Don McLean Online

"...having attended at least one concert on every tour Don has made here, this concert was right up there amongst the best...possibly even THE best and that is saying something from someone who remembers the great concerts with just Don, his guitar and banjo.

The whole day was an unforgettable exprience...first meeting and talking to other 'diehards' over a beer beside the river..then going up to the theatre for the soundcheck. As Alan says this was over an hour,longer than some concerts I have been to! After a slow start (though fascinating to watch the musicians talk things through on stage)we got our own private versions of probably about 10 songs after which Don came to the front of the stage and chatted a bit before retiring for a well earned rest before the show.

We then retired back to the pub, taking our time over a beer and some food. Our beloved leader Alan assured us there was a support so we didn't hurry too much!! Fotunately just before 7.30 we decided to head up to the theatre...and only just in time as Don arrived to do his first set!! Oh Alan...imagine the embarrassment if you'd made us miss it lol.

The next two hours were just stunning. Don's performances always have highs...but right from the opener of Maybe Baby this concert ROCKED...tight band, great sound and a set list largely built around American Pie and the Don McLean album along with LOTS of other stuff..Marty Robbins, Josh White etc.

The second set ended with an amazing version of Pie with the whole audience (even me, the worst singer in the world!)singing along at the top of their voices. At the end of the song there was a huge standing ovation...a real hands above the heads job...so good that Don reprised Pie and we all sang along to a couple of choruses and the first verse.

There was no danger of Don not coming back for an encore which he did...playing a rare Josh White song and a well received Mountains o' Mourne amongst other things before finally taking his leave to another huge ovation.

Within about 5 minutes Don came back onto stage to talk with a sign autographs for a group of about 50 fans who had waited, including of course our group.

One amazing unforgettable night. Probably even more amazing was Don's apparent slow progress away from luddieism...mentioning all the web sites on stage...indeed referring to the Josh White thread here before performing a song...although he still only has a fax...no email address lol.

So thanks Don, special thanks Alan for seeing to the extras...now what is there to do today...ah yes...another concert...life sure is tough sometimes...

Next review sent by Miss Abi Chinn, 17 yrs.
Email: abfab64@hotmail.com

"I heard he sang a good song,
I heard he had a style,
and so I came to see him to listen for awhile"</i><P>

Which was exactly what I did on the 27th of June 2000 at the Hammersmith
Apollo in London.
I had grown up with his voice, and many others, to say the least. Of course,
his was the most poignant for me and the funny thing is - I can't even say
why. I can tell you why I think he is an exceptional musician now, but I
can't tell you what appeal he offered to a six-year old girl, who also had
an infatuation with Kylie Minogue at the time

Going to see this man 11 years later with my father really made an impact on
me. It wasn't just because I could match the voice to the face, but that I
could really watch him play his music to us Brits, whom he seemed to have a
bit of a soft spot for. I was not really used to sit-down type venues, I'm a
bit of avid festival-goer, and the unfamiliar surrounding made me feel
uncomfortable. I'd far rather have sat at a table in a trashy café sipping
gin, watching him perched on a stool with his guitar, than sat as I would in
a cinema. He didn't seem to belong there, a true American, and the
arrangement of the band looked amateur and cramped. This was not helped by
the ridiculous 'school disco style' lighting which completely glared out the
whole stage. But he proved that this unsuitable setting could not alter his
ability to please the crowd in anyway

When he walked on, we saw the old man - a figure not unlike my father, a
regular American guy, jolly, contented and ready to make music. He has lost
the cheeky, and chilled glow which he had had all that time ago, which you
can see on the Pie cover. But, that has to be expected, this man has moved
on, just as the International music industry has. When he sang a perfect
rendition of 'Crossroads' which was one song I has been looking
forward to all night. I wasn't the only member of the audience to see the
irony. He had written this spookily reflective song when he was in his
youthful prime, unaware of the impact and implications it would leave when
singing it to an audience thirty years later. When he sang these lyrics,
tears came to my eyes, as he sang them slow and bitterly.

"I've got nothing to regret,
But I'm all tied up on the inside,
No one knows quite what I've got;
And I know that on the outside
What I used to be, I'm not anymore.

But there's no need for turning back
`Cause all roads lead to where I stand.
And I believe I'll walk them all
No matter what I may have planned.

Can you remember who I was? Can you still feel it?
Can you find my pain? Can you heal it?
Then lay your hands upon me now
And cast this darkness from my soul.
You alone can light my way.
You alone can make me whole once again."

