Mclean still in touch

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33773, 20 February 1975, Page 4

Mclean still in touch

Don McLean, one of America’s finest contemporary song-writers and singers, is returning to New Zealand for a tour in February and March. He will give one concert in Christchurch, on Monday, March 3. His visit coincides with the release of his new album, “Homeless Brother,” an L.P. which shows that McLean has lost none of his touch as either lyricist or singer. He pens his descriptive phrases as meaningfully as ever, and sings in his eas,y natural way to produce an outstanding album. Characteristically, every song on “Homeless Brother” was done live, with no over-dubs or splices. McLean knows that the integrity and force of a complete vocal performance outweighs the “perfect” yet lifeless vocals that characterise so many of today’s records. Don McLean is a singer who has an instant empathy with his audience. Alone on stage with his beloved banjo or guitar, McLean revels in his selfsufficiency and his one-to-one entertaining. He is a performer of distinct artistry who evokes a mood through the delicate balance of lyric and instrumental interpretation. The new album, which is McLean's fifth, contains songs which are similar in vein to those on “Tapestry” (his first L.P.) with a great variety of styles, social themes and strong vocal character. McLean has lost none of his touch — the new songs from his album that he'll sing to New Zealand

audiences, show his continuing deep sensitivity as both a song-'"riter and singer. McLean has proved that his reputation is no more dependant on his worldwide hit, “American Pie,” than Bob Dylan is upon ‘Like a Rolling Stone.” Once, people said that when “.American Pie” was forgotten, McLean would be too. But, undeterred, McLean continued to write, compose and sing in his own individual style, and the crowds at

» ■ 4-i his concerts continue to grow. McLean has always hated the spreading commercialism in music, and yet suddenly became the textbook example of everything he had fought against. Three years have passed since the afterglow of “American Pie,” when McLean realised what had happened to him. In that time he had learned to cope with success, the expectations of others, the inevitable media backlash, confusion and despair.