pie" and "Vincent" (both included here) Don McLean has proven, over the course of the past 30 years, to be a remarkably versitile songwriter. Although he is often still viewed as a folksinger, he is adept at writing and preforming many styles of popular music. In recent years, his albums have been as likely to include a 40s-style torch song or a country-western ballad as a traditional "folk protest" song. Long time fans will find many old favorites here; newcomers will discover a well-balanced overview of his amazingly varied career. This collection also offers a generous selection of McLean's interpretations of material by other writers, showcasing his talents as a singer as well as his undeniable gifts as a songwriter. Buy this NOW!

Contains 21 original hit recordings nicely remastered. One note: the song Castles In The Air was a hit twice, the original 1970 recording from his first album was a hit in 1972 as the b-side of Vincent; and a different re-recorded version was a hit in 1981. The version included here is the re-make from 1981.

I love all of the music on this album...but Vincent is the one song that I adore on this album. Having heard Don's quaint but poignant cover as well as Jane Olivor's torch song interpretation, I'd say this song holds a place in my heart and collection. The depth to the lyrics is astounding, concidering this really happened To Van Gogh. Both interpretations hit me deeply with their beautiful lament for Van Gogh. I've always felt for Vincent and this song, more than ever, made me want to hold him close..."but I could have told you, Vincent; this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you..." So intimate and sad...and with the hopelessly sad final lyrics: "Perhaps they never will..." I swear, though it sounds corny, that I hear somebody crying behind the story. Remarkable. This cd is a treasure if you like Don McLean. I highly recommend this.

This review may not be as elaborate or informative as some of the others here but i would like to say that this is one of the best Cd's ever, in addition to having the ever popular "Vincent" and "American Pie" it also has some lesser known songs. There are some other popular songs of Don Mclean such as "Crying", "Castles in the Air" and so on. I recommend this CD fo any true Don Mclean fan, not just fans of "American Pie" and nothing else or its magnificence would be wasted upon them.

This is the best single CD Don McLean collection available. It includes all hit classic hits plus many of his best album cuts. Highly recommended if you like acoustic based, folk-rock. A must for any 70's music collection.

This CD will forever be one of the favorites in my whole collection! Partly because it has so dang many truly great songs, but also because each song is so dang well re-mastered! I have a high end music system that can deliver most of the beautiful harmonic nuances that you'd hear if you sat inside the artist's studio during the recording. That only happens IF those nuances are recorded onto the CD, and such is the case with Legendary Songs of Don McLean.

This CD is a fabulous showcase of multi-faceted talent. In the first place, Don McLean must be considered one of the era's most eloquent songwriters. His lyrics are great poems by themselves...intelligent and very elegant expressions of the romanticism of the story he's telling. Secondly, his melodies are perfect complements to the words. "Vincent", (Starry Starry Night, to some) is a superb, classic example of what I'm saying here. Spectacular! It brought tears to my eyes. I'm a former boxer, Harley rider, and three-time-wounded combat infantryman...so tears don't come easy for me.

And then there's McLean's voice quality. Incredible smoothness, pitch, range, and appropriate emotion for each song! To me, his voice mimics a fine cello or clarinet in the hands of a master. Roy Orbison is known as "The Voice" -very well deserved- but McLean's version of Orbison's "Crying" certainly is on a perfect par...no easy feat! "Since I Don't Have You" is another song that exemplifies Don McLean's amazing (Legendary) voice quality. It's so beautiful that you can't help but sing along...but try to hit all of the high notes and you'll end up needing to call the doctor to repair your vocal chords.

Legendary Songs of Don McLean is one of the best collections of melodies you can buy, but you'll also get some great rhythm/rock songs like "Dreidel" and "Headroom", and even some smokey jazz in "If I Only Had a Match". And there's some bop and doo-wop too! Hear this CD and feel like you've strolled through the 40's, 50's, 60's...right up to the present decade...and McLean is somehow able to stitch those styles and eras seamlessly!

Finally, let me say that one of my very penny-pinching friends heard this CD when I got it, and he left with an insatiable itch to buy his own copy...Scrooge McDuck sprinting away to the store! This CD really is a Must Have!

This is a beautiful CD, easy listening, I think one of my very favorites is " And I Love You So ", of course "Vincent" is McLean's masterpiece.
Crossroads, is beautiful.
Empty Chairs is a beautiful song with great guitar.
Don McLean is one of my all time favorites, and ranks high on my list.
I am going to purchase more of this CD for Christmas gifts.
Ann in Houston TX.

I wasn't sure what I would be getting for the price (extremely reasonable!!) but I was very pleased with the CD when it arrived. It's a wonderful mix of his classics and some new songs that reflect Mr. McLean's poetic talent. I highly recommend this CD to Don McLean fans.

This Don Mclean compilation is an incredibly tasteful overview of his career. He may not have been the most famous singer-songwriter from his era, but his songs, despite being sentimental, shout an incredible strength and spirit.

The best of this compilation is that it actually got me into his music the way I expected, since I didn't like too much American Pie (the song) but yet I decided to give the artist a chance, and it was worthy! I definitively caught his vibe about care for his own inspirations, which is the best highlight of his compositions.

I've been a fan of singer-songwriters for a while, and growing up listening to Billy Joel and Bob Dylan I am convinced to say Mclean is with them among the best.

His ballads are always slower and more quiet than the usual pop format, giving his songs originality, like the retro numbers "Since I Don't Have You", "Crying" and "Everyday", to the story-telling fantasies like "American Pie", "Vincent", "Castles In The Air" and "And I Love You So".

The former songs are definitevely his bests, I started to grow the taste for American Pie after a while, also the country flavour of Castles In The Air is refreshing, and for And I Love You So, I'll have to say I cried at its first listen while being on a car trip.

At the end of the album you are left so pleased, you've gone through almost every emotion, the first half is sentimental, reflective and imaginative, while the second half explores other territories, some satirical rock numbers, comical songs, even religious passages.

This compilation is a winner, perfectly organized, enough songs to summarize his career, and leaves you the taste to listen to it over and over.