Question: What's the history of Don McLean's "American Pie"?
Answer: Don McLean's original recording of "American Pie" took place on May 26th, 1971, in New York, NY. It received airplay before it was a single, in June 1971, when New York's WNEW-FM and WPLJ-FM played the song to mark the closing of the famous "rock ballroom" Fillmore East. United Artists released it as a single in November 1971, cutting it into two parts to fit on two sides of a 45 RPM single (UA 50856). DJs often played the full album version, however, realizing it was meant to be heard all at once for full effect. The song quickly reached Number One in the US and Number Two in the UK; in 1991 a re-release made it back into the UK Top Ten. The song is featured on the album of the same name (UA 5535) and on several greatest hits compilations. (Madonna released a controversial rewritten cover of the song in 2000.)
"American Pie" was McLean's first big hit, although he had written songs covered by other artists, like "And I Love You So," which is most famous in its Elvis version. Contrary to some reports, McLean says he never tires of playing the song, although he has had other hits, most notably 1972's follow-up single "Vincent," a tribute to painter Vincent Van Gogh. "American Pie" came in fifth on the Recording Industry Association of America's "Songs of the Century" list; McLean performed the song for President Clinton at the Lincoln Memorial Gala in 1999. The song was honored with an induction into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame in 2002.
