Thursday, July 31, 2025

Don McLean - BBC Sessions, Volume 6: In Concert, New York City, 1-25-1982

Here's the sixth and presumably final Don McLean BBC album I plan on posting. (If I find more, I'll be happy to post them, but I'm very surprised to find this much.) Out of the five album concerts in this series, this is one of the best, if not the best. The sound quality is excellent, and the song selection represents his career well. 

The only problem is "American Pie" isn't included. He probably played it in the full concert, but just didn't include it in the edit down to fit the hour long time slot. It seems he was sick of the song by this time, just as he'd only included a very short version in his 1978 BBC TV special (which is Volume 5 in this series).

This was first broadcast in the U.S. as part of the King Biscuit Flower Power radio program. However, it was later broadcast by the BBC, and more than once. That makes it a BBC concert in my book. Some purists may disagree, but note that I probably wouldn't be posting this otherwise. Unfortunately, I don't know the location of the venue, other that it took place somewhere in New York City. So if anyone does know, please tell me so I can change the title.

McLean's prime period of commercial success lasted from 1971 until 1981. After having no hits in the late 1970s, he had a revival, with "Crying" a big hit in 1980, as well as the Top Forty hits "Since I Don't Have You" and "Castles in the Air" in 1981. So this was a particularly good time for a concert recording like this, especially since he performed all three of those songs.

This album is 59 minutes long.

01 He's Got You [She's Got You] (Don McLean)
02 talk (Don McLean)
03 Vincent (Don McLean)
04 Orphans of Wealth (Don McLean)
05 talk (Don McLean)
06 Tapestry (Don McLean)
07 Castles in the Air (Don McLean)
08 Crying (Don McLean)
09 Since I Don't Have You (Don McLean)
10 Jerusalem (Don McLean)
11 Believers (Don McLean)
12 It Doesn't Matter Anymore (Don McLean)
13 talk (Don McLean)
14 Banjo Pickin' [Instrumental] (Don McLean)
15 talk (Don McLean)
16 Under the Double Eagle - Salt Creek [Instrumental] (Don McLean)
17 talk (Don McLean)
18 Building My Body (Don McLean) (Don McLean)
19 Wonderful Baby (Don McLean) (Don McLean) 

https://pixeldrain.com/u/RppwkaWf 

alternate: 

https://bestfile.io/en/iKISTncc5G1BAug/file 

The cover photo is from a concert at Park West in Chicago, IL, on April 11, 1981.

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