Published!

The Don McLean Story: Killing Us Softly With His Songs by Alan Howard

Available now! from http://www.americanpie.com/cart

Printed: 420 pages, 6" x 9", perfect binding, 60# cream interior paper, black and white interior ink , 100# white exterior paper, full-color exterior ink
ISBN: 978-1-4303-0682-5
Publisher: Lulu Press Inc.
Rights Owner: Starry Night Music Inc.
Copyright: © 2007 Starry Night Music Inc.
Language: English
Country: United States
Edition: 1st edition


Buy now from Starry Night Music Inc:
http://www.americanpie.com/cart


In the coming weeks the book will also become available through amazon and other retail outlets.

Bob Henrit, Bob Metzger and Don at the bar, Sahara Tahoe Casino, 1981
(pge 244)

American Pie…Something touched me deep inside…

“Soon the relationship between McLean and Freeman became tense. They had different backgrounds and different ideas about how things should be done. Don liked to sing live, while Ed felt that convention dictated that vocals be over-dubbed. According to Freeman, McLean wanted a stripped-down, bare-bones production. ‘In spite of his pop influences and sophisticated material, that’s what he understood musically and felt comfortable doing.’ On the other hand, Freeman wanted to make a highly produced pop record, because that was musically challenging to him, and that was what was currently fashionable.”

Top producer Ed Freeman and Don McLean worked their magic brilliantly in creating the American Pie album but their relationship was not always as hot as their music. We hear from both Ed and Don about those tense recording sessions and what they really thought of one another.

The Don McLean Story: Killing Us Softly With His Songs by Alan Howard
Copyright © 2007 Starry Night Music, Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction or translation of any part of this work without the permission of the copyright owner is unlawful. Used by permission.

Biography Contents

View the book contents page for The Don McLean Story: Killing Us Softly With His Songs:

http://www.don-mclean.com/bio/contents.pdf

From the author...

"I want to thank Don McLean for sharing his story with me.

Thanks to Fred Hellerman, Erik Darling, Pete Murphy, Pete Childs, Rob Stoner, Ed Freeman, Jerry Corbitt, Ed Begley Jr., Bob Dearborn, Joel Dorn, Larry Butler, Gordon Stoker, Chris Horsnell, John Platania, Tony Migliore, Ralph Childs, Jerry Kroon, Patrisha McLean, Dick Boak, Pat Severs, Fred Snel, Garth Brooks, Ron Buck, Bob Gregg, Alan Young, and Bill Nisbet for allowing me to include their thoughts on Don McLean and his music.

The Internet era means everyone has easy access to detailed information about their heroes. So writing an original biography has been a fantastic challenge but thanks to everyone mentioned above I hope you discover something new about Don McLean and find the book an enjoyable read..."

Alan Howard
Brinkworth, England

Photo preview

Ed Freeman & Don McLean working on the score for Fraternity Row

Publication Date

The softcover book is due to be available from January 31st 2007. You will be able to purchase it direct from the American publisher and worldwide shipping is available. Printing and shipping is from the USA or the UK, depending on your location. A few weeks later the book will become available through amazon and available for order from your local bookstore.

In addition Don McLean is producing a limited edition hard-back version which he will sign and send to you personally.

As further publication details become available we will update this blog.