McLean Draws Standing Ovations
by George C. Jordan III, The Morning Union, September 2, 1973
“Bye Bye Miss American Pie, took my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry . . .”
Don McLean, recording star and songwriter, belted out last week his million-record seller of “American Pie” that took him from obscurity into the national recording spotlight.
Don performed under the stars at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. He received three standing ovations during his 75-minute concert for his songs, “American Pie,” “Dreidel,” and “Vincent.”
Notwithstanding Monday night’s performance of Kris Kristofferson, which all but climaxes the young contemporary concerts at the Center, Ed Lewi, director of publicity and promotion Wednesday night during intermission of McLean’s concert said this was a successful year in terms of numbers that have attended the many concerts from John Denver, the Carpenters, The Jackson Five, Glen Campbell, Sonny and Cher, to Three Dog Night, along with other popular entertainers.
On the same bill with McLean were the Persuasions, a group whose pure voices put together a mellow blend of many black sounds from gospel to secular rhythms to soul. The lead singer’s high tenor is similar to David Ruffin, who was formerly with the Temptations and now on his own.
Also, Frank Wakefield’s five-piece jug band did a 50-minute gig bringing the Tennessee hillbilly music to Saratoga Springs amid wide applause.
Dressed in a red shirt, McLean said his song, “American Pie,” has 10 years of his singing career attached to it.
“When I did the song, I wanted everyone to get their own personal meaning from the song,” McLean said.
When the song hit the charts, disc jockeys nationally were questioning McLean on the meaning of the song, both stated and implied.
Don, who toured the Pittsfield school system in 1971 performing with his guitar and banjo before making it in the recording field, has developed a style that combines his songs with love, humor and thoughts on contemporary America.
This area is of particular significance to him. He has hitchhiked and sung his way through Western New England from his home base in Cold Spring on Hudson, N.Y.
His individuality is reflected in his music. He is as humorous as he is serious, and his honesty and spontaneous comments are refreshing. He has no act per se. He is real and his music and presentation that have come to be identified with him are the result of what is on his mind at the moment. There is in his performance a direct line between his song and his audience.
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