I've been listening to Don Mclean so long, it ain't even funny...in fact, one of the two first albums I ever owned was American Pie. I can remember listening to it in a little room near the front of my Grandma's house (along with Anne Murray's Snowbird....heck, gimme a break, I was only about 12 or so).

Although I haven't picked up any recent releases, I have all of the first 6 or so and number them among my most treasured recordings. Poop on those people who say "American Pie" is overrated, or shouldn't be played at all, it's a classic.

A great live release to get is "Solo." It has all the hits, some weird stuff, all kinds of neato material.

To the right you see some photos I took of a show I saw long ago, maybe '81 or so, when I met Don to give him a painting I had done for him (can't find a print of it so far). I had all kinds of plans to get backstage, but as I was coming up on one corner of the venue, he just popped out a side door and almost ran into me...he was very appreciative and gracious, but noted to me that "Masters of War" was Dylan's, not his (you see that piece on the bottom photo, which is of my wall in my dorm room at some point in college, to the right).

the official site:

http://www.cmgww.com/music/mclean/index.html