340 - Don McLean: Why You Should Follow Your Instincts
James AltucherJanuary 02, 202400:49:44

340 - Don McLean: Why You Should Follow Your Instincts

Don McLean is a singer and songwriter best known for the song, "American Pie." But he’s so much more than just this one hit. He’s sold 40 platinum and gold records and he’s still touring(!). And now he’s kicking off his 2 year tour for his new album, "Botanical Gardens." Don has decades and decades of experience and he’s always had an instinct about what he’s wanted to do... what he wanted to create. He transforms nostalgia into music and art. And in this interview he told me how  I think I was asking for every artist. Or anyone listening who still wants to become one


 


Links and Resources


Check out Don’s newest album Botanical Gardens  (https://amazon.com)


Don’s Albums we talk about:


• American Pie (https://amazon.com)

• Playing Favorites (https://amazon.com)

• PrimeTime (Don’s worst selling album)


Don’s Songs we talk about:


• Vincent (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wrNFDxCRzU)

• Dreidel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C63ri53rv2k) (on the top 20)

• Mountains O’Mourne (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEZIKSm78k8) (Don’s song that went to #1 in UK and Ireland)

• Castles in the Air (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTqi7iEZEWA)

• Crying (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjMNOouIb0k)

• The Wrong Thing to Do (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ln4x7ulwXE)

• When a Good Thing Goes Bad (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spcQ63u_mv0)



• Drake sampled these two songs for his own song “Doing It Wrong” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfiSW3jfJhA) in 2011


• Wonderful Baby (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMtHuofjZD0)

• Superman’s Ghost (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdQTFyk45gk) (the story of George Reeves)  


Check out Don’s website (https://don-mclean.com/) for tour dates


Also Mentioned


Steve Martin - Don told a story where he showed up on his doorstep in 1972 (before he was anyone) to talk about the banjo


Penn Jillette - he came on the podcast (https://jamesaltucher.com/2015/09/ep-130-penn-jillette-the-brilliant-idea-can-kill-you/) !


Larry Butler


Buddy Holly


The Weavers


Steve Allen


Pete Seeger (http://www.peteseegermusic.com/)


Bob Dylan (http://www.bobdylan.com/)


 


I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltucher.com/podcast. (https://jamesaltucher.com/2018/04/don-mclean/?utm_source=libsyn&utm_medium=podcast&utm_term=04102018&utm_content=&utm_campaign=don-mclean)


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