Tag Archives: Don McLean

Don McLean: Homeless Brother

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In October 1974, “United Artists” label released “Homeless Brother”, the fifth Don McLean studio album. It was recorded in 1974, at “Regent Sound Studios” in New York City, “Clack Studios”, and was produced by Joel Dorn.

Personnel:

  • Don McLean – vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo
  • Hugh McCracken – guitars
  • David Spinozza – guitars
  • Arthur Jenkins, Jr. – keyboards
  • Richard Tee – keyboards
  • Willie Weeks – bass guitar
  • George Duvivier – bass
  • Andrew Smith – drums
  • David Carey – percussion
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion
  • Willis Jackson – tenor saxophone
  • Charlie Fowlkes – baritone saxophone
  • Yusef Lateef – flute
  • Joe Wilder, Garnett Brown, Wally King, James Buffington, Jonathan Dorn, Billy Slapin, Seldon Powell, George Barrow, Charles Williams, Dany Moore, Peter Gordon, Ray Alonge, George Marge, Brooks Tillotson – horns
  • William Eaton – arrangements, conductor
  • Alfred Brown, Selwart Clarke, Emanuel Vardi, Sanford Allen, Joseph Malignaggi, Avram Weiss, Diana Halprin, Charles Libove, Harry Cykman, Emanuel Green, Harry Lookofsky, Matthew Raimondi, Kermit Moore, Charles McCracken, Max Ellen, Max Pollikoff, Gene Orloff, David Nadien, Kathryn Kienke, Julius Schachter, Harold Kohon, Julius Held, Guy Lumia – strings
  • Gerry Teifer – whistling
  • The Persuasions – backing vocals
  • Pete Seeger – backing vocals
  • Kenny Vance, Cissy Houston, Renelle Stafford, Ned Albright, Steven Soles, Deidre Tuck, Linda November, Joel Dorn, Helene Miles, Arlene Martell, Marlene VerPlanck, Norma Holes – backing vocals
  • Bob Liftin – recording, remix
  • Joe Ferla – additional recording
  • Marcote – cover painting

Track listing:

All tracks by Don McLean, except where noted.

  1. Winter Has Me in Its Grip
  2. La La Love You
  3. Homeless Brother
  4. Sunshine Life for Me (Sail Away Raymond) – George Harrison
  5. The Legend of Andrew McCrew
  6. Wonderful Baby
  7. You Have Lived
  8. Great Big Man
  9. Tangled (Like a Spider in Her Hair)
  10. Crying in the Chapel – Artie Glenn
  11. Did You Know

Don McLean: Playin’ Favorites

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In October 1973, “United Artists” and “BGO” labels released “Playin’ Favorites”, the fourth Don McLean studio album. It was recorded in 1973, at “The Record Plant” in New York City, and was produced by Ed Freeman.

Personnel:

  • Don McLean – vocals, guitar, banjo
  • Buzzy Feiten – guitar, tambourine
  • Steve Berg – guitar
  • John Hughey – pedal steel
  • Ronnie Zito – banjo, tambourine
  • Frank Wakefield – vocals, mandoline
  • Dave Bromberg – dobro
  • Neil Larsen – keyboards, piano
  • Chuck Leavell – piano
  • Tony Levin – bass
  • Rob Rothstein – vocals, bass
  • Rick Marotta – drums
  • Johnny Sandlin – percussion
  • Danny Manselino – percussion
  • Mike Mainieri – marimba
  • Frank Orsini – fiddle
  • Russ Savakus – bass violin
  • Albertine Robinson – backing vocals
  • Maretha Stewart – backing vocals
  • Tasha Thomas – backing vocals
  • Frank Hubach – engineer, remix
  • Jim Reeves – engineer
  • Mike Salisbury – art direction
  • Fred Conrad – photography

Track listing:

