Maps of Music

Chain Lightning (1978)

Where the lyrics of Chain Lightning take you, and where it was really made.

Released in the UK in December 1978, Chain Lightning reached the US only two years later, after its lead single "Crying" had already become a UK No.1.

Key places

Recorded in Nashville (1978)

Recording site Nashville — The album was recorded in Nashville between June and August 1978 with many of the city's session players. The pin marks the city-level location; the exact studio building is not named in the source. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Chain Lightning: seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Don McLean
• First released in December 1978 in the UK and other markets
• US release came two years later, after delayed success in European markets
• Repackaged for the US release

Background

• Success came late in European markets, which delayed the US release
• Lead single "Crying" reached No.1 on the UK Singles Chart in June 1980
• After the repackaged US release, "Crying" reached the top five in early 1981
• "Since I Don't Have You" was also released as a single and reached No.23

Recording

• Recorded in Nashville between June and August 1978
• Featured many of Nashville's noted session players
• Backing vocals by the Jordanaires
• Bill Justis handled arrangements and conducting; the Nashville Strings played the strings
• Session players included Pete Drake on pedal steel and Hargus "Pig" Robbins on piano

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Donald McLean III, born October 2, 1945, American singer-songwriter and guitarist.
• Known as the "American Troubadour" or "King of the Trail".
• Grew up in New Rochelle, New York; became interested in folk music as a teenager.
• By age 16 had bought his first guitar and made contacts in the music business, becoming friends with Erik Darling and Fred Hellerman of the Weavers.
• Graduated from Iona Preparatory School in 1963; briefly attended Villanova University.
• Performed for six years at venues including The Bitter End, the Gaslight Cafe, the Newport Folk Festival, and the Troubadour in Los Angeles.

Career

• Recorded the album Tapestry in 1969 in Berkeley, California; rejected 72 times by labels before Mediarts released it.
• Breakthrough came with the album American Pie, released after Mediarts was taken over by United Artists Records.
• The title song "American Pie" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in January–February 1972 and is his most successful single, certified six-times Platinum by the RIAA.
• "Vincent", a tribute to Vincent van Gogh, reached number 1 on the UK Singles Chart and number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.
• Roy Orbison's "Crying" by McLean reached number 1 in the Netherlands, UK and Australia, and number 5 on the US pop chart in 1981.
• Other hits include "Castles in the Air", "Wonderful Baby" and "Dreidel".
• Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004; "American Pie" entered the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• The Boston Globe panned the cover of "Your Cheatin' Heart", calling its version awful and sappy
• The album first came out in the UK and other markets in December 1978
• The US had to wait two years, because success in European markets came late

Reappraisal

• After the repackaged release in the US, the album also became a success there
• "Crying" reached the top five in the US in early 1981

Records

• "Crying" reached No.1 on the UK Singles Chart in June 1980
• "Since I Don't Have You" was released as a single and reached No.23
• Track listing: eleven covers and originals, closing with Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind"
• Personnel: Don McLean on vocals and acoustic guitar, with many Nashville session players

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The Jordanaires provided the backing vocals on the album.
• Bill Justis handled the arrangements and acted as conductor.
• The album opens with "Words and Music" and closes with Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind".
• The title track, "Chain Lightning", runs 7:48 and is the longest song on the album.
• Covers include Roy Orbison and Joe Melson's "Crying" and Hank Williams's "Your Cheatin' Heart".

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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