He is still the same person who wrote the amazing lyrics in the masterpieces; "Vincent", "American Pie" and "Empty Chairs". How can he change that? Let alone anyone else? He still sings the words he had once written with satisfactory sincerity and poignancy, showing himself to be a commendable and convincing musician, and thus proved that he is still standing as firmly as he ever did - as Roberta Flack once described him - the man "who sang a good song".

He spoke to us of his love of performing to people and making music for an
audience, calling us 'inspiring' and 'great'. It is quite clear he loves the
lime light, as he tells us in 'Pie; "And I knew if I had had my chance, I
could make those people dance, and maybe they'd be happy for a while".
He was totally turned on by the thrill of seeing our faces gazing at him, as
he sang the words to that overplayed, but glorious tune.
The grand finale was of course, a rendition of 'Pie, an enthusiastic and
energetic crowd pleaser which went down really well. The encore was an Elvis
song, throughout which, McLean revealed a guitar technique similar to
Clapton's - which I have also grown very used to.

Overall, Mclean proved that he still can play like hell and has not lost
that honey smooth voice which is so enticing.

Katie McBlain, Age 17. Corby, Northants, provides the next review

In everybody's life there are specific defining moments. Moments where
suddenly everything clicks and for that second you feel like you know
who you are and what you are meant to be. Moments where you feel
completely at ease with your surroundings and you could quite happily
stay there until the end. Moments that you could look back on at any
point in time and still have that same feeling of butterflies, or
electricity, running through every vein in your body and sending a
shiver right up your spine.

I can finally identify with these extraordinary experiences just by
reflecting on the clean, harmonious sound of Don McLean's voice singing
the sentimental, beautiful lyrics of Crossroads. Voice full of emotion,
Don simply and straightforwardly confirmed every reason ever held in my
heart to refer to him as the greatest singer-songwriter this planet has
ever witnessed.

But it wasn't merely Crossroads which unlocked this emotion within me.
Tuesdays concert was, without doubt, one of the few highlights of my
life so far. Never before have I felt so enchanted solely by another's
presence in the same room, never before have I been moved to tears by
the tenderness held in a voice filling the room I am sitting in. Just to
say I was able to dance to American Pie, sing along to The River of Love
and listen to the poignant and bittersweet lyrics of Empty Chairs and
Vincent all sung live by an artist as unique and gifted as Don McLean,
makes me feel immensely privileged.

The only criticism I have about the concert is that it ended far too
soon!

Review from Gill Boys on the Hammersmith and Croydon concerts:

Two days, two very different concerts, one very extraordinary man…..

I think I am just starting to come down to earth after having the opportunity to
attend the Sound Check on Tuesday and then the Hammersmith and Croydon
concerts. I know I'm about to re-iterate some of things that have already been
written most eloquently and if I do plagiarise anyone it is totally unintentional, it is simply my agreement of sentiment. I would just like to try and share what the
whole experience has meant to me personally.

Don McLean is currently in the very best of form. I have never been anything other than bowled over by a Don McLean concert but with a 2 hour plus set on both evenings and the man seeming so relaxed in the company of some excellent musicians, I was transported back to and beyond the days of the Free Trade Hall, Manchester a long, long time ago.

I have often been asked (by non-believers of course!) why I would want to go and
see the same performer 2 nights running. Why? How little they know. Although it is impossible to generalise anything with regard to Don McLean I will push the point and say that on Tuesday I went to a rock and roll venue and on Wednesday I went to the folk club. That is not to say we didn't rock and roll at Croydon, we did - Little Sister, Tulsa/ Deep in the Heart of Texas (?) and when it came to American Pie, we all, or at least most of us, got up to dance and we did get the chance! Both nights we heard Crying, And I Love You So, Vincent, Love in my Heart to name a few but here the similarity ended.

At Croydon Don talked about his children, singing Daddy's Little Darling for his
daughter followed by Wonderful Baby. For his son, who loves cowboys, there were cowboys songs including Bronco Bill's Lament. Whilst at Hammersmith we were swept along by the River of Love.

We heard some lovely old stalwarts, Winterwood, Empty Chairs and Crossroads.
Before singing Empty Chairs at Hammersmith Don quipped that he was now very
happy in his life, thanks to his wife and family, the downside was that he didn't
write depressing songs any more. The plus side was that he was still alive!

It was so good to hear Jerusalem again (this has always been one of my personal favourites) at both concerts. We sang little Light of Mine together both evenings and at Croydon this was followed by a beautiful gospel style song Shine on Me which I don't remember hearing before. Don must just have felt like singing it. He told us the band didn't know it but would pick it up as they went along. The music, interpreted so skillfully by Don, just led the way.