  1. Sitting on Top of the World – Bo Carter, Little Walter
  2. Living With the Blues – Brownie McGhee
  3. Mountains O’ Mourne – Percy French
  4. Fool’s Paradise – Sonny LeGlaire, Horace Linsley, Norman Petty
  5. Love O’ Love – traditional, arranged by Don McLean
  6. Medley: Bill Cheetham/Old Joe Clark – traditional, arranged by Don McLean
  7. Everyday – Charles Hardin, Norman Petty
  8. Ancient History – Irene Stanton, Wayne Walker
  9. Over the Mountains – Irene Stanton, Wayne Walker
  10. Lovesick Blues – Cliff Friend, Irving Mills
  11. New Mule Skinner Blues – Jimmie Rodgers, George Vaughn
  12. Happy Trails – Dale Evans

Don McLean: Same (third album)

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In November 1972, “United Artists” label released the self-titled, third Don McLean album. It was recorded in 1972, at “Record Plant Studios” in New York City and was produced by Ed Freeman.

Personnel:

  • Don McLean – guitar, vocals
  • Warren Bernhardt – piano
  • Dick Hyman – piano
  • Neil Larsen – piano
  • Ed Trickett – hammered dulcimer
  • Don Brooks – harmonica
  • Howard “Buzz” Feiten – guitar
  • Tony Levin – bass
  • Bob Rothstein – bass, vocals
  • Russ Savakus – bass, violin, vocals
  • Chris Parker – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion, conga
  • George Ricci – cello
  • Ed Freeman – string arrangements
  • West Forty Fourth Street Rhythm and Noise Choir – chorus
  • Tom Flye, Dennis Ferrante, Ed Sprigg, Rod O’Brien – engineer
  • John Olson – cover photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Don McLean, except where noted.

  1. Dreidel
  2. Bronco Bill’s Lament
  3. Oh, My What a Shame
  4. If We Try
  5. The More You Pay (The More It’s Worth)
  6. Narcisissima
  7. Falling Through Time
  8. On the Amazon – Vivian Ellis, Clifford Grey, Greatrex Newman
  9. Birthday Song
  10. The Pride Parade

Nanci Caroline Griffith

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On August 13, 2021, Nanci Caroline Griffith died aged 68. She was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, toured and recorded with The Crickets, John Prine, Iris DeMent, Suzy Bogguss, Judy Collins, Emmylou Harris, Mary Black, John Prine, Don McLean, Jimmy Buffett, Dolores Keane, Willie Nelson, Adam Duritz, The Chieftains, John Stewart, Darius Rucker and Buddy Holly’s band. In 1994, Griffith won “Grammy Award” for “Best Contemporary Folk Album”, in 1995, she was awarded the “Kate Wolf Memorial Award” by the “World Folk Music Association”, and in 2008, the “Americana Music Association” awarded her its “Americana Trailblazer Award”. Griffith released 18th studio and 2 live albums.

Paul Griffin

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On June 14, 2000, Paul Griffin died aged 62. He was musician (piano, keyboards), performed and recorded with hundreds of musicians including: King Curtis, Bob Dylan, Steely Dan, Don McLean, the Isley Brothers, Van Morrison, the Shirelles, Dionne Warwick. Dion DiMucci, George Benson, Tom Rush, Wilson Pickett, Michael Franks, John Denver, Peter, Paul and Mary, David Clayton-Thomas, Gloria Loring, Melba Moore, LaVern Baker, Janis Siegel, Solomon Burke, Jackie Lomax, Marlena Shaw, Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Don Mclean, Carly Simon, Juddy Collins, Cheryl Lynn, Gloria Gaynor, Stephanie Mills, Donald Fagen,  Van Morrison, Paul Simon, Garland Jeffreys, Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt and Laura Nyro.

Don McLean: Prime Time

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In December 1977, “Arista” label released “Prime Time” the sixth Don McLean album. It was recorded in 1977, and was produced by John Peters.

Personnel:

  • Don McLean – vocals, guitar, banjo
  • John Farrell – guitar
  • Ed Freeman – piano
  • Kenny Asher – organ, piano, clavinet, arranger
  • Pat Rebillot – keyboards
  • Dom Cortese – accordion
  • Rob Stoner – bass, backing vocals
  • Howie Wyeth – drums, marimba, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Rubens Bassini – percussion
  • David Sanborn – saxophone
  • Angela Howell – backing vocals
  • Christine Faith – backing vocals
  • Gene Orloff – concertmaster

Track listing:

All tracks by Don McLean, except where noted.

