Don McLean (A-side)
4 Extra Debut. Don McLean talks about his timeless classic 1971 album, the career defining 'American Pie'. With John Wilson. From 2018.
Don McLean talks about his timeless classic 1971 album, the career defining 'American Pie'.
Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.
Recorded in front of a live audience at the 成人快手's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.
In the A-side, Don McLean chats to John Wilson.
24-year old Don McLean鈥檚 debut album was rejected by 72 labels before it was released by Mediarts.
It was only because that label was taken over by United Artists that his follow-up received the promotion it deserved.
His second album contained: a tribute to a 19th-century Dutch painter, which was cited as a personal inspiration by the late rapper Tupac Shakur; a song that was re-recorded 32 years later by George Michael in protest against the Iraq War; and an eight-and-a-half-minute single that in 2017 was designated an 鈥渁ural treasure鈥 worthy of preservation as part of America鈥檚 patrimony.鈥
Producer: Paul Kobrak
First broadcast on 成人快手 Radio 4 in December 2018.
Last on
More episodes
Clips
-
Don McLean - Crossroads
Duration: 03:50
-
Don McLean - American Pie
Duration: 09:10
Broadcasts
- Christmas Eve 2018 23:00成人快手 Radio 4
- Wed 11 Sep 2019 16:00成人快手 Radio 4
- Mon 16 Sep 2019 00:15成人快手 Radio 4
- Christmas Day 2023 21:00成人快手 Radio 4 Extra
Eight things we learned from Lily Allen鈥檚 Mastertapes
We hear about the breakdown of her marriage, substance abuse鈥 and socks
10 things we learned from Randy Newman鈥檚 Mastertapes
The legendary songwriter's interview with John Wilson is fascinating and very funny.
Mastertapes special: Paul McCartney
Live performances
Watch and listen to exclusive live performances from the Mastertapes recordings.
Radio 4 on Music
Re-releasing music documentaries from the Radio 4 Archive.
Podcast
-
Mastertapes
John Wilson talks with musicians about a career-defining album.