McLean Draws 9,000-Plus In SPAC Tribute to Lena

by Bill Rice, The Troy Record, July 3, 1972

Last fall, a relatively unknown singer stood with his guitar on the stage of the RPI Field House, preceding a Blood, Sweat and Tears concert, encouraging the audience to sing along with him. It seems a little strange, now, that he had to teach the words to the audience. That same young man has gone a long ways since then and when he broke into the very same song at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Friday, he didn’t have to teach it to anyone.

The song—American Pie. The man—Don McLean.

The McLean concert at Saratoga was a tribute to Lena Spencer, whose Saratoga coffee house has been a training ground and springboard for more than one folk-type performer, including Don McLean. Over 9,000 people were estimated to have attended McLean’s tribute Friday.

Delicate

The young singer started his concert slightly hunched over his guitar with eyes nearly closed. He strummed delicately and his music began. His words are beautiful, even if the meaning is often obscure. At times, he sings with the softness one might use when blowing a feather lightly through the air. At other times, his guitar work becomes urgent and his voice rises in pitch and intensity as 3McLean drives some excitement home.

The likable balladeer was casually dressed with a flashy sport shirt and faded blue jeans. He comes across as a slightly off-beat clean-cut boy next door, but has made it to the top in spite of this.

McLean did some fine “turkey in the straw” type picking on banjo early in the show which soon had the audience clapping with enthusiasm. He can teach a song to his audience in nothing flat, and much of his concert is a lively singalong. “First you sing this, then you sing that,” he said, and before long, he had everyone with him. He even did something which must be a first on the SPAC stage, getting the audience to yodel along on one song.

True Artist

McLean is a true artist in every sense of the word. His phrasing and sense of timing are exquisite and he paces his concert perfectly, going from touching ballads to humorous songs and from unknown ditties to familiar crowdpleasers without missing a beat. In between songs, a little down-home philosophy is often thrown in. At one point, he said he wasn’t going to talk politics and then did just that, referring to one of our better-known generals as General “Waste-more-land”. His concert went so smoothly, it was surprising to hear the New Rochelle native say after the concerltthat when he walked on stage, he had no idea of the order of his program.

The crowd obviously enjoyed the concert immensely and except for some occasional fireworks, the lawn crowd was one of the quietest we’ve had at SPAC in many a concert.

McLean was preceded on the program by a country western singer from the Rocky Mountains named Rosalie Sorrels. Miss Sorrels had considerable trouble holding the crowd’s attention.