When Don sat down to sing (after American Pie) he appeared totally relaxed and to be thoroughly enjoying himself. At Croydon he spoke of loving to sing together with his family and treated us amongst other things to one of his guitar picking specials and Castles in the Air. Sitting in the front row I know, if I had ever doubted it, exactly why Killing me Softly was written.

I know this may not be the most coherent review ever written but I hope from my
ramblings that a little of the magic I have been lucky enough to experience seeps
through. I have always thought Don McLean's concerts are just so beautifully
crafted, the songs flowing together but it was a privilege to hear the Great Man
explain, after the Hammersmith concert, his abhorrence of play lists and how he
lets the music lead and flow forward. He spoke of singing each song with the aim of giving it's very best performance every time.

As for the sound check and getting to talk to Don. Well I know I wasn't the only
nervous person there. Having been in awe of the man's talent for the best part of 30 years I was afraid my illusions would be shattered by some self opinionated
Superstar. Far from it! We got to chat to a highly intelligent, courteous man with an excellent sense of humour. And what's more I did get to ask him if he still plays the banjo. Yes, but it's too much bother to cart it about for 2 songs!!! Sing Babylon Don and I'll carry it anywhere for you!!

Surely the question of "where were you when Kennedy was shot or Diana died"
should be expanded to include "where were you when you first heard American
Pie?" My own memory is so vivid and special. But as that song has moved on and evolved in my feelings so has the way Don performs it and for me it gets better each time. That's such another special thing about Don McLean. So many "stars" push out their hits at a concert as a sort of courtesy or to merely humour the audience. Not Don, I have never seen him give it anything other than his "all".

I've sung that song to myself in the car, when I've been sad, when I'm happy. I've
recited the words under my breath to take my mind off an uncomfortable medical
procedure, I've sung it with friends. (Being a slight white-knuckle flyer I used to play it on a Walkman during take-off, probably not a good choice given the connotations but what the hell!) However I must apologise to those around me at both concerts. I know my singing could clear Wembley Stadium and I have a tendency to clap out of time but forgive me my intentions were good! I was having a BLAST!

Don you promised us at Croydon that you'd be back in the UK again to do a tour.
What about bringing that banjo and letting us all sing Babylon together one more
time? Please!

I could go on forever but reality calls. I'd just like to end by thanking Don McLean
and Alan Howard for giving me two of the most special days. You are both very
special people.

Next review is provided by Dave Cook (Cookie):

'Mountains of Mourne', another classic was next, then Don became Elvis for a few moments for 'That's Alright Momma', and indeed, 'That WAS alright momma', as the show ended and the audience remained, transfixed, savouring every last second.

David Moore's review of the Liverpool show

Don McLean at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall 29^th June

I found it. There on the bookshelf amongst the sheet music. Vincent. A little curled at the edges, but still in pretty fair condition, a somewhat youthful Don McLean leaning forward nonchalantly with his face cupped in his hand. The key of G. It checked out with the record. Funny but I’ve always sung it in D which is a much lower register. I tried G and it sounded pretty good. To me anyway.

So I took tucked the music into a plastic cover and took it with me to the concert. Maybe he would sign it, my ancient copy of Vincent.

It was quite a bit different that night at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. Different from the show we had been to at the Hammersmith Apollo two days before. It was a fresher more relaxed Don McLean who walked out onto the stage with his Martin DM40 guitar tucked under his arm, wearing a short sleeved blue shirt dotted with tiny motifs and sporting the familiar crumpled, faded jeans. The jet lag had lifted and given way to a fit and ready for anything singer/songwriter with his elite band of musicians.

Not that the Hammersmith show wasn’t wonderful. It was all of that, but Liverpool was lighter and I’m glad to say, a little longer, with 12 additional songs that Don hadn’t performed at Hammersmith. The Tuesday evening had been more emotional, one from the heart, and, it’s fair to say that the appreciation felt through the applause was very palpable. I mean it was loud and very long and most sincere. But on Thursday the emphasis was on fun, and fun it was.

The "Phil" is also widely renowned for its perfect acoustics. It’s always been famous for that, even before it was re-modelled a couple of years ago. So it’s a perfect place to listen to music. The ideal spot.

Don opened up with the Buddy Holly standard Maybe Baby, gliding lightly through the set, but leaving out The Very Thought of You and On The Amazon. But the man doesn’t like working to lists, following slavishly. And he didn’t, especially not later in the second half. He recalled Tapestry, his very first album, "the first of 32" he proudly proclaimed and so he launched into it, beautifully.

