American Pie

by Don McLean

American Pie cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: 24 October 1971
  • Label: United Artists
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 36:21
  • Community rating: 3.92/5 from 6 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Driven by its monumental, eight-and-a-half-minute title track lamenting the death of Buddy Holly, the songwriter's second album became a generation-defining cultural touchstone. The deeply nostalgic, metaphor-heavy lyricism perfectly encapsulated the lost innocence of the 1960s, paired with pristine, acoustic-driven folk-pop arrangements. The record also notably features 'Vincent', a stunning tribute to the troubled painter.

Genres

Descriptors: melodic, folk, storytelling, acoustic, nostalgia, male-vocals, piano

Tracklist

  1. American Pie (8:36)
  2. Till Tomorrow (2:15)
  3. Vincent (4:03)
  4. Crossroads (3:39)
  5. Winterwood (3:10)
  6. Empty Chairs (3:27)
  7. Everybody Loves Me, Baby (3:36)
  8. Sister Fatima (2:35)
  9. The Grave (3:14)
  10. Babylon (1:41)

Credits

  • Ketil Bj酶rnstad - primary artist, arranged by [musical arrangements], piano, music by
  • Eivind Aarset - primary artist, arranged by [musical arrangements], guitar
  • Arild Andersen - primary artist, arranged by [musical arrangements], bass
  • Jan Bang - primary artist, arranged by [musical arrangements], sampler [live sampling, treatments]
  • Anneli Drecker - primary artist, arranged by [musical arrangements], vocals
  • Trilok Gurtu - primary artist, arranged by [musical arrangements], percussion
  • Bendik Hofseth - primary artist, arranged by [musical arrangements], saxophone, vocals
  • John Donne - words by [words from the poetry and prose of]

More from Don McLean: full discography