Legendary Songs of Don McLean

by Don McLean

Overview

Legendary Songs of Don McLean is basically EMI's repackaging of the 1991 Best of Don McLean with double the tracks. It is a welcome expansion to the collection and serves as a better-defined cross section of McLean's abilities. His beautiful reading of the Hank Williams classic "Your Cheatin' Heart" and the sweet lullaby "Wonderful Baby" sit alongside the flagship "American Pie" and other classics like "Vincent" and "Castles in the Air," quite nicely showcasing what a versatile musician Don McLean really is. The only point where this collection really drags is with a pair of tunes recorded in the early '90s, "Headroom" and "Have You Seen Me," where the production is over the top and too showy to let the songs actually shine. Luckily, these two songs come near the end of the collection, but make the closing cuts -- the unreleased "Just to Hold My Hand" and "Empty Chairs" -- feel lost at sea. Putting these two tracks on the collection was a poor decision on the part of the compilation producers, but the rest of the contents more than make up for this blunder by positioning the lesser-known gems next to the classics in McLean's illustrious career. ~ Gregory McIntosh

Product Details

Release Date:	03/25/2003
Label:	Capitol/Emi Records / Capitol
UPC:	0724358165425
Rank:	60530

Tracks

1. Words and Music
2. American Pie
3. Since I Don't Have You
4. Maybe Baby
5. Crying
6. Castles in the Air
7. If I Only Had a Match
8. Your Cheatin' Heart
9. And I Love You So
10. Vincent
11. Winterwood
12. If We Try
13. Everyday
14. Wonderful Baby
15. Crossroads
16. Jerusalem
17. Dreidel
18. Headroom
19. Have You Seen Me
20. Just to Hold My Hand
21. Empty Chairs

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Don McLean   Primary Artist,Banjo,Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Joel Dorn   Vocals (Background)
Ray Colcord   Piano
Al Brown   Viola
Marlene VerPlanck   Vocals (Background)
Rob Rothstein   Vocals,Guitar (Bass)
David Rothstein   Vocals
Dave Carey   Percussion
Arlene Martell   Vocals (Background)
West Forty Fourth Street Rhythm and Noise Choir   Choir/Chorus
William Slapin   Flute,Clarinet
Wally King   Bassoon
Helene Miles   Vocals (Background)
David Nadien   Violin
Gene Orloff   Violin
James Buffington   French Horn
Joe Wilder   Trumpet
Jonathan Dorn   Tuba
David Spinozza   Guitar (Electric)
Warren Bernhardt   Piano
Roy Markowitz   Drums,Percussion,Tambourine
Mike Mainieri   Marimba,Vibraphone
Linda November   Vocals (Background)
George Ricci   Cello
Paul Griffin   Piano
Garnett Brown   Trombone

Technical Credits

Lee Hays   Recording Arranger
Jimmy Beaumont   Composer
Roy Orbison   Composer
Scott Newton   Photography
Wally Lester   Composer
Dan Robey   Composer
Julie Snow   Photography
James Beaumont   Composer
Shannon Ward   Producer
Marcos Sotelo   Project Coordinator
Joseph Rock   Composer
Brendan Gormley   A&R
Michelle Azzopardi   Creative Director
Adam Varon   Licensing
Frank Lopez   Licensing
Joe VerScharen   Composer
Janet Vogel   Composer
Mitch Steele   Producer,Executive Producer
David Gahr   Photography
Sandra Dolson   Licensing
Jose Legaspi   Design
Jackie Taylor   Composer
Jack Taylor   Composer
Charles Harding   Composer
Paul Perryman   Composer
Kevin Flaherty   A&R
Ed Freeman   Arranger,Producer
Joe Melson   Composer
Don McLean   Composer,Producer
Don Robey   Composer
Doug Schwartz   Mastering
Walter Lester   Composer
Lee Morris   Composer
Joseph Verscharen   Composer
Mark Copeland   Executive Producer
Jerry Corbitt   Producer
Norman Petty   Composer
Arthur Johnston   Composer
Buddy Holly   Composer
Hank Williams   Composer
Tom Flye   Engineer
Bryan Kelley   Producer
George W. Meyer   Composer
Glen D. Hardin   Composer
Larry Butler   Producer
Joel Dorn   Producer