Maps of Music

Don McLean (1972)

Where the lyrics of Don McLean take you, and where it was really made.

This 1972 album's cover looks out over Cold Spring, a village in New York, not over a city street or a studio.

Key places

Recording location: Record Plant Studios (1972)

Recording site Record Plant Studios — The album page lists Record Plant Studios in New York City as the recording location. The point uses city-center coordinates, so the exact studio building is not confirmed here. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Cover photo: overlooking Cold Spring (1972)

Album cover Cold Spring, New York — The album cover photo was taken overlooking the village of Cold Spring, New York. The point marks the village location, which is the source of the cover view. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Don McLean: third studio album by American singer-songwriter Don McLean
• Released in 1972
• Peaked at number 23 on the Billboard 200 chart
• Reissued by BGO Records in 1996
• Ten tracks, all composed by Don McLean except "On the Amazon" (Vivian Ellis, Clifford Grey, Greatrex Newman)
• Tracks include "Dreidel", "Bronco Bill's Lament", "Oh, My What a Shame", "If We Try", "The More You Pay (The More It's Worth)", "Narcisissima", "Falling Through Time", "Birthday Song", "The Pride Parade"
• Produced and arranged by Ed Freeman

Background

• Released on United Artists Records, Los Angeles, according to the Discogs release notes
• Ed Freeman credited with string arrangements
• Core performer: Don McLean on guitar and vocals
• Warren Bernhardt: piano on "Oh My What a Shame"
• Dick Hyman: piano on "On the Amazon"
• Ralph MacDonald: percussion and conga
• Ed Trickett: hammered dulcimer
• Don Brooks: harmonica
• Howard "Buzz" Feiten: guitar
• Neil Larsen: piano
• Tony Levin: bass on "Dreidel" and "Birthday Song"
• Chris Parker: drums
• George Ricci: cello
• Bob Rothstein: bass and vocals
• Russ Savakus: bass, violin and vocals
• West Forty Fourth Street Rhythm and Noise Choir: chorus

Recording

• Engineers: Tom Flye, Dennis Ferrante, Ed Sprigg, Rod O'Brien
• Recording location listed as Record Plant Studios in New York City

Cover

• Cover photo taken overlooking the village of Cold Spring, New York
• Cover photography by John Olson

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

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

Reappraisal

• Record World on the single "Dreidel": the "intelligent lyrics sustain interest."
• Record World called the single "If We Try" a "ballad beauty."
• Both comments come from Record World, a trade magazine, and concern singles taken from the album.

Records

• Peak position on the Billboard 200 chart: number 23.
• Third studio album by Don McLean, released in 1972.
• Reissued by BGO Records in 1996.
• Later CD edition issued by Don McLean Beat Goes On / BGO Records in 2011.
• Album cover photo taken overlooking the village of Cold Spring, New York.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The cover photo was taken overlooking the village of Cold Spring, New York.
• The Discogs release notes say the tracklist on the back sleeve and on the labels don't match.
• Tony Levin plays bass on "Dreidel" and "Birthday Song".
• "On the Amazon" credits Vivian Ellis, Clifford Grey and Greatrex Newman as writers.
• Record World's note on "Dreidel" praised its intelligent lyrics.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

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