He sang some wonderful stuff he did, introducing a back-to-back rendition of children’s songs. The old Bing Crosby classic from White Christmas, Count Your Blessings and his own Wonderful Baby. Don recalled an early disastrous marriage. "It was a mistake," he said, "I was too young". But that was long ago, things are much different now and he is blessed with two children aged 7 and 10. The songs were dedicated to them.

He promised that we would travel many roads musically throughout the evening, many paths and we did. Even sailing close to opera. "I don’t do opera, but this is kinda close to that as you’ll see." The song was called My love Was True.

It seemed no time at all before he brought Crying to a shattering close along with the first half of the show.

In the second half we were treated to Superman’s Ghost, then Don talked about record compilations, how artists put albums together, lovingly, taking care in getting the balance of songs just right. Then along comes the record company and jams a mass of tracks together into a compilation, to revive interest and, naturally, sell records. "They come up with these amazing titles", he said, "like ‘Lost Hits’. And with that he sang one of his "lost hits", If We Try.

It seemed only the wink of an eye when he struck up "Madonna’s hit" and off we went. Everyone bashing out American Pie. It seemed to go on forever, with extra guitar bridges and then "shall we go again?" and of course we did.

After the applause had died down. Don sat down. "I’m not going to do that walk off and come back on again thing." He stayed and played. There was Josh White, one of his beloved inspirations. Just as he had done at Hammersmith, he sang

Hallelu, but this time he added another of Josh’s songs. "There were two Josh Whites. The Christian Josh White and the Blues Josh White". We had a taste of the Blues Josh. I didn’t catch the title, but sex, drugs and rock’n’roll were strongly represented. "We had a ride and a gin, then we had another ride and another gin and another ride and another gin..…"

We had Mountains of Mourn. We had Vincent. Then Don did walk off the stage. That was to be it. Goodbye. But. It was the last show, so I guess he thought, "what the hell". He came back to play "a very old folk song from the old club days, with just two chords". A story of the pioneers of the plains, covered wagons and the cowboys and Indians. An old trail folk song.

By this time he was hooked and on a roll. The band joined in with an old Don Williams country song, Living On Tulsa Time. Then, "I’m going to sing one of the most beautiful songs ever written." And it was. And he did. Hoagy Carmichael’s Stardust. Just his voice and Tony Migliori’s piano. The rest of the band sat on some benches at the side of the stage and listened too. It was, well just wonderful.

It had to be the end. But it wasn’t. Old standards like Stardust. One of his pleasures is to walk into a record store and rummage through the bins to find albums with cover photos that have guys with loose ties leaning on lamp posts in misty surroundings, with the backing groups that go "doo-wop." So with the help of bass player Ralph Childs chipping in with the odd "doo-wop" Don closed the show and the tour with a song called a cheeky, lazy number called "If I had a Match".

And that was it. Over. No Castles in the Air or On The Amazon or The Very Thought of You, but after that who cared? And my ancient copy of Vincent? He signed that too…..Eventually.

Review of Don’s Liverpool concert 29.06.00

From Anne Shirley

In 1972 I fell in love with, became infatuated with (call it what you like I was a teenager)

a young American singer songwriter called Don McLean. I was totally enchanted by him and still am now. I first saw him on a black and white TV on Top of the Pops. I’m only glad now that I have this opportunity to speak to other fans and Don via the web site, thanks to Alan Howard.

Don said in his concert that he doesn’t remember individual fans that he meets but I want him to know that we always remember him.

The concert at the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool was out of this world, I think one of the best I’ve ever been to and I’ve seen Don nearly every time that he has toured in England. The actual stage is very low and it made you feel that Don was just entertaining you personally.

Leading up to the concert I couldn’t eat for the excitement, it had been 3 years since I had seen Don, too long for me, but as Don said on stage he was happy to be here and glad that his health permits him. I never knew that he suffered with asthma, you wouldn’t know from the fabulous sounds he produces. His voice is still as charismatic as it was all those years ago, it just seems to have become richer It reaches the depths of me anyway.

I arrived in Liverpool early, not happy about driving in the city. My friend and I came straight to the Phil. I wanted to know where the stage door was for after the show. Imagine our pure pleasure to hear Don on stage doing his sound check. We had the most fabulous time listening through the stage door so thanks Don even though we couldn’t see you, your presence was there

Fate to was on hand that evening as I had got tickets for the balcony but I wanted to be closer. The box office changed our seats for 2 front row ones that had just been released

It was a sellout but these were extras.

