I've really missed music blogging, so I'm hoping to get back in the habit. I've been wanting to actually write this post for ages, so I'm ignoring the fact I'm tired, overheated, and have a stomach ache. Don't you feel sorry for me now? Well it's okay. Because I'm here to talk about someone awesome: Don McLean.
I think everyone knows either 'American Pie' or 'Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)'. I myself have known and loved the song 'American Pie' for years. I had no idea what a wonderful store of Don McLean music exists. Sadly besides 'Best Of" type albums and American Pie, buying his music is not as convenient or cheap as one would hope for in this day in age.
I should probably put some of his biographical information in here somewhere... but nah. I'm just going to jump right in with my personal nonentities. Several months ago I downloaded American Pie on a whim and let me just say that is possibly the best decision I've made in the past 6 months.
This album was released in 1971 and was his second album. I don't know what else to say about it, except there is not a track on it I don't love. The album is mainly composed of beautiful, melancholic folk songs, but there's humour ('Everybody Loves Me, Baby'), anti-war ('The Grave'), and a cover of the traditional 'Babylon'. Not to mention the title track and opener 'American Pie' which is still, in my estimation, 8 1/2 minutes of bliss.
So I've picked the second track 'Till Tomorrow' to post, because it was the first song I listened to after I downloaded the album. When it started playing, I knew I'd made a good choice.
(The song might take anywhere from 6 to 30 seconds to load. Heh. Heh. Good things come to those who wait, though!)
Hey, I really like this song (& your words as always), thanks for posting! Reminds me of a mix between Nick Drake & John Denver, in a completely original way. His voice is so soothing and sweetly melancholic.
ReplyDeleteDid you ever find that paper with your poem on it by the way?
Thanks so much for reading, Jade! And leaving such lovely words. :) Though I haven't listened to John Denver, I would definitely agree Don Mclean shares musical shades with Nick Drake. I guess they were contemporaries. :)
DeleteHehe, nope. I haven't searched as exhaustively as I could though. And I don't remember it being something I was particularly proud of. Though that could be incentive to find it before someone else does. ;)