  1. Prime Time
  2. The Statue
  3. Jump
  4. Red Wing
  5. The Wrong Thing to Do
  6. The Pattern Is Broken
  7. When Love Begins
  8. Color TV Blues
  9. Building My Body
  10. Down the Road/Sally Ann
  11. When a Good Thing Goes Bad
  12. South of the Border – Michael Carr, Jimmy Kennedy
  13. If You Can Dream

Don McLean: Tapestry

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In October 1970, “Mediarts” label released “Tapestry”, the debut Don McLean album. It was recorded in 1970, at “Sierra Sound Laboratories” in Berkeley, California, and was produced by Jerry Corbitt.

Personnel:

  • Don McLean – vocals, guitar, banjo
  • Rick Turner – guitar, bass guitar
  • Scott Lawrence, Edward Bogas– piano
  • Peter Childs – dobro, bass guitar
  • Jerry Corbitt– bass guitar
  • Gregory Dewey, Jeff Meyer – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Don McLean.

  1. Castles in the Air
  2. General Store
  3. Magdalene Lane
  4. Tapestry
  5. Respectable
  6. Orphans of Wealth
  7. Three Flights Up
  8. And I Love You So
  9. Bad Girl
  10. Circus Song
  11. No Reason for Your Dreams

Elvis Presley: Today

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Today

On May 7, 1975, RCA” label released “Today”, album by Elvis Presley. It was recorded March 10–12, 1975, at “RCA Studio C” in Hollywood, and was produced by Felton Jarvis. At the time of the recording, This was the last Presley’s recording in studio.

Personnel:

  • Elvis Presley – lead vocals
  • James Burton- guitar
  • Chip Young – guitar
  • Johnny Christopher – guitar
  • Weldon Myrick – steel guitar
  • Charlie Hodge- guitar, harmony vocals
  • Glen Hardin- keyboards
  • Jimmy Gordon – keyboards
  • Tony Brown- keyboards
  • David Briggs- keyboards
  • Duke Bardwell – bass
  • Norbert Putnam- bass
  • Mike Leech – bass
  • Ronnie Tutt- drums
  • Buddy Spicher- fiddle
  • Millie Kirkham- backing vocals
  • Lea Berinati – backing vocals
  • Mary Holladay – backing vocals
  • Ginger Holladay – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. T-R-O-U-B-L-E – Jerry Chesnut
  2. And I Love You So – Don McLean
  3. Susan When She Tried – Don Reid
  4. Woman Without Love – Jerry Chesnut
  5. Shake a Hand – Joe Morris
  6. Pieces of My Life – Troy Seals
  7. Fairytale – Bonnie
  8. I Can Help – Billy Swan
  9. Bringing it Back – Greg Gordon
  10. Green, Green Grass of Home – Curly Putman

Don McLean: American Pie

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Don McLean - American Pie

On October 24, 1971, “United Artists” label released “American Pie”, the second Don McLean studio album. It was recorded May – June 1971, at “Record Plant Studios” in New York and was produced by Ed Freeman. The album featured McLean’s two best known songs “American Pie” and “Vincent”.

Personnel:

  • Don McLean – vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo
  • David Spinozza– electric guitar
  • Paul Griffin– piano
  • Warren Bernhardt– piano
  • Ray Colcord– electric piano
  • Bob Rothstein– vocals, bass
  • Roy Markowitz – drums, percussion
  • Mike Mainieri– marimba, vibraphone
  • Tom Flye – drums
  • West Forty Fourth Street Rhythm and Noise Choir – chorus
  • Ed Freeman – string arrangements
  • Lee Hays– arranger
  • Gene Orloff – concert master

Track listing:

All tracks by Don McLean except where noted.

  1. American Pie
  2. Till Tomorrow
  3. Vincent
  4. Crossroads
  5. Winterwood
  6. Empty Chairs
  7. Everybody Loves Me Baby
  8. Sister Fatima
  9. The Grave
  10. Babylon – Trad. arr. by Lee Hays and Don McLean