Don was announced to the audience as the legendary singer songwriter DON MCLEAN

And he casually came on to the stage and I was hooked as always. There were late comers and Don laughed saying sorry you‘ve only got me; no support, well he didn’t need anybody so we were a very privileged audience.

After an hour Don sang Crying and took a well-deserved break. He was particularly

Well supported by his friend and talented pianist

The second half continued the magic of Don. He was more at ease than I have ever seen before, his obvious happiness in his married life and being a daddy radiated throughout. He talked to us about the cost of coming to see him, the difficulties we encounter having to get babysitters etc. but he gave us more than our moneys worth. He even talked about being a disappointment to his parents, well you’re not a disappointment to us Don.

Don has always said he hope through his music that he could introduce his fans to other Musicians. Don you have always done that and I know will continue to do so. Don’s music has run parallel with my own life changes so thanks Don.

As others have said before, you began to feel like you were sitting in living room whilst he just played away and had fun particularly after he had sung Madonna’s hit single! I still prefer the original.

The concert drew to a close and I went forward with some roses for Don, it’s something I’ve always done at he end of a concert my way of saying thanks Don, you have always been kind and taken them from me.

Well Don went off and we all stood and continued to applaud and continued and continued. I don’t think we would have forgiven you if you hadn’t come back. The encore was even more magical than I wished for. Don just gets better and better.

Afterwards I queued at the stage door and there was a air of anticipation and excitement waiting for Don not knowing how tired he would be or whether he would stop. As always Don surpassed our expectations, stopping to sign all the autographs for everyone that was there, not hurrying anyone and allowing me to have two separate photographs with him. I had one cuddle with him and got to the back of the queue and asked again for another photograph and cuddle. I now have the most fabulous memories of that night.

I hope everyone that was in the audience that night experienced the same special concert that I felt we had been lucky enough to be part of.

Well Happy Trails to all and Don please please come back soon. And yes for anyone that wants to know I’m still enchanted with Don and his music.

Janet from the Isle of Skye provides the following:

I have been reading over the reviews of the concert and I only wish I'd been
at them all, but I did enjoy every minute of my day in Hammersmith and it
was lovely meeting everyone of you at the river beforehand. The trip down
to London was worth al the effort and I now know I would certainly do it all
again. It was lovely how we all gelled together, and if anyone thinks of
going across the Atlantic for a concert I would appreciate it if they would
let me know as I would go that far to hear and see himself again.

It was the strangest feeling walking down the aisle to actually see him, I
just thought this is the man I have been listening to these past 30 years
and I know his voice with such familiarity and had only cassette covers and
CD pictures of him and here I was a few feet away from him. Before the
concert I had some moments of apprehension as I thought he may be a big
performer with a great big ego and would seem quite false and not the
beautiful man that touches your senses with his singing. The Don McLean
that I listen to touches my feelings of agony and ecstasy with his voice
all our thoughts come to life with his songs and although I know them all
word for word its still like hearing them for the very first time. What Van
Gogh did for art lovers and sunflowers Don will be renowned for his own
masterpieces as a singer songwriter.

I am old enough to remember Buddy Holly and I have watched the social and
political changes of all these years ago when there was still an innocence
to music and teenagers. When he sang "Singing the Blues" well that took me
back to my first job out of school in the fifties. Although Don says he
sings mechanically and not from the heart the way he did when he probably
wrote these songs like "Crossroads" and " Empty Chairs" there was no
difference to how he sounded. I am glad he sang "The Mountains of Mourne"
for that is so significant to me and I have never heard anyone sing it like
him. The reason being the Irish workmen immigrated to England to build the
roads and that was their special song and the Scots who went down to join
the Metropolitan Police also made that their special one too.

It has been 30 yrs since I have been to a London concert and I am so glad I
made the effort to go. If Eva hadn't come down with me I wouldn't have had
the courage to go and anyway I wouldn't have managed to cross the road
without her. As you may know I don't have television or a computer; this is
by choice. I don't think they would be suited to my way of life and defeats
the purpose of living in a Hebridean cottage. I would like to keep in touch
with you but I have to go 30miles to Eva's office, so she can keep me
informed.

I want to ask Ronnie and Kim what date they are coming up in the Autumn and
I want to hank Alan and Diane for all the work they put into this project
and if they come up this far they will be made more than welcome as my guest
and that goes for all of you who were at the river.

Would it be inappropriate to ask Don if he is familiar with Jacques Brell
(not sure of the spelling of his surname) the Flemish songwriter and if he
sings any of his songs. Janet