Don McLean: Starry Starry Night

Singer-songwriter-guitarist Don McLean—best known for the perennial radio favorite “American Pie”—is captured live in this 1999 concert from the Paramount Theatre in Austin, TX, backed by a nimble band and a small but sumptuous-sounding string section for a 15-song set that shows off the many colors of McLean's repertoire. McLean kicks things off with the early favorite “Castles In the Air,” featuring a jangling, folkie feel and idealistic lyrics that reject middle-class conformity. “Jerusalem” is a well-meaning if awkward appeal for peace, while “Crossroads” is a touching nod to destinies that cannot be denied. An interview snippet with McLean talking about how he came to write the smash hit “Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)”—about the suicidal genius Vincent Van Gogh—precedes a beautiful rendition of that tune. “You're My Little Darlin',” written for McLean's then-9-year-old daughter, is a golden daddy song right up there with Springsteen's “Pony Boy.” The concert ends with “American Pie,” which sounds great, even if you've already heard it 15,000 times. One of the highlights of this set is McLean's expressive covers of other songwriters' material, including Marty Robbins's brutally honest “You Gave Me a Mountain,” Roy Orbison's magnificent “Crying,” and—unexpectedly—“It Was a Very Good Year,” an autumnal hit for Frank Sinatra. McLean is also joined by then-rising star Nanci Griffith for stellar duets on Buddy Holly's “Raining In My Heart” and his own “And I Love You So.” Presented in stereo, extras include additional concert footage from the 1970s-1990s, and backstage clips from a 1975 Hyde Park concert. Highly recommended. (T. Keogh)